Patent ID: 8904469

Claim:
A system for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network, comprising: a content provider for distributing a program; a metadata provider for distributing metadata, the metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of the program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use in obtaining an ambient effect to complement the program; and a user terminal comprising an input for receiving the metadata; an input for receiving the program using the content reference identifier; a rendering unit for rendering the received program; an ambience generator for generating the ambient effect, wherein the ambient effect is different from audio or video of the rendering of the received program; and an ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of content of the received program.