INTERACTIVE DATA STREAM

Abstract

The present invention is geared generally towards the transmission of data, such as images, audio, video, or text, as a continuous stream via a network to recipients. In particular, the present invention relates to enabling the transmission of data to recipients and enabling the recipients to interact and influence the content of the transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a device configured to receive a data stream including content data from a data server, the data server being configured to provide the same data stream to one or more other devices for presentation of the same content data by the respective one or more other devices, wherein the device is configured to present the content data of the data stream to a user, the content data including a plurality of visual elements, the device being configured to present the content data including being configured to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on a screen, wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a user action, or an indication of user interaction with the content data of the data stream, wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the user action or user interaction, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user action or user interaction, the adjusted content data including different visual elements or the same visual elements arranged in a different position, and wherein the device being configured to receive a data stream includes being configured to receive the data stream further including the adjusted content data, and being configured to present the content data includes being configured to further present the adjusted content data, the data server being configured to provide the same data stream to the one or more other devices for further presentation of the same adjusted content data by the respective one or more other devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a computer or a mobile device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content data includes one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including input regarding one or more elements of the content data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including a request for further information regarding one or more elements of the content data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more elements of the content data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of a visual element different from the visual elements of the of the content data, the selected visual element including one or more of image data or video data, wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction, including being configured to upload the selected visual element, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device being configured to receive the indication of user interaction includes being configured to further receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user, wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to upload the selected visual element and location identifier or contact information, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element and location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element and location identifier or contact information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device being configured to receive the indication of user action or user interaction includes being configured to receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact the information for the user, wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit the location identifier or contact information, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content data of the data stream includes information for a plurality of goods or services available for purchase, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of one of the goods or services, and wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit the selection, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data to add a second data stream to include the selected good or service and any other of the goods or services for which the data server receives selection from a predetermined number of the device and the one or more other devices, the second data stream thereby including goods or services designated as being popular goods or services.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visual elements of the content data include empty advertising space interspersed with other visual elements, wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of the empty advertising space, wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit an indication of selection of the empty advertising space, the data server thereby being configured to cause the device to present a prompt to permit the user to input advertising data, and wherein the device is configured to receive further user interaction including being configured to receive the advertising data, the device being configured to transmit further data associated with the user interaction including being configured to transmit the advertising data, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the advertising data to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added advertising data.

13. An apparatus comprising: a data server configured to provide a data stream including content data to a plurality of devices for presentation of the content data of the data stream to users of the respective devices, the content data including a plurality of visual elements, the data server being configured to provide the data stream for the respective devices to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on respective screens, wherein data server is configured to receive, data associated with a user action, or data associated with a user interaction with the content data of the data stream at the respective one of the devices, wherein the data server is configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user action or user interaction, the adjusted content data including different visual elements or the same visual elements arranged in a different position, and wherein the data server being configured to provide a data stream further includes being configured to provide the data stream further including the adjusted content data to the plurality of devices for further presentation of the adjusted content of the data stream to the users of the respective devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content data includes one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction includes being configured to receive, the data including input regarding one or more elements of the content data.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including a request for further information regarding one or more elements of the content data.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more elements of the content data.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including an uploaded visual element different from the visual elements of the of the content data, the uploaded visual element including one or more of image data or video data, wherein the data server being configured to adjust the content data includes being configured to add the uploaded visual element to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data server being configured to receive data associated with user action or user interaction includes being configured to receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user, and wherein the data server being configured to adjust the content data includes being configured to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a general architecture overview of an embodiment of an interactive data stream transmission system.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a data server of a data stream transmission system.

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for adjusting the content of a data stream transmission per recipient interaction.

