EP2652945A2 - Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels - Google Patents

Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels

Info

Publication number
EP2652945A2
EP2652945A2 EP11854453.5A EP11854453A EP2652945A2 EP 2652945 A2 EP2652945 A2 EP 2652945A2 EP 11854453 A EP11854453 A EP 11854453A EP 2652945 A2 EP2652945 A2 EP 2652945A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
user
content
media
information
optionally
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP11854453.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2652945A4 (fr
Inventor
David M. Geshwind
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2652945A2 publication Critical patent/EP2652945A2/fr
Publication of EP2652945A4 publication Critical patent/EP2652945A4/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/251—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/252—Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2542—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25883—Management of end-user data being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
    • H04N21/25891—Management of end-user data being end-user preferences
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/439—Processing of audio elementary streams
    • H04N21/4396—Processing of audio elementary streams by muting the audio signal

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates to the creation or modification of various media for delivery and/or display to users.
  • a typical early configuration consisted of an 8088 microprocessor, running at less than 5 MHz; 64 Kilobytes of RAM; mass storage that consisted of a one-sided single-density 5-1/4 inch floppy disk drive, often of 360 Kilobye capacity, which was capable of holding a bootable version of the DOS (Microsoft's Windows precursor) operating system and/or many entire applications; a monochrome (80 characters x 25 lines) or 16-color (640H x 200V pixels) monitor display; and, via third-party option, a 300 bits per second modem (equivalent to about 30 typewritten characters per second, not very different than human reading speed, and excruciatingly slow even for small low-
  • DOS Microsoft's Windows precursor
  • a typical contemporary configuration consists of an advanced multi-processor Intel chip (such as Core 2 or Core i5 with 2 or 4 core processors, with 4 or 8MB cache), running in the neighborhood of 3 GHz; 2-8 Gigaytes of RAM; mass fixed storage in the Terabyte range, with removable optical storage in the Gigabyte range (with operating systems and applications
  • Other programs such as web browsers, up/download and monitor web pages, images, videos and other media and web page components; and, often, display a progress bar, based on, and/or indicating to the user, some combination of the size of the file (which is not always available to the downloading program), the speed it is being downloaded, the percentage or absolute amount downloaded, and the expected time remaining to completion.
  • other programs monitor and/or display progress loading/saving or otherwise operating on data files.
  • the instant application relies on the existence of well-known systems and components including, but not limited to: personal and other computers (and smart phones, PDAs, netbooks, eBook readers, and other mobile computing devices), and the system, development, and application software available for them; multimedia systems; systems used for the production and broadcasting, cablecasting, satellite delivery, or other means of distribution and/or delivery of analog and digital media including electronic text and graphics, radio/audio, television/video, multimedia and interactive media; the use of VBI, SAP and other optionally 'piggybacked' and/or synchronized signals; delivery of information via communications networks, including the internet, telephone and mobile broadband, broadcast, cablecast and satellite; delivery, and/or storage or recording on optical, magnetic and/or other information bearing media, of analog and digital signals, including computer, video and other media and information; settop boxes, advanced, digital and HDTV televisions, multimedia computers, and other consumer electronic devices including TiVo, Replay, the V-Chip, etc.; professional and home Intercast (VBI insertion detection) equipment; digital video library and other
  • Figure 1 depicts the archetypal journalistic pyramidal story structure.
  • Figure 2 depicts an example of ideomorphic media tailored to user interest.
  • Figure 3 depicts media tailored to delay length.
  • FIG 4 top, depicts an interactive media display; and, bottom, depicts an example of 'string of beads' granular video media with grain boundaries.
  • Figure 5 depicts a text example of 'string of beads' granular media with grain boundaries - 9 as text for interactive display or, in alternative embodiment, audio.
  • Figure 6 depicts some example methods for encoding grain boundary information.
  • Figure 7 depicts media display compared to system delay and, in particular, set-up/pay-off.
  • Figure 8 depicts an example of algorithmic generation of granular content.
  • Figure 9 depicts granular content with recaps.
  • Figure 10 depicts amortized human effort and computer processing to produce idiomorphic and/or granular content and/or advertising.
  • Figure 1 1 depicts typical handling of user information with respect to third parties.
  • Figure 12 depicts alternative handling of user information with respect to third parties to enable secure and anonymous information exchange between end user and third party.
  • Figure 13 depicts exchange of information between inventive service bureau, advertising client and end user.
  • Figure 14 depicts a flow chart of granular operation in relation to system delay.
  • Figure 15 depicts a system diagram of granular operation in relation to system delay.
  • Figure 16 depicts embodiments of granular media player.
  • Figure 17 depicts embodiments of granular meta-controller program.
  • Figure 18 depicts additional, optional, functions of a granular control program.
  • Figure 19 depicts a multi-user encryption/decryption scheme to reduce overhead.
  • Figure 20 depicts an example of a multi-media pop-up window.
  • Figure 21 depicts example pop-ups illustrating multiple uses, media and platforms.
  • Figure 22 depicts the distribution of media via interstitial channels.
  • Figure 23 depicts granularization of a pyramidally structured document.
  • Figure 24 depicts granularization of email, tweet and personal information.
  • Figure 25 depicts components of meta-media.
  • Figure 26 depicts a diagram of social editing process for audience identification and media refinement.
  • Figure 27 depicts a simple example of user demographic and preference data input fields.
  • Figure 28and 29 depict an example of functional structures related to different program segment types; and a related player screen layout.
  • Figures 30-33 depict example scripts for: a three minute program with many shorter segments; a three minute program with fewer more detailed segments; a five minute program with many shorter segments; and, a five minute program with fewer more detailed segments, respectively.
  • Figure 34 depicts transforming with optional editing of media.
  • Figure 35 depicts the processing of one media channel input from a file or data stream.
  • Figure 36 depicts a system diagram of the overall processing of content, advertising, etc. for delivery as personalized programming.
  • Figure 37 depicts a system diagram of a media player capable of seamless display while switching among multiple media streams.
  • Figure 38 depicts control of content display for transitional operation.
  • Figure 39 depicts a system diagram of interaction for unattended delivery of programming material.
  • Figure 40 depicts a simple example of user data input fields.
  • Figure 41 depicts a standard system structure for 'micro-publishing.
  • Figure 42 depicts the NEWSORT system structure for 'micro-publishing' or more general publishing.
  • FIG. 43 is a chart of the Summary comparison of Qualities of Various Media.
  • Figure 44 is a chart sumarizing the Feature Space of TV, Internet and NewSort.
  • Such interstitial, agglutinatable or aggregatable opportunities include, for example periods of delay in computer operation, or network lag.
  • some embodiments of the instant invention enable what amounts to an entirely new medium.
  • a business based on this technology will capture a completely untapped audience, equivalent - in the number of
  • Such embodiments will provide a soon-to-become-indispensable service to virtually all Windows PC, Apple PC, Unix/Linux and other computer and/or operating system users; and, can also be migrated to users of smart phones and other mobile broadband devices (netbooks, iPads, iPod touches, eBook readers, etc.).
  • Hourglass Syndrome is a collective term for the frustration that stressed computer users are facing as they watch the little hourglass spin while waiting for the program to open or a website to load ... [and that t]he average computer user spends about 13 minutes per day waiting for their technology to catch up to them.”
  • this potentially ubiquitous service will be offered free-of-charge to the public.
  • newspapers, radio, broadcast television, and Google before - this service will generally support itself by piggybacking paid advertising on the free content.
  • the advertising will be welcome.
  • the same technology used to create custom content will also permit the delivery of advertising that the user will be interested in knowing about.
  • Advertising clients - the paying customers - will also receive a unique product.
  • the inventive service will provide advertising that is micro-finely targeted, on an individual scale - something neither traditional media nor even Google can provide. Unlike Google or other internet-based ads, which are often crowded as many as 10 or more to a screen, these ads will capture the undivided attention of users.
  • the ads will interactively offer incentives to those who are interested; and, will enable one-click electronic commerce. This package of features is the holy grail for advertisers - as if your television remote had a 'buy it now' button. As such, these impressions will be more desirable to advertisers than print or television or standard internet impressions and, thus, will bring in higher fees, per impression, to any service utilizing the instant technology.
  • This invention comprises an entirely new medium - or, at least, an entirely new untapped channel.
  • audiences have become fragmented not only by five networks; not only by scores of cable channels; not only by TiVo and video-on-demand; but by, DVDs, Blueray, video games, mobile broadband and, especially, The Internet; the instant invention deals with an audience that is fragmented in an entirely new way.
  • the audience for the instant invention will be a mass audience, far larger than the most successful television networks. But that audience will be fragmented. They will be present for 20 seconds here, a minute there - during a commute on their smart phone, during work on their desktop, at home on their laptop.
  • IBM-PC and its progeny have, far beyond all others, become the standard for home and business computing, with the combination of Microsoft' s Windows operating system running on an ) Intel microprocessor being dubbed the WINTEL machine.
  • An earlier patent of this inventor related to making productive use of computer and/or network time while a user was otherwise engaged.
  • the instant invention relates to making productive use of user time during periods when the computer and/or network is otherwise engaged and not available to the user.
  • Intel's solution is only temporary in that new more fully featured application software, and new richer online media, will only serve to use up whatever additional speed Intel's new processors provide, requiring you to buy yet another new computer in a few years. And a new machine will do nothing to alleviate non-local delays while working online, via the internet and other networks.
  • This player program will reside below the surface, hidden, watching for when the system or application blocks out the user and displays the dreaded "hourglass” (or Apple “spinning pinwheel of doom” or equivalent on other systems, or in other delaying circumstances), or displays a progress bar.
  • our player will (often, but not always) be able to predict, with fair accuracy, how long a delay will be - anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes or more.
  • Stored on the user's system will be a library of brief programs - again ranging from 10 seconds or less to several minutes or more - which will optionally be pre-selected for each individual user based on their individual preferences for subject (technology, health, news, sports, arts and media, culture, comedy, literature, etc.) medium (text, image, audio, video) and other elements such as demographics (age, gender, income, political leanings, etc.), system configuration, etc.
  • news headline (downloaded and stored as background operations, while the user and system are performing other tasks).
  • Short feature items again selected based on the specific user's interests. These can range from hi-tech, to celebrity gossip, to life-style and entertaining, to child care, to extreme sports, to music, films, books, etc.
  • our 'player' will comprise a special browser, or add-on to, or plug-in for, a standard browser; and, the delays addressed will specifically (optionally, in addition to 'hourglass' type delays) be delays in web resources downloading.
  • a page or other resource, such as a video
  • a page or other media resource already downloaded or otherwise present on the system will be displayed, and comprise the content and/or advertising of the instant product/service.
  • delays will optionally happen even after a page appears to have been completed. For example, elements of content (or advertisements) are 'pushed' or updated; or, a video, Flash movie, or other media may pause during playback while additional data is downloaded.
  • a truly unique element of this new service is that it is active and intelligent from the computer side, and requires no effort or thought on the part of the user.
  • Any typical user might, on any given day, visit ww . ny times . com for general news headlines, ww . tmz . com for celebrity gossip, www . cnet . com for technology news, www . thebestgardeninginfo . com for gardening tips, www . nbc . com for Jay Leno's monologue, www . you tube . com for short viral videos, etc.
  • our system contains a wealth of informative, entertaining media tidbits, preselected to be of interest to this particular user, and pre-measured to approximately fit the kind of system delay anticipated.
  • the invention In addition to programming and distributing - free of charge - one or more specialized media players, browsers or other programs, the invention also addresses being in the media production business - or, optionally, the media re-purposing, editing and reformatting business.
  • media product will generally comprise, daily, thousands of short 'media bites' running from a few seconds to several minutes or more; and, especially, programs that can be cogently run for an arbitrary length of time and then cut as needed at (for example) 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 seconds without confusion to the user.
  • a series of jokes from Jay Leno's or David Letterman's monologue can be stopped after 1, 2, 3, 4 or more jokes to fill a delay of an unknown length, when the system cannot predict with reasonable accuracy the expected length of the delay.
  • TMZ technology news
  • CNET sports
  • ESPN sports
  • finance e.g., CNBC
  • arts and entertainment e.g., Rolling Stone
  • Radio e.g., NPR
  • television e.g., documentary programs such as NOVA on PBS
  • print e.g., a myriad of specialty magazines, from Field and Stream, to Oprah, to the Economist
  • the Internet etc.
  • a 'user interest file' for each user will be kept on our system (or theirs) and, by matching user interest to the content description tags, from the many thousands of items produced each day (or at some other interval more or less frequent or regular), a few score (more or less) of particular interest to a particular user will be sent to that user. Delivery will generally be via the 1 internet to the user's system as a background job that will not interfere with productive work.
  • This library of clips can also be delivered as an email; via the web; or even as a huge library on a CD or DVD (although, not necessarily with recent news headlines or other topical material), to those who are not generally connected to the internet on a regular basis, or to organizations (e.g., offices, schools, ISPs, etc.).
  • the user will be able to select a 'channel' of programming at any time. For example: sports highlights, news headlines, comedy, film/TV, quiz questions, etc. Or, the user will be able to create a custom mix of types of programming (e.g., 25% sports, 25% headlines, 50% comedy).
  • Google and their subsidiary YouTube
  • radio and broadcast television before them give their product away to the public in exchange for advertising revenue. That is the business model and method that will, optionally, be applied to the instant invention.
  • Google makes tens of billions of dollars a year in advertising revenues by placing ads in their search engine product. Their service has become ubiquitous - even without basic patent protection - even with competition from Yahoo, Microsoft Bing, and dozens of other search engines. Almost everyone using a computer uses Google almost every day.
  • the instant invention will enable a service that could easily become as ubiquitous as Google. However, there are advantages available with the instant invention compared to Google's business.
  • Google requires a gargantuan infrastructure of computers and networking, and staff, to deliver their service.
  • the instant service will require far less in the way of both infrastructure and staff. It can start quite small and grow to a size that is just a small fraction of Google to deliver a product to hundreds of millions of users. Thus, such a new business can be established and grow with a relatively small amount of initial capital.
  • Google's ads are tied to what the user is searching for with Google's search engine, but the ads are not truly tied to who the user is or what the user likes. Because the users of the instant service will tell the service about themselves, and about their likes and dislikes, in order for the service to deliver to them content that they will enjoy, the service will know who the users are and what their interests are! The service will, thus, be able to deliver micro-finely targeted advertising on behalf of their advertising customers (the paying clients of the service); advertising impressions that will hold the attention of users; and, advertisements that provide interactive digital commerce as well. That is the holy grail of advertising and neither print, nor radio, nor television, nor even Google provides it. However, the instant service will.
  • the core of the consumer business enabled by the instant invention is to supply engaging, informative and/or entertaining tidbits, to fill frustrating functionality gaps when using a computer. This is particularly utile for gaps that are too short to accomplish anything else productive; because, by the time you can engage in another task (even if your stalled computer does not block you from doing so, or the launching of another application is not required) it is time to return to the primary task.
  • the core of the advertising business enabled by the instant invention is to supply micro-finely targeted, interactive incentive-based advertising, with built-in one-click electronic commerce - the holy grail for advertisers. It is as if your TV remote control had a 'buy it now' button.
  • Print ads at about 1.80 per impression according to some sources
  • television ads at about 3.30 per impression according to some sources
  • An advertising impression is one advertisement seen by one person.
  • the inventive service knows who its customers are. They have told the service who they are, and what they like - in complete confidence - so that the service can supply them with the content they really want.
  • Ads will optionally include interactive incentive options.
  • a simple single click will deliver a '$1 off next purchase' coupon to the user's email account. This will almost guarantee that the user will try this product and - if it is any good (but that is still the manufacturer's responsibility) - a new customer will be made. See, for example, the top of Figure 4 and Figure 13.
  • the service will not only receive a fee for each impression, but perhaps an additional fee for each discount coupon delivered; and, optionally, with tracking of coupons redeemed, an additional fee for those. End-users will welcome such promotions because they will be delivered in confidence, without disclosing the user's email address to the advertiser. Thus, there will be no unwanted follow- up spam.
  • an informational program bite 20 seconds in length, is provided to people who have expressed interest in technology, business, or ecological issues.
  • the gist of the video item is that:
  • This video, or other media is, optionally, accompanied by a text or other message that says, "If you need a printer cartridge, click here to order one from STAPLES with a one-time 10% discount.” Because the inventive service has on file the address where you live (or work), and has your credit card number on file (for your convenience) it can effect the order to STAPLES with a single click, and UPS delivers the discounted cartridge to you within 3 business days. See, for example, the top of Figure 4 and Figure 13.
  • the inventive service will not only get a fee for each of millions of impressions but, for a significant fraction of them, will also receive a more substantial fee for electronic commerce commissions for affecting automatic online orders.
  • advertising is tied - by brand - to demographics: an informational item about how new cars get better gas milage is displayed to end users. This would typically be paired with an ad for a car. However, if the user is an 18 year old student headed for college, the pairing would be with an ad for a Geo Metro or other inexpensive-to-own-and-operate 'starter' car. If the user is a 'soccer mom' the pairing would be with an ad for a suburban family wagon able to seat eight or carry a week's worth of groceries.
  • the pairing would be with an ad for a Lexus or Mercedes (unless the user has a child headed for college, in which case the pairing would, optionally, in addition to, or lieu of, the luxury car ad, be with the Geo Metro ad).
  • the choice of advertisement is tailored to most closely fit the user's (and, thus, the advertiser's) needs.
  • the inventive service will not only get a fee for each of millions of impressions but, for a significant fraction of them, it will receive a more substantial fee or commission for supplying 'additional information' when the user clicks for more information. In those cases, the inventive service will then forward a 20-page, full-color .PDF brochure for the appropriate car to the user's email inbox - optionally in confidence, without permitting the advertiser to follow-on with additional mailings that would be considered spam.
  • targeted advertisements are delivered for a single brand: for example, consider that Barnes and Noble wants the inventive service to deliver an advertisement to every one of its users. The service knows who they all are, and knows what they all like. If a user likes horror stories, they are sent an ad featuring the new Stephen King book; if they are a thriller fan, they are sent an ad featuring the new John Grisham novel; if they are an amateur gourmet chef, they are sent an ad featuring a new coffee-table book on 'creating pastries'; if they are a teenage girl, they are sent an ad featuring the latest Stephanie Myers vampire saga; and so on.
  • All 1 the ads are for B&N, but each is tailored to a specific user's preferences. All the ads feature one-click shopping with the book arriving at the user's doorstep in 3 business days. And, for all the ads clicked on for easy one-click purchase, the inventive service receives a substantial bonus in addition to the basic fee for each of, perhaps, millions of impressions.
  • Google and others do try to do something like this with tracking cookies and the like.
  • Google targeted advertising works is that if, for example, you are searching for digital cameras, Google displays a dozen (more or less) competing ads, on the edges of the search result area, where you can click and go to a website selling digital cameras.
  • the inventive service fills a one minute computer lag with a quick tutorial on how to shoot great portraits with a digital camera, it can - just like Google - display an associated ad for buying a SONY digital camera. But the user already owns one. The service even knows which one.
  • the inventive service will be able to deliver to advertisers the undivided attention of the audience because of the unique nature of the inventive product.
  • Ads are the distraction.
  • the user is working and focused.
  • the computer stalls and that attention is frustrated.
  • the service provides the user a brief diversion to focus that attention on.
  • the user is focused, not distracted.
  • the inventive service knows that the user is, for example, a home gardener in the Northeastern US.
  • the service presents a 20 second long featurette telling the user that next month ' is the time to plant seeds and bulbs for their summer flower garden.
  • the inventive service informs the user that "Home Depot is having a garden sale - click here to receive a catalog and discount coupon via email," it is not a distraction but exactly what the user wants, the natural progression from where the user's attention is already focused.
  • This child has the best features of both parents, and some inescapably attractive gifts of its own. They assume and make their own the 'gatekeeper of the culture' role, once played by the monolithic media distribution institutions, to harness the ephemeral blizzard that is emblematic of social media.
  • Embodiments of the instant invention effectively re-invent audience attention for the social media influenced environment.
  • a large part of the instant invention is for inventive technologies that enable the creation and delivery of 'idiomorphic' content to individual, and large groups of, users - that is, content that is personally selected to match the individual preferences of each and every customer. It is expected that this form of content will soon become irresistible and indispensable.
  • the ability to custom-match advertising with customer interest will provide, for our paying advertising customers, audience impressions that are more cost effective, and more psychologically effective, than any other form of advertising currently available.
  • Such services will, optionally, collect, vet for quality, edit, and tag for subject and interest, media gathered from all over. This will comprise the bulk of the content delivered in customized packages to end users.
  • customers will also be invited to receive an amount of their choosing (from 0% on upward) of Avant Garde material that has not been fully reviewed by staff. (Although staff will, optionally, briefly review submissions to make sure they do not violate minimum standards of propriety.) These will comprise materials from the general public (or elsewhere), submitted to such a service to see if their voice can find an audience.
  • the service will submit an un-tried work (fiction, poetry, political rant, media review, viral video, musical composition or performance, etc.) from a new author to a small sub-set of the customer base who would likely be interested in such an item.
  • Those accepting such ⁇ vawt Garde materials will be asked for feedback - a simple thumbs up/thumbs down to the question "Would you like to receive more content like this?" or "Would you like to receive more content from this creator?" (With the user optionally being asked or invited to supply more sophisticated comments or, optionally structured or guided, feedback.)
  • the service will refine the targeting parameters for a successive small sample audience who has not yet seen the item. After several such progressively refined test rounds, the work will have found its niche audience, or failed to do so.
  • this A vant Garde mechanism will, optionally, be integrated with existing social media communities to extend the scope of the "meme pool" - as any combination of: reviewers and test audiences, sources of content, potential consumers of content, or otherwise.
  • Content creators will not only be provided with an identified audience but - through micro payments - provided with anything from pocket money to a sizable full-time income from writing, videoing, music, etc. It all depends on the size and willingness to pay (directly or through ad support) of the audience that can be attracted.
  • ADDITIONAL DETAILS - GRANULAR MEDIA AND INTERSTITIAL CHANNELS Two of the elements that distinguish some embodiments of the instant invention from others are granular media and interstitial channels. Much of the basic technology and necessary details of implementation have already been disclosed by the inventor; and/or, are within the ken of those skilled in the art. These previously disclosed technologies, details of implementation, business methods and models, etc., include, without limitation: generation of idiomorphic media (idiosyncratic or personalized content and advertising); generation and/or insertion of timing or segmenting information into media streams; timing or segmenting decision lists; tagging of media for content, interest, timing, etc.; designs for display, GUI, systems, program flows and algorithms; advertising; data-mining; etc.
  • the 'privacy policies' that such companies employ with respect to end-user information are generally: self-serving and onerously tilted far in favor of the company rather than the end-user; are generally not particularly optional or flexible; and, often are mercurial containing phrases such as, "these policies can be changed at any time without notice.”
  • Unwanted and uninformed use of technologies such as 'tracking cookies' are often part of such sharing of end-user information.
  • end-user information will be treated strictly confidentially, for the benefit of the end user. Although it will also benefit advertising customers indirectly, it will generally not be shared with them. Thus, like confidential banking, legal or medical information, the use and distribution of such end-user information will be professionally, ethically and tightly controlled.
  • the information will be used to provide end-users with idiomorphic media (customized and idiosyncratic content). It will also provide idiomorphic advertising - which will be welcome, or at least less onerous to the end user - which can be viewed as micro-finely targeted advertising from the advertiser's point of view.
  • interstitial means "relating to or situated in the interstices.” Following on, it can more illuminatingly be discovered that an "interstice” is " 1 a : a space that intervenes between things, especially one between closely spaced things; lb: a gap or break in something generally continuous; 2: a short space of time between events.” Or, more succinctly, "Interstitial: Pertaining to being between things, especially between things that are normally closely spaced.”
  • interstitial and more particularly interstitial channel, is used to indicate a channel (generally an opportunity for communication or information display) that exists within the spaces or gaps between the generally (intended to be) continuous operation of a computer system.
  • the interstices (iconicly hourglass-emblemed delays) are generally (or, at least intended to be) relatively short compared to the normally closely spaced periods of normal computer operation.
  • the interstitial channel under discussion is one composed of an aggregation of, generally, short discontinuous periods of time corresponding to delays in computer operation; e.g., the collected gaps in operation that cause hourglass syndrome, or some similarly 'skipping stone on water' structured opportunity for interaction, communication, or presentation of information.
  • the instant invention will archetypally be implemented to work on a machine running some version of the Windows operating system with its 'windows object oriented' and 'message passing' paradigms: currently, at a minimum, several versions each of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are all popular, with others still in use. However, optionally, it will also be implemented to run under versions of operating systems available from Apple (the UNIX-based Mac OS X), and under Unix/Linux and other operating systems as well.
  • the programs involved will, optionally, be developed in C, C++, C#, Pascal, Java, Visual C++ or any of the other 'visual' languages,
  • ActionScript used with Adobe Flash, Flex and AIR
  • Use will also, optionally, be made of the Microsoft Foundation Class ("MFC"), X-l 1 or other software development library.
  • MFC Microsoft Foundation Class
  • the programs will, optionally, run under the operating system as stand-alone programs, hidden processes, add-ons or plug-ins (in particular to a web browser or other networking program), and, in turn, will optionally
  • inventive programs will, optionally, be developed to run on smart phones (or other mobile broadband devices) which have other operating environments, development libraries and languages, alternative sub-operating-environments (web, Flash, Java, etc.), and system and
  • Apple's iPhones and related products
  • Google's Droids and other advanced phones from Blackberry (RIM), Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, etc.
