Patent Publication Number: US-11663825-B2

Title: Addressable image object

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/845,142 filed on Apr. 10, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/828,607 filed on Dec. 1, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,657,380). All sections of the aforementioned application(s) and patent(s) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject disclosure relates to a system and method for linking objects identified in media content with suppliers of goods and services through the Internet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Online advertisers typically target users with advertisements of products or services based on traits or perceived needs of the users. Such advertising is often unreliable because of the uncertainty of prospective purchasers, often based on the use of search words entered by the user to imply interest in acquiring particular goods or services. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    depicts an illustrative embodiment of system for addressable image objects; 
         FIG.  2    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used in portions of the system described in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  3 - 4    depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide media services in a system for addressable image objects; 
         FIG.  5    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal for interacting with the communication systems of  FIGS.  1  and  3 - 4   ; 
         FIG.  6    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device; and 
         FIG.  7    is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments for a system for identifying and maintaining addressable image objects. Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure. 
     One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method, comprising: analyzing, by a processing system comprising a processor, media content, wherein the media content is provided as a video stream displayed to a user of a media device, the media content comprising a plurality of digital frames transported to the media device over a private network; recognizing, by the processing system, product information from the analyzing of the plurality of digital frames in the media content; determining, by the processing system, product website information for providers of goods or services associated with the product information, wherein the providers of goods or services are selected during the determining based on a proximity to the user of the media device; receiving, by the processing system from the media device, a user input selecting a product associated with the product information resulting in a selected product; and providing, by the processing system, a connection to a website associated with the selected product to the media device through the private network, wherein the product website information comprises a uniform resource locator to the website, and wherein the website enables the user to securely procure the product selected without providing payment information to the providers of the goods or services. 
     One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device, comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: analyzing media content to recognize an object therein, wherein the media content is provided as a video stream displayed to a user of a communication device, the media content comprising a plurality of digital frames transported to the communication device over a private network; associating product information of a product with the object; receiving a user input selecting the object; determining providers of goods or services of the product, wherein the providers of goods or services are selected during the determining based on a proximity of the providers to the user of the communication device; and providing the product information to the communication device. 
     One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: analyzing media content to recognize an object therein, wherein the media content is provided as a video stream displayed to a user of a communication device, the media content comprising a plurality of digital frames sent to the communication device over a private network; identifying a product from the object; receiving a user input selecting the object on a screen of the communication device; determining a location of the communication device; and providing a list of providers of goods or services of the product to the communication device based an ability of the providers of the goods or services to deliver the goods or services to the location of the communication device in a timely fashion. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an illustrative embodiment of system  100  for addressable image objects. System  100  comprises an Internet service provider (ISP) cloud network  110 , which is a private, scalable network of servers and databases to and through which internet communication services are provided to wireless and wired communication devices  140 ,  141 . A private network is, for example, a network that is not accessible to the public. Examples of private networks include virtual private networks (VPNs), subscription based networks, encrypted networks, secured networks, or the like. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the ISP cloud network  110  may comprise one or more network servers  120 , an active content repository  130 , an audio/visual object database  133 , and a provider database  136 . Also illustrated is the Internet  150  and a provider&#39;s website  156 . Provider&#39;s website  156  may be connected to ISP cloud network  110  through the Internet  150 , as illustrated, or directly to ISP cloud network  110  (not shown). Network servers  120  may be virtual servers or hardware servers, as described in further detail below. 
     System  100  performs automated object recognition and tagging functions to derive objects found in audio, visual, or audiovisual content (collectively, “media content”). The system saves the recognized video and audio objects in audio/visual object database  133 . The audio/visual object database  133  can be linked to, supplemented by, or updated by all sources of data including but not limited to providers&#39; inventories or other information stored in the provider database  136 . 
     Active content repository  130  comprises a library of media content requested by communication devices  140 ,  141 . Communication devices  140 ,  141  provide input to ISP cloud network  110  requesting delivery of media content for play back on communication devices  140 ,  141 . For example, communication device  140  may be a set-top box that tunes to a particular television channel where live media content is presented. Alternatively, communication device  141  may be a mobile device that is being used to watch on demand media content. Further description of communication devices  140 ,  141  is set forth below in connection with  FIG.  6    below. 