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an example of the presentation of data stream content.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention is briefly described. The present invention pertains to a system, computer program product, and methods that enable an individual to perceive a data stream and to interact with it. The concepts of the present invention can be applied to software utilized by a device, such as a program installed on a personal computer or mobile device, such as a mobile phone. However, the invention could also be enabled as a device in itself designed for the concepts set forth herein. The present invention can pertain to both a device particular to the processes described herein and to software methods that may enable any device to do the same.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a general architecture overview of an embodiment of the system of the present invention. The system 100 can include a data server 102 of a service provider connected via a network 106 to one or more devices 104, such as a laptop, a personal computer, or a mobile device (e.g, mobile phone, PDA, etc.). The network 106 may include the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone network, a mobile device network, or the like. The data server 102 may also be connected to one or more content sources 108. A content source 108 may be any source of content (other than device 104) utilized by the data server 102 for its data stream transmission(s). For example, a content source 108 may be a distributor of audio, video, image, or textual data pertaining to, for example, music, news, real estate information, travel information, product information, or the like. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the connection between the data server 102 and the content sources 108 as separate from the network 106 connecting the data sever 102 to devices 104, this is done for purposes of emphasis and is not to be construed as limiting. The same network 106 may be utilized by all of the various components of the system. Furthermore, it is to be understood that FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes only and that the system of the present invention could encompass any number of data servers 102, devices 104, and content sources 108. Additionally, the types of devices illustrated are not to be construed as limiting as any device with the capability to receive a data stream may be utilized, whether the device is specifically designed to receive the data stream or is a general purpose device enabled to receive the data stream.

[0026] The data server 102 may include one or more components, as illustrated by FIG. 2. A content data store 202 may store (e.g., in a cache, in long-term storage, or the like) content received from a content source 108 or a device 104. The data server 102 may also include a content data selector 204 which may query content sources 108 for content, determine content to be included in a transmission per established criteria, match content with the appropriate recipient, and the like. A content assembly module 206 may utilize content stored in the content data store 202 and configure it for transmission, including adding control buttons, ads, links, descriptive text, community opinion of the content, or the like. The content transmission module 208 may handle data stream sessions and manage connections to devices 104. A content accounting module 210 may track various statistics, such as amounts of royalty handled, the number of times an element of content was presented (e.g., images or ads shown, songs played, etc.), the number of recipient clicks, or the like. Furthermore, the data server 102 may include a content trigger module 212 that initiates an action when a recipient clicks a content link or control button.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process for a data server 102 to adjust a data stream transmission per recipient interaction. The data server 102 may initiate a data stream transmission to a device 104 upon receipt of an activation signal sent from the device 104 (step 302). For example, an individual employing his personal computer may activate a desktop utility, such as a Yahoo Widget or a Google Gadget, thereby transmitting a signal to the data server 102. Once the activation signal is received, the data server 102 may transmit a data stream transmission to the device 104 via the network 106 (step 304). Once received, the content of the transmission, such as images, video, text, and/or audio data, may be presented to the recipient via a presentation mechanism of the device 104 (step 306). FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an example of the presentation of data stream content. In regard to audio transmissions, corresponding images or video (e.g., album covers, pictures of musicians, etc.) may be displayed simultaneously with the audio data. The presentation mechanism may display images by scrolling or sliding them across the screen, such as from left to right or up to down. The particular elements of the transmission could be presented only once, or the elements can repeat as a loop and the elements of the loop may change or change position in response to user interaction. A user can concurrently use other services, if any, enabled by his device 104, while the data stream is displayed. Returning to the example of the desktop utility, the user could run other software on his computer simultaneous to the display of the data stream. As another example, if the device 104 is a mobile phone, the data stream could run as the recipient performs other tasks, such as placing and receiving calls. Although a data server 102 may broadcast multiple data stream transmissions, and a device 104 may receive and display more than one data stream, each recipient of a particular stream may receive the same content at the same time or as close as possible per limitations of the technology utilized.

[0028] As the recipient watches and/or listens to the content of the data stream, he may participate with the transmission. For example, the recipient may use the mouse of his personal computer to click a presented image. Doing so may initiate an interaction mechanism whereby the user can interact with the transmission. For example, after selecting an image, a dialogue box may appear to provide the recipient with information about the content of the image or the associated audio data, and enable the user to initiate interactions that may influence the data stream transmission. Such information and the details of the particular interactions could be included in the initial data stream transmission or could be sent from the data server 102 once an element of the transmission is selected. Once the recipient selects an interaction, the data server 102 receives an interaction data message regarding the interaction from the device 104 (step 308). For example, the recipient may upload image, video, text, and/or audio data to be included into the data stream. Other examples of manners in which a recipient may interact with the data stream include voting on content, adding tags to content, clicking on content, recommending content to another person (a fellow recipient or an outside party), rating content, vetoing content, selecting content for future use (such as a query for more content or purchase), or by providing a direct link to the digital rights or copyright holder of an element of content (perhaps enabling the recipient to make a royalty payment to use the content). Upon receipt of the interaction data message, the data server 102 may utilize the message to adjust the content of the data stream accordingly (step 310). Preferably, the data server 102 not only changes the content of the data stream transmitted to that particular device 104, but the content of the data stream is changed for all recipients of the particular data stream, thereby ensuring each device 104 receiving the data stream receives the same transmission. Once the data server 102 has adjusted the data stream transmission, it continues sending the transmission to the appropriate devices 104, unless the aforementioned adjustment results in the conclusion of the data stream transmission (step 312).