  • e-Readers such as the Kindle, Nook, Vook, etc.; Etc.; will, in general, each have particular and/or distinct requirements.
  • GUI operating environments multiple windows are open with, generally, one and only one having the focus (GUI interaction with the user) at a time.
  • the screen will, optionally, only accommodate one visible program at a time, which by default has the focus, while other programs may run in the background, not displayed.
  • it may be the operating system that determines if a process, program or application (terms that, while distinct, are largely interchangeable for the purposes of this non-implementation-specific discussion) is busy; in other systems, it is the application (or one of its processes) itself that puts itself into the 'wait state.'
  • a specific application such as a web browser
  • 'wait stated' or delayed may vary: encountering an hourglass in one case; waiting for some element(s) of a web page to arrive (but not, technically, 'hourglassed') in another, which will, optionally, involve monitoring of a 'download progress bar' rather than an 'hourglass.
  • a graphics program such as a .PDF reader, a video editor, or a 'paint program' - the definition of 'wait stated' may be that the program is decoding and loading (or encoding and storing) a complex graphic that may take a relatively long time, particularly when large video files and complex effects or other processing are involved - the graphic program may not technically be 'hourglassed' and there may not even be a progress bar to monitor - but the condition to monitor is, whether the graphic program is accessing the disk and transforming a large file for/from screen display (this may, in turn, involve identifying and monitoring individual processes, rather than a monolithic high level application and, so, in
  • practical user access to the information requested may be literally, or effectively, blocked by: display of a relatively short (e.g., : 15 to :30.second) video advertisement; a full-, or nearly full- page blocking advertisement which, while often having a [X] or similar 'close' link, will optionally remain blocking access for a similar period; a count-down timer delaying access to a free on-line service, which is intentionally designed to annoy users into subscribing to a paid, timer- free, version of the same service; or, otherwise.
  • programs such as database management systems will, even if technically not blocked or delayed in an.
  • 'hourglass' fashion sometimes be in an operational state where the user, waiting for results of a query (or, similarly, for delivery of a web page or other web resource with other programs), will not be in a position to continue with a productive task which requires access to that resulting information.
  • the user will, optionally, be provided with a 'request alternative presentation' button, to request that the inventive system operate and provide a diversion, should it fail to identify any delay or other inciting condition, such as described just above, or otherwise.
  • the instant invention relates to making use of the collected 'hourglass delays' or other periods of user non-productivity, as an interstitial channel; and, further, to presenting a stream of media or other information, or the operation of an alternative (to the one that is currently stalled, blocked by advertising, waiting for resources, or otherwise unavailable for productive user interaction) application to utilize, for alternative user engagement - an alternative presentation.
  • an alternative to the one that is currently stalled, blocked by advertising, waiting for resources, or otherwise unavailable for productive user interaction
  • Figure 22 it will be examined how to best deliver such an alternative presentation; discussed here in terms of a media presentation but, optionally, a presentation of an alternative computer application program.
  • the top row of Figure 22 depicts a stream of computer system operation where periods of productivity (001 , 002, 003 & 004) are interspersed with gaps or periods of delay (01 1 , 012 & 013).
  • the periods of productivity are depicted as uniform in size (comparable to length of time) but, in practice, are of arbitrary length.
  • a period of productivity e.g., (002)
  • the gaps or delays (01 1 , 012 & 013) are intended to be depicted in geometric width roughly comparable to delays of : 18, : 12 and :30 seconds, respcitively.
  • interruptions at (021) and (022) will be (for example, if (020) is display of graphic or playback of audio, comprising the text of a book) potentially inconvenient at best; during an unfinished paragraph or i sentence, or even during a word.
  • that program will potentially be interrupted at an inconvenient point of operation to return to the primary task at the end of a particular delay period.
  • the alternative would, optionally, be to start the alternative presentation at essentially the beginning of the delay period and then leave it up to the user to stop operation of the alternative
  • the user may not be able to easily determine that the delay (or other inciting condition) is over; such checking would potentially be more annoying then the short delay itself, defeating a primary annoyance-avoiding purpose of the instant invention; or, the user may become so engrossed in the alternative presentation that they will remain engaged for minutes or longer after the delay has ended, defeating a primary, efficiency enhancing, purpose of the instant invention; or, some other complicating or problematic situation will ensue.
  • the system will, optionally, be supplied with a timer, to notify the user that a maximum permitted time has elapsed, or an alarm that indicates the delay or other inciting condition has ended.
  • a timer to notify the user that a maximum permitted time has elapsed, or an alarm that indicates the delay or other inciting condition has ended.
  • Such alternatives are, themselves, annoying mechanisms, even if they work well; will potentially be ineffective at disengaging the user, if they are not mandatory; and/or potentially still cause cognitively disturbing interruptions if they are mandatory; or, have other problems of complications associated with them.
  • the presentation of (040) has been created, produced, edited or otherwise formatted as a granular presentation. That is, cognitively coherent segments - (041) of :09 seconds, (042) of : 12 seconds, (043) of :09 seconds, (044) of : 12 seconds, (045) of :06 seconds, (046) of : 12 seconds, (047) of : 12 seconds, (048) of :09 seconds, (049) of : 12 seconds, conveniently separable at grain boundaries indicated by (
  • the presentation will, optionally, still require that the segments be experienced without skipping any, in order to perceive a coherent, if interruped presentation; or, the grains will be entirely stand-alone; or, any other structural, functional or narrative relationship between grains and the whole will, optionally, prevail.
  • the second delay period (062) will be covered by alternative presentation of grains (043) and (044) comprising :21 seconds in total, over-running in this case by :09 seconds.
  • alternative presentation of grains (043) and (044) comprising :21 seconds in total, over-running in this case by :09 seconds.
  • the system was in possession of knowledge that the delay would be continuing only three seconds beyond presentation of grain (043), there is the possibility that the system will be programmed with an algorithm that will weigh a further delay of :03 seconds uncovered by alternative presentation against an over-run of :09 seconds and (depending upon the algorithm) decide not to display grain (044). Generally, for example, it will increase efficiency to have the user engaged for : 15 seconds, rather than have them frustrated for : 10 seconds.
  • delay (063) comprising :30 seconds
  • Delay (081 ) of : 18 seconds is the first delay encountered.
  • the requirement is that the first grain of the presentation (041) must be presented first, but then subsequent grains may be presented without having to necessarily present all the intervening grains first.
  • alternative granular presentation (091) comprises grain (041) of :09 seconds followed by grain (043) also of :09 seconds, exactly matching the : 18 second length of delay (081).
  • individual grains will not be presented repeatedly during a session and, thus, when presentation constraints are more fluid, it will need to be kept track of which grains have already been presented, not merely a progress or bookmark point (generally a grain boundary) for which it is assumed all prior grains have been presented and all subsequent grains have not.
  • a progress or bookmark point generally a grain boundary
  • Delay (082) of : 18 seconds is the first delay encountered.
  • the requirement is not that the first grain of the presentation (041) must be presented first, but that grains must be presented in sequence without leaving any gaps.
  • alternative granular presentation (092) comprises grain (044) of : 12 seconds followed by grain (045) of :06 seconds, exactly matching the : 18 second length of delay (082) within this set of constraints.
  • Delay (083) of : 18 seconds is a delay encountered, not the first; grain (041 ) has already been 1 presented. The requirement is that unused grains must be presented in order, but not necessarily consecutively.
  • alternative granular presentation (093) comprises grain (042) of : 12 seconds followed by grain (045) of :06 seconds, exactly matching the : 18 second length of delay (083) within this set of constraints.
  • Delay (084) of : 18 seconds is a delay encountered, not necessarily the first; some grains have, potentially, already been presented (in this case (041), (042), (043), (044) and (046)). The requirement is that only unused grains be presented; but. in any order.
  • alternative granular presentation (093) comprises grain (047) of : 12 seconds followed by grain (045) of :06 seconds, exactly matching the : 18 second length of delay (084) within this set of constraints. Grain (047) is presented first in this case because, hypothetically, it is known ahead of time that the delay 1 will exceed 12 seconds, but not known by how much.
  • an unused grain as large as possible is selected leaving flexibility once the additional delay period can be determined (:06 seconds in this case) and, thus, short (045), medium (048) and long (049) grains are left to select from once the additional delay time can be known, or estimated.
  • Pyramidal structuring and delivery of media is used in a related but distinct manner in some of the disclosure and teachings in some of inventor's other patent documents, and that meaning (relating to interleaved distribution of information) therein, and when used herein in that context as well, is related but distinct from the meaning which is illustrated in Figure 1.
  • Media for delivery by the inventive system will, optionally, be structured in a pyramidal fashion, as is discussed in detail in parent document(s), and that pyramidal media will then optionally be granularized.
  • Figure 2 depicts how media - represented by text in this illustration, but which is, optionally, any combination of text, audio, video or other media - are optionally presented or edited (e.g., by selecting information from a longer article, not shown, containing a super-set of all the information contained in all four articles shown) for distinct users with distinct interests. As shown, in this non-
  • versions have been crafted for: technophyles (201 ), business persons (202), media enthusiasts (203), and consumers/shoppers (204). As illustrated, each story continues ...
  • granular content will, optionally, be made available for diverse user interests, ages, reading levels, genders, political or social opinions, or otherwise.
  • Figure 3 depicts how media - represented by text in this illustration, but which is, optionally,
  • any combination of text, audio, video or other media - are optionally presented or edited (e.g., by selecting information from a longer article, not shown, containing a super-set of all the information contained in all three articles shown) for distinct time periods, or to fill expected delays of distinct times.
  • versions have been crafted for periods of nominally: 10 (301), 20 (302), and 60 (303) seconds, the last of which is shown to continue ...
  • each such non-limiting example is depicted with an optional interactive offering one or more opportunities for additional information, either immediately or via email (301), or for incentive offers (302, 303).
  • additional information optionally comprises additional content, additional advertising/marketing information, or otherwise.
  • delivery of additional information via email will be clearly marked in such a way that it is easily differentiated by the user from spam.
  • An object of the instant invention which will be addressed next is how to acquire, collect, aggregate, edit, produce from scratch, or otherwise prepare media suitable to fill intermittent gaps, such as those encountered in association with hourglass syndrome, or for delivery over other
  • the instant invention is concerned with creating media that most often comprises a granularity somewhere in-between; suitable for the purposes of addressing hourglass syndrome or similar situations; and, which may consist of a collection of separate individual grains or, often better, a granular whole capable of being separated into chunks of roughly the appropriate size as needed, along grain boundaries.
  • Such granularization of content is achieved by careful selection of suitable content materials; editing of content materials; reformatting of content materials; and, in particular, marking materials with grain boundaries and, optionally, providing sequencing (for example, with respect to set-up and pay-off markers for comedy content) or other timing information.
  • the supplementary content information comprising subject matter tagging for idiomorphic selection of content, or for the timing and/or edit information related to content abstraction
  • the supplementary information or tagging related to granularity is produced, at least in some instances, by the application of human intelligence and creativity.
  • Such custom human tailoring would, generally, be unaffordable on a one-to-one basis; however, by embodying the human intelligence as machine comprehendible supplementary or tagging information, computers may then reliably, quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively produce custom information experiences for each member of a mass customer base, with the human input being affordably amortized over the customer base. See, for example, Figure 10.
  • Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate non-limiting examples of granular media and how they are, optionally, presented. These examples have been intentionally constructed to be simple and straightforward for illustration purposes.
  • FIG 4 first depicts what is a display (410), or a window of a more general display, to present granular media to a typical end user.
  • the display comprises an option title bar or similar identification (41 1); an optional sub- window (412) to display media (any combination of video, animation, graphics, text, or otherwise; in motion, as a series of still images, scrolling imagery, or otherwise) which, if audio only, is replaced by an audio rather than visual display.
  • the display is also depicted with interactive hyper-links which, in this non-limiting example, signal requests from the user for: a 'full review' (413); a 'discount coupon' (414 ); and, directions to escape the current grain presentation and 'skip to next item' (415).
  • other interactive requests are supplied (e.g., supplementary menus, as described, below), and other interactive mechanisms used.
  • user interaction is carried out via audio cues and voice recognition, particularly if the 'display' (412) is audio only. All of this is fairly typical interactive multimedia technology and is within the ken of those skilled in the appropriate arts. It is offered to describe a typical, essentially Off-the-shelf mechanism within which to deliver some embodiments of the instant inventions.
  • Delivery will, optionally, be in a windows-like graphic users' interface (GUI) of an operating system on a typical desktop or laptop computer; within some other application, such as a web browser, media player, inventive-service-supplied software, or otherwise; on other devices, such as smart phones, eBook readers, netbooks, iPads, etc.; or, otherwise.
  • GUI windows-like graphic users' interface
  • delivery is, optionally, effected via 'pop-up' windows. See Figure 20 and Figure 21 and the text discussing them (and the text surrounding those discussions) elsewhere herein.
  • each blurb is a grain.
  • One such grain is shown in more detail in (422, roughly comparable to 510); others are seen, for example, at (520, 530 and 540).
  • interactive opportunities will optionally be offered to the user and would include, for example:
  • the potentially longer review (or other supplementary material) is, optionally, delivered via email, stored in memory or on disk, or otherwise supplied in a way such that it can be consumed in an asynchronous or other manner that will not unduly distract the end user from a task they are, potentially, anticipated to return to after a relatively short delay.
  • the review or other supplementary material will, optionally, be displayed via the same mechanism as the blurb it is associated with (potentially, in a seamless manner), or via some other mechanism (e.g., another such window, a web page, or otherwise).
  • a discount coupon e.g., 570
  • other incentive offer which offer is optionally presented immediately, delivered via email or otherwise, delivered to a smart phone or otherwise for display at a merchant site, is printable, is forwardable for use in eCommerce or otherwise, includes a code (keyed to some combination of the offer, the user, a transaction, the inventive service, or otherwise) that can be presented at a physical merchant site or website or otherwise for commerce that is optionally electronic; etc.
  • Figure 5 depicts an alternative text-oriented version of a presentation similar to that depicted as video in Figure 4.
  • a title and instruction area (501) remains fixed at the top, optionally separated via a grain boundary and/or visually (502) from the blurbs, while a series of text blurbs (510, 520, 530, 540 ...) - which continue (as indicated by 550) as needed until the delay or other inciting condition has been satisfied or until the string of grains is exhausted - and are separated in some manner by grain boundaries known to the system, as indicated by (51 1 , 521 , 531 , 541 ).
  • blurbs are presented as a scroll (continuous or intermittent), as a series of slides, or otherwise. As indicated in the example title/instruction bar, clicking on any one such blurb will trigger the offering or delivery of interactive options - in this example depicted as a full review (560) and discount coupon (570). Additional interactive features (not shown) are, optionally, offered; and, in particular, a click on an area such as (501) will,optionally, invoke a pop-up, pulldown or other menu of multiple interactive options.
  • Such presentations are presented in any media including audio.
  • Such audio presentations are conducted via audio cues to prompt the user, and computerized voice recognition of user responses. Taken together, these are sometime referred to as voice response technology.
  • Such techniques, technologies and systems are used for automated telephone systems, hands- free control of radio, navigation and telephone devices while driving and for other applications; and such technology is well known and within the ken of those skilled in the art.
  • Such well-known technologies, and others e.g., eye tracking, body-gesture tracking, inertial sensing, GPS tracking, etc.
  • eye tracking, body-gesture tracking, inertial sensing, GPS tracking, etc. are not in and of themselves generally the inventive subject matter of the instant invention.
  • the use of such well-known (or lesser known) technologies to effect any combination of the inventive embodiments disclosed herein, and in the parent documents, is.
  • Marking within the media itself For example, in a video program (620, comprising segments 601, 602 and 603, and frams 621-628) short fades to black, or even a single frame of black (623), could indicate a grain boundary, so long as black frames were not part of the program proper.
  • Other less-likely-to-occur indications can be concocted which can be inserted into the media, for example: a small red area in the upper-left corner, a small green area in the upper-right corner, a small blue area in the lower-left corner, a small yellow area in the lower-right corner, for a short period, or even a single frame (626); or some other less obtrusive contrivance. Any such marker, a partial or entire frame is, optionally, suppressed from display once it is sensed.
  • Some sort of audio marker for example, an inaudible 'beep' or other marker (or an audible marker, that is, optionally, suppressed from playback) is, optionally, used as a grain boundary marker (632 and 634).
  • Such a marker optionally comprises a digital code which is, once recognized, suppressed or removed from a media data stream prior to decoding and/or playback.
  • video signals can have other signals or files (e.g., sub-title, closed caption, vertical-blanking interval signal, etc.), synchronously or asynchronously associated with them (640, comprising segments 641 , 643 and 645).
  • Some sort of marker, recognizable as a grain boundary marker (642, 644), can be placed within such a signal; or, within a new signal developed for such a purpose.
  • a grain boundary marker list similar to an edit decision list, is, optionally, produced to indicate the timing of program grain boundaries (650). That is, rather than have a synchronized signal that indicates boundaries temporally, a list of times is maintained as a separate data structure of some sort; e.g., a simple list of running times or time-codes (652, 654, 656) where the grain boundaries (651, 653, 655) occur.
  • STAND-UP COMEDY LATE NIGHT MONOLOGUES
  • Such presentations by their nature are strings 1 of, for the most part, unrelated jokes.
  • grain boundaries (depicted as spaces between joke boxes) are placed between each joke (71 1-717), for example during laughter or applause.
  • a first joke is displayed (721 , starting at time 727), followed by other jokes (722, 723, 724) until the delay ends (726).
  • the joke currently being displayed (724) is completed (potentially extending the delay slightly, until 728, as depicted) and, at the next available grain boundary, the content is stopped and the program break is done.
  • One variation is that in some such performances one joke (712) 'sets up' a situation that is not 'paid-off until a subsequent or final joke (716).
  • the set up is played (732, starting at time 737), followed by an arbitrary number of unrelated intermediate jokes (represented by 733) and then, when the computer delay (starting at time 735) is over (at time 736), the pay-off joke is played (734).
  • the overall delay period may, in such manner, be slightly extended (until time 738), but the benefit of ending the program in an orderly fashion will cognitively make the slightly longer delay more acceptable then leaving the break with the nagging feeling that content has been left hanging.
  • GAMES SUCH AS JEOPARDY ! : Such games may be handled algorithmically, as shown, for example, in Figure 8, under program control. For example: when a delay is detected (801) a question (or, in the case of JEOPARDY! an answer) is presented (802). This may be uniformly timed (say, seven seconds), if the question is displayed as text; or, if the question is presented as audio or video, it may take a non-uniform time, say between six and nine seconds.
  • the user is permitted time (say, an additional eight seconds, via loop 803, 819, 810, 812, back to 803) to consider and enter an appropriate response and type in a free-form answer, or multiple-choice letter or number (803); the loop will be exited it the allotted time is exceeded (via 81 1 , 809), or if an answer if entered via arrow (818) to (804).
  • the system then processes the answer (804) and, via (805) displays either a "Congratulations, you got it right" (808) or, via (806) a "Sorry, the answer was [fill in appropriate answer]" message (807).
  • a score is optionally updated (807, 808).
  • a game such as poker or chess, played against the computer, or solitaire, video pinball or slot machines, can be played where after each hand, or each move or ball, the inventive program checks to see if the computer is still in delay mode and, only if so, continues with another hand or move.
  • games more continuous or have a very fine granularity of events or which have a very
  • TETRIS can be played where play is more easily interrupted more closely to the end of the computer delay.
  • the game has left off and/or score are, optionally, kept for play that is executed over a sequence of breaks separated by periods of productive computer work.
  • Such operation can permit employees (or, the self-employed) to take a controlled break with a diversion that, under other circumstances, could cause an open-ended distraction from work that would be objectionable.
  • PRODUCTIVE ALTERNATIVE TASKS Although the primary focus has been on providing diversion during computer delays, it is also possible to dole out alternative productive tasks. For example, during a computer delay, a recently received but not yet read email message would be displayed, read, and then replied to or just marked as read. If the computer delay is not yet finished, the next message (the next 'grain') is displayed and dealt with, and so on, until the computer delay has resolved.
  • PROGRAM FILTER In general, one alternative embodiment comprises a filtering- or uber-program, that will, in turn, monitor system operation and pass control to, in general, any selected application available to run in such a secondary mode, and will, during delays, permit the secondary program to be used and will, after a delay is over, switch control back to the delayed program. See, for
  • Another advantage of the inventive system is that user performance, and ratio of primary vs. secondary task time, can be monitored to ensure, for example, that users are not intentionally jamming up the system with extra applications, windows or downloads, just to cause delays that will reward them with engaging tidbits - like lab animals repeatedly pushing the red button for a pleasure shock, ignoring the blue food pellet button while they waste away.
  • GENERAL A/V PROGRAM CONTENT AND, IN PARTICULAR, AUDIO BOOKS While videos (films, TV or otherwise) are one type of programming that is, more or less generally, amenable to being doled out in segments, another type that may be more suitable is the audio book. While some materials already consist of short segments which are ideal to granular presentation (e.g., Reader's Digest fillers; radio between musical segment fillers, such as John Tesh' s Intelligence for Living; continuing micro-portioned serials, such as a novel presented in the margis of one edition of the Whole Earth Catalog; etc.) the discussion here related to longer works that are to be granularized.
  • Either video or audio (or even text) presentations will be improved by the inclusion of grain boundaries, such that pauses come at cognitively appropriate times.
  • audio books and other media
  • when a 'next' segment starts the playback will, optionally, back up slightly to remind the user of where they were; and/or, there may be a short recap of the previous segment(s) played.
  • careful insertion of grain boundaries, authoring of recap material, and a program that automatically backs up or inserts recap material are all optional components of embodiments that play audio books, or films/videos or other more general program content via an interstitial channel.
  • text books or other text works are all optional components of embodiments that play audio books, or films/videos or other more general program content via an interstitial channel.
  • FIG. 9 there are illustrated two non-limiting examples of how segments comprising primary content and recap content are, optionally, handled.
  • grains 0, 1 , 2 ... N (900, 901, 902, 903) are separated by grain boundaries (91 1 through 913) and contain primary content segments 0, 1, 2 ... N (920, 921, 922, 923).
  • the first segment will have no recap; although, optionally, a title-page-like introductory statement might be supplied and considered as a pre-start recap of sorts.
  • the first cell (900) will have no recap segment.
  • the second cell (901) comprising primary content segment (921) will also comprise a recap segment (930) recapping primary content segment (920), which recap will, generally, be offered prior to primary content segment (921).
  • the third cell (902) comprising primary content segment (922) will also comprise a recap segment (931 ) recapping primary content segment (921) and, optionally, necessary or highlight elements of prior primary content segment(s), which recap will, generally, be offered prior to primary content segment (922).
  • the N" 1 cell (903) comprising the last primary content segment (923) will also comprise a recap segment (932) recapping the penultimate, N-lst, primary content segment (922) and, optionally, necessary or highlight elements of prior primary content segments, which recap will, generally, be offered prior to primary content segment (923).
  • a recap segment (932) recapping the penultimate, N-lst, primary content segment (922) and, optionally, necessary or highlight elements of prior primary content segments, which recap will, generally, be offered prior to primary content segment (923).
  • two separate streams of granular content are created, one with primary content grains (940), and one with recap content grains (950).
  • Each stream of cells, segments, grains and grain boundaries are structured in a manner similar to the previous example. Then, for any particular grain presentation, the corresponding recap grain is, optionally, presented or not, depending upon conditions similar to those discussed in the previous example, and is then followed by the corresponding primary content grain.
  • cells (950-958) separated by grain boundaries (960-969) comprise of primary content grains (970, 971 , 972), which are each (except, optionally, for the first) preceded by several styles (a, b, c, as shown) of recap content grains (980a, 980b, 980c; 981a, 981b, 981c).
  • one style (a) is composed of a quick recap of the preceding primary content segment only; a second style (b) is composed of a more extensive and details recap of the preceding primary content segment only; a third style (c) comprises necessary highlight material from segments prior to the preceding primary content segment, and is optionally presented prior or subsequent to, or in lieu of, either of recaps (a) or (b); other styles (not shown) optionally integrate both recent and long prior material into a single recap, bring in ancillary information not directly part of the primary work, etc. Then, depending upon user preference and/or circumstances surrounding the time delay between presentation of sequential grains, the appropriate type(s) of recap grains is/are selected from among these styles of recap (including the option of no recap) and presented prior to the primary content segment.
  • recapping functions can be supplemented or replaced with: 1) simply backing up the presentation into the tail end of the prior string of primary content grain(s); or, 2) presenting some more sophisticated sampling of prior content effected through the use of some mechanism similar to an edit decision list (either integrated with primary content or available as an associated but separate information structure) which will, optionally, present several alternative versions of recapping information, such as discussed in the previous example (a, b, c, etc.).
  • EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS In general audio, video or textual (with optional graphics) educational materials (and, in particular, corporate or work related training materials) can be treated, in general, as other such materials.
  • review materials and, in particular, flash-card-style review materials are particularly amenable to granularization.
  • such materials can be combined with user monitoring functions that track user progress, and which adaptively cull those materials mastered and/or stress those not yet mastered.
  • Such tracking and adaption can be applied in a simple and straightforward manner, or is optionally implemented in a more sophisticated manner.
  • STRESS RELIEF MATERIALS In as much as the instant invention is intended to address "Hourglass Syndrome ... the frustration that stressed computer users are facing as they watch the little hourglass spin while waiting for the program to open or a website to load," the invention can more directly address this problem by offering content specifically intended to provide stress relief.
  • music can be provided: any that the user selects, but classical and, especially, 'new age' or meditative music is particularly effective for stress relief. Because only a segment of an arbitrary length will be played, the sound is optionally faded up and, even more particularly, faded out from. The fade out, in particular, may be rather long and gentle, and the music may continue, optionally at a reduced volume, during normal computer operation. Similarly, grain boundaries are utilized to indicate times when the music can be discontinued entirely, without the cessation seeming jarring.
  • the user may be taken, through guided meditations or visualizations - generally to be done with the eyes closed or, optionally, with still or moving graphics supplied by the inventive program.
