Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for using an interactive wrapper for media content. A method may include identifying, by a first device, a software container including a call to action. The method may include identifying non-interactive advertising content. The method may include generating an interactive advertisement by adding the advertising content to the software container, and sending the interactive advertisement to a second device for presentation. The method may include receiving an indication of a user interaction with the interactive advertisement, and determining, based on the user interaction, an action. The method may include sending data associated with the action to the second device or a third device for presentation.

Abstract: Various embodiments allow, as an alternative to skippable content, creation and delivery of secondary or supplemental content which renders differently in fast-forward or another adjusted-speed mode and presents a call for interaction. When primary content on a client device is determined fast-forwarded, through indicators such as embedded markers, an overlay, replacing, or otherwise enhancing supplemental content is selected from a plurality of options and displayed on the device such that it provides a perceptible message and an opportunity for interaction through hyperlinks in the supplemental content. Supplemental content may be in the form of an icon or other static images, a banner display, a series of still images from the primary content, a hyperlinked landing page for interaction, animations, a video clip, or text. Assisting in supplemental content selection, metrics including number of views, quartile reporting, or click-through rates are compiled.

Abstract: A function intelligence engine receives input regarding application program content, including functions or capabilities of the application program that can be separately purchasable, and can further receive information regarding advertisements that can be displayed to users within the context of the application program. User-specific information is also received, including a user's current status and context within the application program, as well as a user's history, both within the application program, as well as in other application programs. Based on such information, the function intelligence engine determines and compares the probability of a user purchasing, versus the probability of the user consuming advertising, to acquire the separately purchasable function.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Automated content interruption point identification improves the accuracy with which potential content interruption points are identified, and increases the efficiency of content interruption point identification and content distribution. Potential interruption points are automatically identified based on transitions occurring within the content, including changes in the sound level, changes in the light, or brightness, level, changes in people visible in a scene of the content, transitions that are identified by content metadata, and other types of transitions. In providing content to a content consumer, a determination is made whether to interrupt the provision of the content, at one or more of the identified potential content interruption points, based on factors including interruption point metadata, metadata associated with auxiliary content that would be inserted, and user information, which includes explicitly specified user settings, as well as detected user information.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.

Abstract: A function intelligence engine receives input regarding application program content, including functions or capabilities of the application program that can be separately purchasable, and can further receive information regarding advertisements that can be displayed to users within the context of the application program. User-specific information is also received, including a user's current status and context within the application program, as well as a user's history, both within the application program, as well as in other application programs. Based on such information, the function intelligence engine determines and compares the probability of a user purchasing, versus the probability of the user consuming advertising, to acquire the separately purchasable function.

Abstract: Electronic program guide descriptions, of content referenced by the electronic program guide, are user-targeted based on user data. Such user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions aid users in identifying desirable content, thereby increasing user interaction performance with a content presentation device providing such user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions. To generate user-targeted electronic program guide descriptions, received electronic program guide information includes different, alternative or mutually exclusive, content descriptions of a given content item. Such electronic program guide information is compared with the user data and user-targeted content item descriptions is generated from the different content descriptions. A visual electronic program guide, including the user-targeted content item description, is displayed to a user on a physical display device.

Abstract: Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by one application, presenting content to users, automatically identifying an independent second application, available on the content presentation device, based on remotely-sourced information, and invoking that second application based on explicit or implicit user input. Bidirectional notifications are enabled between the two applications whereby activity within one application can affect the other. The first application displays an advertisement and can also, based on metadata received with the advertisement, identify the second application and invoke it, based upon explicit or implicit user action, such that both are simultaneously visible in separate content display areas on a physical display device. User interaction with the second application is independent of the display of the corresponding advertisement by the first application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked contents. Linked contents may include a preliminary content and one or more subsequent contents. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent content upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary content. The subsequent content is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent content should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase a good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary content may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an audience-aware advertising that are advertisements coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. An audience-aware advertising pod is a container for advertising content that is shown in association with a media presentation. The audience-aware advertising pod may include multiple advertisements shown during a commercial break in the primary content. The advertisements may be selected for display within a media presentation in real time based on audience members' attention level and response. Audience profiles may be generated and stored locally. The audience profile may be used to determine when an ad is displayed and what advertisement is displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an overlay experience that is coordinated with both a present media presentation and the media presentation's current audience. Exemplary media presentations include television, movies, games, and music. An overlay is visible content displayed concurrently with primary content. The overlay may obscure part of the primary content, but not all of the primary content. Embodiments of the present invention use audience data to select an appropriate overlay from one of several overlays available. The audience data may be derived from image data generated by an image-capture device, such as a video camera, that has a view of the audience area. Automated image analysis may be used to generate audience data that is used to select the overlay.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generate linked advertisements. Linked advertisements may include a preliminary advertisement and one or more subsequent advertisements. In one embodiment, the viewer is only shown the subsequent advertisement upon detecting a positive reaction to the preliminary advertisement. The subsequent advertisement is associated with presentation triggers that specify a context in which the subsequent advertisement should be presented. The context may be defined by a time of day, location, user activity, and/or other parameters. For example, the presentation trigger may specify a context in which the user is able to purchase an advertised good or service. For example, the context could be the user driving (activity context) near a coffee shop (location context) in the morning (time context). The reaction to the preliminary advertisement may be explicit or implicit.

Abstract: An interaction hint is presented with a video segment. Upon receiving a user response to the interaction hint, a message is automatically sent to update information associated with a user profile without interrupting presentation of the video segment.

Abstract: A dynamic, personalized advertising avatar based on a user's own avatar used in an online service is used to provide branded advertising in a virtual context. A definition of a user avatar with user attributes is acquired, and custom attributes for a dynamic user-based avatar are received from an advertiser. Dynamically generated user-based avatars are created having at least a portion of user attributes of the user avatar and a portion of the custom attributes, so that the resulting custom avatar is recognizable to the user but represents a product brand or service. Information is then acquired regarding user activity on a device capable of displaying the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and advertisements generated based on the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and the targeting information. The advertisement is then rendered on the user device using the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar.

Abstract: An interaction hint is presented with a video segment. Upon receiving a user response to the interaction hint, a message is automatically sent to update information associated with a user profile without interrupting presentation of the video segment.