     As the user is watching the media content, the user may wish to seek further information about an addressable image object that the user identifies in the media content. The user indicates such interest as the activated content is being played back on the communication device  140 ,  141 , for example, by activating a spot on the screen that may be responsive to addressable image object selection on the communication device. Such activation may pause playback of the media content. Upon pause, more detailed information and the rest of the tagged addressable image objects will be sent to the user&#39;s viewing device. Further description of the user interface may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/216,024, entitled “Internet Enabled Video Media Content Stream, filed Jul. 21, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. When user selects any addressable image object in the paused picture, website links for all providers of that product can appear on the screen in a list that has already been sorted according to criteria. Selecting an addressable image object allows the user to follow a dynamic link provided by the localization process to a web address enabling the user to select one or more vendors that can provide a product associated with the selected addressable image object. Sorting the provider&#39;s list for selected addressable image objects can be setup by users based on their interest(s). A default criteria setup might be based on proximity, price, delivery time, service agreement, and so on. 
     The system  100  notes the location of a user viewing active media content. The system performs a localization process to identify selected providers of all previously tagged addressable image objects in the media content. The system  100  can embed primary information of selected providers based on different criteria such as delivery time, price, and so forth. Primary information of the providers and tagged addressable image objects may be embedded to each active frame or any other frames that have new tagged object(s), compared to previous frames, to save bandwidth. The embedding can be done through inputs from data analysis and big data processes. 
     During the selection and pausing of the video, network servers  120  in the ISP cloud network  110  may conduct further processing and can send specific and detailed information from the ISP cloud network  110  to the user about recognized addressable image objects in the paused picture. Meanwhile, for example, live media content can be buffered in the device or in the active content repository  130  for viewing continuity, after the information has been provided to the user. The specific and detailed information may be presented to the user, for example, via web pages on the internet  150 . Some web pages may be used for commercial purposes, like online ordering. Other web pages may relate to informational entities, such as Wikipedia or the like, providing results to further searches concerning the media content. 
     Exemplarily, the related webpages are opened in a window. In an embodiment, the related webpages can be provided through the ISP cloud network  110  in a secure environment, such that any order being placed through a website maintained by the provider&#39;s website  156 , at least because the related webpages that are presented can be controlled by the service provider that provides the media content through the ISP cloud network  110 , thereby reducing fraud. Exemplarily, the operator of the ISP cloud network  110  and the user of communication devices  140 ,  141  already have a preexisting contractual arrangement. Accordingly, the operator can ensure that the user and the provider have established connections in a secure environment of the ISP cloud network  110 , because end-to-end connectivity may be wholly provided by the ISP cloud network  110 . Exemplarily, the operator can maintain the user&#39;s financial information to conduct payment arrangements with the provider of goods and/or services, thus ensuring an extremely secure transaction. 
     Audio/visual object database  133  comprises addressable image objects recognized in the media content by network servers  120  in the ISP cloud network  110 . Fully automated methods of object recognition are performed by the network servers on audio channels and/or frames of a video stream, in real time. The process takes place in the ISP cloud network  110 , where the audio/visual object database  133  exists. The audio/visual object database  133  grows continuously through interaction with this process and also other available sources to ISP cloud network  110 . Some available image recognition methods can be used to supplement this real time process as follows. Existing computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data methods can be used to analyze and process existing media content and build an infrastructure of the audio/visual object database  133  in the ISP cloud network  110  that can be used for any existing and future application of object recognition. Each object may be identified and categorized to be reachable through different methods like picture or audio matching requests. 
     In another embodiment, media content can be created having pre-identified addressable image objects attached thereto for inclusion in the active content repository  130 . Such media content can be analyzed by providers of goods and/or services that may also be users of the ISP cloud network  110 . Information identifying such providers may be stored in the provider database  136 . The providers can update either or both of the active content repository  130  or the audio/visual object database  133  with new products for commercial uses. The network servers  120  may determine an association between provider information stored in the provider database  136  and objects stored in the audio/visual object database  133 , such as for localization purposes and/or to increase and update the information about products and/or services provided by the providers. 
     Metadata is stored in the active content repository  130  that associates addressable image objects recognized in the media content with the media content itself. Additionally, each recognized addressable image object in the media content can be tagged by a process that allocates the closest area in a picture occupied by the addressable image object. This area may be used at the communication device to select the addressable image object from among other available objects. Tagging should be done in a way that not only be selectable by the device like touch screen or cursor, but also be able to contain all other required information about provider and alternative or additional options. Alternatively or additionally, the previously described metadata may be stored in the audio/visual object database  133 . 