  • the exit in particular may be somewhat slow and extended: even if this prolongs the delay slightly, the resulting benefits will, on balance, overcome any additional temporal overhead.
  • idiomorphic selection (at least in part) is preferred over strictly work- or search-related selection.
  • a primary goal of the invention is to provide custom granular content to many users, by expending an affordable amount of collaborative human and computer effort.
  • the overall process is diagramed 1 in Figure 10. Unlike with some system diagrams, where boxes correspond to nouns or things, and arrows refer to verbs or processes, the boxes in Figure 10 can refer to objects or precesses. Generally, the arrows show where information is transferred from one box to another.
  • Data (1030) is collected regarding user demographics (1033); as well as user preferences and interests (1034) for: content, presentation style and advertisements; ownership, use and interests in products, various media (including internet and social media); etc.
  • Data is collected directly from the user (e.g., during sign-up and later updated); extracted and inferred from user use of the inventive services (and other media) or other behavior which can be tracked or monitored; monitoring or mining of cookies, search histories and other similar sources, internet sources, social media, statistical inferences from preferences of users with similar likes, or use/behavior patterns; etc.
  • the user will be identified by a user name, code or otherwise, and such user-related or profile information will be retrieved based on that identification of the user.
  • the user system will instead upload user profile information separate from (and, generally, without) the user identity, so idiomorphic information (or other personalized services) can
  • a standardized user profile will enhance the ability of diverse systems to interact with, and supply idiomorphic product to, users of any such system.
  • This data is used as part of the process to select (1060) advertisements and content snippets for inclusion in the user's idiosyncratic (or personally customized) package of program material
  • any such embodiment will, optionally, be adapted to operate in such a way that a super-set of content, advertising and/or other information is delivered or supplied, and the idiosyncratic editing, formatting or other preparation for customized presentation is performed, in whole or in part, after delivery, during presentation, locally, or otherwise.
  • the inventive system will, optionally, be used to further refine the selection of what materials (generally, from a large amount of materials supplied by the service), both content and advertisements, are presented.
  • the selection of materials offered will also, optionally, be refined prior to delivery and/or supplemented and updated after delivery, in real-time, or near-real-time, by the inventive service in response to these and other factors, including the needs of users, advertising clients, or otherwise.
  • Advertisements (1050) are supplied from a number of agency or direct client sources, optionally via web or other fully or semi-automated request or submission. That is, a request for insertion with a finely-tuned and defined target population, number of repeats, etc. (1053) is submitted, together with media, optionally including interactive data and alternative media for additional information and purchase requests made by users (1052) ; or, is submitted as a request to use advertising media that has already been supplied to the service.
  • the requested target data (part of 1053) is matched against user data (1030, via 1031), and exact or close matches (within some threshold distance in a multidimensional target-feature space; or matching some optionally weighted minimum number of features, etc.) are made available for that advertisement (1070).
  • pending scheduling of advertising space/time for that same user is taken into account, when multiple advertisers/advertisements compete for the same user demographic.
  • what content items are currently selected for that user package (1060, via 1061) will also, optionally, be taken into account when selecting advertisements ( 1070) for inclusion in the idiosyncratic package ( 1090) .
  • an ad for gardening supplies will be included with a program segment about preparing gardens for spring planting, preferentially over other user factors; and, that same ad will also optionally be targeted (optionally a second time, if received as per the first criteria) to users interested in gardening, regardless of whether they are receiving that particular gardening program segment.
  • raw content ( 1000) is entered into the system.
  • Such material is obtained from any combination of: content producers, owners, publisher, micropublishers or sources, via paid acquisition, strategic partnership, paid insertion or other arrangement; content submissions by individuals and business or other entities; as well as questing for content from print, television, radio, telephonic, internet, web, social media and other sources by: humans (staff, stringers, users, guests, etc.); human/computer collaboration; automatic analysis of text, audio, closed captions, video, etc.; data mining or inference from searching external sources, such as www, social media, blogs, etc.; or any other means.
  • the content so collected including content submitted by individuals (which will, optionally, be vetted by the inventive service), will optionally be organized into an index, catalog, or other, optionally, searchable structure. Users will, thus be able to access such a 'grain cloud' (by downloading a catalog, visiting a web site, or otherwise) and, optionally, select their own content specifically and explicitly, as an alternative to providing preference information to guide the
  • the raw content ( 1000) is analyzed (1010) using information from sources and by techniques as just described with regard to content acquisition.
  • the analysis (1010) is carried out by a
  • processing generally results in a multiplicity of different versions and/or segments which are created (1020) via optional transcoding between various media (1022), formatting (1023), abstraction (1024), granularization (1025), or otherwise.
  • media for a multiplicity of incoming raw content items (1000)
  • processing generally results in a multiplicity of different versions and/or segments which are created (1020) via optional transcoding between various media (1022), formatting (1023), abstraction (1024), granularization (1025), or otherwise.
  • These media items, segments, snippets and/or versions (1040) are tagged, for content subject matter, timing, etc., by a combination of human judgement and computer processing (1010).
  • the tag information (1010 incorporated via 1020 into 1040) are similarly matched (on an absolute, feature-space distance, weighted threshold, or other basis) with user ID & preference data (as well as historical data of what has been sent to a user, and their reaction to it, etc.) (1030) in order to select which snippets are to be included (1060) in a particular idiosyncratic package of material (1090).
  • content selection (1060) influences ad selection (1050) and, optionally, vice versa. (Although, it is acknowledged that undue advertiser influence on content selection is counter to an intended basic tenet of the inventive products and services as delivered to the end user.)
  • the idiosyncratic package of content (with optional advertisements) (1090) is sent (1091), generally via network, such as the internet to a PC, or mobile broadband to a smart cellphone or netbook, or via cable, telco or satelite to a TV, to the user's display device (1080); or, is delivered on CDROM, DVD ROM of otherwise; or, is downloaded to an intermediate device, such as a PC, for in-house transfer and download to a mobile device, such as a smartphone.
  • the entire, or parts of, the package are also, optionally, sent on a streaming or real-time basis via some network.
  • the user will optionally make requests for more information (to supplement content, or regarding an advertised product including promotional materials), or to conduct eCommerce transactions (including purchases and/or redemption of promotional materials).
  • supplemental information is, optionally, already included within the package, or otherwise already resident on the user's device.
  • Other information will be supplied by some server (operated by the inventive service, or some commerce or advertising client's site, for example) to the user's device on an as-requested or (near)-real-time basis.
  • Still other requests will be filled by supplying additional information (an email tickler, video, .PDF catalog, coupon, etc.) to the user's email address or other destination, rather than to the device currently being used; although, in such cases, an acknowledgment of fulfilment or receipt will, optionally, be sent to the device from which the request was made.
  • additional items of raw content will be identified, and all content optionally will be tagged, edited, or otherwise analyzed and/or processed, via: humans (staff, stringers, user feedback); human/computer collaboration; automatic analysis of text, audio, etc., by AI, etc.; mining or inference from trawling external sources, such as WWW (e.g. Wikipedia, search engines, directories), social media, blogs; media or news aggregation sources including newsletters or columns; etc.
  • Figure 11 and Figure 12 depict, in non-limiting examples, two approaches to handling the sharing of personal end-user customer information with paying advertising clients, as is also discussed above.
  • the use of the word 'client' in this instance, and in some instances elsewhere in this and the parent documents, is used in the general business sense, like customer. This is distinct from the computer science technical use of the term (which is also used herein and in the parent document(s)), as in 'client/server' interaction between two networked computers in a particular relationship where, generally and typically, information is intentionally supplied from the server (often running on behalf of a commercial or institutional organization) to one or more client programs (often running on behalf of a customer or consumer of information).
  • a web server will distribute, generally at the request of any web client (e.g., a web browser program) information resources including web pages, images, video and other media files, etc.
  • Figure 1 1 depicts a highly typical relationship between a commercial service bureau (1 101), such as a search engine service; an end-user client (1 102), generally receiving the service free of charge; and, a third party (1 103), generally a paying client advertiser whose advertisements or other marketing information are directly or indirectly displayed, or otherwise delivered, to the end user.
  • a commercial service bureau (1 101) such as a search engine service
  • end-user client (1 102) generally receiving the service free of charge
  • a third party (1 103)
  • a paying client advertiser whose advertisements or other marketing information are directly or indirectly displayed, or otherwise delivered, to the end user.
  • another party such as an advertising broker or arbitrager will be involved delivering advertisements, optionally in a near realtime basis, auctioning or otherwise offering available advertising space to interested advertisers on the basis of availability, willingness to pay, and often including whatever demographic or other information about the users (1 102) is available.
  • Such personal user information will, generally, be collected from a multiplicity of service bureau or other (1 101) organizations, including advertisement brokers. Some such information will be supplied (1 105) (overtly, as part of registration, part of eCommerce, or otherwise) by the user (1102) to the service bureau (1 101), which is, in turn, shared with other parties (1 106) for their own various uses, generally in exchange for a fee (1 107).
  • Such uses include, for just one non-limiting example, the sale of contact information as part of a mailing list, more often these days as an email address list.
  • Such lists are used to distribute (1 1 10) legitimate, if not necessarily welcome, marketing information or out-and-out spam to users (1 102).
  • Such information so collected and shared is not limited to contact information but will, optionally, include information about demographic identification, searching or purchasing habits, etc.
  • Other information will be supplied ( 1 104) by a particular service bureau ( 1 101 ) to be stored as a tracking or other cookie, or otherwise, on the user system (1 102).
  • Such information often comprises information about the user' s searching and/or purchasing habits, for example, or otherwise and will also, optionally, include contact, identification or demographic information.
  • Such cookie information is then retrieved (1 109) from the user (1102) by a third party (1103) - which, although
  • a number of different websites will (optionally, via an ad broker) display ads about the online site in question, optionally featuring the specific item the user expressed interest in.
  • Such 'reminders' will, it is hoped, close a deal for a purchase that is being considered by the user.
  • Such use of cookies, or other use of shared information will also, optionally, result in a fee being paid ( 1 108) by the third party ( 1 103) to the party sharing the information (1 101). Parties will, optionally, cross-share information, or provide other services in return, in lieu of payment.
  • inventive service (1201) is, generally, intended to operate, in many embodiments, in a manner that will protect the users (1202) of such a service from unwanted and unintended contact with, and reception of material from such third parties (1203) who will, in this case, generally, be paying advertising (or other) clients of the inventive service (1201).
  • inventive service bureau (1201) will collect (1204) from its users
  • (1202) extensive personal information that will, optionally, include: detailed preference information ' in many areas, including preferences for reading, film, television, music, travel, leisure time, etc.; what products and devices are owned, and services are used, by the user, potentially including models and, optionally, serial numbers; contact and address information; credit card and other financial information in order to conduce eCommerce; etc.
  • Such information will be provided ( 1204) by users (1202) to the service bureau (1201) willingly, in as much as many of the inventive services " to be provided (idiomorphic content and advertising; one-touch eCommerce, etc.) require such detailed and candid information sharing.
  • user information ( 1204) is held in confidence by the inventive service (1201), and it is that service that matches marketing information (e.g., advertisements) (1205) with user information (1204) to select and provide only that marketing information which will be of interest 1 to users (1206). That is to say that the set of users that an advertiser will want to reach, and the set of users that will be interested in an advertisement, will not be the same; and, first, the primary allegiance of the service (1201) will be to its end user customers (1202) over its advertising clients
  • the set of users actually interested in receiving information about a product is a highly desirable 'demographic' of users to the advertisers which they will not otherwise, generally, be able to reach easily.
  • such contacts will be offered in an anonymous way.
  • an advertisement (1205) sent from the advertising client (1203) via the service bureau (1202) and selectively forwarded to (1206) the user (1201) the user will, in some circumstances, ask for additional information, for example by clicking on such an advertisement.
  • a secure request for additional information (1207) will be received by the service bureau (1201) from the user (1202) and anonymously passed on to the third party advertiser (1203).
  • the third party advertiser (1203) will then, in response, pass back an appropriate reply (e.g., a more extensive advertisement, a catalog, a discount coupon or other promotional incentive, etc.) anonymously (1209) via the inventive service (1201) to be passed on securely (1210) to the user (1202).
  • an appropriate reply e.g., a more extensive advertisement, a catalog, a discount coupon or other promotional incentive, etc.
  • additional information e.g., more extensive advertisements, catalogs, discount coupons or other promotional incentives, etc.
  • eCommerce transactions can be handled by the same secure/anonymous mechanism as just described.
  • digital computer software films, television programs, music, and eBooks and eMagazines
  • the product itself can be handled fairly simply, as just described, with the product comprising the 'additional information' to be delivered.
  • the service bureau or, a sub-contractor
  • the service bureau will, optionally, act as a fulfillment center, collecting credit card or other, generally electronic, payment from users and passing funds on to the third party.
  • 'Chinese wall' or trusted department within the third party organization will be set up to handle physical fulfillment of such eCommerce transactions where the inventive service was involved, in order to ensure that no inappropriate (based on these generally more stringent restrictions) use is made of user contact, or other, information.
  • End users will still be able to initiate direct, generally two-way, contact (121 1) with the third parties supplying advertising, discount coupons of products via eComerce or otherwise.
  • contact will be governed by the third party (1203) and not the service bureau (1202) and will, generally, open the user (1202) to potentially unwanted follow-up, or other use of user information, by the third party (1203) or its affiliates.
  • Such circumstances would potentially include, without limitation, product registration or activation of a purchased item, customer service or return with regard to a purchased item, fulfillment of a discount coupon, eCommerce purchase, or any other transaction or communication carried out directly between the user ( 1202) and the third party (1203) rather than via the service bureau (1201).
  • any such insecure transaction is initiated within the confines of the system or display provided by the inventive service, great care will need to be taken in order to notify and make it very clear to the user that such communication or transaction is not secure.
  • FIG. 13 this figure illustrates the interaction between the service bureau (1310) offering content, advertising and eCommerce products and services based upon embodiments of the instant invention, paying advertising clients (1330), and end-users (1320) who generally receive content for free in exchanging for also receiving advertising and marketing information.
  • end-users may pay for a free, or reduced advertising, version of the service.
  • the service bureau (1310) delivers (1341) primary program content (131 1) which, although optional, will generally include advertising content (1312), which is what is under discussion here, generally including interactive components, to the end-user's system (1320).
  • the end-user's system (1320) will have facility to display program and advertising media content (1321) which may
  • Such requests include, without limitation, requests for additional information (1313) related to the content of the advertisement and which will, optionally, further include a discount coupon or other marketing incentive (1314).
  • additional information is delivered (1343) to the end-user (1320) by the service bureau (1310) in response to an interactive request (1342).
  • Such delivery will, optionally be: delivered directly to the user's system specifically in response to a request (1341); or, as part of the overall content delivery, and is, optionally, delivered as a default, waiting for local activation in response to the request (1322), which may be at any time, even when the user is off-line or disconnected from the service bureau, and/or is optionally offered (for a first time or again) even without an interactive request; via email, text message, cellphone or smartphone, or any other electronic delivery; or, any other delivery mechanism, even including hard-copy by physical mail. Delivery (1342) of additional information (1313) and/or marketing incentive information (1314), to end-users (1320) will be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • Such a marketing incentive (1314) is delivered (1343) to the end-user (1320), it will, in many cases, eventually be presented to (1351) the adverting client's business (1330) for redemption, with optional confirmation (1352).
  • Such presentation my be via electronic means, including without limitation: electronically, via interactive link (1322, as shown), or email, cellphone or smartphone, or otherwise; or (other means not specifically shown), optionally, by printing and presenting a physical 'coupon' to the business (1330) physically or otherwise; by presenting a hardcopy coupon received in the mail, physically or otherwise; by presenting an image (optionally, including an alphanumeric code or barcode) of the coupon via the display of on a cellphone or smartphone; by presenting (by any means, physical, electronic, visual (e.g., an alphanumeric code, barcode), verbal, keyed, touchpaded, interactively, or otherwise) a 'code' or other designation received by any of these means; or otherwise.
  • electronic means including without limitation: electronically, via interactive link (132
  • an indirect coupon redemption (1344, 1310, 1361, 1330) is initiated from the end-user's system (1320), as the request passes through the service bureau (1310) the transaction will, optionally, be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • a notification (1345) is also, optionally, made by the end-user's system (1320) to the service bureau (1310) such that the transaction will, optionally, be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • a record of such - optionally including some alphanumeric code, barcode or other designation that will identify, for example, a particular redemption program, specific end-user account, or specific transaction between end-user and service bureau (including, for example, what advertisement or other information triggered delivery of the coupon) - will, optionally, be passed back (1362) from the advertising client's business (1330) to the service bureau (1310) such that the transaction will, optionally, be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • an interactive request (1322, 1344), or other request initiation not necessarily shown, which will, optionally, be initiated from information in an advertisement (1312), additional information (1313), marketing incentive or promotion (1314), or otherwise, the service bureau (1310) will pass on an eCommerce request (1361) to the advertising client's business (1330).
  • the service bureau (1310) will pass on an eCommerce request (1361) to the advertising client's business (1330).
  • Such a request will be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • such a request will be passed directly (1351) from the end-user (1320) to the advertising client's business (1330), with an optional confirmation or receipt returned (1352).
  • a record of the request will, generally, also be passed back (1345) from the end-user (1320) to the service bureau (1310), or passed back (1362) from the advertising client's business (1330) to the service bureau (1310), to be accounted for (1315) for later billing or invoicing (1363) to the paying advertising client (1330).
  • a customer, transaction or other code will, optionally, be included within an eCommerce transaction to be used in a manner similar to the 'coupon' code as described above.
  • fees for delivering advertisements, additional information, marketing incentives including coupons may be fixed, fees for electronic commerce will, optionally, be tied to the items purchased and/or amount spent.
  • Such eCommerce transaction information will also, optionally, be included in such communication (1362) to the service bureau (1310).
  • the advertising client's business (1330) will pay funds (1364) to the service bureau (1310) electronically, or otherwise.
  • Figure 14 and Figure 15 depict a flow chart and system diagram, respectively, for the basic alternative, optionally granular, presentation of media or alternative application during a system delay.
  • Non-granular media and non-granular alternative application presentations can also be controlled by this mechanism, but do not have the benefit of continuing to a cognitively appropriate break point in the presentation, prior to returning, afer a provoking delay or other condition (e.g., a distracting video, or blocking, advertisement is running its course on a web page) has ended.
  • the first step is to determine if there is a system delay or other condition that warrants granular (or non-granular) alternative presentation (1401).
  • a condition other than an hourglass may constitute the provoking condition.
  • a browser will be equipped with a plug-in or other enhancement to monitor display of advertisements; for example, a short video being played prior to the longer requested media, or that the web page is displaying a substantially full-screen blocking advertisement, etc.
  • advertisements will be identified by their duration, size, location, file name, supplying domain, or otherwise.
  • Some embodiments will contain software routines that not only detect (optionally using various intelligent techniques, including extensions of extant functions such as pop-up blockers and other forms of ad rejection or defeat) and monitor such advertisements (or other delays and distractions for the user) but, optionally, and to whatever extent practical, will block, shorten the duration of, silence, and/or automatically close, such advertisements.
  • profiles of complex system behavior (optionally trained by monitoring user behavior) will simulate user interaction (e.g., click ⁇ ', 'cancel, 'skip ad' or '[X]'; enter a (dummy) email address; enter user ID/password; interact with 'captcha'; defeat persistent intrusive web pages; etc.
  • interactive controls made available to the user will permit them to start/stop the inventive alternative presentation at their own discretion to cover ads, delays, or otherwise.
  • a related, optional, feature or control will suppress audio from selected or all sources, except for the audio associated with the alternative presentation. This will permit the prior embodiment to be practiced where human/computer collaboration is used in place of an entirely automated or intelligent-software computer operation.)
  • the user will be supplied with an icon or other place to click, or a control key combination, to request a grain of content. This will be used to extend a granular presentation that the user is not ready to end, or to start a granular presentation without an inciting condition.
  • program flow loops back (1412) to keep checking (1401). If there is a delay (141 1), flow continues to (1402) where the current grain of media is displayed, or the current grain of alternative application is set into operation. It is the current grain, rather than the first grain, because, in many circumstances, granular media or presentation will pick up at a subsequent delay (with the next grain) at a point just after the presentation associated with a prior delay left off.
  • the 'current' counter is updated accordingly, for example to the first grain of the different work; or, to the current 'bookmark' counter associated with that work, if the different work being selected has already been partially viewed by the current user at an earlier time.
  • the player or alternative application is set in operation in a straightforward manner.
  • control program checks (1403) with the media player or alternative application to see if a grain or media or program operation is completed. If the media or alternative application is of the non-granular type, control passes immediately via (1415) to (1406). Otherwise, if the media or application is operating in granular mode, if the grain is completed control passes via (1414) to (1404), otherwise via (1415) to (1406), and the right-hand loop of Figure 14, which is discussed more fully below.
  • the delay has (1416), the presentation is complete and control is returned back.
  • control will be returned to the program (or, for example, the browser window) that initiated the presentation due to its delay or other condition.
  • some other event in the operating environment outside the operation of this program has potentially changed conditions. For some non-limiting examples: the system focus has changed, the delayed program was delayed due to a 'hang' and the application was terminated in the interim, the delay was due to final system housekeeping tasks and the program has exited in the interim, etc.
  • the operating system will, generally, pass the returned control on to another application (e.g., the application that now has focus); or, for example, the browser will return control back to a different browser window than the no-longer-active page that provoked the altemative presentation.
  • another application e.g., the application that now has focus
  • the browser will return control back to a different browser window than the no-longer-active page that provoked the altemative presentation.
  • some such changes in the operating environment for just one non-limiting example, that the user has via a mouse click moved the focus from the delayed window to another window - will cause the alternative presentation to terminate, either immediately, or when the next grain boundary is reached.
  • control is passed to (1405) where the grain counter is incremented. Generally this is a simple +1 increment (unless media branch selection, or other complicating user interaction has intervened). However, if the entire granular alternative work has been completed , or alternative application has terminated, during the delay (or a non-granular alternative presentation of media or application program has finished), then a new work of media or application is selected (optionally, by escaping and querying the user for a selection), and the grain counter (if it is of granular type) is set to the beginning or, optionally, to a bookmark counter, if the work or application has been partially experienced, but not completed, by the user at a previous time. Control is then passed, via ( 1418) back to ( 1401 ) for continued granular (or, non-granular) operation, generally until the delay condition has been completed; and, thus, closing the loop on the left-hand side of Figure 14.
  • presentation will generally continue to the next grain boundary. For some non-limiting examples: if a quiz question has been asked, the user is permitted to answer, and determine if they were correct; if the telling of a joke has been started, it continues through to the punchline (or, a pay-off joke is presented, optionally out of linear turn, if the set-up portion has already been presented); presentations are not
  • 'soon enough' in this case will, optionally, be that a 'delay over-run limit' will be defined such that, for example, once a delay condition has completed, but a grain is still running, after a limited over-run period of, say, 20 seconds, the grain will be interrupted even if not completed.
  • this function will be a bit more complex, although not shown in this diagram which is intended to clearly illustrate the programmed interaction between granular presentation and system delay. For example, with a 20 second limit; after 10 seconds a chime or other audio or visual cue will be presented to let the user know of the pending interruption; at 15 seconds a second, optionally more insistent, cue will be presented.
  • the presentation will end and control will be returned to the primary application.
  • Additional, optional, features will be that the user will have an 'extend delay' widget to click on that will extend the delay over-run limit by an additional 10 seconds each time - akin to an alarm-clock snooze-button.
  • the system will, optionally, also have a limit set as to the number of times such an extend delay button can be hit.
  • the manual extend button will extend the alternative presentation indefinitely; in which case there will also of necessity be a button to end or 'escape' the alternative presentation and return to the primary application.
  • Such an 'escape' button will, optionally, be provided in any event (e.g., the mechanism that will be monitored by (1407)), in order to permit the user to escape even a non- open-ended extension of the alternative delay-covering presentation.
  • the user will, potentially, want to attend to some system house-keeping chore to end a stalled process causing an overly-long or open-ended delay.
  • control is passed via (1422) to (1407).
  • (1407) it is determined if the user has requested to escape entirely the alternative, generally granular, presentation, and to do something else during the delay. For example, if the delay is taking far longer than expected, the user will, potentially, want to escape the alternative presentation and invoke a utility such as the Windows Task Manager, and terminate an application program that has become 'hung.' Or, the user has become tired of the alternative granular presentation. In that case the user will indicate their intention by some mouse click, key sequence, or otherwise and, sensing this in (1407), control will also be returned via (1423) to the system, with all the same caveats as above. Additionally, the user will have the option of turning the granular presentation system on or off.
  • a utility such as the Windows Task Manager
