Abstract: This invention relates to an automated control system and method that furnishes viewers with individualized automated editing and retrieval capabilities over the contents and length of a variable content video program in order to produce a transparently continuous and complete show. The system capabilities include an automated flexible control system design that enables an operator to selectively apply different editing criteria to the variety of subject matters that may be contained within the program. The system controls also include an automated capability for efficiently previewing program scenes of pre-identified categories and classes of subject matter and a capability for determining their inclusion in the program seen by the viewer. Finally, the control system provide a keyword/menu segment/program retrieval facility from an existing program and program database, and a requesting capability for programs to be produced according to viewer-specified requirements.

Abstract: An electronically integrated video-on-demand system and method comprising receiving a communication from a viewer; selecting, responsive to the communication and from a plurality of video advertisements, a video advertisement; transmitting the selected video advertisement to the viewer; processing a purchase by the viewer; confirming the purchase by the viewer; escrowing a deposit for the purchase; paying the deposit automatically after a predefined period of time following a delivery by date for the purchase; and control means for enabling the viewer to place a hold on the automatic paying of the deposit.

Abstract: A random access pointcast video delivery system provides the means for a viewer to select a video advertisement. The video advertisement is automatically customized responsive to the application of the viewer's video content preferences to a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments. The viewer is compensated for the verified apparent viewing of the selected advertisement independently of the purchase of the advertised product or service. Where the advertisement is associated with a credit, the viewing of the advertisement subsidizes the viewer's receipt of other video and communication services. Where a viewing of a video results in a purchase, a deposit in the purchase is automatically escrowed until after the buyer has received satisfactory delivery of the purchase.

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, replaying a portion of a video comprising the steps of, and the means for receiving, during a playing of a video, a replay request to replay a portion of a video, the replay request comprising a voice command; storing a request position of the playing of the video responsive to the replay request; skipping, responsive to the replay request, the video to a replay position that is responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range; enabling a playing of supplementary information; playing the video and the supplementary information from the replay position; and discontinuing the playing of supplementary information responsive to the request position responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range.

Abstract: A random access pointcast video delivery system provides the capability for a viewer to select a video advertisement. The video advertisement is automatically customized responsive to the application of the viewer's video content preferences to a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments. The viewer is compensated for the verified apparent viewing of the selected advertisement independently of the purchase of the advertised product or service. Where the advertisement is associated with a credit, the viewing of the advertisement subsidizes the viewer's receipt of other video and communication services. Where a viewing of a video results in a purchase, a deposit in the purchase is automatically escrowed until after the buyer has received satisfactory delivery of the purchase.

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, playing at least a portion of at least one video segment of a video, the method comprising the steps of, and the system comprising processing, random accessing, and buffering means for, enabling a user to define for a fragmented playing, at least one video segment within a video; fragmenting the at least one video segment responsive to a significant change in the comparative content of frames within the at least one video segment, responsive to a preestablished preference for a minimum duration of a fragment; and/or responsive to a plurality of camera angles included within the at least one video segment; and randomly and continuously playing, responsive to the fragmenting, at least a plurality fragments of the at least one video segment for a period of time longer than a linear playing time of the at least one video segment of the video; and wherein the defining may be either directly by identifying a beginning and an ending point, or indirectly by identifying at least o

Abstract: A system for, and a method of, playing a variable content video contained in a memory device, such as an optical disk, the memory device further providing user interface routines and control codes; the video having a non-sequential logical arrangement of parallel, transitional, and overlapping segments, and content information defining and linking segments of the video responsive to at least one content category, such as a rating; the segments including (1) at least one segment unique to one of at least two versions of the same variable content video, (2) at least one segment unique to the other of said at least two versions of the same variable content video, and (3) at least one segment common to said at least two versions of the same variable content video; the segment definitions each having a descriptor responsive to the at least one content category; and the content information providing, responsive to a viewer's preference with respect to the at least one content category, and by means of random a

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, replaying a portion of a video comprising the steps of, and the means for receiving, during a playing of a video, a replay request to replay a portion of a video, the replay request comprising a voice command; storing a request position of the playing of the video responsive to the replay request; skipping, responsive to the replay request, the video to a replay position that is responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range; enabling a playing of supplementary information; playing the video and the supplementary information from the replay position; and discontinuing the playing of supplementary information responsive to the request position responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range.

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, replaying a portion of a video comprising the steps of, and the means for receiving, during a playing of a video, a replay request to replay a portion of a video, the replay request comprising a voice command; storing a request position of the playing of the video responsive to the replay request; skipping, responsive to the replay request, the video to a replay position that is responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range; enabling a playing of supplementary information; playing the video and the supplementary information from the replay position; and discontinuing the playing of supplementary information responsive to the request position responsive to a preestablished replay preference amount adjusted by segment information subject to an override range.

Abstract: A random access pointcast video delivery system provides the means for a viewer to select a video advertisement. The video advertisement is automatically customized responsive to the application of the viewer's video content preferences to a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments. The viewer is compensated for the verified apparent viewing of the selected advertisement independently of the purchase of the advertised product or service. Where the advertisement is associated with a credit, the viewing of the advertisement subsidizes the viewer's receipt of other video and communication services. Where a viewing of a video results in a purchase, a deposit in the purchase is automatically escrowed until after the buyer has received satisfactory delivery of the purchase.

Abstract: A system for, or method of, playing a video provided by an optical disk, the video including within at least one segment excluded from at least one playing of the video and at least one other segment excluded from at least one other playing of the video, wherein the at least one segment and the at least one other segment may be parallel, overlapping, or transitional segments, comprising means for, or the steps of, responsive to a viewer's preference with respect to each of a plurality of content categories and responsive to segment information, interface, and system control codes provided by the optical disk, selectively retrieving segments, buffering at least a portion of a segment, and playing, from the video, a continuous version of the video differing in length than the length of the video.

