Method and apparatus for presenting media programs

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media presentation techniques and more specifically to a method and apparatus for presenting media programs.

BACKGROUND

Consumers have a number of venues to access media content. For example, consumers can view video content supplied by social networking portals such as MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube over an Internet browser. Similarly, consumers can view via a set-top box video content supplied by an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite TV communication system, and/or a cable TV communication system. Other forms of media content such as audio content, pictures, articles, or combinations thereof can also be accessed by consumers over a public network such as the Internet.

Consumers can share with others their thoughts about media content they have consumed by word of mouth, text messaging (e.g., email), or other forms of common communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure entails a method involving presenting each of a plurality of users a media program, collecting one or more temporal actions initiated by the plurality of users while the media program is presented, creating one or more symbolic overlays corresponding to the one or more temporal actions of each user, combining the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a system having a controller to collect one or more temporal actions initiated by each of a plurality of users while presenting a media program to said plurality of users, generate one or more symbolic overlays according to the one or more temporal actions collected for each user, and combine the presentation of the media program with a presentation of the one or more symbolic overlays.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions for combining a presentation of a media program with a presentation of one or more symbolic overlays generated from one or more temporal actions collected from a plurality of users while presenting the media program to said plurality of users.

FIG. 1depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication system100for delivering media content. The communication system100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast media system. In a typical IPTV infrastructure, there is a super head-end office (SHO) with at least one super headend office server (SHS) which receives national media programs from satellite and/or media servers from service providers of multimedia broadcast channels. In the present context, media programs can represent audio content, moving image content such as videos, still image content, and/or combinations thereof. The SHS server forwards IP packets associated with the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) via a network of aggregation points such as video head-end offices (VHO) according to a common multicast communication method.

The VHS then distributes multimedia broadcast programs via a local area network (LAN) to commercial and/or residential buildings102housing a gateway104(e.g., a residential gateway or RG). The LAN can represent a bank of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over optical links or copper twisted pairs to buildings102. The gateway104distributes broadcast signals to media processors106such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast selections to media devices108such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller107(e.g., an infrared or RF remote control). Unicast traffic can also be exchanged between the media processors106and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD). It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the media devices108and/or portable communication devices116shown inFIG. 1can be an integral part of the media processor106and can be communicatively coupled to the gateway104. In this particular embodiment, an integral device such as described can receive, respond, process and present multicast or unicast media content.

The IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices130a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing portal services over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network132to fixed line media devices108or portable communication devices116by way of a wireless access point117providing Wireless Fidelity or WiFi services, or cellular communication services (e.g., GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, etc.). In this representative embodiment the computing devices130can operate as a proxy system (referred to herein as proxy system130) for providing portal or like services to a community of subscribers according to the method700ofFIG. 7, as will be discussed below.

A satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTV media system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite115can be intercepted by a satellite dish receiver131coupled to building102which conveys media signals to the media processors106. The media receivers106can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network132. Although not shown, the communication system100can also be combined or replaced with analog or digital broadcast distributions systems such as cable TV systems.

FIG. 2depicts an illustrative embodiment of a second communication system200for delivering media content. Communication system200can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication system100as another representative embodiment of said communication system. The system200includes a distribution switch/router system228at a central office218. The distribution switch/router system228receives video data via a multicast television stream230from a second distribution switch/router234at an intermediate office220. The multicast television stream230includes Internet Protocol (IP) data packets addressed to a multicast IP address associated with a television channel. The distribution switch/router system228can cache data associated with each television channel received from the intermediate office220.

The distribution switch/router system228also receives unicast data traffic from the intermediate office220via a unicast traffic stream232. The unicast traffic stream232includes data packets related to devices located at a particular residence, such as the residence202. For example, the unicast traffic stream232can include data traffic related to a digital subscriber line, a telephone line, another data connection, or any combination thereof. To illustrate, the unicast traffic stream232can communicate data packets to and from a telephone212associated with a subscriber at the residence202. The telephone212can be a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. To further illustrate, the unicast traffic stream232can communicate data packets to and from a personal computer210at the residence202via one or more data routers208. In an additional illustration, the unicast traffic stream232can communicate data packets to and from a set-top box device, such as the set-top box devices204,206. The unicast traffic stream232can communicate data packets to and from the devices located at the residence202via one or more residential gateways214associated with the residence202.