  • the user will escape the alternative presentation, with or without termination, by, for example, clicking on the window associated with some other application, and grabbing the focus from the alternative presentation.
  • the alternative presentation will then, optionally, continue, pause, go mute and gray, terminate - to be picked up at the previous, current, next or other grain, when subsequently called upon again - or otherwise.
  • control is passed via (1424) to (1408), where it will be sensed if the user has indicated their request to 'escape the current grain' and go on to the next; or to 'escape the current granular presentation' but pick a new granular work to continue the presentation, rather than end the presentation entirely (as by the user instruction that is sensed in (1407), for example).
  • the user may determine that they are not interested in a particular story immediately, and want to skip to the next one. Or, if the user is bored with the entire type of presentation - say, these news stories - the user will instead signal to not just skip to the next grain of news but, rather, to stop the news presentation entirely and change to a granular program consisting of, again for just one example, a presentation consisting of quiz-type questions and answers. Again, some mouse click, key stroke or other mechanism will communicate either of these user desires; or, other interactive features not specifically shown in Figure 14. Additionally, an optional menu of alternative presentation title, or similar interactive mechanism, will be offered to the user in order for them to select which alternative presentation (media or application) to substitute for the current one.
  • Figure 14 depicts a non-limiting example illustration as to how overall system control operates.
  • Figure 15, depicts a non-limiting example of how three idealized system modules communicate. The discussion will focus on granular elements; however, like with Figure 14, optionally, non-granular media or non-granular alternative applications will be presented (1503) in response to a system delay or other provoking or inciting condition.
  • Figure 15 depicts an example of how the system components will communicate
  • Figure 14 depicts an example of how the information so communicated will be processed upon. Any actual real -world embodiment will combine elements of either perspective, or otherwise, depending upon the details of the embodiment, the programming style of the implementors, the programming language and development environment utilized for implementation, the target operating system and platform, and the other software the embodiment will be interacting with.
  • Element (1501 ) represents the granular control portion of the media player (see Figure 16 and the accompanying text) or the meta-controller program (see Figure 17 and the accompanying text).
  • Element (1502) represents the operating system, application program such as a browser, individual application programs running under and operating system, or some other program environment within which, or which itself will encounter, periodic delays (or other condition), which will cause (1501) to request of (1503) to provide an alternative presentation (media or application program) to fill the period of the delay.
  • Element (1503) represents the granular media display or the granular operation of the alternative application (that is, alternative to the application or other program that is in a delayed state).
  • (1501) will ask for (1504) and receive (1505) the status of delay conditions from (1502). This will consist of asking the operating system about the status of any applications for which delays will be considered significant (a list of which programs to include in such status reports and which to exclude is an optional feature of the system); polling the application programs individually for delay status (directly, or via the operating system); querying a program such as a web browser about the delay status or other provoking condition (e.g., advertising display) of web pages or windows under its operation; or, otherwise depending upon the particular embodiment, application programs, operating system, and platform involved.
  • (1501) will, optionally, run under the control of (1502) and will be explicitly directed (1506) by (1502) when to turn the alternative presentation on and off.
  • control portion (1501) will ask (1508) the granular presentation portion (1503) to initiate presentation of a grain of media or alternative application operation (or initiate a non-granular presentation). Information as to which granular work, or granular application, as well as which particular grain to present, will also, optionally, be communicated via (1508).
  • the alternative presentation (1503) will continue, grain by grain, under program control, as was described in the flow chart of Figure 14. Alternatively, the alternative presentation (1503) will continue on it's own, grain after grain (or continuously, if not of granular structure), without continued intervention of the control portion (1501) until it is directed to stop (151 1).
  • the granular control portion (1501) learns, via (1504/1505), (1506), or otherwise, that the inciting delay or other condition has ended, it will interact with (1503) to stop the alternative presentation as follows and/or, generally, in some combination as discussed with regard to Figure 14, or with other variations and modifications to the general operation discussed herein.
  • (1501) will inquire (1509) of (1503) if it is OK to stop? - that is, has a grain boundary been reached or grain been completed? (1503) will indicate (1510) that it is OK, or when it is OK.
  • ( 1511 ) is then an optional signal to stop the alternative presentation, media or alternative application, granular or non-granular; which signal will optionally be timed by ( 1501 ) to coincide with the 'grain boundary reached' condition.
  • the granular control module (1501) and alternative presentation module (1503) act (and/or are implemented) in a more arm's length, asynchronous or Object oriented' mode, then the alternative presentation module (1503) will be operating grain after grain without having to be told to update the grain counter (1405) and present current grain (1402).
  • (1509) will be more accurately described as 'let me know when a grain has been completed?' and (1510) will be more accurately described as 'the current grain has completed.
  • (1510) would then, in that case, be programmed to stop at the end of the grain during which (1509) was received; or, to stop at the end of the grain or, optionally, immediately, when receiving an explicit command to stop (151 1) from (1501).
  • (151 1) will also, optionally, be used to force stop a presentation, even during a gain, when a condition comparable to 'delay over-run limit has been exceeded' has been determined by (1501 ), by an internal timer, by directions from ( 1502) via ( 1506) or otherwise.
  • (1503) will communicate via (1507) to (1502) (operating system, application program, browser, or otherwise) to return control or focus to, or otherwise restore operation of the no-longer-delayed program.
  • (1502) will request (1506) of (1501) to negotiate with (1503) the immediate (151 1) or grain boundary sensitive (1509, 1510 and, optionally, 151 1) termination of the alternative presentation.
  • Figures 16 and 17 each show three variations of two embodiments.
  • element numbers refers to a digit or letter for which any of several options depicted are substituted.
  • the embodiments of Figure 16 are for a granular media display program (1604, 1608, 1609; 1616, 1618, 1619; 1627, 1628, 1629) where media are displayed (16X9) during delays generally related to application programs (16X2a-d).
  • the embodiments of Figure 17 are for a granular control program ("meta-controller") (1704; 1716; 1727) where application program(s) (17X2a, 17X2b) alternative to the primary application program(s) (17X2c, 17X2d) are promoted to active status during system delays.
  • Common elements include the operating system (16X1 , 17X1); application programs (16X2a-d, 16X2a-d) which generally run under control of the operating system, and in Figure 17 some (a and b) also under control of the granular control program (1704; 1716; 1727); and communication signals (16X3, 17X3) between the operating system and other elements; (16X8) between the control and display portions of the granular media display program; and ( 17X9) between the granular control program and the alternative applications (a, b) which are generally two-way as needed, and which communicate control (e.g., go quiescent, become active), status (e.g., delay status, focus status), or other information between the various system elements.
  • control e.g., go quiescent, become active
  • status e.g., delay status, focus status
  • the top depiction ( 160X, 170X) shows an embodiment where the player ( 1604, 1608, 1609) or control program (1704) is separate from, but generally operates under, the operating system (1601, 1701);
  • the bottom depiction (162X, 172X) shows an embodiment where the player (1627, 1628, 1629) or control program (1727) is incorporated into the operating system (1621, 1721 );
  • the middle depiction ( 161 X, 171 X) shows an embodiment where the player (1616, 1618, 1619) or control program (1716) is incorporated - as an embedded feature, plug-in, add-on or otherwise - into a web browser or other program (1615, 1715) which itself generally will run under control of the operating system (161 1, 171 1).
  • a granular media player comprises two main functional components, a control portion (1604) which monitors for and communicates about system delays and controls features of the content to be displayed by the display portion (1609). These two components are integrated or separate functions and, as necessary, communicate via ( 1608).
  • the components of the granular media player communicate with the operating system ( 1601 ) via (1603e).
  • the components of, or integrated, granular media player operate under the auspices of the operating system (1601).
  • the components of, or integrated, granular media player operate under the auspices of the operating system (1601).
  • the components of, or integrated, granular media player operate under the auspices of the operating system (1601).
  • the components of, or integrated, granular media player operate under the auspices of the operating system (1601).
  • other embodiments particularly those during which granular media display will be offered during system boot up delay,
  • the operating system (1601) also communicates with and/or controls application programs (1602a-d) (generally end-user applications run in GUI windows, with other programs and processes not shown) via generally bi-directional channels (1603a-d) and, in particular, exchanges information relating to the focus, visibility and delay status of application programs, as well as user interaction (not shown).
  • application programs (1602a-d) generally end-user applications run in GUI windows, with other programs and processes not shown
  • bi-directional channels (1603a-d) and, in particular, exchanges information relating to the focus, visibility and delay status of application programs, as well as user interaction (not shown).
  • the operating system will, optionally, have put the application into a wait state in order to, for example, open a file, allocate memory or other system resource, or otherwise; or, the application will have put itself into a wait state - optionally requesting that the operating system display of the hourglass instead of the arrow cursor - based upon a user request, such as to open a file, etc.; or, otherwise.
  • the operating system can check - or be asked
  • the granular player control program (1604) to check - on the wait status of applications and, in particular, the application program that currently has the user focus.
  • the granular media player control module (1604) that the conditions exist that correspond to 'the user is likely experiencing a delay in productivity' it will, in turn, instruct the granular player display module to become visible and display the appropriate content.
  • the specifics of the appropriate content is determined by some combination of: a user profile; information about the application which has caused/requested the delay (or other applications running); content and information downloaded from an affiliated service (or local data library or otherwise) providing content and optional advertising, scheduling, etc.; as well as, optionally, information or an estimate of the length of the expected delay. If display of a grain of media has been completed, and the delay is still ongoing, generally another grain(s) of media already queued up will be displayed until the delay has ended, or the user or system requests the display (1609) ends.
  • the granular media display will continue to display until: it is explicitly directed to close (which closure will, optionally, be delayed until the end of a media grain has been reached); until it runs out of content and has not been directed to continue with additional content; until explicitly requested to close (which closure will again, optionally, be delayed until the end of a media grain has been reached) by the user, which request will generally be passed back (e.g., by some mouse gesture or control key sequence not shown), optionally via an application window (1602X, 1603X) or the desktop, then optionally via the operating system (1601 , 1603e), then optionally via the granular media player control module (1604, 1608) to the display module (1609).
  • the penultimate digits of the element numbers have been changed from 0 to 2.
  • the granular media player control module (now 1627 - rather than ' 1624' - to distinguish the variation) is now shown to be part of the operating system (1621).
  • This module (1627) will here, optionally, be made available as an integrated feature or function; or, as a 'plug-in' or 'add-on' or other later installed program.
  • the display module ( 1629) of the granular media player is depicted as still being separate from the operating system (1621); but it may also, optionally, be integrated into the operating system, separate from or integrated with the control module (1627). Details of operation are, generally, as with the 160X embodiment, except that, for example, certain communications (e.g., 16X3e) will now, optionally, be an internal part of the operating system (1621) rather than as an external communication link.
  • certain communications e.g., 16X3e
  • the penultimate digits of the element numbers have been changed from 0 to 1.
  • the granular media player control module (now 1616 - rather than ' 1614' - to distinguish the variation) is now shown to be part of a web browser or other program (1615) not earlier shown.
  • This module (1616) will here, optionally, be made available as an integrated feature or function; or, as a 'plug-in' or 'add-on' or other later installed program.
  • the display module (1619) of the granular media player is depicted as still being separate from the nominal browser (1615); but it may also, optionally, be integrated into the browser, separate from or integrated with the control module (1616). Details of operation are, generally, as with the 160X embodiment, except that, for example, certain communications (e.g., 16X3e) will now, optionally, be conducted via the browser (1615) as an additional layer.
  • certain communications e.g., 16X3e
  • the delays monitored and substituted for with granular content will, optionally and typically, be download delays experienced as a result of the browser program downloading information from a network, typically the internet.
  • this other program (1615) will, optionally, be other than a web browser.
  • the delays being monitored and substituted for with granular media would, generally, be delays due to the processing of queries or database management tasks requested by the user.
  • the user will be offered the display of one or more grains of granular media (in this embodiment, or some grain of operation of an alternative application in other embodiments as in Figure 17). While such delays are often visibly indicated by a progress bar - which is often informed by system knowledge of an estimated length of task/delay and/or the percentage already accomplished, which is, optionally, also indicated to the user - rather than an hourglass.
  • the granular player control module ( 1616) By being integrated into the web browser, database system, or other program ( 1615), the granular player control module ( 1616) will have access to such application ⁇ 1615)-delay- related information directly, rather than necessarily having to obtain it via interaction with the operating system (161 1).
  • the granular media display module (1619) will optionally be effected as a web browser window and/or by using some other functions or services of the web browser.
  • an optional manner of implementation of functions of the granular media display module (1609, 1619, or 1629) in any embodiment variation involves establishing or spawning a web browser window and/or by using some other functions or services of the web browser.
  • Java, javascript, Adobe Flash and other multi-media, interactive and programming services typically now integrated into browsers (and routinely and frequently updated), as well as HTML relying on a browser framework will, optionally, be a highly effective way to implement the granular media display module (1609, 1619 or 1629) with services that are widely available, platform-flexible, and reliably maintained and updated.
  • the information displayed in the window can be a minimal text item (such as the operating system displaying the file size associated with the file name being pointed at by the cursor); or, it can be a complex multimedia window consisting of any combination of text, graphics, a video clip, and hot-links providing hyper-navigation and/or interactivity.
  • popup windows are displayed as a result of an operating system or application program action or state change: e.g., a notification to the user that a file download, or other task, has completed.
  • pop-up windows are often displayed unrequested by the user, as a result of advertising, or other content, being passively or actively embedded into content.
  • Figure 20 shows an example of a web page (top) where activation of a hyperlink or hot-link causes (bottom) the greying out of the page and the opening of a pop-up window that includes: text, video, interactive controls, a progress bar (although for video play, and not a delay), and a further hyperlink (the YouTube logo, which takes you to a page at the YouTube site displaying the same video clip).
  • Figure 21 shows examples, without limitation, of pop-up windows with diverse media, on diverse platforms, and for diverse uses, including: (A) Video and text in a pop-up window associated with a hot-spot in a map on a web browser page (B) Program information associated with the rollover of a menu icon of a Windows program (C) A pop-up window on the display of a Google Droid Smartphone (D) A Windows tip balloon (E) A Windows system-initiated system warning (F) A Windows system notice indicating completion of a user-requested function (G) A Windows progress bar, including estimated time to completion (H) A Mac platform progress bar which also indicates a rather lengthy delay until task completion during which time the user may, or may not, have some alternative task for the computer or themselves to perform.
  • A Video and text in a pop-up window associated with a hot-spot in a map on a web browser page
  • B Program information associated with the rollover of a menu icon of a Windows program
  • C A pop-up window on the display of
  • the granular (or non-granular) alternative presentation will be run at a relatively high priority so that it will 'pop-up' quickly, as will be useful for an application that will need to start, play out one or more grains, and close down, all within a delay of some other system component that may last a matter of seconds.
  • Running at high priority will help ensure that the alternative presentation is quickly made available, ahead in priority of other application programs and, in particular, ahead of the stalled program causing the delay.
  • the alternative presentation will be run at a priority higher than other application programs, it will generally not be run at a priority higher than the operating system itself.
  • control and presentation software of the alternative presentation mechanism, and/or, the initial grain(s) or one or more granular presentations will be kept resident in system memory, rather than on disk, to speed the start-up process of the alternative presentation.
  • the granular media player of Figure 16, the granular operation program meta-controller of Figure 17, or other embodiments will be operated to provide users with experiences alternative to passively waiting for delays including, but not limited to: system boot-up (as described above); application launch; file opening, closing or processing; other processing task; database queries or processing; download or upload of files or other resources via a network, including the internet; allocation or ther management of resources, including memory, disk space, file or communication channels, network connections; any delay caused by interaction with a network or system remote to the user system; etc.
  • Figure 17 the three embodiments shown in the top, middle and bottom illustrations roughly correspond in system configuration with the three comparable illustrations of Figure 16.
  • Figure 16 shows embodiments that would reasonably be called granular media players
  • Figure 17 shows embodiments that would reasonably be called granular meta-controller program (Meta: beyond, transcending, more comprehensive, as in metalinguistics) - that is a program that operates above a second program, doling out the operation of that second program in a granular fashion. .
  • a granular meta-controller program (1704) monitors for and communicates about system delays and controls operation of alternative application program(s) (1702a & b, as shown).
  • the meta-controller communicates with the operating system (1701) via (1703e).
  • the meta-controller communicates with those alternative application programs via (1708) or, indirectly via the operating system (1701), via (1703e) and ( 1703a & b).
  • the meta-controller program operates under the auspices of the operating system ( 1701 ).
  • the operating system (1701) also communicates with and/or controls application programs (1702c&d, and alternative application programs 1702a&b). These are generally end-user applications run in GUI windows, with other programs and processes not shown. Communication between the operating system ( 1701 ) and these application programs is via generally bi-directional channels ( 1703 a-d) and, in particular, they exchange information relating to the focus, visibility and delay status of the application programs, as well as user interaction (not shown).
  • the operating system When a primary application (1602c&d) - generally the one which has the focus, or is being interacted with by the end user - goes into a delay state, the operating system is aware (or able to become aware) of the situation. For example, the operating system will, optionally, have put the primary application into a wait state in order to, for example, open a file, allocate memory or other system resource, or otherwise; or, the application will have put itself into a wait state - optionally requesting that the operating system display the hourglass instead of the arrow cursor - based upon a user request, such as to open a file, etc.; or, otherwise. In any event, the operating system can check - or be asked by some other program, such as the granular meta-controller program (1704), to check
  • Activation will, optionally, involve: (particularly for the first time used during a computing cycle) initiating, booting or loading of the alternative application; making the alternative application (or the window it is running in) visible; passing the user focus to the alternative application (or the window it is running in); or otherwise.
  • the meta-control program will optionally perform such activating task itself, will ask the operating system to do so, or will ask the alternative application
  • the operating system will control application status, will change application status at the request of the application or user, or some combination or alternative.
  • factors that enter into that decision include, but are not limited to, long-term user preference profile, specific user short-term request, and the expected delay.
  • the alternative application program activated would be an email program, where it is deemed that a full minute is sufficient to at least briefly review (if not reply to) an email message; while, if the delay is expected to be less than a minute a game, such as Tetris or solitaire, is activated and the user plays it for, say, a period of 40 seconds before the game is gently deactivated and the system/user returns to working with one of the primary application programs.
  • Advertising is, optionally, included with the presentation of the alternative application(s).
  • the operation of the alternative application(s) will continue until: it is explicitly directed to stop (which cessation will, optionally, be delayed until the end of a grain of alternative application operation has been reached); until it runs out of tasks to perform and has not been directed to continue with additional program tasks; until explicitly requested to close (which closure will again, optionally, be delayed until the end of an operational grain has been reached) by the user, which request will generally be passed back (e.g., by some mouse gesture or control key sequence not shown), optionally via an application window (1702a or 1702b, via 1703a or 1703b, or via 1708) or the desktop, then optionally via the operating system (1701 , 1703e), then, optionally, via the granular meta-controller program module (1704, 1708) to the alternative application (1702a or 1702b) directly or, again, via the operating system and appropriate channels ( 1703e, 1701 , 1703a or 1703b).
  • the penultimate digits of the element numbers have been changed from 0 to 2.
  • the granular meta-controller program module (now 1727 - rather than ' 1724' - to distinguish the variation) is now shown to be part of the operating system (1721).
  • This module (1727) will here, optionally, be made available as an integrated feature or function; or, as a 'plug-in' or 'add-on' or other later installed program. Details of operation are, generally, as with the 170X embodiment, except that, for example, certain communications (e.g., 17X3e) will now, optionally, be an internal part of the operating system (1721) rather than as an external communication link.
  • the penultimate digits of the element numbers have been changed from 0 to 1.
  • the granular meta-controller program module (now 1716 - rather than ' 1714' - to distinguish the variation) is now shown to be part of a web browser or other program (1715) not earlier shown.
  • This module (1716) will here, optionally, be made available as an integrated feature or function; or, as a 'plug-in' or 'add-on' or other later installed program. Details of operation are, generally, as with the 160X embodiment, except that, for example, certain communications (e.g., 16X3e) will now, optionally, be conducted via the browser or other program (1715) as an additional layer.
  • the delays monitored and substituted for with granular content will, optionally and typically, be download delays experienced as a result of the browser program downloading information from a network, typically the internet.
  • this other program (1715) will, optionally, be other than a web browser.
  • the delays being monitored and substituted for with granular media would, generally, be delays due to the processing of queries or database management tasks requested by the user.
  • the granular meta-controller program module (1716) will have access to such application ⁇ 1715)-delay-related information directly, rather than necessarily having to obtain it via interaction with the operating system (171 1).
  • an alternative application offered to the end user will optionally be effected within a web browser window and/or by using some other functions or services of the web browser.
  • many games and other programs can be delivered as Java applets, Flash programs or otherwise on a web browser; or, services such as email are, optionally, delivered via a web interface, rather than via a PC-operating system-based application program.
  • smartphone apps offer games, email and many other functions and, optionally, serve the place of primary or alternative applications for embodiments running on such devices.
  • the preceding discussion relates primarily to the location and function of the portion of the inventive system which would generally be referred to as the granular control program module. That is, the portion of the system that controls granular display of media (1604, 1616, 1627), as opposed to the module actually performing the display to ( 1609, 1619, 1629), and interaction with (generally via the operating system (1601 , 161 1, 1621)), the user, for example; or, the module providing granular control of alternative applications, the granular meta-controller program ( 1704, 1716, 1727); or, other modules in other embodiments.
  • the granular control program (1800) not only provides granular control functions (1810), but also, security/decryption functions (1820), accounting functions (1830), and program procurement functions (1840). These additional function are described, following.
  • inventive systems described in this and related applications generally provide media comprising program content and advertising materials. These materials will typically be proprietary, protected by copyrights and trademarks, or otherwise provided to the inventive service and/or the end user with the intention that the materials will not be copied, adapted, re-distributed, or otherwise used in unauthorized ways. Generally, two ways of
  • preventing unauthorized use is to require user identification, as by some password protected access or login mechanism; or, to provide materials in an encrypted or encoded form, where the required decryption or decoding key or other mechanism (e.g., another use of a password) is more tightly controllable, even if the encrypted media is easily obtained, captured and (re-)distributable by general end users, or even non-authorized users.
  • the product delivered (e.g., 1091) to an end user (e.g., 1080) is, generally, personalized, customized or 'idiosyncratic' (e.g., 1090).
  • each. copy being (completely, or to at least some extent) unique, there is the opportunity to uniquely (or, with a large enough number of keys or IDs to be close enough to unique, for practical purposes) encode, encrypt or otherwise secure each item delivered for a specific user or system.
  • the material sent to an end user (1090) will be encrypted, encoded, password protected or otherwise secured with a key, password, or otherwise (e.g., although not specifically shown, such processing will, optionally, be applied to some or all of the elements of the idiosyncratic package (1090) before, or as, it is delivered (1091)) that is, potentially, keyed to a specific end-user or end-user system (e.g., 1420, 1202, 1080, 1601 , 161 1, 1621, 1701, 171 1, 1721, or otherwise).
  • a specific end-user or end-user system e.g., 1420, 1202, 1080, 1601 , 161 1, 1621, 1701, 171 1, 1721, or otherwise.
  • Any user who subscribes, has signed up for, paid for, or otherwise is authorized to receive arts programming will be given the key or other information item that will enable them to decrypt, unlock or otherwise access any and all arts programming, which will have been uniformly encrypted or otherwise prepared. And so on. In that way, the number of individual items of content that will have to be individually encrypted (for example) will be greatly reduced, saving computing power, time and, ultimately, money. Further, a single (or limited number of) 'superset' version(s) of material will, optionally, be prepared which share some authorized content between multiple users, but where for at least some users, some of the content will not be authorized.
  • a single (or limited number of) version(s) of content can be distributed to a wide number of customers, or posted (e.g., on the web) for their download, with each customer being able to decrypt or otherwise access the content they are authorized for, and not the balance of content.
  • network e.g., in particular, metered mobile broadband networks
  • the overhead (at either end) of sending inaccessible content to users has disadvantages, particularly if the proportion of inaccessible to accessible is large.
  • the group of selections are then delivered (separately or as a package, with advertising or other not-specifically-requested material, optionally, integrated) via the same interface (e.g., a web interface, with a click) or, via email, delivery via mobile broadband to a mobile device, etc.
  • the same interface e.g., a web interface, with a click
  • email delivery via mobile broadband to a mobile device, etc.
  • material is loaned, borrowed, or otherwise distributed to those for whom is is not originally intended upon first delivery (or, optionally, shared with authorization to a well-defined or informal group or 'community')
  • only the portions of 'borrowed' content that a secondary user will be able to access will be those for which they are authorized to.
  • categorization can include the following.
  • content is categorized by date (of first availability, for example), or other time period, with older content optionally archived, optionally with a new access mechanism, to be made available more widely (to all customers), or less widely (only users who also have 'archive' access, in lieu of, or in addition to, 'content category' access).