[0029] Having described an overview of the present invention, particular scenarios are described hereinafter. The inclusion of these descriptions is not to be construed as limiting and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the present invention will be possible without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Furthermore, although the following scenarios are typically described in terms of image or audio data, this is for illustrative purposes only. As aforementioned, the content of a data stream may include images, audio, video, text, and/or the like, and, as such, it is to be understood that the scenarios described hereinafter may be applied to any type of data that may transmitted in a datastream.

Interactive Photograph Contests

[0030] In one scenario, the data stream transmission relayed by the data server 102 may contain images provided by recipients of the data stream. Using an uploading utility, a recipient may provide an image along with an identifier, such as his name, email address, or the like. In one example, recipients may upload photographs of themselves and provide their email addresses an identifiers. Typically, as the data server 102 receives the images, a filtering mechanism will screen them for appropriateness for the audience of the data stream. If an image is cleared by the filtering mechanism, it may be added to the data stream transmission. Recipients of the data stream may then view these images as they are displayed. If a recipient sees the image he uploaded, he may select it, thereby initiating a dialogue asking for his identifier. The data server 102 receives the identifier, compares it to the one it has stored for the associated image, and, if they match, the recipient may receive a prize. If necessary, the data server 102 could send a message to be displayed on the recipient's device 104 prompting him to provide necessary contact details. Alternatively, if the identifier itself contains contact details (e.g., an email address) or the recipient has already provided such information (e.g,. during service registration), the data server 102 utilize this data to contact him.

[0031] In another scenario, images included in the data stream (having been provided by recipients) are voted upon by recipients. For example, when a recipient sees a picture that he likes (or does not like), he may select it and be presented with a dialogue asking him for a rating, which may be a scale (e.g., one to five stars), a positive or negative answer (e.g., hot or not), or the like.

[0032] The data server 102 periodically utilizes voting data it has received to determine the image that received the most votes, and thereby determining the winner (i.e., the individual that provided the image). Possible uses of this scenario may be for contests regarding voting for the cutest baby, the best amateur art (painting, photography, etc.) or the like. Once a winner has been established, the transmission may cease, or may continue with newly added data.

Audience Member Locator and Communication Forum

[0033] A recipient of a data stream may desire to let other recipients know where he is, was, or will be. For example, a person going out for a night on the town may want to let other recipients know where he will be in case they wish to join him. The person may upload upload his image to the data server 102 and provide a location identifier, such as a Zip Code, city name, establishment name, or the like, in association with it. The specificity of the location identifier may be determined by the recipient. For example, if a recipient so wishes, he may provide a very specific identifier, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. The system may be enabled to receive live (or near-to live) location data from the recipient and/or his device 104, and update the data stream content accordingly. Furthermore, the individual may indicate the duration he wants this information to be in the data stream (e.g., how long he will be out on the town). Alternatively, the individual may have previously provided the image and information to the data server 102 and simply activate this data. Once uploaded (or activated), the data server 102 places this information into the data stream transmission. The user's content may only be viewable to recipients within proximity to the user as indicated by his location identifier. A recipient of the data stream may select an image of a person in the data stream to view his location information.

[0034] In addition to, or instead of, location information, a user may provide contact information such as a phone number, email address, instant messenger ID, or the like. When recipients select his image, they may be presented with this information. In another scenario, contact information is kept confidential by the data server 102. A recipient desiring to contact another audience member may select the member's image and be presented with a communication interface. The data server 102 may then enable communication between the two members, such as by relaying messages via email or instant messenger, or by connecting the two members via a voice connection. If the data stream is utilized via a voice communication device, such as a mobile phone, the data server 102 may place a call on behalf of the requesting recipient, or the like.