The distribution switch/router system228can send data to one or more access switch/router systems226. The access switch/router system226can include or be included within a service area interface216. In a particular embodiment, the access switch/router system226can include a DSLAM. The access switch/router system226can receive data from the distribution switch/router system228via a broadcast television (BTV) stream222and a plurality of unicast subscriber traffic streams224. The BTV stream222can be used to communicate video data packets associated with a multicast stream.

For example, the BTV stream222can include a multicast virtual local area network (VLAN) connection between the distribution switch/router system228and the access switch/router system226. Each of the plurality of subscriber traffic streams224can be used to communicate subscriber specific data packets. For example, the first subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to a first subscriber, and the nth subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to an nth subscriber. Each subscriber to the system200can be associated with a respective subscriber traffic stream224. The subscriber traffic stream224can include a subscriber VLAN connection between the distribution switch/router system228and the access switch/router system226that is associated with a particular set-top box device204,206, a particular residence202, a particular residential gateway214, another device associated with a subscriber, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, a set-top box device, such as the set-top box device204, receives a channel change command from an input device, such as a remoter control device. The channel change command can indicate selection of an IPTV channel. After receiving the channel change command, the set-top box device204generates channel selection data that indicates the selection of the IPTV channel. The set-top box device204can send the channel selection data to the access switch/router system226via the residential gateway214. The channel selection data can include an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) Join request. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system226can identify whether it is joined to a multicast group associated with the requested channel based on information in the IGMP Join request.

If the access switch/router system226is not joined to the multicast group associated with the requested channel, the access switch/router system226can generate a multicast stream request. The multicast stream request can be generated by modifying the received channel selection data. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system226can modify an IGMP Join request to produce a proxy IGMP Join request. The access switch/router system226can send the multicast stream request to the distribution switch/router system228via the BTV stream222. In response to receiving the multicast stream request, the distribution switch/router system228can send a stream associated with the requested channel to the access switch/router system226via the BTV stream222.

The proxy system130ofFIG. 1can be operably coupled to the second communication system200for purposes similar to those described above.

FIG. 3depicts an illustrative embodiment of a third communication system300for delivering media content. Communication system300can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication systems100-200as another representative embodiment of said communication systems. As shown, the system300can include a client facing tier302, an application tier304, an acquisition tier306, and an operations and management tier308. Each tier302,304,306,308is coupled to a private network310, such as a network of common packet-switched routers and/or switches; to a public network312, such as the Internet; or to both the private network310and the public network312. For example, the client-facing tier302can be coupled to the private network310. Further, the application tier304can be coupled to the private network310and to the public network312. The acquisition tier306can also be coupled to the private network310and to the public network312. Additionally, the operations and management tier308can be coupled to the public network312.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the various tiers302,304,306,308communicate with each other via the private network310and the public network312. For instance, the client-facing tier302can communicate with the application tier304and the acquisition tier306via the private network310. The application tier304can communicate with the acquisition tier306via the private network310. Further, the application tier304can communicate with the acquisition tier306and the operations and management tier308via the public network312. Moreover, the acquisition tier306can communicate with the operations and management tier308via the public network312. In a particular embodiment, elements of the application tier304, including, but not limited to, a client gateway350, can communicate directly with the client-facing tier302.

The client-facing tier302can communicate with user equipment via an access network366, such as an IPTV access network. In an illustrative embodiment, customer premises equipment (CPE)314,322can be coupled to a local switch, router, or other device of the access network366. The client-facing tier302can communicate with a first representative set-top box device316via the first CPE314and with a second representative set-top box device324via the second CPE322. In a particular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device316and the first CPE314can be located at a first customer premise, and the second representative set-top box device324and the second CPE322can be located at a second customer premise.

In another particular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device316and the second representative set-top box device324can be located at a single customer premise, both coupled to one of the CPE314,322. The CPE314,322can include routers, local area network devices, modems, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, any other suitable devices for facilitating communication between a set-top box device and the access network366, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier302can be coupled to the CPE314,322via fiber optic cables. In another illustrative embodiment, the CPE314,322can include DSL modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier302can be coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top box device316,324can process data received via the access network366, via a common IPTV software platform.