  • decryption keys or other security mechanisms will optionally have limited life, or expire; and, continued access would then, optionally, require re-registration, additional request, payment, or other optional mechanism.
  • sub-categories for example sports
  • sports will, optionally, be accessed by specific sports (e.g. baseball vs. football) or teams (e.g. all NY teams, Mets or Jets only, etc.).
  • content may be selectively secured by degree of desirability. Most simply entertainment, news or other 'user program content' would be encrypted or otherwise protected, while advertisements and marketing-oriented content (e.g., product, book and film reviews, trailers, promotional pieces, etc.) would not.
  • general news and headlines would be accessible to all users, with detailed news stories and features (e.g., on technology and science, business, sports, arts and entertainment, etc.) available to limited subscriber groups. And so on.
  • each item or type of content will be matched against a database (e.g., a matrix of user ID vs. content category) and will be given access on an item by item, or similar, basis.
  • a database e.g., a matrix of user ID vs. content category
  • Category, hierarchical or otherwise, access will optionally be effected by separately encrypting many individual information elements each with individual decryption keys (or other mechanism) and delivering a large number of such keys to a user.
  • a user who subscribes to sports generally will receive the keys for all stories related to sports; and, a user who subscribes to baseball will receive the keys only to that subset of stories.
  • a system of keys will be employed where a master key will permit access to all stories (or whatever information items are being supplied); a sub-master key (one of several, one for each master category) will unlock all stories categorized under one category, such as sports, arts, technology and science, health and medicine, etc.; sub-sub-master keys will unlock all stories related to a sub-category, for example baseball, football, hockey, etc. under the sports category; a third-level-sub-master key would, for example, unlock specific teams or regions under a sub category, for example, Mets, Yankees, NL East, etc.; a further level would unlock an individual story.
  • This is just one, non-limiting, example and any category structure, with hierarchical, temporal, or other categorization of stories or items (optionally overlapping) is intended to be within the scope of the instant invention.
  • a non-limiting best-of-both- worlds example approach will, optionally, be to: encrypt each item only once, with an item-specific key; and, to give each user a user-specific key. Then, when encrypted items are made available (via deliver, or posting for pick-up or otherwise) to end users, the end users will also be supplied with the keys necessary to decrypt these items.
  • These item- specific-keys will each be encrypted with the user-specific key when made available to the specific user. See, for example, Figure 19 for additional details.
  • These keys will, optionally, be made available to the instance of the inventive service bureau's software operating on the user system, as opposed to the user's system or user generally, for added security.
  • the keys will, optionally, not be stored on disk, but will need to be downloaded, or re-downloaded, while online and stored only within the memory being used by the inventive player system while it is active. In this way, it will be less likely that such a key will be distributed to other users, or others generally, in an unauthorized way.
  • inventive granular media player or other software will generally be provided by the inventive service (even if it will make substantial use of functions and services which are part of the operating system, web browser or other software present on the user's system) special security mechanisms (1820) will, optionally, be incorporated into the inventive software.
  • Such mechanisms will include, without limitation, that a (near) unique identification code or decryption key will be embedded within the system. Then, if the identification code does not match a complementary identification code supplied with the content, or other delivered information, the inventive software will display a warning, completely refuse to operate, display media in a decimated or hobbled manner, and/or otherwise fail to operate as expected by he user.
  • encrypted, or encoded media will not decrypt or decode properly without the proper key stored within the specific copy of the inventive software (1821) being available for proper operation.
  • inventive products from multiple platforms (e.g., a laptop system at home; a desktop system at work or school; a smartphone, netbook, or eReader while commuting)
  • platforms e.g., a laptop system at home; a desktop system at work or school; a smartphone, netbook, or eReader while commuting
  • inventive software in each of these systems will, optionally, each contain the same one instance of, or several for a group, security information and mechanism, even if implemented differently on diverse platforms. In that way, the same personally secured content can be obtained and displayed on any and all systems a particular user accesses.
  • inventive service will be by paid subscription, rather than advertising supported, so misappropriation of media supplied by the inventive service is not out of the question.
  • the material will, optionally, be encrypted or otherwise secured for a different instance of the system software and will not be displayable or otherwise usable on the unauthorized instance of the software.
  • the content since the content is idiosyncratic, it will, generally, not be of such particular interest to the unauthorized user. Although, it is acknowledged that some particular items of content will have broad appeal, and there is the possibility that selected segments of content will be 'borrowed' for wide distribution.
  • Additional functions supporting the operation of some embodiments of the inventive system, or other systems relate to accounting functions (1830) and, in particular, optional offline and/or asynchronous collection, communication, etc. (1831), of such information. As is discussed elsewhere, and in particular with respect to Figure 14, there is communication between the end-user audience and advertising clients of the inventive service.
  • requests (1442) and responses (1443) regarding additional information are between the end user and the inventive service bureau; and, that requests for eCommerce, including coupon redemption, occur between the end user and advertising client (1451, 1452), and/or via the inventive service bureau (1444, 1445, 1461, 1462).
  • requests for eCommerce including coupon redemption
  • such exchange of any of the information elements communicated between these three parties is, optionally, as shown or, optionally, by any of the arrangements shown (direct, indirect, with or without confirmation, via one-way or two-way communication channels) or otherwise.
  • inventive service bureau In order for the inventive service bureau (1410) to get paid (1463, 1464) by an advertising client (1430) it will generally require that detailed records be kept and presented (i.e., accounted for) regarding deliveries, transactions and/or communications related to advertisements, additional information, coupons or other promotional materials, and eCommerce (including coupon redemption) that is effected by, or enabled to happen directly or indirectly by, the inventive service bureau. Transactions and other exchanges of information that pass through the inventive service bureau can, optionally, be accounted for there. Transactions and other exchanges of information that involve the end user ( 1420) and/or the advertising client ( 1430) are, optionally, communicated to the inventive service bureau (1410), via (1445) or (1462) for example. Although those two communication channels are both labeled as being about records of eCommerce, they or similar communication channels not specifically shown or labeled as such, are used to communicate records or confirmation about other such information transactions.
  • an end user (1420) that is involved in any such operation for which the inventive service bureau will want to track and account for will, sometimes, be able to directly or indirectly notify the inventive service bureau of that activity. In other circumstances, the end user will not be in contact with the service bureau.
  • the end user (1420) operating some inventive software component e.g., 1604, 1615, 1627, 1704, 1715, 1727, etc.
  • the accounting functions (1830) including optional offline and/or asynchronous collection, communication, etc. ( 1831 ).
  • the end-user' s system including (1800, 1830, 1831), will keep a record of such transactions, optionally together with any required information such as user or transaction IDs, items purchased, amounts spent, coupons redeemed, etc. This information is then, at a time possible or convenient, e.g., asynchronously, communicated to the service bureau so that it can be accounted (1415) and billed (1463) for, and in general be paid for (1464).
  • Circumstances that will potentially require such asynchronous accounting include, without limitation, the following examples.
  • substantial amounts of program content for the invention is already on the user's system, supplied with a new system (as are many such preloaded or trial versions of software applications), or delivered to the user on an optical disc or downloaded from a network such as the internet. Advertisements will, on the other hand, be obtained closer to the time the content is actually displayed, optionally based on the content subject matter, as well as the user's ID and interest profile, and the requests by advertisers for audience meeting particular demographic requirements, or with particular interests, or viewing particular content types.
  • the advertisement will, optionally, be delivered directly from an advertiser, of via some ad brokering operation, or otherwise, in such a way that the service bureau is not directly involved in or aware of the transaction.
  • the user's system will keep a record of all advertisements, so integrated with the content, and in (near-)real time notify the inventive service bureau or, optionally, as discussed here, will retain and asynchronously communicate such accounting records ( 1830, 1831 ) to the inventive service bureau.
  • the end user will review additional advertising or marketing information, optionally delivered to the user via email or otherwise, offline; or, redeem coupons or conduct other eCommerce activity directly with an advertising client (optionally via some intervening entity) online, but not while also in synchronous networked contact with the inventive service bureau. Records will be kept ( 1830) of reception and/or review of such additional advertising and/or promotional materials, and/or redemption and/or eCommerce transactions carried out while not in contact with the service bureau. Such records will, at a later time, be communicated (1831) to the inventive service bureau.
  • the user will be offline entirely while performing some of these functions (including, for example, eCommerce) which will be done by interacting with some locally run applet or other software mechanism. While the user may appear to be doing online eCommerce (for example) records will be kept and later, by a mechanism similar to (1830, 1831 ), communicated to the other party or parties to the eCommerce transaction, or other activity. In addition, via (1830, 1831), accounting records of these activities will also be collected and communicated to the inventive service bureau by means, and at a time, that is practical.
  • these functions including, for example, eCommerce
  • some locally run applet or other software mechanism While the user may appear to be doing online eCommerce (for example) records will be kept and later, by a mechanism similar to (1830, 1831 ), communicated to the other party or parties to the eCommerce transaction, or other activity.
  • accounting records of these activities will also be collected and communicated to the inventive service bureau by means, and at a time, that is practical.
  • Still other such additional functions supporting the operation of some embodiments of the inventive system, or other systems relate to procuring program content (1840) and/or, optionally, other information.
  • Non-limiting examples of such other information include: advertisements; marketing information; asynchronous, secure, or anonymous communications; system updates; etc.
  • many embodiments of the inventive system will generally provide display of granular media multiple times each day to any particular user, and there may be many millions of users.
  • the delay may, itself, be due to a lag or delay of the same network that would be involved in such responses.
  • Procurement of content for example, when initiated by the end-user or client system, rather than the server of the inventive service, will be initiated by the client system in a number of way that will include, without limitation the following.
  • the system will, optionally, be programmed to pick up (unilaterally or, optionally, first inquire of the server system if such materials are available) such information on a timed or scheduled basis; for example, hourly, daily, particularly at 3 AM and 7PM on odd days of the month, or otherwise.
  • the user's system will also, optionally, check on how much granular (or other) content, advertising and marketing materials, etc. is stored on the system for real-time operation that is, optionally, at least in part locally interactive from stored information rather than network mediated in real time. That is, for example, when the user's system detects that the amount of granular content (or some other information) has fallen below some minimum threshold, the system will request of the inventive service the delivery of a package of more such materials.
  • the user (as opposed to the user's system) will, optionally, have the ability to request new information from the inventive service. For example, if the user has become bored with the current library of content; if the user has heard of some new piece of free or purchasable content (optionally, via a notice from the inventive service) that they desire; if the user just wants to have their system updated with fresh content; if the user knows, for example, that they will be unconnected from the network for some period and wants to 'stock up' on content; or, otherwise.
  • NEWSORT an inventive idiomorphic information product named NEWSORT
  • Figure 12 a discussion relevant to an inventive idiomorphic information product named NEWSORT
  • NEWSORT content will be relatively large video files, while grains of granular content will, generally be smaller.
  • NEWSORT video files will, optionally, be conglomerates of much smaller content portions; and, granular content will, optionally, be delivered as a package of many grains.
  • the difference between packages as delivered, in practice, may be small.
  • the techniques described in the section of the parent document entitled PROGRAM DELIVERY, or other related techniques will, optionally, be employed to effect deliveries of content and other information to users in timely fashion, while avoiding to whatever extent possible additional cost or delays for such deliveries; level out server load to reduce peak bandwidth requirements; permit deliveries during overnight hours when the demand on networks, servers, or use of client systems by users will be at a minimum, at least statistically, etc.
  • Any such scheduling will, optionally, be made by any combination of the inventive service, user, or third party's systems; on an individual, group, statistical, semi-or-completely- random, or arbitrary basis; based on user profiles, including the specifics of what content has been downloaded previously and/or history of user activity as a function of time, etc., content or advertising type, or otherwise; automatically, or via a human (e.g., end user, or customer service representative) request; etc.
  • a human e.g., end user, or customer service representative
  • advertising materials will, optionally, be updated on a more frequent or timely basis than content.
  • any eComerce activity while optionally done in an asynchronous and/or off-line fashion, will, in other situations, require real-time interaction.
  • large amounts of content and/or other material will be supplied, for example on a DVD-ROM or other medium, or pre-loaded on a system. In that case, fresh content, advertising and marketing materials, and other information will optionally update this library of materials, as above or otherwise.
  • Figure 19 shows the inventive service bureau (19000), a first client (19100), a second client (19200) and ... an N th client (19300).
  • three large media files 19001 , 19002 and 19003 are each encrypted by a separate and distinct encryption key(1901 1 , 19012, 19013) respectively, in order to create three encrypted media files (19021, 19022, 19023).
  • a media decryption key corresponding to each (M generally, in this case three) of the media encryption keys (19031 , 19032, 19033) are themselves encrypted by encryption keys (19110, 19210 ... 19310) for each of the end users or clients (C generally, in this case also three).
  • This results is an M x C cross product (in this case 3 x 3), with each element comprising 'a media-specific decryption key, encrypted by a client- specific encryption key' (191 1 1 , 191 12, [191 13]; [1921 1], 19212, 19213; 1931 1, 19312, 19313) .
  • media/client key pairings for which a particular media file is not expected to be delivered to a specific user, need not be computed; in this case the two empty keys that would be labeled (191 13) and (1921 1) are such non-computed keys.
  • the media encryption keys (1901 1 , 19012, 19013) are distinct from the media decryption keys (19031 , 19032, 19033); however in come cases, for example a simple password or certain types of encryption/decryption schemes, the encryption keys are, optionally, the same as the decryption keys.
  • Each of the client systems (19100, 19200 ... 19300) has, optionally embedded with the inventive-service-supplied granular player or othegr software, available to it a client-specific decryption key (19120, 19220, 19230) that is used to decrypt files encrypted by, and which is, generally, distinct from, the corresponding client-specific encryption key (191 10, 19210, 19310).
  • Each of the client systems also receives from the service bureau computer, via a network or otherwise, a package of materials (19130, 19230, 19330) respectively.
  • Each such package contains pairs comprising a media file, which has been encrypted by a media-specific encryption key, and which is, generally, the same for each user; and, the corresponding media-specific decryption key needed to decrypt that media file, which decryption key has itself been specifically encrypted with a client-specific encryption key.
  • Package (19130) contains ( 19021 / 191 1 1 & 19022/ 191 12); package (19230) contains (19022/19212 & 19023/19213); and, package (19330) contains (19021/1931 1, 19022/10312 & 19023/19313). Note that only one media file (the second) is delivered to all three client systems shown; and that only one client system (the third) receives all three example media files.
  • a second portion (19380) of the third (N' h ) client system which is distinct from the portion (19370) corresponding to the depiction of the other two client systems, is shown a single example of how a decrypted media file is reconstructed.
  • This is one example of how the third media file (19003) is recovered by the third (N th ) client system (19300) and is representative of how the other six file/client combinations (1/1, 1/3, 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 3/2) not shown.
  • the encrypted (by client-specific encryption key (19310)) media- specific decryption key (19313) is decrypted by the corresponding client-specific decryption key (19320) to recover the original media-specific decryption key (19033).
  • that media-specific decryption key (19033) is applied to the encrypted media file (19023) to recover the original media file (19033) which is then available for immediate display, storage for later use, or otherwise.
  • any identification, encryption/decryption, encoding/decoding or other security mechanisms now know or later developed, including without limitation public key/private key encryption or other security schemes are, optionally, utilized for such purposes.
  • the prefix meta is used to mean about (its own category).
  • metadata are data about data (who has produced them, when, what format the data are in and so on).
  • Its use in English is the result of back-formation from the word 'metaphysics'.
  • the use of the prefix was later extended to other contexts based on the understanding of metaphysics to mean 'the science of what is beyond the physical'.
  • this modern meaning [per Quine 1927] allows for self-reference, since if something is about the category to which it belongs, it can be about itself; it is therefore no coincidence that we find Quine, a mathematician interested in self-reference, using it. ...
  • metamedia contain information that is about the media. This is not necessarily limited to optional or typical 'metadata' or identifying information such as title, author, format, length, etc; or to the inclusion of interactive elements such as those employed in hypermedia. Metamedia will also, generally but optionally, contain information about the media that can be used to reshape the media into an array of flexible alternative presentations, or for alternative uses, such as those described as idiomorphic in the instant application, or otherwise.
  • meta structures include, but are not limited to, those described, in the instant application and inventor's parent or related patent document(s), as emulsified, pyramidal, abstracted (for time, content, use preference, or otherwise), tagged, granularized or granulated, or otherwise.
  • metamedia can be displayed in much the same way that standard media are, metamedia can also, optionally, be presented and or used in flexible customizable or 'idiomorphic' fashion, or in other non-standard fashion.
  • the options and techniques for the creating, editing, formatting, structuring, storing, filing, notating, presenting and otherwise processing and managing metamedia are similarly enhanced and, generally but optionally, involve the enhanced or meta information, which extends beyond mere content, and comprises or is associated with metamedia.
  • metamedia means media that comprises "advanced” information, and/or has been “enhanced” to incorporate such information and/or to create an association with such information; and thus will, optionally, be capable of presentation or other processing or management that goes “beyond” that of: simple content-oriented media, the incorporation and use of simple indentifying or metadata, typical hypermedia and/or typical interactive media.
  • analysis and synthesis come from (classical) Greek and mean literally 'to loosen up' and 'to put together' respectively. These terms are used within most modern scientific disciplines - from mathematics and logic to economy and psychology - to denote similar investigative procedures.
  • analysis is defined as the procedure by which we break down an intellectual or substantial whole into parts or components.
  • Synthesis is defined as the opposite procedure: to combine separate elements or components in order to form a coherent whole.” or, perhaps more aptly, to metabolism, and its complementary sub-processes of catabolism and anabolism ("What Is Metabolism? How Do Anabolism And Catabolism Affect Body Weight?" 10 Aug 2009 Medical News Today.):
  • metabolism means ' 1 The sum of the chemical and physical changes occurring in tissue, consisting of anabolism (those reactions that convert small molecules into large), and catabolism
  • Catabolism is the breaking down of things ... Anabolism is the building up of things ".
  • meta-media particularly when it involves the transformation of more standard media into meta-media, will often involve: a first phase, where the input media are at least analyzed and, optionally, actually taken to pieces; and, a second phase where the identified, or broken down, components - optionally in combination with other, generally supplemental or auxiliary, elements, such as grain boundaries, various tags, edit decision lists, etc. - are then built up into a coherent whole instance of meta-media.
  • meta-media can be created or constructed from scratch.
  • meta-media (sometimes referred to by related terms metamorphic media or idiomorphic media) has been used extensively throughout the instant application and parent documents - sometime by using these terms explicitly and sometimes not. An explicit description is illustrated in Figure 25.
  • Meta-media (2500) comprises at its figurative core, literally illustrated by the heavy box, an instance of traditional media (2580), generally as digital information.
  • Such traditional digital media (2580) in turn comprise content (2550) which will further comprise any combination of media generally falling under the rubric of multi-media, including, but not limited to: text, audio, still graphics and photographs, animated graphics and motion picture imagery, or otherwise.
  • Such traditional computer media (2580) also frequently contains interactive information (2520), hyper-media information (2530), meta data (2540) and/or other elements not strictly content.
  • Meta data (2540) generally comprises information such as title, author, copyright information, etc., that identifies the media.
  • Hyper-media information (2530) generally comprises data and/or mechanisms for linking or jumping to other locations within the present document, or to other documents.
  • Interactive information (2520) generally comprises data and/or mechanisms to permit user input and document response.
  • Interactive media information is often integrated with hypermedia type information to implement menus, data entry, question/answer interaction, searches, etc.; to implement games or other interactive applications, etc.; but, such is potentially crossing the boundary between media and application program, depending upon one's definitions.
  • meta-media (2500) and meta-information (or meta-media-information) (2510) are generally employed to enable additional capabilities.
  • that capability is to enable delivered media to be presented in a multiplicity of optional configurations (sometimes referred to herein as metamorphic or idiomorphic) depending upon a number of factors, generally an interplay between certain portions of the meta-information and information associated with a user (which user related information is, optionally, considered a portion of the meta-media- information).
  • Meta-information (2510) will comprise, without limitation, information such as:
  • Further information pertaining to the user (user preference or interest, purpose for accessing the document, identifying characteristics (e.g., age, gender, profession, social and ideological designations, etc., not just - or even necessarily - name, rank and serial number), roll, capabilities, etc.), which will be use in conjunction with the above, in order to implement media presentation options, will also, optionally, be considered part of the meta-information.
  • this user related information will not be part of the meta-media proper, it will, generally, be utilized in conjunction with the meta-information in order to offer an appropriately structured presentation derived from the meta-media.
  • the meta-information such as described in the bullets above and/or as pertaining to the user, will, optionally, be stored and/or conveyed with the content and/or other meta-media elements in a single file, or conveyed as a single package of information; elements will originate and/or exist separately in time and/or location, and/or be conveyed separately; or, these various elements will be created, stored, conveyed, integrated, used, etc. in any combination of similar or disparate manners.
  • meta-media (2500) and meta-information (2510) are generally employed to enable capabilities that permit media, or selected segments of media, to be associated with meta-information that subsequently permit such media to be stored, retrieved, searched for, or otherwise organized and/or used in ways that permit associative links to be made between the media with such meta-information and other such media, user intent, user recollection, or otherwise.
  • Meta-information is also optionally employed for still other purposes in some preferred embodiments.
  • meta-content ⁇ and will not necessarily be of the same format as the primary content (2550) or as each other. To whatever extent these packages of supplementary/alternative content are not part of the original traditional media (2580) they fall under the 'meta' part of the meta-media, if not actually under the term meta-information. They will generally be designated meta-content.
  • Figure 23 depicts an example of how meta-media of one type is transformed into meta-media of another type.
  • a meta-media article of pyramidal format is transformed into granular media.
  • the subject matter of the article is, in fact, just this subject and is incorporated hereby as part of the disclosure as well as a figure.
  • grain boundaries in 1 Figure 23 are represented by heavy horizontal lines between grains (2301 through 2316), without enumerating for each a separate element number. For visual clarity, grain boundaries are also indicated before grain (2301), both after (2309) and before (2310) because of the columnar format of the figure, and after (2316).
  • the pyramidal structure comprises various parts that have been parsed out into a series of grains as follows: a title or headline in grain (2301); a sub-headline in grain (2302); a lead in grain (2303); an optional table of contents in grain (2304), which in this case depicts hyper-links to sections labeled General Discussion (2304.1) starting at grain (2305), Technical Details (2304.2) starting at grain (2308), and Costs & Availability (2304.3) starting at some point after grain (2316); with the balance of the article continuing from grain (2305) onward, with a brief general discussion
  • grain (2313) comprises a graphic figure (2320) of Navigation Features, including those to go back (2321) and forward (2322).
  • Other navigation structures and mechanisms now known or later developed are also substituted for, or incorporated with, these and are considered within the scope of the instant invention.
  • these will optionally include, without limitation: the up arrow, or the right arrow in conjunction with a shift, Ctl, or Alt key will,
  • Figure 24 depicts three additional examples of how media of one type is transformed into meta-media of another type.
  • an email message with attachments (2410), a Twitter message with a referenced blog (2440), and an aggregation of personal information (2460) are each transformed into granular media suitable for granular display.
  • an email message with attachments (2410) is each transformed into granular media suitable for granular display.
  • an aggregation of personal information (2460)
  • the navigation/action elements (2413, 2455 and 2477) which are repeated for each grain of the email message (2410) are only shown (but are, generally, also repeated) in the first grain of the Tweet (2440) and personal information (2460).
  • the granulated email (2410) comprises grains (2411 through 2416) and continues as necessary.
  • Grain (241 1 ) is the email header and, for example, comprises notice that this is an EMAIL and the type (2421); the 'from' field (2422); the reference line (2423); and, other fields as required or desired (e.g., the date sent, status, etc.).
  • an exemplary set of action/navigation functions (2424). These comprise, without limitation: Continue, Delete, Requeue, Save and Forward; which will alternatively, optionally, be invoked, for example, by Alt-C, Alt-D, Alt-Q, Alt-S and Alt-F, respectively. Continue indicates that the user wants to move on to display of the next grain (there
  • Delete indicates that the user wants to discard the entire granular document
  • Requeue indicates that the user does not want to continue with this document now but, rather, wants it reentered (at the head, tail, or otherwise, choice mechanism not shown) into the queue of items (or, e.g. an unread inbox folder, an 'in bin' in a meta-media filing system holding items for review by the granular player, or otherwise) to be
  • actions may also be, optionally, provided; as well as other action/navigation options.
  • a Reply (Alt-R) function (not shown) will invoke a comparable email reply function; or Reply and Forward will, optionally, be integrated into a single combined function. Invocation of any of these functions, but particularly the forward/reply functions will cause additional windows to display in or near the granular content window to manage contact lists, compose reply content, or otherwise.
  • Next grain (2412) contains the body of the email (2425) including an attached business logo (2426). Grain (2412) also contains a service-supporting advertisement (2427), which itself includes:
  • an advertiser's logo no separate element number
  • an order now button or link 2428 which will in practice, optionally be a one click order, invoke a pop-up supplementary order window, or otherwise; and, a remind me button or link which will place the advertisement in the 'scrapbook' in a meta-media filing system, or some other action queue, and will, optionally, mark the meta-media with meta-information indication action (reminding, ordering or otherwise) is necessary and, optionally, setting a reminder or alarm function.
