IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,300,994

Granted Patent B2

US 9,300,994 · App. 13/689,488 · Granted Mar 29, 2016

Methods and systems for viewing dynamically customized audio-visual content

Inventors: Daniel A. Gerrity (Seattle, WA); William H. Gates, III (Medina, WA); Paul Holman (Seattle, WA); Roderick A. Hyde (Redmond, WA); Edward K. Y. Jung (Las Vegas, NV); Jordin T. Kare (Seattle, WA); Royce A. Levien (Lexington, MA); Robert W. Lord (Seattle, WA); Richard T. Lord (Tacoma, WA); Mark A. Malamud (Seattle, WA); Nathan P. Myhrvold (Bellevue, WA); John D Rinaldo, Jr. (Bellevue, WA); Keith D. Rosema (Olympia, WA); Clarence T. Tegreene (Mercer Island, WA); Lowell L. Wood, Jr. (Bellevue, WA)

Assignee: Elwha LLC

H04N21/251 H04N21/25891 H04N21/2668 H04N21/42201 H04N21/4318 H04N21/4415 H04N21/44213 H04N21/44218 H04N21/44222 H04N21/458 H04N21/4532 H04N21/4755 H04N21/4756 H04N21/6125 H04N21/8106

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,300,994
App. No.: 13/689,488
Granted: Mar 29, 2016
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

Systems and methods for viewing dynamically customized audio-visual content are described. In some implementations, a process may include providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference, receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal, and displaying the dynamically-customized audio-visual content.

Claims (111)

1. A method of providing audio-visual content, comprising:

sensing one or more viewers present within a viewing area;

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal, the at least one selection signal to revise at least one animated character of an audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement animated character within the audio-visual core portion; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with the at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

scanning by a first electronic device of a memory of a communication device associated with the viewer to obtain at least one supplemental signal associated with a viewer; and

providing at least one selection signal based on the at least partially on the at least one supplemental signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal based at least partially on the scanning, the at least one selection signal being configured to facilitate customization of a non-advertising aspect of the audio-visual core portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

querying by a first electronic device of a memory of a second electronic device, the second electronic device including at least one of a cellular telephone, a laptop, a tablet, or a communication device associated with a viewer; and

providing at least one selection signal based at least partially on the querying.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

arbitrating between at least two conflicting selection signals; and

providing at least one selection signal at least partially based on the arbitrating.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

between at least two conflicting selection signals, determining which selection signal to provide based on a pre-determined ranking; and

providing at least one selection signal at least partially based on the determining.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

between at least two conflicting selection signals, determining which signal to apply based on one or more rules; and

providing at least one selection signal at least partially based on the determining.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

determining whether to provide the at least one selection signal based on an authorization level.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal comprises:

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having one or more background noises replaced with one or more replacement background noises.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal comprises:

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having one or more background noises replaced with one or more replacement background noises; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having one or more background visual components replaced with one or more replacement background visual components.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal comprises:

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having a culturally inappropriate portion at least one of replaced with a culturally appropriate portion or omitted.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing a selection signal indicative of a cultural heritage of at least one viewer;

and

wherein receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal comprises:

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having a portion considered inappropriate with respect to the cultural heritage of the at least one viewer at least one of replaced with a replacement portion considered appropriate with respect to the cultural heritage of the at least one viewer, or omitted.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing a selection signal indicative of a geographic location of at least one viewer;

and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having a portion considered inappropriate with respect to the geographic location of the at least one viewer at least one of replaced with a replacement portion considered appropriate with respect to the geographic location of the at least one viewer, or omitted.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing a selection signal indicative of a cultural identity of at least one viewer;

and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion having a portion of content inappropriate for the cultural identity of the at least one viewer at least one of replaced with an appropriate portion of content, or omitted.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

monitoring at least one characteristic of at least one viewer; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an automatically adjusted at least one customization aspect in response to the monitored at least one characteristic of the at least one viewer.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

sensing at least one characteristic of at least one viewer; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an automatically adjusted at least one customization aspect in response to the sensed at least one characteristic of the at least one viewer.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