The first set-top box device316can be coupled to a first external display device, such as a first television monitor318, and the second set-top box device324can be coupled to a second external display device, such as a second television monitor326. Moreover, the first set-top box device316can communicate with a first remote control320, and the second set-top box device324can communicate with a second remote control328. The set-top box devices316,324can include IPTV set-top box devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adapted to receive IPTV content; personal computers or other computing devices that are adapted to emulate set-top box device functionalities; any other device adapted to receive IPTV content and transmit data to an IPTV system via an access network; or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device316,324can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from the client-facing tier302via the access network366and render or display the data, video, or any combination thereof, at the display device318,326to which it is coupled. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices316,324can include tuners that receive and decode television programming signals or packet streams for transmission to the display devices318,326. Further, the set-top box devices316,324can each include a STB processor370and a STB memory device372that is accessible to the STB processor370. In one embodiment, a computer program, such as the STB computer program374, can be embedded within the STB memory device372.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier302can include a client-facing tier (CFT) switch330that manages communication between the client-facing tier302and the access network366and between the client-facing tier302and the private network310. As illustrated, the CFT switch330is coupled to one or more distribution servers, such as Distribution-servers (D-servers)332, that store, format, encode, replicate, or otherwise manipulate or prepare video content for communication from the client-facing tier302to the set-top box devices316,324. The CFT switch330can also be coupled to a terminal server334that provides terminal devices with a point of connection to the IPTV system300via the client-facing tier302.

In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch330can be coupled to a VoD server336that stores or provides VoD content imported by the IPTV system300. Further, the CFT switch330is coupled to one or more video servers380that receive video content and transmit the content to the set-top boxes316,324via the access network366. The client-facing tier302may include a CPE management server382that manages communications to and from the CPE314and the CPE322. For example, the CPE management server382may collect performance data associated with the set-top box devices316,324from the CPE314or the CPE322and forward the collected performance data to a server associated with the operations and management tier308.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier302can communicate with a large number of set-top boxes, such as the representative set-top boxes316,324, over a wide geographic area, such as a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a statewide area, a regional area, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, market area, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported by networking the client-facing tier302to numerous set-top box devices. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch330, or any portion thereof, can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multiple set-top box devices via a multicast-enabled network.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the application tier304can communicate with both the private network310and the public network312. The application tier304can include a first application tier (APP) switch338and a second APP switch340. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch338can be coupled to the second APP switch340. The first APP switch338can be coupled to an application server342and to an OSS/BSS gateway344. In a particular embodiment, the application server342can provide applications to the set-top box devices316,324via the access network366, which enable the set-top box devices316,324to provide functions, such as interactive program guides, video gaming, display, messaging, processing of VoD material and other IPTV content, etc. In an illustrative embodiment, the application server342can provide location information to the set-top box devices316,324. In a particular embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway344includes operation systems and support (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway344can provide or restrict access to an OSS/BSS server364that stores operations and billing systems data.

The second APP switch340can be coupled to a domain controller346that provides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers368via the public network312. For example, the domain controller346can provide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail, personalized Internet services, or other online services via the public network312. In addition, the second APP switch340can be coupled to a subscriber and system store348that includes account information, such as account information that is associated with users who access the IPTV system300via the private network310or the public network312. In an illustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store348can store subscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profiles that are associated with IP addresses, stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers, other identifiers, or any combination thereof, of corresponding set-top box devices316,324. In another illustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store can store data associated with capabilities of set-top box devices associated with particular customers.

In a particular embodiment, the application tier304can include a client gateway350that communicates data directly to the client-facing tier302. In this embodiment, the client gateway350can be coupled directly to the CFT switch330. The client gateway350can provide user access to the private network310and the tiers coupled thereto. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices316,324can access the IPTV system300via the access network366, using information received from the client gateway350. User devices can access the client gateway350via the access network366, and the client gateway350can allow such devices to access the private network310once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, the client gateway350can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen set-top box devices from accessing the private network310, by denying access to these devices beyond the access network366.