       FIG.  2    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method used by system  100  described in  FIG.  1   . In step  202 , a database of recognized objects is created by network servers in the cloud that scan the media content. In one embodiment, the network servers recognize objects by analyzing the audio channels of the media content, through voice recognition, digital audio watermarks, or the like. In another embodiment, the network servers recognize objects by analyzing the closed captioning provided with the media content. In another embodiment, the network servers recognize objects by image recognition, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or big data methods to analyze and process the media content. In an embodiment, the recognized objects are added to an audio/visual object database located in a private cloud network as addressable image objects. Each addressable image object added can be identified and categorized for use with different methods like picture or audio matching requests. In an embodiment, media content providers may provide object identification information for addressable image objects found within the media content, such as uniform product codes (UPC), offset time stamps, relative positions in the display of the media content, type of advertisement or merchant, the type of product, type of service, as well as definitions of objects, such as images of actors, products, points of interest, etc. 
     Step  204  illustrates that media content is being played back on a communication device. During playback, network servers continue to recognize objects, as described above. In step  206 , the user indicates a desire to obtain more information about an addressable image object observed in the media content. The user can make this indication merely by pressing pause on a remote control, using a pointing device and clicking on the addressable image object, touching a touch screen on the addressable image object, issuing a voice command, or the like. In an embodiment, tagged areas with attached links can be activated by adding information to those area about the user&#39;s device and make the area to be responsive to selection method of the device. For example if the communication device has a touch screen, the tagged area indicating a relative location on the screen that should be responsive to a touch. Similarly, for voice activated devices, TV sets, or computer devices that are responsive to different inputs, the displayed content should be responsive to any or all of those methods. 
     In step  208 , the network servers in the cloud may identify the particular frame of the media content selected by the user, and can perform further analysis to identify objects within the frame, or within the preceding series of frames or audio channels. Meanwhile, in step  210 , the media stream can be buffered and restarted once the user has completed any activity associated with the object identification. 
     In step  212 , object disambiguation takes place. Here, the system determines whether the user has unambiguously selected a particular addressable image object, or generally has paused display of the media content. The system may provide the communication device with a menu for selection of addressable image objects associated with the media content before the user paused the content. For example, the user may be presented with an option to zoom in on an object or zoom out from an addressable image object to assist in selection of the addressable image object. In an embodiment, the selection may also include disambiguation of the user&#39;s interaction with the addressable image object. For example, the object may be a point of interest, such as golf course, and the user may merely want more information about the addressable image object, in which case the system may provide a webpage comprising information associated with the addressable image object. Alternatively, the user may wish to purchase goods or services associated with the addressable image object, in which case the system may arrange for a secure transaction, as set forth in more detail below. 
     Next, in step  214 , network servers in the cloud identify one or more providers of goods or services associated with the addressable image object capable of providing the goods or services in a timely fashion. In one embodiment, the location of the user, which is known to the ISP, can be used to draw an association between the user and providers of goods or services that can effect delivery of the goods or services to the premises of the user within 24 hours. For example, network servers in the cloud may select one or more providers of the goods or services associated with the identified addressable image object based on proximity to the user, and thus, their ability to rapidly provide the goods or services. Such selection, hereinafter known as localization, can be easily made using the information stored in the provider database, and a provider association with the addressable image object stored in the audio/visual object database. The localization process can take place for the broadcast video contents, but will be distributed to users of each area with the related information specific to that area. In an embodiment, the localization process analyzes, selects, and prioritizes the goods and services providers that should be identified to users based on different considerations. For example, the exact producer of the selected addressable image object may be the best choice, but if that producer is not available, to select a provider that has service agreement with the ISP that can provide the product in a secure transaction. The location of the user will be sent and updated by the ISP to the cloud for the localization process. The localization process may use the user&#39;s location to identify the providers of all previously tagged objects in the media content being viewed by the user. The providers&#39; information of tagged objects in the video content can be identified by the localization process. In an embodiment, selected providers may compete to be targeted by user for selected product. In an embodiment, the user is presented with a choice of providers of the goods and/or services associated with the selected object. Such choice may be made based on preferred criteria, such as price, delivery time, etc. In another embodiment, the system highlights or emphasizes providers who can effect local delivery quickly. 
