Method and apparatus for delivery of interactive multimedia content over a network

1. A client device, comprising:

a hardware layer including at least a processor and a memory;

a runtime environment which operates using the hardware layer; and

an interactive multimedia content package including executable code and a plurality of graphical asset files,

wherein the executable code executes using the runtime environment to provide an interactive virtual environment on the client device using the graphical asset files;

wherein the interactive multimedia content package further comprises a wrapper component which provides an intermediate layer between the executable code and the runtime environment, and wherein the wrapper component restricts functionality of the interactive multimedia content package when in a demonstration or trial mode;

wherein the wrapper component is configured to identify an event during user interaction with the interactive multimedia content package.

2. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to identify an event during user interaction with the interactive multimedia content package by monitoring screen outputs by a video output component of the client device.

3. The client device of claim 1 wherein the wrapper component is configured to identify the event during user interaction with the interactive multimedia content package by monitoring user inputs by one or more user input devices of the client device.

4. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to determine that a pause event has occurred in the interactive multimedia content package.

5. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to constrain user inputs from one or more user input devices related to the interactive multimedia content package.

6. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component, in response to identifying the event, is configured to display an overlay object over a visual output of the interactive multimedia content package and to restrict user inputs to a predetermined set of actions at least while the overlay object is displayed.

7. The client device of claim 6 , wherein the client device is configured to receive the overlay object from a server apparatus across a network.

8. The client device of claim 7 , wherein the overlay object is selected according to a profile of prior activity by the user.

9. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the executable code is configured to make system calls through the runtime environment to operate one or more components in the hardware layer, and the wrapper component is configured to restrict functionality of the executable code by hooking one or more of the system calls.

10. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to restrict access to a local storage device, including restricting access by the executable code to one or more of the graphical asset files stored on the local storage device.

11. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to capture image regions from video output signals though a video output component of the client device during user interaction with the interactive multimedia content, package, and to determine a current event by examining the captured image regions.

12. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to intercept and constrain network access by the executable code using a network interface device within the client device.

13. The client device of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper component is configured to monitor continuity of a connection across a network to a server apparatus at least while in the demonstration mode and, where the connection is determined to be discontinued, then to terminate a current session of the interactive multimedia content package on the client device.

14. A method of delivering interactive multimedia content across a network from a server apparatus to a client device, comprising: providing a content package at the server apparatus,

wherein the content package includes executable code and graphical asset files for reproducing the interactive multimedia content on the client device;

downloading the content package from the server apparatus to the client device across the network; and

installing a wrapper component at the client device as an intermediary between the executable code and a runtime environment provided by the client device,

wherein the wrapper component is configured to restrict functionality of the interactive multimedia content on the client device to provide a demonstration mode of the interactive multimedia content; and

to identify events during user interaction with the multimedia contents.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wrapper component identifies events during user interaction with the interactive multimedia content by at least one of: monitoring user inputs to the client device, and monitoring screen outputs of the client device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wrapper component, in response to identifying the events, is configured to display an overlay screen over a visual output of the interactive media content and to restrict user inputs to a predetermined set of actions at least while the overlay screen is displayed.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising causing the wrapper component to be inoperative on the client device in order to provide a full access mode of the interactive multimedia content on the client device.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the executable code controls an interactive virtual environment on the client device which is represented using the graphical asset files.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving a legacy content package comprising the executable code and a plurality of the graphical asset files; and

adding the wrapper component to the legacy content package to produce the interactive multimedia content ready to be downloaded from the server apparatus, wherein the wrapper component restricts functionality of the legacy content package to provide a demonstration or trial mode of the legacy content on the client device.