Home Sales Assistant

[0035] In another scenario, the present invention may be used by an individual to locate real estate for sale. The user may provide the data server 102 with criteria for real estate he wishes to purchase or monitor. The data server 102 may query its own databases or those of a third party real estate service (e.g., Zillow.com, Realtor.com, etc.) for homes that match that criteria. The data server 102 may then transmit pictures of the matching real estate to the recipient's device 104, enabling him to see pictures of homes that match that criteria as they come onto the market. An alternate version may use hierarchical data that comes through the data stream transmission as the recipient searches, enabling him to refine his search. For example, a data stream transmission may first include a picture of a condominium, a townhouse, and a single-family home. After the recipient selects the picture of a single-family home, the data stream may adjust to display a picture of a ranch-style home and a multi-level home, and so on.

Travel Deal Finder Assistant

[0036] A user may provide travel criteria to the data server 102, such as the desired time of departure, destination, and the like. The data server 102 may then transmit a data stream of images associated with various matching travel deals. The user may then select an image to view the particulars of the deal and, if so desired, purchase it. For example, a user may use the data stream transmission to locate a last minute flight.

Interactive Radio Stream

[0037] As aforementioned, the data stream sent by the data server 102 may contain audio data, such as songs. All recipients of the data stream may listen to the same songs in real-time or near-to real-time. As the a recipient listens, images associated with the song, such as an album cover, may slide across the display of his device 104. By selecting the image, a recipient may access a dialogue to provide feedback about the song, such as a rating from one to ten. Selecting an image may also enable the user to download the song, purchase the album, or the like. In addition to the current song, the data stream transmission may include a queue indicating upcoming songs. In one scenario, the scrolling of the image may be timed with the duration of the song so that the image completes its travel across the display of device 104 when the song ends. When the song ends, the next song plays and the next image begins to scroll across the display. In addition to voting on the current song, recipients may vote on the songs in the queue. A song receiving a certain number of votes may be added to those that will be played. For example, the top five songs listed in the queue may have received enough votes for broadcast, while the next five are open to voting. Recipients may be presented with the option to vote positively, negatively, or both. If a song receives a certain number of negative votes, it may be removed from the queue. Once a song is removed from the queue, either by being played or voted off the queue, another song (and its associated image) may enter the queue. In one scenario, the last slot in a queue is open to submission by recipients. Whether the song is added to the queue may be determined by various parameters, such as the submitting user being the first to submit a song request.

Deal Transmission

[0038] In one scenario, the data stream transmission may include content pertaining to sales, deals, promotions, and the like for various products. The types of products include in the data stream could be determined by the recipient, such as per established preferences or per interactions with the data stream. The recipient may select an item presented in the data stream, such as by clicking it with his mouse, and the product may be added to an electronic shopping cart. Furthermore, the most popular items selected by recipients of the data stream could be presented in a second data stream displaying hot deals for the day.

[0039] In another scenario, members of an online community, such as a Facebook network, may share their favorite goods or services (e.g., music albums, books, clothing, handbags, etc.) via the data stream. For example, a participating user may indicate a favorite good or service (e.g., a book title) to the data server 102. The data server 102 may then retrieve associated content (e.g., a book jacket image) from its content data store 202 or from a content source 108 (e.g., from the World Wide Web). The data server 102 may then adjust the data stream to include the associated content (e.g., an image of the book jacket). When a recipient of the data stream selects an element of the data stream, he may be enabled to purchase it. For example, when a recipient viewing a data stream of book jacket images clicks an image, he may be presented with a web page allowing him to purchase the book represented by the book jacket image. Suppliers of goods or services may bid to be the provider of the good or service. The data server 102 may select the supplier based upon one or more criteria. For example, the data server 102 may select the supplier that offers the good or service for the lowest price or the supplier that provides the most commission to the operator of the data server 102. The data server 102 may present the selected supplier via a web interface as the Featured Supplier, and may allow the recipient to either choose the Featured Supplier or choose another supplier (e.g, via a Go Shopping option), such as via a web searching mechanism (e.g., Google Product Search, PriceGrabber.com, etc.).

Advertising

[0040] In one scenario, a data stream transmission can include advertising intermixed with the content of the transmission itself or placed in a header, footer, border, or the like connected to the contents of the data stream. Empty advertising space may be displayed during the data stream transmission. A recipient desiring to add advertising to the data stream may select this empty space (e.g., a image slot saying Space for Rent) and be presented with a prompt enabling him to add advertising data.

[0041] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by a review of the preceding detailed description. Although a number of salient features of the present invention have been described above, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosed invention. Therefore, the description should not be considered to be exclusive of these other embodiments. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.