     Once a provider is selected, a new, secure connection to the provider&#39;s website can be established on the display of the communication device in step  216 . In an embodiment, each addressable image object in the media content can be linked to a web address of the service/product provider that was identified through the localization process. Options may be presented to the user to choose any provider of same product based on different criteria that will also be available as soon as the customer pauses and selects an addressable image object in the picture. 
     In an embodiment, the primary information of the selected providers and selected tagged addressable image objects may be embedded to each active frame based on different criteria such as delivery time, price, and so on. Embedded addressable image objects may save bandwidth when the system transmits the information of addressable image objects that have a higher chance of selection by a user. A determination of the likelihood of selection of a particular addressable image object can be performed by the system through inputs from data analysis and big data processes that analyze information about the user and user behavior, historical information, demographics, or the like. 
     In an embodiment, when user selects any addressable image object in the paused picture, website links for all providers of that product can appear on the screen. In an embodiment, the links can be sorted via different criteria than the selection criteria. Sorting the provider list for selected addressable image objects can be setup by users based on their interest. The default criteria setup might be based on proximity, price, delivery time, service agreement, and so on. 
     In an embodiment, the ISP acts as a clearing house to securely consummate the transaction. In more detail, the ISP can provide the order and delivery instructions to the provider selected by the user, and will remit payment on behalf of the user to the provider. In turn the ISP can add the cost of the purchased goods or services to periodic billing of the user. In this manner, the ISP in effect has extended credit to the user, and acts as a guarantor of payment to the provider. In an embodiment, the user does not need to supply payment information to the provider of the goods and/or services, thus further enhancing the security of the transaction. 
     Upon completion of the transaction, the communication device can revert to displaying the media content. 
     While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respective processes are shown and described as a series of blocks in  FIG.  2   , it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methods described herein. 
       FIG.  3    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  300  for providing various communication services, such as delivering media content. The communication system  300  can represent an interactive media network, such as an interactive television system (e.g., an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system). Communication system  300  can be overlaid or operably coupled with system  100  illustrated in  FIG.  1    as another representative embodiment of communication system  300 . For instance, one or more devices illustrated in the communication system  300  of  FIG.  3    can perform a method of analyzing media content, wherein the media content is provided as a video stream displayed to a user of a media device, the media content comprising a plurality of digital frames transported to the media device over a private network; recognizing product information from the analyzing of the plurality of digital frames in the media content; determining product website information for providers of goods or services associated with the product information, wherein the providers of goods or services are selected during the determining based on a proximity to the user of the media device; receiving a user input selecting a product associated with the product information resulting in a selected product; and providing a connection to a website associated with the selected product to the media device through the private network, wherein the product website information comprises a uniform resource locator to the website, and wherein the website enables the user to securely procure the product selected without providing payment information to the providers of the goods or services. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication system  300  can include a super head-end office (SHO)  310  with at least one super headend office server (SHS)  311  which receives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media content can represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server  311  can forward packets associated with the media content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS)  314  via a network of video head-end offices (VHO)  312  according to a multicast communication protocol. The VHS  314  can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an access network  318  to commercial and/or residential buildings  302  housing a gateway  304  (such as a residential or commercial gateway). 
     The access network  318  can represent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links or copper twisted pairs  319  to buildings  302 . The gateway  304  can use communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors  306  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels to media devices  308  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  307  (such as an infrared or RF remote controller). 
     The gateway  304 , the media processors  306 , and media devices  308  can utilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerline or phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, or other present or next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invoked between the media processors  306  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services. 
     A satellite broadcast television system  329  can be used in the media system of  FIG.  3   . The satellite broadcast television system can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  300 . In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  315  that include media content can be received by a satellite dish receiver  331  coupled to the building  302 . Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver  331  can be transferred to the media processors  306  for demodulating, decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices  308 . The media processors  306  can be equipped with a broadband port to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  332  to enable interactive services such as VoD and EPG as described above. 
     In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system  333  can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satellite TV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  300 . In this embodiment, the cable TV system  333  can also provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services. Communication system  300  enables various types of interactive television and/or services including IPTV, cable and/or satellite. 
     The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next generation over-the-air and/or landline media content services system. 
     Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  330 , a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing web portal services over the ISP network  332  to wireline media devices  308  or wireless communication devices  316 . 