  • an additional action/navigation button/link that will cause the attachment (the report starting at grain (2413)) to display in granular fashion; and the action/navigation links/buttons (2424) already described.
  • grain (2412) will be displayed as a sequence of several grains; and, in particular, any advertisement(s) will, optionally, be presented as grain(s) separate from the email body. Also note the synergistic relationship between the advertisement (flowers for "next week's secretaries day” attached to an email sent by a (presumably) efficient secretary) and the sender/recipient relationship.
  • Grain (2413) comprises a Title (2431); (2414) an Executive Summary (2432); and (2415) a Table of Contents (2433).
  • ToC (2433) in turn has three hyper-links: (2434) that links to grain (2414); (2436) to (2416); and, (2435) that somewhat redundantly links to the present grain (2415).
  • the body of the report itself starts in grain (2416), includes graphic (2438) in grain (2417), and continues in grain (2418) and beyond as long as needed (2439).
  • Twitter message and referenced document (2440) is converted for granular display with the tweet itself comprising a single grain (2441) displaying a heading/type (2451) and typical tweet elements of message (2452), including a sender's 'handle' and an associated avatar image, and a tiny url for a referenced document, a blog; and, a hashtag with how the tweet was sent (2454); also, the action/navigation functions (2455 comparable to 2424).
  • 'Forward' here will, optionally, be replaced by a retweet function.
  • the first grain (2461) comprises a Title (2471); five hyper-links (2473 through 2476) in a type of table of contents linking to personal information grains (2462 through 2466, respectively); and, the action/navigation functions (2477, like 2424 and 2455) that are not separately shown in the remaining grains.
  • Each has an active "done” link (2480) to return to the table of contents grain (2461).
  • the first two also contain an active "more” link to display additional grains of detailed information beyond that displayed in the summary grain.
  • the next two instead, display an inactive "no more activity” message (2483) indicating that there is no additional information beyond that which is displayed in the summary grain.
  • Other action/navigation functions or mechanisms are used in substitution for, or in combinations with, those described.
  • item (2487) provides two active links to, in an automatic or computer assisted fashion, "rollover" the CD account, or to delete the reminder from the list; item ' (2488) has links to "pay” the tax due, or delete the reminder; and, item (2489) links to "reorder” the same flowers as last year (see (2428)).
  • item ' (2488) has links to "pay” the tax due, or delete the reminder; and, item (2489) links to "reorder” the same flowers as last year (see (2428)).
  • Many of the items invoked by the various "more” links will, optionally, include action links such as those shown for reminders (2487 through 2489); or, will invoke supplementary windows or other mechanisms that will permit more complex interaction (e.g., carry out banking or brokerage transactions).
  • Social editing techniques are particularly well-suited to be carried out in association with information distribution activities implementing the inventive idiomorphic techniques disclosed herein and in the parent document(s). This is because of the, generally, large audience base and highly detailed user demographic (including preferences, history of use, etc.) information about the users available to such a service.
  • inventive idiomorphic techniques disclosed herein and in the parent document(s).
  • the customer base of such service (or a comparable member-base) is, optionally, used for many purposes, including providing intelligence and services to other entities without access to such groups and processes.
  • FIG. 26 a system diagram is shown that depicts a non-limiting example of how information elements are interrelated, and how information flows between such elements, to perform social editing functions.
  • a work (2610) that is to be socially edited will comprise a traditional media work or will, optionally, comprise a work of meta-media comprising both content (2612) and meta-information (2611).
  • the process starts with the work (2610) and a provisional starting place to specify the demographic profile (2620) of the audience niche for the work. That provisional demographic profile (2620) is applied to (2625) the potential audience pool (2630) to select a sample audience (2640) the members of which will have generally not yet been exposed to this work. (Alternatively, under some circumstances it will be useful to have some audience members see a work for one or more additional times, optionally, after amendment or editing.)
  • the audience pool (2630) will, generally, consist of three parts. One comprises the audience members (if any) who have specifically agreed to (or requested to) be part of an Avant Garde segment of the audience (2632) willing to try out un-vetted works; and, which agreement or invitation will, optionally, be limited to specific areas of interest or expertise. The balance of the audience (2531) who are not specifically part of the Avant Garde segment comprises the second. A third comprises an auxiliary audience (2633) who are not generally associated with the audience of the organization carrying out the social editing, the publishing effort, or otherwise; and, which may be drawn from an auxiliary roster; or, from social communities, for example those associated with blogs, YouTube channels, Twitter groups, Facebook friends, or otherwise.
  • Such auxiliary audience members are used in addition to, or in lieu of, the usual in-house audience for any phase of social editing, including for distribution of the final form of the work.
  • the first two sub-groups (2631) and (2632) it will often be the case that untried, unvetted works will not be distributed to audience members who have not agreed to receive such works; particularly for embodiments and services where idiomorphic or personalized customer satisfaction with content is paramount. (Nevertheless, in some circumstances, such an audience segment will be shanghaied for this purpose.) However, it is acknowledged that restricting sample audiences to (2631) may create a Truman/Dewey effect.
  • the provisional demographic profile (2620) can be initialized or started in many different ways. Some illustrative examples include, without limitation, the following:
  • Such a neutral demographic will, optionally, be partially or entirely skewed or limited along one or more of these or other dimensions or categories. For example, adult-oriented content will, generally, not be distributed to children and vice versa. However, such rational expectations can be incorrect; for example, the initial marketing focus of the Harry Potter books as for children only has proved to be massively incorrect. Other such limitations on the provisional demographic can be made on any combination of dimensions or categories (e.g., without limitation, those listed earlier in this bullet) with the same caveat regarding counter-intuitive audience interest. For example, a genre work which unexpectedly has broad appeal, or appeal to an unexpected niche audience.
  • this process will be conducted iteratively, and the process is expected to refine or hone in on one or more focused audience segments (each potentially defined by a complex demographic profile) there is the potential for 'the butterfly effect' - that is, a sensitivity to distinct but not dissimilar initial conditions achieving vastly different results, particularly if the sample is small in size or (inadvertently, or otherwise) skewed. This may also be though of as similar to a situation where a hill climbing algorithm (searching for a minimum) becomes trapped within a locally minimum depression within a high plateau. Starting in a sufficiently different neighborhood will avoid this trap.
  • the starting provisional demographic profile (2620) is, optionally, based in whole or in part by human intuition or research which may be performed by the author/creator of the work, a publisher, the inventive service or otherwise.
  • a computer using automatic or more sophisticated AI algorithms will, optionally, choose a starting place for (2620) that is 'appropriate' rather than random.
  • any of the techniques that are used by the system to refine (2620) prior to each iteration can be used 'cold' to initialize (2620).
  • feedback 2650 via 2655 through 2658
  • Alternative sources to substitute for such system feedback will, optionally, be used to jump- start such algorithms.
  • the computer will use any number of ways to computationally deduce an appropriate or expected provisional demographic profile. Examples of these include, without limitation:
  • o datamining or related techniques can be applied to identify related documents (as above, or otherwise) and from use records and/or feedback about those documents construct a provisional demographic profile (2620) directly; or, to use such feedback of related documents (as if they were in reponse to the work under scrutiny) as an input (2656) to 'iterate' a start for (2620);
  • the meta-information (261 1) will, potentially, be a source of demographic expectation.
  • the work of meta- media is of the kind referred to herein and in the parent document(s) as abstracted
  • different versions of the media will, generally, be delivered to different users based on their personal demographic/preference/user profile. Consequently, social editing of such an abstracted work will be complicated by the fact that different users will be feeding back about different versions of the work. So, in theory, for example, an abstracted work may be hypothetically very well received but, in practice, because it has been abstracted poorly, delivering the 'wrong' subset of content to various user-base segments, it will be badly received.
  • the demographic profile for a work distinct from (2610) will, optionally, be used as the initial provisional demographic (2620) as a way to ascertain the expected audience overlap between works as an adjunct to making recommendations to system users, or otherwise.
  • a first pass, or set of passes will, optionally, be conducted using the Avant Garde (2632) and/or auxiliary (2633) audience segments. That will result in an iterated demographic profile (268 0) for which there is a fair degree of confidence. This will then, optionally, be used on one or more small subsets (2640) of the non-avant tree (2632) (for whom it
  • the iterative result (2680) of the first phase of the process will be used to start (2620) the second phase of the process.
  • the first such phase will, optionally, be performed to ascertain if there is sufficient worth and/or interest to justify exposing the work (2610) to the general audience (2631); and, once and if that result is yes, the second phase will use a subset of that general audience to further refine the demographic profile before wide release to the general audience.
  • An optional vetting and tweaking of the work will be conducted some time prior to that wide release.
  • demographic profiles will, optionally, be used to as input to (2620) for the start, or at any combination
  • the social editing process will, generally, be conducted as an iterative process.
  • a non-limiting example of how one such iteration is conducted as follows:
  • provisional demographic (2620) which is, in general, refined or updated prior to the start ' of all iterations subsequent to the first, is applied (2625) to any preferred segments (2631 ,
  • Such application (2635) results in a (generally very small fractional) selection of a sample audience (2640).
  • the selection is achieved by matching the provisional demographic profile > (2620) with the personal demographic (also including user history and preferences, etc.) or user profile of individual users in the audience (2630).
  • Such matching will, optionally, be conducted randomly, with the first N who sufficiently match being chosen; the N who 'best fit' the profile being chosen; or, otherwise.
  • the fit will be defined as an exact match; as a threshold of at least M matches of various dimensions or categories; a more complex definition where some dimensions or categories have a scale of how much the user profile and demographic profile (2620) match for at least some of the categories or dimensions, where various dimensions or categories are weighted, etc.; or otherwise.
  • a match will optionally be defined as binary (match or not); a minimum threshold of matching has been reached; an ordering where a matching value(s) (generally, or for a multiplicity of categories or dimensions) permit the ranking of potential sample audience (2640) members - where 'best' 'worst' or a range of matches (generally, or for a multiplicity of categories or dimensions) are used for audience selection; or, otherwise.
  • the members of the sample audience for a given iteration (2640) are chosen, they will receive (2615) the current version of the work (2610). If the work is a work of meta- media and, in particular, abstracted, the version delivered to each member of the sample audience will, optionally, be customized.
  • the members of the sample audience (2640) will then provide (2645) feedback (2650) based on their experience with the work.
  • feedback will, optionally, be any combination of the following:
  • Such feedback (2650 via 2655) will be used in any combination of (at least) three ways but, it is expected, primarily for the first, as follows:
  • This final profile (2680) (or updated iterated profile (2620)) will, optionally, be further updated by a final computer pass, a subsequent phase of the social editing process, by human review and 'tweaking', or otherwise (not separately shown) before use.
  • the results will be applied (2657) to (which can be implemented relatively automatically if feedback questions are well-designed and tied to abstraction options ahead of time) modify abstraction information (2610) so that, upon a subsequent iteration (generally with a new sample audience but, optionally, with the some or all of the same) boys will receive the short/technical version, girls the short/creative version, men the long/technical version, and women the long/creative version.
  • the result, in this example is that the article is now reported (2650) to be far more satisfactory to many more members of the second sample audience (2640). What has happened is that feedback about the middle (in both dimensions) version of nine alternatives results in the middle row and middle column being eliminated, and the four extreme corner versions being used for four relatively well-defined demographic groups.
  • Social editing is about finding and refining a 'best fit' between a work and its audience; and, is not necessarily identical with the choices made and policies set for publishing or distributing the work based on the results received from the social editing process.
  • a particular word - a pejorative term - has a high frequency of occurrence in a fill-in question regarding 'what didn't you like?' and/or in proximity to negative words and phrases (hated, didn't like, offended by) in a free- form response area.
  • the system will determine that the appropriate course of action is to replace each and every occurrence in the work of the offending term with a less-slangy synonym.
  • a next iteration receives greatly improved response. Mission accomplished. Alternately, a next iteration receives no better (or even worse) response and (again, for example, according to expert rules) the system alerts a human editor to provide creative intervention.
  • the iterative process - (2620), (2625), (2630 - of 2631, 2632 and/or 2633), (2635), (2640), (2645), (2650), (2655 - as 2656 to 2620, 2657 to2611 , and/or 2658 to 2620) - generally will continue until some stop criterium is reached. Without limitation, such criteria include:
  • Such adequate identification criteria can, optionally, include false positive and false negative measurements.
  • That one or more populations of adequate size have been identified. That is to say that, particularly with traditional production and delivery of media, if a publisher does not believe there is an audience of adequate size, then the economics of publication and/or distribution may not make sense. Predicted audience size (or percentage) may be sufficient for traditional publishing, with an expectation that a potentially popular work will find its audience, optionally assisted by marketing and advertising.
  • the traditional publisher will generally be more interested in the first work because it will have a projected audience seven times as large and, it is assumed, the audience will find the work; or, will accept the work if exposed to it and they are interested in it, without being offended in any way if they are not interested.
  • Such publishers will, generally, be open to and even want works with niche audiences; but, more so, niche works need such publishers.
  • the publisher relies on personalized delivery, but knows relatively little (e.g., limited to traditional demographic information such as age, gender etc.) about the audience members.
  • the publisher is in a better position for making use of either work.
  • this publisher will not only know age and gender, etc.; but will know, for example, that a particular user has a history of reading, purchasing, or positively reacting to, 'ponderous tomes of fantasy and historical fiction' and will thus be able to further refine the audience identification for either work.
  • this will likely greatly reduce the 1/10 of 1% who would otherwise receive the work in error; and, it will, perhaps more imporantly, likely identify most of the 2%» of the audience who would otherwise be missed.
  • (2620) including, but not limited to, example criteria such as:
  • confidence of the accuracy of the demographic profile (as by false positives, false negatives or otherwise, and which will also be, for this example, expressed as a composite percentage of confidence, ranging from 0 to 100%).
  • a criterium of a minimum of 0.16 is set for 'size x confidence' then: an audience estimated at 80% would be acceptable with a confidence of 20% or higher; an audience estimated at 40% would be acceptable with a confidence of 40% or higher; and. an audience estimated at 20% would be acceptable with a confidence of 80% or higher; etc.
  • ° Criteria are, optionally, defined in terms of some one or more demographic
  • a criterium is set that the provisional demographic identify an audience segment (of women, or teen boys, of New York lawyers, or the college educated) that is at least 60% interested in the work.
  • o Criteria are, optionally, defined in terms of a minimum level of diversity among interested audience members with regard to geographic location, age, profession, ⁇ economic level, etc.
  • a fixed or flexible (e.g., extended if progress is being made, curtailed in the face of little or less progress) limit is optionally placed on the number of iterations to be run, the percentage of the audience (2630) used as sample audiences (2640), or otherwise. Thus, if sufficient
  • ⁇ fail due to: failing to find an audience of sufficient size; failing to find a demographic profile of sufficient specificity or confidence; or, failure to meet any other required specification or criteria.
  • the work (2610) and/or the provisional demographic 1 profile (2620) will be in their sub-final form as updated by the iterative process.
  • some or all of the interim forms will also be retained for automatic and/or human review and/or comparison; and, optionally, a composite result is achieved by human and/or computer integration of results from multiple social editing sessions.
  • the work (2610) will then, optionally, be submitted (2616) for vetting (that is, review of the work for appropriateness, propriety, or otherwise) (2660) by any combination of human, automatic computer, AI or other means.
  • Such vetting will also, optionally, include additional editing, polishing or 'tweaking' of the contents (2612) and/or the meta-information (261 1) of the work.
  • meta-information determines how personalized versions of the work are derived from the super-set of the work (either before or after delivery to the user system) will, optionally, be created, updated or refined, based on the results of one or more social editing sessions; other meta-information comprises content tagging information, etc.
  • the result of such vetting and refinement (2660) is delivery (2665) of a final work (2670) which, in practice, will,
  • 1 optionally, be multiple forms of the work each associated with a different (potentially overlapping) demographic profile (2680).
  • the provisional demographic (2620) will also, optionally, go through a human and/or computer vetting and/or updating process (not shown separately from 2626) similar to that just described for the work (2610, 2616, 2660, 2665, 2670) to yield one or more final demographic
  • profiles (2680) In particular, multiple versions of demographic profile (2680) will, optionally, be used in association with multiple versions of the work (2670) in straightforward or complex manner.
  • profile(s) (2680) will be applied to (2685) the audience (2634, shown as same as 2630) to select (2636) a final audience (2690) to which the final work (2670) is published, delivered, distributed, or otherwise exposed to or associated with (2675). It is noted that, as shown, the audience (2634, also consisting of three optional sub-sets 2631, 2632 & 2633) from which the final audience (2690) is selected (2636), is the same audience (2630) from which the social editing sample audiences (2640) were drawn (2635).
  • these two audiences are completely or partially diverse; and, in particular, audience members who received the in-process work during social editing (i.e., were part of any related sample audience) will, optionally, be removed from any distribution (2675) of the final work (2670) or item.
  • the social editing process is also, optionally, used for purposes other than editing, audience identification, and analysis of media with regard to publication and distribution.
  • the process is, optionally, run multiple times: to confirm or refine results; track results ' over time; gather information piecemeal which is combined and utilized in combination otherwise (including via an additional pass of social editing).
  • the social editing process is, optionally, combined with other processes of statistics, analysis, management, editing, marketing, audience identification or otherwise.
  • Clusters can, potentially, be more than two, with an audience generally N-furcated rather than merely bifurcated. The resulting audience will, optionally, be described as a collection of separate
  • a demographic category or dimension will be sampled at finer resolution (e.g., several samples each from grades 1 though 6 rather than just a few 'pre-teens') to determine a finer-resolution discrimination regarding age/preference. Or, alternatively, reducing the number of audience member sample categories in one dimension (i.e., age), by grouping related categories (e.g., the reverse of what was just described), in order to have more latitude to explore the differentiation along other dimensions (e.g., geographic location), or between other categories (gender vs. location vs. economic strata, vs. years of
  • the criteria (or threshold) for what constitutes a 'match' between a particular audience member and the demographic profile will, optionally, be tightened, loosened, or otherwise changed from iteration to iteration. This will, optionally, be in response to the demographic profile approaching (or retreating from, or remaining static) the criteria for
  • the make-up of the audience (2630) from segments (2631, 2632 & 2633) will, optionally, be changed during operation of the social editing process.
  • the process will, optionally: start with the Avant Garde segment (2632) only, who have agreed to be exposed to unvetted works; include segment (2631) once (if) the work has been
  • a demographic profile based on limited demographic knowledge is, optionally, extracted from the profile developed from audiences about which much is known, which will then be tested on an auxiliary segment about which relatively little is known.
  • a benefit of conducting social editing utilizing audiences from services based on inventions described herein and in the parent document(s) is that highly useful demographic results will be derived from audiences about which much is known. Those results are then computationally flattened to a reduced demographic feature space, for use with publishers (or others) dealing with audiences or customer bases for
  • An early phase of iterations will be conducted with one set of operational parameters (e.g., with broader categories, fewer dimensions, more diverse populations) while trying to search for an audience, or audience segments; and, a second set of operational parameters (e.g., with narrower categories, more dimensions, narrower populations) while trying to refine an audience, or audience segments.
  • one set of operational parameters e.g., with broader categories, fewer dimensions, more diverse populations
  • second set of operational parameters e.g., with narrower categories, more dimensions, narrower populations
  • social editing is used to find and refine an audience, as embodied by the demographic profile (2680). As such it functions in some ways as a meritocracy and is akin to a passive word of mouth process. During the process, negative reviews or reactions will not necessarily be a bad result; by pruning, such will help identify and refine the definition of a receptive audience. An item may spend some time working its way through the social editing process.
  • a sample audience (2640) is selected and the work (2610) delivered (2615), it may be some time before feedback (2650) arrives.
  • Reminders will, optionally, prompt for feedback but, eventually, there will have to be some cut-off or other mechanism to deal with stragglers.
  • computational results will, optionally, be updated.
  • interim results will, optionally, be computed.
  • various iterations and sessions of social editing will, optionally, be conducted
  • Results not specifically related to a particular work or item (2610) will, optionally, be used as is or mined for useful trending or other information and will, optionally, be marketed as products, or reapplied as a service.
  • authors will, optionally, use this process or service and fees will potentially be charged to enroll a work or author into the social editing process; conduct audience
  • micro-payments (micro- publishing) will potentially accrue to such an author for any work so published.
  • NEWSORT Combining the best elements of newspapers, news magazines, specialty magazines, broadcast network programing, and state-of-the-art interactive and internet applications, NEWSORT
  • Advertisements are also individually tailored to the interests of each customer which not only makes advertising less obtrusive, but makes the impression on such a pre-qualified viewer more valuable to the advertiser. Further, since only interested users are receiving an advertisement, not only are such commercial messages more effective, but they cost less because - unlike broadcast and print - charges are made only for those members of the audience who actually receive the ad, not for the entire print 'circulation' or Nielsen 'ratings' or 'share' figures.
  • THE PERSONALNEWSORTPROGRA is like a morning news program (e.g., The Today Show or Good Morning America) - if such a program ran exactly the right length for your morning commute, or lunch break - if such a program consisted of news and features that were tailored to your specific interests - if such a program could be carried around in your pocket and watched on your video cell phone, or listened to on your iPod, as well as watched on your desktop PC or laptop, or on your home television.
  • a morning news program e.g., The Today Show or Good Morning America
  • a program ran exactly the right length for your morning commute, or lunch break - if such a program consisted of news and features that were tailored to your specific interests - if such a program could be carried around in your pocket and watched on your video cell phone, or listened to on your iPod, as well as watched on your desktop PC or laptop, or on your home television.
  • NEWSORT programs are delivered via email or wireless telephone network to PCs, laptops, netbooks, iPhones Blackberries and other smart and video mobile phones.
  • the program may also be delivered via the internet to a PC, to be watched there or offloaded by the customer to their mobile audio or video device of choice, such as an iPod or other MP3 player for audio versions, or video iPods, iPhones, Blackberries and the like for video versions.
  • Programs will also be delivered via cable or satellite services to settop boxes (including video game consoles and Bluray DVD players with BD Live) and/or advanced technology televisions, to watch at home, at the viewer's convenience.
  • Content is assembled on-the-fly for each customer - from up-to-the-minute news, as well as specialty and feature stories of personal interest - and delivered 'fresh' just shortly before it is needed, via the internet, cell phone network, or other network.
  • content is assembled and delivered on an On-demand' basis.
  • Programs can be watched on a desktop or laptop PC during lunchtime or other break. However, more interesting, programs are watched on iPods, iPhones and other mobile devices during a train, bus or taxi commute to work, school or elsewhere, at the gym on a treadmill, etc. Audio-only versions (tweaked to not rely on visual-only information) are made available so that the service is also practical for use by people who walk or drive to work, or to use while jogging, etc.
  • a morning program of 35 minutes in length comprising news headlines and feature stories about business/finance and health/medicine ⁇ 1 ⁇ is delivered via email at 7AM so that it can be offloaded ⁇ 2 ⁇ to a video iPod at 8AM by a user before leaving on their expected 40 minute morning commute.
  • the program is delivered directly to their iPhone.
  • That same user will receive at 4:30PM a 45 minute program they can offload before their longer return commute; and this program will consist of late headlines, general sports scores and in-depth sports coverage of NY and LA teams; feature stories about consumer electronics, computer technology, and home improvement; and, film and television reviews.
  • Other options (depending on the capabilities of the device the program is being displayed on) permit the user to select and sequence items to watch from a menu. Still other options permit the user to watch an item in full detail; or, to watch a condensed version covering the highlights only; or, supplement an item with even more material containing related information.
  • each program is meant to fill a particular length of time; and, because users will have the option of skipping or condensing items; supplementary items that fit the user's interest profile will be included in each delivery, to fill out the allotted time if the primary selections are not reviewed in full by the user.
  • CUSTOMIZED CONTENT GENERATION What follows is just one example of how a single item of programming content is prepared by the NEWSORT service to create a multiplicity of different versions, each with a different level of detail and/or with a different focus of interest. Depending on the user's preferences - collected during customer sign-up and kept on file - a particular one of these versions (or none at all) will be included in the personalized news and information package delivered to that user.
  • the original source might be from a news magazine, such as Time or Newsweek.
  • our in-house writers will edit the text for our in-house talent to read on camera.
  • our in-house computer graphic artists will scan the magazine print graphics (potentially supplemented with graphics from other sources, or those created in-house) to be edited into, or keyed over, the news reader's presentation.
  • a full 15-minute-long 'feature story' version will contain all of this material, and is to be included in news/information packages intended for customers who have expressed a high degree of interest in media/technology related stories; for customers who prefer fewer stories, each with more in-depth detail, in their package of information; and who have long commutes or break periods to fill.
  • a ten-minute-long version will be edited down for those customers with somewhat less interest or time available. This version will cover all the major topics, but with some 1 of the less important details omitted from many topics.
  • One version will cover the 'headlines' or 'highlights' or 'sound bites' of all the major topics, and be supplied to those customers with general interest in these kinds of topics - or who have multiple specific interests, e.g., media technology, media business, media arts - but have only a limited (5 minute) time slot in their customized program for this item.
  • Each of these segments is tagged with computer readable keys that describe: > ⁇ what category this item falls into - general news, international, national, local, politics, economics, business & finance, science & medicine, technology, sports, entertainment, etc. • additional descriptive keywords that are conceived of and entered by the human operators; and/or are automatically computer extracted from headlines or the body text of print- originated stories; and/or are automatically computer derived from video-originated stories, using close-captioned text, or voice recognition software; all of which provide more detailed descriptive information;
  • Each delivered package will be virtually unique - as individual as snowflakes. And yet, instead of costing many millions of dollars each day to edit together these many packages of individual programs, the salary of editors and, production personnel, will be amortized along with all other costs of operation, so that each program can be created for a minimal cost.