For example, when the first representative set-top box device316accesses the client-facing tier302via the access network366, the client gateway350can verify subscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and system store348via the private network310. Further, the client gateway350can verify billing information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway344via the private network310. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway344can transmit a query via the public network312to the OSS/BSS server364. After the client gateway350confirms subscriber and/or billing information, the client gateway350can allow the set-top box device316to access IPTV content and VoD content at the client-facing tier302. If the client gateway350cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top box device316, e.g., because it is connected to an unauthorized twisted pair, the client gateway350can block transmissions to and from the set-top box device316beyond the access network366.

As indicated inFIG. 3, the acquisition tier306includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch352that communicates with the private network310. The AQT switch352can also communicate with the operations and management tier308via the public network312. In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch352can be coupled to one or more live Acquisition-servers (A-servers)354that receive or acquire television content, movie content, advertisement content, other video content, or any combination thereof, from a broadcast service356, such as a satellite acquisition system or satellite head-end office. In a particular embodiment, the live acquisition server354can transmit content to the AQT switch352, and the AQT switch352can transmit the content to the CFT switch330via the private network310.

In an illustrative embodiment, content can be transmitted to the D-servers332, where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated, or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from the video server(s)380to the set-top box devices316,324. The CFT switch330can receive content from the video server(s)380and communicate the content to the CPE314,322via the access network366. The set-top box devices316,324can receive the content via the CPE314,322, and can transmit the content to the television monitors318,326. In an illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of the content can be streamed to the set-top box devices316,324.

Further, the AQT switch352can be coupled to a video-on-demand importer server358that receives and stores television or movie content received at the acquisition tier306and communicates the stored content to the VoD server336at the client-facing tier302via the private network310. Additionally, at the acquisition tier306, the VoD importer server358can receive content from one or more VoD sources outside the IPTV system300, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VoD importer server358can transmit the VoD content to the AQT switch352, and the AQT switch352, in turn, can communicate the material to the CFT switch330via the private network310. The VoD content can be stored at one or more servers, such as the VoD server336.

When users issue requests for VoD content via the set-top box devices316,324, the requests can be transmitted over the access network366to the VoD server336, via the CFT switch330. Upon receiving such requests, the VoD server336can retrieve the requested VoD content and transmit the content to the set-top box devices316,324across the access network366, via the CFT switch330. The set-top box devices316,324can transmit the VoD content to the television monitors318,326. In an illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of VoD content can be streamed to the set-top box devices316,324.

FIG. 3further illustrates that the operations and management tier308can include an operations and management tier (OMT) switch360that conducts communication between the operations and management tier308and the public network312. In the embodiment illustrated byFIG. 3, the OMT switch360is coupled to a TV2 server362. Additionally, the OMT switch360can be coupled to an OSS/BSS server364and to a simple network management protocol monitor386that monitors network devices within or coupled to the IPTV system300. In a particular embodiment, the OMT switch360can communicate with the AQT switch352via the public network312.

The OSS/BSS server364may include a cluster of servers, such as one or more CPE data collection servers that are adapted to request and store operations systems data, such as performance data from the set-top box devices316,324. In an illustrative embodiment, the CPE data collection servers may be adapted to analyze performance data to identify a condition of a physical component of a network path associated with a set-top box device, to predict a condition of a physical component of a network path associated with a set-top box device, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server354can transmit content to the AQT switch352, and the AQT switch352, in turn, can transmit the content to the OMT switch360via the public network312. In this embodiment, the OMT switch360can transmit the content to the TV2 server362for display to users accessing the user interface at the TV2 server362. For example, a user can access the TV2 server362using a personal computer368coupled to the public network312.

The proxy system130ofFIGS. 1-2can be operably coupled to the third communication system300for purposes similar to those described above.

It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing media communication system embodiments that other suitable media communication systems for distributing broadcast media content as well as peer-to-peer exchange of content can be applied to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system400employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture. Communication system400can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication systems100-300as another representative embodiment of said communication systems.

The communication system400can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)440, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server430, and network elements of an IMS network450. The IMS network450can be coupled to IMS compliant communication devices (CD)401,402or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CD403using a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)420that connects the call through a common PSTN network460.

IMS CDs401,402register with the IMS network450by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with a corresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) supported by the HSS440. To accomplish a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD401can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF404which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF406. The originating S-CSCF406can submit the SIP INVITE message to an application server (AS) such as reference410that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. For example, the application server410can be used to perform originating treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF406in the SIP INVITE message.

Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Additionally, the originating S-CSCF406can submit queries to the ENUM system430to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMS compliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device, the ENUM system430will respond with an unsuccessful address resolution and the S-CSCF406will forward the call to the MGCF420via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)419.

When the ENUM server430returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI is used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)407to submit a query to the HSS440to identify a terminating S-CSCF414associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference402. Once identified, the I-CSCF407can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF414which can call on an application server411similar to reference410to perform the originating treatment telephony functions described earlier. The terminating S-CSCF414can then identify a terminating P-CSCF416associated with the terminating CD402. The P-CSCF416then signals the CD402to establish communications. The aforementioned process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 4can be interchanged.

IMS network450can also be operably coupled to the proxy system130ofFIG. 1. In this representative embodiment, the proxy system130can be accessed over a PSTN or VoIP channel of communication system400by common techniques such as described above.

FIG. 5depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system500for distributing media content and for collaboratively experiencing media programs distributed by subsystems502-510. The communication system500can comprise one or more social network portals502(e.g., YouTube™, FaceBook™, MySpace™, etc.), an IPTV media system504, a satellite TV media system506, and/or a cable TV media system508. Media systems504-506can be similar to those described above with the capability of sharing media content over a common ISP network501. Computing device510can represent a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or similar computing device also capable of sharing media content with Internet browsing capability for communicating with the proxy system130.

FIG. 6depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal630. The portal630can be used for managing services of communication systems100-600as well as for collaboratively experiencing media programs distributed by said communication systems. The portal630can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer using an Internet-capable communication device such as references108,116, or210ofFIGS. 1-2. The portal630can be configured to access a media processor such as references106,204,206,316, and324ofFIGS. 1-3and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), VoD catalog, a personal catalog stored in the STB (e.g., personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.), collaborative media communications as depicted by method700ofFIG. 7, and so on.

FIG. 7depicts an illustrative method700operating in portions of communication systems100-600.FIGS. 8-30depict illustrative embodiments of method700. Method700begins with step702in which a subscriber logs into a portal such as depicted inFIG. 6(or a proxy system exclusively configured for collaborative media communications).FIG. 8depicts an illustrative graphic user interface (GUI) for logging into the portal. The login process can take place once a user becomes a subscriber of the portal using a common registration process.

Once the subscriber has logged into the portal, the portal presents the subscriber a collaborative GUI screen with selectable icons such as shown inFIG. 9. At this stage, the subscriber can select in step704a buddy list icon902to determine which buddy or buddies are actively engaged in the presentation of media content. Media content in the present context can represent audio content (e.g., music), still image content (e.g., pictures), moving image (e.g., video), or combinations thereof. For illustrative purposes only, media content referred to by method700will represent video content.

In step706, the portal presents a GUI such as shown inFIG. 10that depicts which buddies are actively engaged in a presentation of video content. In this illustration, there are two buddies (Brian and Lstead) depicted in section1002. Each buddy is viewing different video programs (Planet Earth, and Survivorman) depicted in section1004. The GUI also shows how much time has lapsed since the video program was initiated by each buddy as depicted in section1006. Assume that in step708the portal detects that the subscriber has selected what Brian is viewing. Responsive to this selection, the portal presents the subscriber in step710the media program from the point at which the Brian is viewing the program, thereby synchronizing the viewings of the subscriber and Brian as depicted inFIG. 11.

The GUI ofFIG. 11shows the media program overlaid with a virtual audience of avatars (actual pictures of the subscribers could have been used in lieu of the avatars, if available). In step712, the subscriber can invoke a temporal action such as a buddy to buddy messaging sequence by selecting any portion of the media program canvas with a mouse pointer1102. The subscriber can then begin to type a message on screen such as shown inFIG. 12depicted by reference1202. Once the message is complete, the subscriber can submit the message by selecting the enter button on his/her keyboard, which invokes a call out symbol1302positioned near the avatar of the subscriber initiating the message as shown inFIG. 13. This comment is also recorded in a show timeline1401with previous commentaries by an iconic comment symbol as depicted by references1402-1408ofFIG. 14. If the subscriber selects one of these iconic comment symbols, the portal then presents an asynchronous presentation of the media program from the temporal location at which the temporal action took place depicting the call out at said temporal location. When this occurs, the subscriber is no longer viewing the media program synchronously with the other buddies.