     Communication system  300  can also provide for all or a portion of the computing devices  330  to function as network servers (herein referred to as network servers  330 ). The network servers  330  can use computing and communication technology to perform function  362 , which can include among other things, the cloud object recognition techniques described by method  200  of  FIG.  2   . For instance, function  362  of server  330  can be similar to the functions described for network servers  120  of  FIG.  1    in accordance with method  200 . The media processors  306  and wireless communication devices  316  can be provisioned with software functions  364  and  366 , respectively, to utilize the services of network servers  330 . For instance, functions  364  and  366  of media processors  306  and wireless communication devices  316  can be similar to the functions described for the communication devices  140 ,  141  of  FIG.  1    in accordance with method  200 . 
     Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices over landline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, media services can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless access base station  317  operating according to common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access network technologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. 
       FIG.  4    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  400  employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switched systems. Communication system  400  can be overlaid or operably coupled with system  100  of  FIG.  1    and communication system  300  as another representative embodiment of communication system  300 . Communication system  400  can perform one or more steps of a method of analyzing media content, wherein the media content is provided as a video stream displayed to a user of a media device, the media content comprising a plurality of digital frames transported to the media device over a private network; recognizing product information from the analyzing of the plurality of digital frames in the media content; determining product website information for providers of goods or services associated with the product information, wherein the providers of goods or services are selected during the determining based on a proximity to the user of the media device; receiving a user input selecting a product associated with the product information resulting in a selected product; and providing a connection to a website associated with the selected product to the media device through the private network, wherein the product website information comprises a uniform resource locator to the website, and wherein the website enables the user to securely procure the product selected without providing payment information to the providers of the goods or services. 
     Communication system  400  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  440 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  430 , and other network elements of an IMS network  450 . The IMS network  450  can establish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs)  401 ,  402 , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs  403 ,  405 , and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  420  coupled to a PSTN network  460 . The MGCF  420  need not be used when a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. A communication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize the MGCF  420 . 
     IMS CDs  401 ,  402  can register with the IMS network  450  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS  440 . To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  401  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  404  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  406 . The originating S-CSCF  406  can submit the SIP INVITE message to one or more application servers (ASs)  417  that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. 
     For example, the application servers  417  can be used to perform originating call feature treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF  406  in the SIP INVITE message. Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, call ID blocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initial filter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call originating feature services. 
     Additionally, the originating S-CSCF  406  can submit queries to the ENUM system  430  to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITE message to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminating communication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  407  to submit a query to the HSS  440  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  414  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  402 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  407  can submit the SIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF  414 . The terminating S-CSCF  414  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  416  associated with the terminating CD  402 . The P-CSCF  416  may then signal the CD  402  to establish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services, thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call terminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb, music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc. 
     In some instances the aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG.  4    may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system  400  can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition, communication system  400  can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs  401 ,  402  with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system  300  of  FIG.  3   . 
     If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD  403  or CD  405  (in instances where the cellular phone only supports circuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system  430  can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF  406  to forward the call to the MGCF  420  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  419 . The MGCF  420  can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network  460  to enable the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. 
     It is further appreciated that the CDs of  FIG.  4    can operate as wireline or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of  FIG.  4    can be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station  421 , a femtocell, a WiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) base unit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMS network  450  of  FIG.  4   . The cellular base station  421  can operate according to common wireless access protocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can be used by one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly, multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used by the CDs of  FIG.  4   . 
     Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communications and thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular base station  421  may communicate directly with the IMS network  450  as shown by the arrow connecting the cellular base station  421  and the P-CSCF  416 . 
     Alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, other functions, servers and computers described herein, including but not limited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can be embodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective function, server, or computer. 
     The network servers  330  of  FIG.  4    can be operably coupled to communication system  400  for purposes similar to those described above. Network servers  330  can perform function  362  and thereby provide addressable image object selection services to the CDs  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  405  of  FIG.  4    similar to the functions described for system  100  of  FIG.  1    in accordance with method  200  of  FIG.  2   . CDs  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  405 , which can be adapted with software to perform function  472  to utilize the services of the network servers  330  similar to the functions described for communication devices  140 ,  141  of  FIG.  1    in accordance with method  200  of  FIG.  2   . Network servers  330  can be an integral part of the application server(s)  417  performing function  474 , which can be substantially similar to function  362  and adapted to the operations of the IMS network  450 . 