  • the user will be able to spend as much or as little time with the profile specification as they choose. And focus there efforts where they want to have fine control over content; or, be able to use a 'machete' to cut large swaths of content from their view; or, be able to select ALL or General where their interest is pervasive and comprehensive.
  • this example is simplified in that rather than an all-or-nothing selection, at least some entries will permit a 'how much interest' scale from 0 to 10, for example.
  • Digital computer media in general, and internet media specifically are programmable and ' flexible and can, thus, overcome the ' one size fits all' experience of accessing mass media. However, this potential has not yet been applied by others to customizing the content itself.
  • Interconnectivity is the essential characteristic of the internet, as well as cell phone networks - the two primary mechanisms we will be using for delivery. Yet, as with one-way broadcast, once these digital distribution systems have been set up, the incremental cost to serve any one user is ' essentially zero.
  • NEWSORT combines the best from print, television and the internet. But, the real beauty of NEWSORT might better be stated as follows:
  • NEWSORT occupies a feature space that is intermediate to broadcast television and the internet. It takes the best from both but, more important, it avoids the pitfalls of either medium that drive some users away. See chart following.
  • NEWSO T is attractive to both television viewers and internet surfers, without alienating either group. It satisfies the needs of both groups without compromise; and, provides an experience that is new, and superior to either medium alone.
  • NEWSORT will appeal to a wide gamut of demographic groups. It will be comfortable and easy to obtain and view for people of all ages; it will conform to people with different preferential styles for consuming media; it will provide all the information a user wants - and less. They are of different ages, from different cultures, and have different ways of engaging
  • User profile and other data is also optionally collected or mined from other sources including cookies, search histories, social media, WWW, other similar or related sources now in use or later developed, etc.
  • User data is also optionally explicitly updated by the user, or adaptively by the system tracking user operation of the system and inferred preferences (e.g., what types of content is skipped or shortened, or for which additional material is requested; what ads the user responds to in which way; etc.).
  • a media player with at least one video or display window plays several types of program segments, for illustration these include: sponsor, advertiser, and content segments.
  • the player also comprises nominally four at left (but, optionally more or fewer, or multiply tasked) buttons which are optionally physical, or graphic buttons or widgets separated from the display window; or, alternatively, these functions are supplied via the overlay of text or graphics within a display window.
  • User input is supplied via 'joystick or mouse '-like cursor, keypad, touchscreen, voice, gesture and/or any other mechanism (not necessarily shown) known or later developed.
  • the example table (Figure 28) shows that four (or five, in one case) buttons and up to three display segments are associated with each type of program segment.
  • Button 1 will permit the user to toggle between play and pause mode for any type of segment.
  • Button 2 will permit the user to 'go on' after a Sponsor or Advertiser segment without selecting either the 'more information' or ' special offer (or make purchase)' option; alternatively, there will be a time-out, whereby the program continues, on its own after a period of user inactivity. For program content segments, this button will permit the user to skip the rest of a segment if they are not sufficiently interested.
  • Button 3 will permit the user to ask for 'more information' after a sponsor or advertiser message; similarly button four (if appropriate and activated) will permit the user to make a purchase or accept a special offer after an advertiser or sponsor message, respectively.
  • buttons 3 and 4 will, optionally, be used for fast forward (instead of 'skip segment entirely') or fast rewind (for review) of program content.
  • An optional button 5 (or pop-up text, etc.), or button 3, for example, when in pause mode, will permit the user to request 'additional information or material' with regard to the program content segment; generally or, optionally, regarding the specific sub-segment (optionally) paused at.
  • the other columns represent file names, or other designations for the media segments (video or other media, optionally with its own interactive features) associated with each table entry.
  • the content entry has the content segment to be played and, optionally, designations of one or more (depending on when requested) segments to play in response to a user request for more information.
  • the advertiser entry specifies a video/media segment for the advertisement(s) itself, one(s) to play in response to a request for more information (which information is either to be presented then and there, or sent via email, etc.), and one(s) to play in request to make a purchase (or, merely, to confirm that the purchase request has been accepted and will be acted upon.
  • the sponsor entry is similar except that the 'special offer' may be for a sample or discount coupon, for example, rather than strictly a purchase.
  • Material that is skipped over, or for which there is not time for the user to consume is, optionally, stored in the PC or phone handset's memory for later access or, optionally, for the user to keep. Alternatively it is recallable from the system server (or user's email) for some period before likely removal. This also permits material that is lost or damaged to be downloaded again.
  • Some of these 'video segments' can be still graphics; may have audio or be silent or audio
  • program Length 3 Minuets or 5 Minutes
  • Segment Style Many & Short or Fewer & Detailed. See Figures 30-33.
  • Program content is, optionally, much more variable. From these two variables in the user profile, one of these four templates will be selected; the
  • the feature segments (and back ups) will be selected to be of the correct length and to most 7 appropriately match the user's feature preferences. For example, even if someone designates digital/computer a 5, and travel a 3; if there is only one spot left and the user has gotten digital/computer segments for 8 days running and no travel for weeks, travel will, optionally, be bumped up.
  • the not selected digital/computer segment is, optionally used as a back up entry; or optionally sent in a subsequent NEWSORT program.
  • Other factors enter into feature selection: for example (absent of other information), a 14 year old selecting digital/computer will get a feature about a new game console, while the 50 year old CEO selecting digital/computer will get a feature about a new class of business servers. Similarly, someone who has expressed product interest in video game consoles will, optionally, get the game console feature even if they have not selected digital/computer.
  • Advertisement selections will also be a combination of explicit user product preference and other factors. Again, a 14 year old will get an ad about a new game console, while the 50 year old CEO will get an ad about a new class of business servers (perhaps, unless they have a 14 year old child). Generally, women will get ads about cosmetics; older men about beard/mustache coloring. Those selecting digital/computer features will optionally get digital product ads even if not explicitly selected.
  • a B&N ad for books or CDs will highlight a particular product for a particular user related to the categories explicitly specified by that user's reading interests and music interests; or, such interests may be inferred (e.g., ads for books about computers sent to those selecting features about digital/computer technology).
  • TRANSFORMING MEDIA Content will come into NEWSORT as all types of media, and will be published in many types of media including: video, audio with a slide-show of graphics (like low- bandwidth video), audio-only, electronic text (pages, eBooks, eMags, Tweets, closed caption, voice recognition to text, etc.), text with graphics (e.g. illustrated eTexts, web pages and the mobile or TV device equivalent), even print. Content will, thus, be transformed between these various media. See Figure 34. The process of abstracting or editing content, into segments and versions of different levels of detail, slants of interest and lengths, will optionally be done in any of these forms; and will optionally be done prior to, subsequent to, or integrated with the transforming process.
  • a series of stills of the person talking is sent, updated much less frequently than 30 times a second (which may not be noticed as very different on a small cell-phone screen) and the graphic is inserted full screen (which will be more easily seen on a small cell-phone screen).
  • a stream of stills may not be much smaller (or may even be larger) than a tightly encoded MPEG for example.
  • the slide-show-as-video of a talking head is compressed, compared with live video, at least some data space should be saved.
  • the full screen still graphic which will of necessity interrupt the compression flow of the talking head, can instead itself be sent as a separate still image, potentially of higher quality, which is, optionally, substituted for or overlaid upon the, optionally paused, otherwise continuous talking head image stream (audio, optionally, continues as an underbed).
  • An additional technique should help bandwidth further.
  • the image of most of a news reader can be sent as a still (optionally, at a relatively higher geometric resolution or compression quality), or very-low-frame-rate video (with optional morphing between still keys); while a relatively small window surrounding the talking head is sent at a relatively higher frame rate (and, optionally, at a relatively lower geometric resolution or compression quality).
  • a second audio file contains music which is mixed under the voice and continues without voice as the logo theme.
  • Individual product shots and voice descriptions can be automatically integrated with the music and logo elements to create composite media files (or reconstructed as integrated displays) that comprise finished specific commercial advertisements.
  • Materials that come in as or with graphics, photos or illustrating videos can be turned into audio-only materials by taking the sound from video (or reading text) and integrating additional audio descriptions of important material that was previously visual. This is like a technique that is sometimes used to enhance video presentations for the sight-impaired, describing action as voice over.
  • Many other techniques now in use or later developed, some partially or completely computer automated, can be used to convert between media forms; or used to edit " elements, segments or versions from long content pieces.
  • PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF MEDIA PLAYER Following is a description of preferred embodiments of elements of a media player client program that will reside on a computer, smartphone, set top box or other media playing device. These elements are illustrative and, optionally, are organized,
  • FIG. 35 Data is input from a single file (or, optionally, separate files for each element, or a container file with separate components within) as designated, for example, in the Sample Program Templates and i described in more detail in the Sample Segment Type Structure.
  • a first system routine performs routine file I/O management, handling and buffering input streams from one or more media files from disk, or arriving via some network.
  • the next routine performs optional data decryption which is done for security or digital rights management, and which is, optionally, done on a per program and/or per subscriber basis, in as much as NEWSORT provides essentially one-of-a-kind content. Also
  • audio files are decoded if necessary and a sufficient amount of material is buffered so that, if and when needed, this composite media stream is ready for display at any time and can continue, uninterrupted, from that point.
  • video except to note that with highly compressed video, such as MPEG (or the proprietary encoding schemes described herein), the number of plain pixel array frames needed to buffer will depend upon the interaction between the encoding scheme employed and the power
  • Video Frame Decoding & Buffering & Synchronize One of the functions performed in the box labeled "Video Frame Decoding & Buffering & Synchronize" is to use still graphic information to overlay upon (optionally transparently), or substitute for, the video information at the correct time.
  • the video stream continues under the graphics or, optionally, is paused or suppressed while graphics are substituted. Audio also optionally continues or is paused, but optionally continues, even if moving video is paused. Finished composite video/still frames are then passed on for visual display on the client device.
  • Each such media channel opens the appropriate file(s); allocates memory; manages, decodes and synchronizes incoming data; and buffers the various media streams waiting to potentially become the audio/video/graphic stream actually displayed. Multiple media playing windows are handled as multiple output windows within
  • MULTI-STREAM MEDIA PLAYER AS described elsewhere, there will at times be several possible alternative video or media streams, any of which may need to be displayed next. These streams will, optionally, be arriving from a communications means such as a network, from disk, from computer
  • the hardware or system software of the media displaying device is underpowered for the task, or the power is unknown; and, particularly when the various stages from incoming file/stream to pixel array are complex, many, and/or compute intensive; there may be a noticeable lag between the time a request to switch segments is made, and the time the next segment is ready to be dynamically displayed. This can result in a frozen display, black display, noisy or scrambled display, or other annoying or noticeable 'glitch.' Even a short such glitch can disrupt the perception of a seamless and professional presentation.
  • an element of some preferred embodiments will be to supply a player system, Figure 37, that opens, decrypts, decodes, decompresses, merges, buffers and otherwise prepares and holds ready for virtually instant display, a portion of a multiplicity of incoming video/media streams/files.
  • This system will comprise N video/media decoders, each of which are comparable to
  • the number of channels and buffers for which memory and other resources are obtained from operating system services is ideally dynamically adjusted depending upon the number of alternative segments required at any given time. Alternatively, a fixed number of buffers are set up which it is expected will take the maximum potentially needed into account. Alternatively, an
  • the input to the seamless display comprises video frames and audio (vanilla or encoded, as needed) or other graphic or media format, is directed to the hardware display (or a memory window, e.g.) of a device; to a layer of system service that controls the display or window; or to a program that then provides display of video or other media (e.g. a 'dumb media player' or a Flash movie player program).
  • the inventive system will, optionally, re-encode the seamless display stream into a format that is appropriate to such a player.
  • the inventive system is capable of flexible interactivity; complex program structure; (near) real-time program assembly; custom encryption; nonstandard encoding and compression; and the result is assembled, and optionally re-encoded, for one (or one of a few) » relatively standard display programs.
  • This can optionally, save immense amounts of development time creating versions of custom software to run on a huge and constantly changing population of mobile, and other, devices.
  • TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMMING In a section of this name, it was described that, in addition to custom 1 NEWSORT programming (A), the user will optionally be provided with music, audio book, eBook or other material by the NEWSORT service (also A); or may load such material themselves (B) onto their mobile or other media device of choice.
  • the integration of these materials by a control program, with user interactive features, to whatever display mechanism is used in a particular instance by the NEWSORT media player is shown in Figure 38.
  • PROGRAM DELIVERY Delivering a nominally video or rich media program to millions of mobile devices once or twice a day is no small task. Each program is optionally 20 minutes or more in length on the average, and will optionally require perhaps 50 to 150 MB to store and deliver.
  • Current potential problems include: delay, unreliability, bandwidth limitations, bandwidth costs, limitations on the size of email attachments or other files, etc. associated with mobile broadband networks and other service providers. Particularly for morning commute-time programming, our goal is to have current content waiting for viewing without delay.
  • the service will, optionally, deliver a program in parts; to overcome limitations on email attachments, etc . ; to permit feature content to be delivered early, with current 'up to the minute' content delivered fresh; and/or, to balance network load in- house, or to send overnight, for example, when mobile network usage is less.
  • the smart phone (or other device) will have installed a small program with a 'wake-up alarm' or process scheduler. This function, in turn, will run a program that inquires via network of the NEWSORT server if and where to obtain a package of custom programming.
  • This request will comprise visiting a prearranged URL and exchanging identifying information between client and server via form posting or other mechanism.
  • the URL itself may comprise identifying data (e.g.
  • the service will optionally deliver an email for the user notifying that the material is ready and including any location or security information required, including, optionally a decryption key that is optionally as specific as being for a single user/delivery combination.
  • https, ftp, smpt, custom, etc. the client will download one or more files from the server, as email attachments, or by some other mechanism.
  • program material will then be decrypted, unpacked, decoded, decompressed, integrated, assembled, etc.; be updated or adaptied to locally stored interim user preferences or instructions, which optionally include revised preferences or requests for additional or different content, and which will, optionally, trigger updated requests and/or supplemental deliveries; or any other pre-display functions will be performed during this otherwise fairly quiescent period.
  • interim user preferences or instructions which optionally include revised preferences or requests for additional or different content, and which will, optionally, trigger updated requests and/or supplemental deliveries; or any other pre-display functions will be performed during this otherwise fairly quiescent period.
  • Transfer will then be via cable, WiFi, Bluetooth, IR or other means; the advantage is that service provided to PC via a land line or other means, and user in-house transfer from PC to smartphone will often be, more reliable, less expensive, (possibly faster, but likely not), or otherwise advantageous over direct mobile broadband download to a smart phone. Or, it may be more practical to obtain the program to a PC, and then offload it to a mobile device while preparing for the day (or commute home); particularly if installing such program facilities on the mobile device is not possible (e.g., the phone is video/media capable, but not a smartphone).
  • Data is collected regarding user demographics; as well as preferences and interests for content, presentation style and advertisements; ownership, use and interests in products, various media (including internet and social media); etc.
  • Data is collected directly from the user (e.g., during sign-up and later updated, e.g., Figures 27 and 40); extracted and inferred from user use of the service (and other media) or other behavior which can be tracked or monitored; monitoring or mining of cookies, search histories and other similar sources, internet sources, social media, statistical inferences from preferences of users with similar likes, or use/behavior patterns; etc.
  • ' data is used as part of the process to select advertisements and content snippets for inclusion in the user's idiosyncratic (or personally customized) package of program material, which is delivered as an assembled program or in parts.
  • Advertisements are supplied from a number of agency or direct client sources, optionally via web or other fully or semi-automated request or submission. That is, a request for insertion with a
  • the requested target data is matched against user data and exact or close matches (within some threshold distance in a multidimensional target-feature space; or matching
  • raw content is entered into the system. It is processed, as shown in and discussed with Figure 34, including in particular creating alternative snippets (e.g., via edit decision list - EDL - generation, or otherwise) of distinct running times, levels of detail, and/or slants of user interest/relevance. These are described in more detail elsewhere herein.
  • alternative snippets e.g., via edit decision list - EDL - generation, or otherwise
  • the tags are similarly matched (on an absolute, feature-space distance, weighted threshold, or other basis) with user preference data (as well as historical data of what has been sent to a user, and their reaction to it, etc.) in order to select which snippets are to be included in a particular idiosyncratic package of material.
  • content selection influences ad selection and, optionally, vice versa.
  • the idiosyncratic package of content (with optional advertisements) is sent via network to the user's display device; or is downloaded to an intermediate device, such as a PC, for in-house 1 transfer and download to a mobile device, such as a smartphone. (See also Figure 39 and discussion.)
  • the entire, or parts of, the package are also, optionally, sent on a streaming or real-time basis via some network.
  • the user will optionally make requests for more information (to supplement content, or regarding an advertised product), or to conduct e/mCommerce transactions.
  • supplemental content is, optionally, already included within the package, or otherwise already resident on the user's device.
  • Other information will be supplied by some server (the program service, or some commerce or advertising client's site, for example) to the user's device on an as requested or (near)-real-time basis. Still other requests will be filled by supplying additional information (an email tickler, video, .PDF catalog, coupon, etc.) to the user's email
  • MICRO-PUBLISHING With the widespread access to tools for the production of video, animation, graphics, music, web and rich media approaching that of text brought on by computerization; and the ease of access to distribution and 'publication' brought by the internet, mobile broadband and
  • a poetry journal publishes an "Ode to my iPod” entitled “iPode” which will, i potentially, be of interest to iPod or smartphone users, if only for amusement. But, such users will not generally think to peruse the internet for poetry sites to find amusing, but relevant, content.
  • a blog devoted to social media phenomena publishes an article about poetry contrived to be three lines long, seven syllables, but under 140 characters, and posted to Twitter accounts under the hashtag #hicoo. Again, not many poetry afficionados and scholars will likely be perusing such
  • FIG 41 shows ⁇ -publishers ⁇ , ⁇ ... ⁇ each publishing a distinct niche content.
  • Each of these has a relationship with a small niche audience 1 , 2 ... N who, even if willing to pay unusually high subscription fees for such publications, cannot adequately financially support the creation of such content. Their devotion does, however, provide a small number of eyeballs that can be potentially sold to advertisers as impressions.
  • Each ⁇ -pub also has a relationship with a too small (or non-extant) pool of advertising A, B ...X, the income from which
  • THE NEWSORT PUBLISHING PARADIGM improves the audience draw for micro-publishers (or, more generally, micro-content providers); and, for the eclectic smattering of 'spot-content'; and, also, can be applied to publishers
  • a PUB box represents a publisher and the items publications.
  • the box represents a publication, itself comprising parts or items, such as articles, individual video segment, stories, songs, images, etc.
  • the PUB may be a
  • the PUBs will supply content to the NEwSORT service and receive in turn some combination of: payment (which may be a flat fee, based on usage, individual micro-payments for each item delivered to, or read by, a SUBscriber, or otherwise); optionally hotlinked referrals to their own publishing mechanism(s) (a website, book, magazine, newspaper, television program, film, music, electronic publication, etc.) - in general, only a portion of their content will appear in any NEWSORT program delivered, if at all; exposure and promotion; advertising services as a SOURCE; or other benefit.
  • payment which may be a flat fee, based on usage, individual micro-payments for each item delivered to, or read by, a SUBscriber, or otherwise
  • payment which may be a flat fee, based on usage, individual micro-payments for each item delivered to, or read by, a SUBscriber, or otherwise
  • optionally hotlinked referrals to their own publishing mechanism(s) (a website, book, magazine, newspaper, television program, film
  • A, B ... X will supply advertising materials Al-An, Bl-Bn ... Xl-Xn.
  • Each advertising item itself may be a simple text, graphic, audio, video or otherwise; or, it will optionally be a complex package of advertisement media, additional information, e/mCommerce opportunities, interactive features, etc. Advertisers also supply requests for when, how, how often, and who their advertisements are to be exposed to.
  • the advertising sources will, generally, also supply payment
  • the service will supply placements for the advertisements or impressions; mechanisms to pass on additional information, and facilitate e/mCommerce transactions; metrics and tracking of advertising placement, usage, effectiveness, etc.; data mining and other marketing information; optionally, production services; as well as other optional services
  • content snippets are chosen for that particular subscriber package. Advertisements to be included in a particular package are chosen based on advertiser requirements, user preferences, the selection of content snippets, etc., which permits micro-fine-targeting of advertisements.
  • the custom idiosyncratic package of content snippets and advertisements is made available to the intended subscriber(s).
  • NEWSORT will supply the highly focused user attention from within a highly rewarding information product.
  • NEWSORT will also (due to the user data collected and freely supplied in order to facilitate idiosyncratic content) be able to supply this highly-focused attention to ⁇ advertising matched on an individually-targeted basis, with very few impressions wasted on the disinterested or completely irrelevant consumer. This is very good for advertisers and their agencies; for NEWSORT, who can deliver a valuable advertising product; and, for consumers who are not bombarded with irrelevant advertisements promoting products for which they have no interest. Further, often these advertisements will be interleaved with content, as with traditional television
  • the average modern U.S. media consumer is exposed to upwards of 5,000 impressions per day.
  • the average desktop has 8 windows open simultaneously, with users switching back and forth every 20 seconds or so. Each such window may have a half dozen banner and display ads embedded within. There is tremendous competition for the user's fractionated attention.
  • NEWSORT also uses digital technologies and new media, it offers a form of content that is even newer.
  • NEWSORT delivers engagement based on strongly focused attention, not the videogame-adrenalin-rush of multi-tasking. It re-harnesses that attention in such a way that it can once again achieve power sufficient to draw the advertiser's message along with content. Further, this new content will attract a loyal audience, and frequent visits - an audience that advertisers will be able to measure and count upon.
  • NEWSORT combines the distraction-free engagement of traditional media with the interactive 'conversation' and electronic commerce of the internet; and, will deliver a level of micro-finely targeted advertising that has never been achievable before. It's as if your television remote had a 'buy it now' button, and could read your mind, to boot. We will deliver audience attention and action, not merely insertions or impressions.
  • NEWSORT With its technology providing tightly targeted audiences, interactive features, and mobile and electronic commerce along with our advertising offerings, NEWSORT will deliver very high value for the price charged. Further, it will be able to track and report many metrics associated with its advertisement insertions; and will be able to charge based on a model built around performance, not just on a simple standard CPM model.
  • analog and digital signals including computer, video and other media and information
  • settop boxes advanced, digital and HDTV televisions, multimedia computers, telephones, cellphones, smart phones, PDAs, portable audio, video, eBook and other media players, and other consumer electronic devices including TiVo, Replay, DVRs, video-on-demand, the ' V-Chip ' , etc.
  • professional and home Intercast (VBI insertion/detection) equipment 'digital video library ' and other multimedia access
  • meta-processing metamorphic, idiomorphic, social publishing, social editing, data mining, collaborative computing, intelligent computing, granular, granulated, pyramidal, aggregation, abstraction, filter, funnel, emulsified, and/or otherwise.
  • embodiments described herein utilize novel elements, or use extant elements in novel ways, those embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the instant invention.
  • the NEWSORT program is, optionally (depending upon the capabilities of the mobile device actually used, and the costs and limitations imposed by the telephone network carrier) downloaded directly to the iPhone or other mobile device, for the convenience of the customer.
  • the NEWSORT program may also be extra network bandwidth charges for such remote access that will encourage users to receive their programs via PC accounts (with unlimited bandwidth) and transfer the program to their mobile device as they would any other computer file.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne la création ou la modification de différents supports pour leur donner une forme adaptée à la mise à disposition (par exemple l'affichage) pendant des intervalles (généralement des intervalles de temps) dans un affichage d'informations, à destination d'un utilisateur humain ou en interaction avec lui. Les supports sont préparés de manière à être de nature granulaire, et de manière à se composer de segments relativement nombreux et relativement petits, qui peuvent être soit autonomes, soit séquentiels et séparables sur le plan cognitif. La matière de la programmation (et éventuellement de la publicité) est personnalisée ou sélectionnée de façon personnalisée, à des fins de réception et d'affichage sur divers dispositifs multimédias numériques fixes et mobiles par le biais d'un système de distribution en réseau, d'un système de distribution de radiodiffusion, ou d'un autre système de distribution. La matière de la source peut être un contenu vidéo, audio, imprimé ou autre, et elle peut éventuellement être convertie pour passer d'un support à un autre. Les montages donnent des éléments ou versions différents, qui sont résumés pour contenir des quantités d'informations différentes, présenter des niveaux de détail différents, posséder des temps de fonctionnement différents, ou qui sont dotés d'un contenu modifié pour s'adapter aux centres d'intérêt ou aux préférences des utilisateurs finals. Les éléments ou versions sont marqués grâce à un examen ou une entrée par l'opérateur, ou bien marqués automatiquement, sur la base du contenu (par exemple sous-titrage codé, contenu textuel original, reconnaissance vocale, reconnaissance d'images) ou d'autres sources, pour inclure des indications portant sur le sujet du contenu, le public visé, la longueur, le classement par âge ou autres critères, le style de présentation, l'état complet ou non, etc. Les informations concernant les préférences des utilisateurs finals sont mises en correspondance avec les informations du marquage de contenu afin de créer des packages de contenu personnalisés et des publicités ciblées.
EP11854453.5A 2010-12-13 2011-12-13 Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels Pending EP2652945A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US45946010P 2010-12-13 2010-12-13
US93039211A 2011-01-04 2011-01-04
PCT/US2011/001978 WO2012091731A2 (fr) 2010-12-13 2011-12-13 Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2652945A2 true EP2652945A2 (fr) 2013-10-23
EP2652945A4 EP2652945A4 (fr) 2017-11-08