At step714, the subscriber (and/or buddies) can invoke expressions and/or gestures of their respective avatars. This can be accomplished by selecting an icon1501which presents an expression and gesture list1502-1504. The subscriber can alternatively enter a character sequence representative of the expression or gesture (e.g., :) which represents an expression of a smile). In this illustration, there are two selectable gestures1502, and nine selectable expressions1504. The gestures can be a thumbs up (representing approval) and thumbs down (representing disapproval) of the media program at the temporal location where the gesture is selected. The selectable expressions can include expressions of laughter, happiness, winking, drooling, confusion, huh?, sadness, shock, or anger. Other suitable gestures or expressions can be applied to the present disclosure without departure from the scope of the claims listed below. In this illustration, the expression of happiness has been selected for the avatar of Mukesh as shown inFIG. 16by reference1604.

As before, temporal actions such as expressions can be recorded on the show time bar and can be depicted as selectable star symbols1602. When a star symbol is selected, the subscriber is taken to the point in the presentation where the expression was made by the avatar of the buddy initiating the expression. When such a selection is made, the presentation of the media program becomes asynchronous to the subscriber relative to the other buddies.FIG. 17, shows the selection of a thumbs up gesture1702. Responsive to selecting this gesture, the portal presents a selectable thumbs up icon1802on the show time line, and the avatar of Mukesh1804also shows a thumbs up gesture. When a thumbs up icon is selected by any of the participants viewing the media program, the portal generates for the viewer initiating the selection an asynchronous presentation of the media program at a time when the gesture was made.

In step718, the subscriber can choose to change buddies while synchronously viewing the media program with other buddies. This step can be represented byFIGS. 19-21. InFIG. 19there are three buddies1904-1908(Brian, Mukesh, Lstead, respectively) initially viewing the media program. The subscriber can select the buddy icon1902, which invokes inFIG. 20a sub-GUI list2002identifying all the buddies who can be joined or removed from viewing the media program in question. Buddies with a checkmark remain in the virtual audience while buddies without a checkmark are removed from the virtual audience. Hence, by selecting and deselecting the buddies a new virtual audience can be created as shown inFIG. 21. In this illustration, the avatar for Brian (reference1904) has been removed, and a new avatar2102(for subscriber: Alicia Abella) has been added to the virtual audience.

One or more of the foregoing steps of method700can generate corresponding temporal actions (comments, gestures, expressions, etc.) recorded by the portal in step720for viewing by buddies actively engaged in a synchronous viewing of the media program, and for buddies that asynchronous view the media program at subsequent times. The temporal actions can be recorded as metadata by the portal. The portal utilizes the metadata to create one or more symbolic overlays (e.g., virtual audience, show timeline, comment icons, call outs, gestures, expressions, etc.) which can be combined with the presentation of the media program without altering the original format of the media program. Over the course of one or more synchronous and/or asynchronous viewings of a media program by a plurality of subscribers, the portal can record metadata associated with temporal actions of each participant viewing the media program, and can combine metadata files recorded for each subscriber into an aggregate metadata archive that can be used to create a collective virtual collaborative experience.

Referring back to step708, suppose that instead of the subscriber selecting the buddy icon symbol902inFIG. 9, the subscriber selects the show guide icon symbol904. In this instance, the subscriber would be presented in step722a show guide as shown inFIG. 23. The show guide can also be invoked at any instance of the GUI presentations of steps710-720. For instance, the subscriber can select the show guide2202after starting a synchronous session with other buddies as demonstrated byFIG. 22. The show guide as depicted inFIG. 23, can be presented in three illustrative embodiments. A guide depicted by tab2302organizes media programs by genre, series, and episode with ratings (number of thumbs up/down entered by others, and number of commentaries made). In another illustrative embodiment, the subscriber can select another tab2402, designated as Popular(All), which as depicted inFIG. 24organizes a presentation of media programs by number of viewings (highest number of viewings is presented first). In yet another illustrative embodiment, the subscriber can select yet another tab2502, designated as Popular(Buddies), which as depicted inFIG. 25organizes a presentation of the most popular media programs by subscriber.