     For illustration purposes only, the terms S-CSCF, P-CSCF, I-CSCF, and so on, can be server devices, but may be referred to in the subject disclosure without the word “server.” It is also understood that any form of a CSCF server can operate in a device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and software. It is further noted that these terms and other terms such as DIAMETER commands are terms can include features, methodologies, and/or fields that may be described in whole or in part by standards bodies such as 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is further noted that some or all embodiments of the subject disclosure may in whole or in part modify, supplement, or otherwise supersede final or proposed standards published and promulgated by 3GPP. 
       FIG.  5    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal  502  of a communication system  500 . Communication system  500  can be overlaid or operably coupled with system  100  of  FIG.  1   , communication system  300 , and/or communication system  400  as another representative embodiment of system  100  of  FIG.  1   , communication system  300 , and/or communication system  400 . The web portal  502  can be used for managing services of system  100  of  FIG.  1    and communication systems  300  and/or  400 . A web page of the web portal  502  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser using an Internet-capable communication device, such as those described in  FIG.  1    and  FIGS.  3 - 4   . The web portal  502  can be configured, for example, to access a media processor  306  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the media processor  306 . The web portal  502  can also be used for provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on. 
     The web portal  502  can further be utilized to manage and provision software applications  362 - 366 , and  472 - 474  to adapt these applications as may be desired by subscribers and/or service providers of system  100  of  FIG.  1   , and communication systems  300  and/or  400 . For instance, users of the services provided by network servers  120  or network servers  330  can log into their on-line accounts and provision the network servers  120  or network servers  330  with profile information describing preferences for producers or defaults for actions taken when selecting addressable image objects, provide contact information to server to enable it to communication with communication devices described in  FIG.  1   , providing user defined criteria for arranging potential producers, and so on. Service providers can log onto an administrator account to provision, monitor and/or maintain the system  100  of  FIG.  1    and/or network servers  330 . 
       FIG.  6    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device  600 . Communication device  600  can serve in whole or in part as an illustrative embodiment of the communication devices  140 ,  141  depicted in  FIG.  1   , and  FIGS.  3 - 4    and can be configured to perform portions of method  200  of  FIG.  2   . 
     Communication device  600  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  602  (herein transceiver  602 ), a user interface (UI)  604 , a power supply  614 , a location receiver  616 , a motion sensor  618 , an orientation sensor  620 , and a controller  606  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  602  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth® and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver  602  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     The UI  604  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  608  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  600 . The keypad  608  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  600  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad  608  can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  604  can further include a display  610  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  600 . In an embodiment where the display  610  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  608  can be presented by way of the display  610  with navigation features. 
     The display  610  can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, the communication device  600  can be adapted to present a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display  610  can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user&#39;s finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the user interface. The display  610  can be an integral part of the housing assembly of the communication device  600  or an independent device communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a cable) or a wireless interface. 
     The UI  604  can also include an audio system  612  that utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard in proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  612  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  612  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  604  can further include an image sensor  613  such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  614  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  600  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering technologies. 
     The location receiver  616  can utilize location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device  600  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor  618  can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the communication device  600  in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor  620  can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device  600  (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics). 
     The communication device  600  can use the transceiver  602  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The controller  606  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the aforementioned components of the communication device  600 . 
     Other components not shown in  FIG.  6    can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communication device  600  can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button can be used to reset the controller  606  of the communication device  600 . In yet another embodiment, the communication device  600  can also include a factory default setting button positioned, for example, below a small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device  600  to force the communication device  600  to re-establish factory settings. In this embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button. The communication device  600  can also include a slot for adding or removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth. 
     The communication device  600  as described herein can operate with more or less of the circuit components shown in  FIG.  6   . These variant embodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. 
     The communication device  600  can be adapted to perform the functions of communication devices  140 ,  141  of  FIG.  1   , the media processor  306 , the media devices  308 , or the portable communication devices  316  of  FIG.  3   , as well as the IMS CDs  401 - 402  and PSTN CDs  403 - 405  of  FIG.  4   . It will be appreciated that the communication device  600  can also represent other devices that can operate in system  100  of  FIG.  1   , communication systems  300 - 400  of  FIGS.  3 - 4    such as a gaming console and a media player. In addition, the controller  606  can be adapted in various embodiments to perform the functions  362 - 366  and  472 - 474 , respectively. 