monitoring a viewing area into which a dynamically-customized audio-visual content is to be displayed; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an automatically adjusted at least one customization aspect in response to a change in at least one characteristic of the viewing area.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

sensing a change in a number of viewers in a viewing area into which a dynamically-customized audio-visual content is to be displayed; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an automatically adjusted at least one customization aspect in response to a change in the number of viewers in the viewing area.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative of one or more other viewer reactions to a portion of audio-visual content; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including an adjusted at least one customization aspect in response to the at least one input indicative of one or more other viewer reactions.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative of one or more other parent reactions to a portion of audio-visual content; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a portion of audio-visual content modified in response to the at least one input indicative of one or more other parent reactions.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative of a viewing history of at least one viewer within a viewing area into which a dynamically customized audio-visual content is to be displayed; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a portion of audio-visual content modified in response to the at least one input indicative of a viewing history.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative that at least one viewer has not viewed one or more prerequisite content portions; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a portion of audio-visual content supplemented with at least some of the one or more prerequisite content portions in response to the at least one input.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative of one or more preferences of at least one viewer based on previous viewing behavior; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a plot direction of at least a portion of audio-visual content adjusted in response to the at least one input.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one input indicative of a preferred point of view of at least one viewer; and

receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a point of view of at least a portion of the audio-visual core portion adjusted in response to the at least one input.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at lest partially determine the at least one selection signal without regard to an identify of the viewer or a demographic characteristic of the viewer.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning web-browsing history stored on a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal without regard to an identify of the viewer or demographic characteristic of the viewer.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a purchase record stored on a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal without regard to an identify of the viewer or demographic characteristic of the viewer.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal, the at least one selection being configured to facilitate replacement of at least one actor of the audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement actor.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal, the at least one selection signal being configured to facilitate at least:

replacement of at least one spoken portion of the audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement spoken portion; and

replacement of at least one facial movement corresponding to the at least one spoken portion of the audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement facial movement corresponding to the at least one replacement spoken portion.

31. A system for providing audio-visual content, comprising:

circuitry for sensing one or more viewers present within a viewing area;

circuitry for providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least circuitry for facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determined the at least one selection signal, the at least one selection signal to revise at least one animated character of an audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement animated character within the audio-visual core portion; and

circuitry for receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with the at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein circuitry for providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determine the at least one selection signal comprises:

circuitry for providing at least one input indicative that at least one viewer has not viewed one or more prerequisite content portions; and

wherein circuitry for receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including the audio-visual core portion at least partially modified with at least one revised content portion in accordance with the at least one selection signal comprises:

circuitry for receiving a dynamically customized audio-visual content including at least a portion of audio-visual content supplemented with at least some of the one or more prerequisite content portions in response to the at least one input.

33. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media bearing instructions that, when executed, perform a method of providing audio-visual content, the method comprising:

sensing one or more viewers present within a viewing area;

providing at least one selection signal indicative of a preference of a viewer based on at least some of the one or more viewers sensed within the viewing area, including at least facilitating a first electronic device scanning a memory of a second electronic device associated with at least one of the one or more viewers to at least partially determined the at least one selection signal, the at least one selection signal to revise at least one animated character of an audio-visual core portion with at least one replacement animated character with the audio-visual core portion; and

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2013

From: GATES, WILLIAM H., III; GERRITY, DANIEL A.; HOLMAN, PAUL; HYDE, RODERICK A.; JUNG, EDWARD K.Y.; KARE, JORDIN T.; LEVIEN, ROYCE A.; LORD, RICHARD T.; LORD, ROBERT W.; MALAMUD, MARK A.; MYHRVOLD, NATHAN P.; RINALDO, JOHN D., JR.; ROSEMA, KEITH D.; TEGREENE, CLARENCE T.; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.

To: ELWHA LLC

Reel/Frame 031811/0004 →

Continuity (3)

Continuation In Part 13602058 · Aug 31, 2012

Continuation In Part 13566723 · Aug 3, 2012

Related Publication 20140040930A1 · Feb 6, 2014