From any of these embodiments of the show guide, the subscriber can select in step724a media program of interest. The portal then presents in step726the selected media program asynchronously from other previous viewers. Suppose for example that the subscriber selects the media program, “Shoes”, depicted by reference2504from Brian's popular list as shown inFIG. 25. From this selection, the portal presents in step726the “Shoes” media program inFIG. 26highlighting in step728prerecorded expressions, commentary callouts, and comment and expression icons on the show timeline. The subscriber can view the selected media program and experience the temporal actions of others who previously viewed the program. The subscriber can also add in step730his/her own temporal actions if desired for subsequent viewers to experience.

In sum, method700can be utilized by any system to collect synchronous and asynchronous temporal actions of a user experiencing a particular program without necessitating a synchronous experience of all participants. Method700thus provides a convenient means to collaborate experiences between users over the course of one or more presentations of a media program.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, method700can be adapted so that an experience graph2701such as shown inFIG. 27can be overlaid on a media program to assist each viewer in identifying the sections of the media program where most temporal actions have taken place (see reference2702) and where the viewer's own temporal actions have taken place (see reference2704).

In another embodiment, method700can be adapted so that a subscriber can rate media programs by a star (or other symbolic) rating system (see reference2802ofFIG. 28). Subscriber ratings can be recorded by the portal and averaged between subscribers experiencing the same media program. The ratings can be presented by the portal in the show guide. In yet another embodiment, method700can be applied to a social network portal such as YouTube as shown illustratively inFIG. 29. In this embodiment, the social network portal can utilize the steps described in method700to enhance the social networking experience with symbolic overlays defined by a collective metadata archive of temporal actions of viewers to create a collaborative experience between them.

In another embodiment, method700can be adapted so that experience graphs can be used to compact media programs as shown inFIG. 30. In this illustration a histogram of occurrences of temporal actions of a plurality of viewers of a media program can be compared to a threshold established by a subscriber desiring to identify the most popular sections of a media program based on the temporal actions recorded for a plurality of viewers. If the occurrences of temporal actions exceed the threshold, the portal identifies corresponding sections of the media program with metadata. With this metadata, the portal can present a subscriber a compacted presentation of the most popular sections of the media program.

In yet another illustrative embodiment, method700can be adapted so that a content provider of a media program can establish one or more symbolic overlay conditions. These conditions can be incorporated as metadata in the media program. Accordingly, the portal can be directed to follow the symbolic overlay conditions as directed by the content provider. Symbolic overlay conditions can define a symbolic overlay design, and/or a policy to manage the presentation of temporal actions initiated by the subscribers viewing the media program. The symbolic overlay design can represent a symbolic overlay supplied by the content provider, which for example can be defined according to an extensible markup language (or XML). The content provider can thus define what the look and feel of a symbolic overlay can be. For example, avatars may have a particular look and feel, the background setting can be thematically selected by the content provider, and so on. Similarly, the policy can define as well as limit the temporal actions available to each subscriber. For example, the content provider can define new gestures (e.g., both hands raised as a Hooray! gesture), and/or new expressions (e.g., face turned 180 with the avatars tongue out). The content provider can remove some expressions such as drooling.

In yet another embodiment, method700can be adapted so that the portal can detect a pattern of behavior of a subscriber according to the one or more temporal actions. From the detected pattern, the portal create a behavioral profile of the subscriber which the service provider of the portal can utilize to tailor the subscriber's interest, among other possible applications.

It is further noted that method700can be applied to any form of media content including without limitation audio content, still image content, moving image content, or combinations thereof. Method700can also be applied in any suitable setting such as for example a training session, an academic lecture where students interchange thoughts, inquiries, commentaries, or other applicable settings.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

The computer system3100may include a processor3102(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory3104and a static memory3106, which communicate with each other via a bus3108. The computer system3100may further include a video display unit3110(e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system3100may include an input device3112(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device3114(e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit3116, a signal generation device3118(e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device3120.

The disk drive unit3116may include a machine-readable medium3122on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software3124) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions3124may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory3104, the static memory3106, and/or within the processor3102during execution thereof by the computer system3100. The main memory3104and the processor3102also may constitute machine-readable media.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions3124, or that which receives and executes instructions3124from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment3126can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network3126using the instructions3124. The instructions3124may further be transmitted or received over a network3126via the network interface device3120.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.