     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 of the claims described below. For example, the system may identify providers of goods or services that could effect delivery of the products in a very short time, for example, within an hour or two of order placement. In another example, an automated interactive process between system  100  of  FIG.  1    and subscribed providers enables a bidding process among providers for a selected object. Providers can submit their offers for the associated product to the customer in near real time. For example, the providers can compete on price, delivery time, and services that can offer for the selected product by the customer. The associated product can be represented by any object in the paused picture of the video stream or an image of a product that was taken by the user or a real time video in an Augmented Reality (AR) environment pointing to an object that customer is interested in. Other embodiments can be used in the subject disclosure. 
     It should be understood that devices described in the exemplary embodiments can be in communication with each other via various wireless and/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that are described as coupled, connected and so forth, which can include unidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless paths and/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols or methodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g., no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediary processing device such as a router). 
       FIG.  7    depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  700  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods described above. One or more instances of the machine can operate, for example, as network servers  330 , the media processor  306 , the network servers  120 , active content repository  130 , audio/visual object database  133 , provider database  136 , provider&#39;s website  156 , communication devices  140 - 141 , ISP cloud network  110 , and other devices of  FIGS.  1  and  3 - 6   . In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network  726 ) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a communication device of the subject disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. 
     The computer system  700  may include a processor (or controller)  702  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  704  and a static memory  706 , which communicate with each other via a bus  708 . The computer system  700  may further include a display unit  710  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display). The computer system  700  may include an input device  712  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  714  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  716 , a signal generation device  718  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  720 . In distributed environments, the embodiments described in the subject disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units  710  controlled by two or more computer systems  700 . In this configuration, presentations described by the subject disclosure may in part be shown in a first of the display units  710 , while the remaining portion is presented in a second of the display units  710 . 
     The disk drive unit  716  may include a tangible computer-readable storage medium  722  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  724 ) embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  724  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  704 , the static memory  706 , and/or within the processor  702  during execution thereof by the computer system  700 . The main memory  704  and the processor  702  also may constitute tangible computer-readable storage media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits and programmable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executing state machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments of the subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, the operations or methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs or instructions running on or executed by a computer processor or other computing device, and which may include other forms of instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logic components in an application specific integrated circuit or field programmable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g., software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Distributed processing environments can include multiple processors in a single machine, single processors in multiple machines, and/or multiple processors in multiple machines. It is further noted that a computing device such as a processor, a controller, a state machine or other suitable device for executing instructions to perform operations or methods may perform such operations directly or indirectly by way of one or more intermediate devices directed by the computing device. 
     While the tangible computer-readable storage medium  722  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the subject disclosure. The term “non-transitory” as in a non-transitory computer-readable storage includes without limitation memories, drives, devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se. 
     The term “tangible computer-readable storage 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, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, and HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-time superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g., RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi, ZigBee®), and long-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used by computer system  700 . In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can be generated including services being accessed, media consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained by various methods including user input, detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring of this information can be responsive to an authorization provided by the user. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject to authorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in, an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selective authorization based on types of data, and so forth. 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The exemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or steps from multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments described or shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure. For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can be combined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. In one or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can also be negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or without replacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure can be performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions of the subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from other steps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further, more than or less than all of the features described with respect to an embodiment can also be utilized. 
     Less than all of the steps or functions described with respect to the exemplary processes or methods can also be performed in one or more of the exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of numerical terms to describe a device, component, step or function, such as first, second, third, and so forth, is not intended to describe an order or function unless expressly stated so. The use of the terms first, second, third and so forth, is generally to distinguish between devices, components, steps or functions unless expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, one or more devices or components described with respect to the exemplary embodiments can facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating (e.g., facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection) can include less than every step needed to perform the function or can include all of the steps needed to perform the function. 
     In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a controller or circuit) has been described that performs various functions. It should be understood that the processor can be multiple processors, which can include distributed processors or parallel processors in a single machine or multiple machines. The processor can be used in supporting a virtual processing environment. The virtual processing environment may support one or more virtual machines representing computers, servers, or other computing devices. In such virtual machines, components such as microprocessors and storage devices may be virtualized or logically represented. The processor can include a state machine, application specific integrated circuit, and/or programmable gate array including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when a processor executes instructions to perform “operations”, this can include the processor performing the operations directly and/or facilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or component to perform the operations. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.