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, playing at least a portion of at least one presentation segment, such as a camera angle segment, from a set of interleaved presentation segments included within a video, the method comprising the steps of, and the system comprising preferencing, processing, random accessing, and buffering means for, responsive to segment information, a preestablished content preference including a presentation preference and a preference for a duration of a portion of a presentation segment, sequentially and seamlessly playing a portion, at least a portion, and/or the substantial entirety of a presentation segment from said set of interleaved presentation segments; receiving, during said playing of a presentation segment, a change in said presentation preference; successively playing in a randomized looped fashion, responsive to said segment information and said change in said presentation preference, at least a portion, a portion, and/or the substantial entirety of another presentation s

Abstract: A system capable of, and a method of, transmitting video, the system comprising a storage and communications for, and the method comprising the steps of, storing a plurality of video programs; receiving a video program request from a remote player; and transmitting, responsive to said video program request, a video program to said remote player, the transmitted video program comprising a video including within a set of parallel video segments that provide for at least two versions of a scene, segment information directly defining a plurality of video segments within the video, and a user interface particular to the video program for enabling a user to establish a content preference; said remote player comprising at least one processor utilized to process video, a randomly accessible storage, and a control program for playing, responsive to an application of a user established content preference to said segment information, and by means of a random accessing and a buffering, a seamless version of, and from wit

Abstract: An apparatus capable of, and a method of, playing an optical disc storing (1) a video program including within, and not provided by an alternative program source, at least one parallel video segment for variably playing a scene of the video program; (2) segment information, not created by a user of the video program, directly defining a plurality of video segments; and (3) at least one segment code for inhibiting a control function (e.g., segment skip and/or fast-forward functions) from interfering with a playing of a video segment; the apparatus comprising processing, random accessing, and buffering means for, and the method comprising the steps of: inhibiting, responsive to the segment information and a segment code, a control function from interfering with a playing of a video segment (e.g.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of, and a method of, playing audio, the apparatus comprising communicating, processing, and playing means for, and the method comprising the steps of: communicating a user's information preferences to an information provider; receiving, from the information provider, informational items that are responsive to the user's information references; interleaving and sequencing, for the user, a playing of the received informational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of the user; and playing, for the user and responsive to the interleaving and sequencing, the received informational items within a playing of the plurality of musical items; and wherein the playing comprises a voice synthesizing of an at least one of informational item; wherein the playing is responsive to a schedule preferences of the user; wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an informational item is associated with a credit; and/or wherein a user's rec

Abstract: A video disc and a motion picture playing method comprising retrieving segment information of a motion picture, the motion picture including within a duplication of frames, at least one overlapping segment, and/or a segment that is congruent in at least one frame with at least one other segment, enabling a playing of a scene of the motion picture at a different level of explicitness; and playing, responsive to the segment information and from within the motion picture, a seamless version of the motion picture, the playing comprising selectively retrieving segments from within the motion picture, buffering at least a portion of a retrieved segment, and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of at least one segment, the skipped segment comprising frames that are duplicated, an overlapping segment, and/or one of the segments that are congruent in at least one frame.

Abstract: A method and a system for a user (e.g. a parent) to restrict a time (e.g. a time of day and/or an accumulated viewing during a specified time frame), and to restrict the videos and/or versions of videos that may be viewed by a viewer (e.g. a child) and/or a plurality of individually restricted viewers. The videos and/or versions of videos being restricted with respect to, for example, at least one content category (e.g. a rating code), a level in at least one content category, and/or a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of content categories. In an embodiment, random access and buffering means are utilized to retrieve segments of a video, to buffer at least a portion of a segment of a video, and to seamlessly skip a retrieval of at least one segment of the video, thereby playing, from within the video a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video.

Abstract: A video method and system for providing a viewer an automatically customized version of a video responsive to an editor's determination of the suitability of possibly unsuitable segments and the viewer's video content preferences. The video previewing system comprising a video and a segment map defining a plurality of video segments of a video, the plurality of video segments comprising possibly unsuitable video segments. The system permits establishing a viewer's video content preferences; an editor to determine the suitability for viewing by the viewer of the possibly unsuitable video segments; automatically selects video segments from the plurality of video segments responsive to the application of the suitability determination to the video segment map; and retrieves and transmits the selected video segments as a continuous and suitable version of the video.

Abstract: A system comprising the means for, and a method of comprising the steps of, preestablishing a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of plurality of content categories; downloading, by means of a communication, segment information for a video comprising a linear sequence of frames readable from a spiral track of an optical disc, the segment information directly defining at least one segment of the video with respect to a level of explicitness in at least one content category; selecting segments of the video by applying the preestablished content preference to the segment information; and playing, by means of a random accessing and buffering and from within the linear sequence of frames, a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video, the playing not requiring an alternate video source and comprising retrieving the selected segments and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of an at least one segment by buffering at least a portion of a segment.

Abstract: A method of, and a system capable of, playing a video, the method comprising the steps of, and the system comprising retrieving, processing, random accessing, and buffering device for retrieving a first set of content preferences and a second set of content preferences, each including a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of content categories; comparing the first set of content preferences with the second set of content preferences and adopting a least explicit level in each content category; retrieving segment information defining, responsive to at least a level of explicitness in at least one of a plurality of content categories, at least one segment of a video; and playing, responsive to the comparing and the adopting, responsive to the segment information, and the random accessing and buffering device, a seamless version of, from within, and less in length than the length of, the video.