Family

ID=46383792

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11854453.5A Pending EP2652945A4 (fr) 2010-12-13 2011-12-13 Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2652945A4 (fr)
MX (1) MX2013006713A (fr)
WO (1) WO2012091731A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10880621B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2020-12-29 Beachfront Media, Llc Method and device for filling video ad requests with video ad content transcoded in real time to a stream at a temporary URL
US9378651B2 (en) 2013-12-17 2016-06-28 Google Inc. Audio book smart pause
US20160042394A1 (en) * 2014-08-08 2016-02-11 Tangome, Inc. Ad embedded in gallery
US9927961B2 (en) * 2015-01-09 2018-03-27 Flipboard, Inc. Video ad unit with time and orientation-based playback
US10909604B1 (en) * 2018-03-07 2021-02-02 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Artificial intelligence system for automated selection and presentation of informational content

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5907321A (en) * 1996-03-27 1999-05-25 Spot Com, Inc. Method for transmitting and displaying an interchannel interval image in a cable system
US7237251B1 (en) * 1999-03-02 2007-06-26 Bigband Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for using delay time during switching events to display previously stored information elements
GB0307763D0 (en) * 2003-04-04 2003-05-07 Zap Corp Uk The Ltd System and method of broadcasting advertisements
WO2007084793A2 (fr) * 2006-01-23 2007-07-26 Glenbrook Associates, Inc. Système et procédé de génération et de distribution de contenu personnalisé
US7849455B2 (en) * 2006-08-23 2010-12-07 Sap Ag Synchronization and transmission of distributed user interfaces over computer networks
US8165451B2 (en) * 2007-11-20 2012-04-24 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Methods and apparatus for displaying information regarding interstitials of a video stream
US8156520B2 (en) * 2008-05-30 2012-04-10 EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C. Methods and apparatus for presenting substitute content in an audio/video stream using text data
WO2010112591A1 (fr) * 2009-04-02 2010-10-07 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Lecture d'interludes sur la base d'une durée prédite de délai de commutation de canal ou de pause invoquée

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2012091731A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2652945A4 (fr) 2017-11-08
WO2012091731A2 (fr) 2012-07-05
WO2012091731A3 (fr) 2014-04-03
MX2013006713A (es) 2014-04-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20120233631A1 (en) Processes and systems for creating and delivering granular idiomorphic media suitable for interstitial channels
Lotz Netflix and streaming video: The business of subscriber-funded video on demand
US10362360B2 (en) Interactive media display across devices
Kehoe et al. The impact of digital technology on the distribution value chain model of independent feature films in the UK
Albarran et al. The twenty-first-century media industry: Economic and managerial implications in the age of new media
US20130166382A1 (en) System For Selling Products Based On Product Collections Represented In Video
US20100153831A1 (en) System and method for overlay advertising and purchasing utilizing on-line video or streaming media
US20090132349A1 (en) Targeted-demographic rich-media content, branding, and syndicated user-node distribution
US20110251902A1 (en) Target Area Based Content and Stream Monetization Using Feedback
US20100228592A1 (en) Entertainment system for providing personalized advertisements
AU2004254950A1 (en) Method, system and apparatus for information delivery
Funk The future of mobile shopping: The interaction between lead users and technological trajectories in the Japanese market
EP2652945A2 (fr) Procédés et systèmes pour créer des supports idiomorphes et mettre à disposition des supports granulaires adaptés aux canaux interstitiels
Potter It’sa small world after all: New media constellations and Disney’s rising star–the global success of High School Musical
Koç The Role of User Interactions In Social Media On Recommendation Algorithms: Evaluation of Tiktok’s Personalization Practices From User’s Perspective[Istanbul University]
Berz Managing TV Brands with Social Media
US20080103945A1 (en) System and method for connecting entertainment media servers to local video shop inventories
Kotler Kellogg on Advertising and Media: The Kellogg School of Management
Herrero et al. Keys to monetize social media in the audiovisual business
Mäkinen In the age of streaming services, how can advertisers connect with and influence consumer behaviour of younger audiences?
BR102013014343A2 (pt) Processos e sistemas de criação de mídia idiomórfica e entrega de meios granulares apropriado para canais intersticiais
Lin Convergent Production Strategies: CCTV and HBS
Berz et al. Theoretical foundation in relevant fields of research
Sadat Alavioon Media business transformation based on information technology: A pilot study of three Swedish newspapers
Plunkett Plunkett's Entertainment & Media Industry Almanac

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130713

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
R17D Deferred search report published (corrected)

Effective date: 20140403

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H04N 9/89 20060101AFI20140613BHEP

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20171011

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H04N 21/258 20110101ALI20171005BHEP

Ipc: G06Q 30/02 20120101ALI20171005BHEP

Ipc: H04N 9/89 20060101AFI20171005BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20200417

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

19U Interruption of proceedings before grant

Effective date: 20221030

19W Proceedings resumed before grant after interruption of proceedings

Effective date: 20230301