US6448980B1 — Personalizing rich media presentations based on u…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for providing personalized media presentations over a network to user's terminal comprising: delivering to the terminal hypermedia presentation streams of rich media material and a hierarchy of the hypermedia descriptions of hypermedia presentation streams for navigation by the user on the descriptions and presentation streams in at least three different modes of operation; exposing a different set of selectable attributes in each the modes of operation; allowing the user to switch between the modes and once in a particular mode select selectable attributes exposed in that mode; gathering data about the user's interests expressed through selection events generated at the terminal by the user's navigation over the descriptions and presentation streams; using the gathered data to generate a user model; and dynamically changing what is delivered and rendered at the terminal in response to a new selection event in the user model based on the gathered selection events and reflected in the user model.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for providing personalized media presentations over a network to user's terminal comprising: delivering to the terminal hypermedia presentation streams of rich media material and a hierarchy of the hypermedia descriptions of hypermedia presentation streams for navigation by the user on the descriptions and presentation streams in at least three different modes of operation; exposing a different set of selectable attributes in each the modes of operation; allowing the user to switch between the modes and once in a particular mode select selectable attributes exposed in that mode; gathering data about the user's interests expressed through selection events generated at the terminal by the user's navigation over the descriptions and presentation streams; using the gathered data to generate a user model; and dynamically changing what is delivered and rendered at the terminal in response to a new selection event in the user model based on the gathered selection events and reflected in the user model.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 1 including dividing the hierarchy of hypermedia descriptions into a plurality of description levels in at least two of the modes where levels higher up in the hierarchial structure represent more abstract attributes of represented objects and levels lower in the hierarchial structure represent further refinements on those attributes.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 2 including rendering the hierarchy of descriptions at the terminal so that the user first navigates over the hierarchial structure at a more abstract level and transitions to navigation over less and less abstract levels.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method of claim 2 including first delivering to the terminal a hypermedia presentation stream at a level of the hierarchy with more abstract attributes of an item and thereafter delivering to the terminal at that level of the hierarchy in order of increasing refinement only those of the attributes in the hypermedia stream that reflect the user's interest and personality as expressed by navigation events.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 2 including dynamically updating the content of certain of the abstract descriptive attributes in a hypermedia stream depending on the user's interest reflected by the user's navigation events while the remainder the hypermedia stream data itself is not replaced, to provide a more personalized description of what would be the same media content.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 122 words

The method of claim 5 wherein three different modes of operation in a presentation includes; a first navigation mode providing descriptive attributes for navigating a website including showing different categories, different members of the same category, and parent categories; a second inspection mode providing descriptive attributes for examination of a selection in a category of goods including video and animation views of the selection panning and zooming in on the selection in a view and animating and rotating of the selection in a view; and a third transaction mode providing descriptive attributes to facilitate acquisition of the selection including examining various options for the selection, comparison shopping for comparable items to the selection, calling for a sales representative, and completing the transaction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

The server of claim 6 including, associating different descriptive attributes with different segments of an item in the hypermedia presentation involved in the client's navigation or interaction; and expanding in later viewing by the user the descriptions of the segments of the item which the user has shown interest by the user's navigation events while leaving descriptions of other segments of the item unchanged.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 including using explicit selection events and implicit selection events in generating the user model.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 8 wherein an implicit selection event is one of the following events; repeated requests for more detail in the hypermedia presentation; dwell time on a rendered portion of the hypermedia presentation; and return parameters relative to a rendered portion of the hypermedia presentation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 8 including delivering an input to a user model based on a descriptive attribute associated with a portion of the hypermedia presentation involved in a selection event.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 10 including providing entry input points for transactional commands whose parameters are determined by the descriptive attributes associated with the segment of the hypermedia involved in the navigation or interaction of the user.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 11 including annunciation of a portion of the hypermedia presentation associated with an entry input point involved in the navigation or interaction by the user.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 10 including varying descriptive attributes in a given portion of the hypermedia presentation depending on the mode of operation covered by that given portion.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 143 words

A server for delivering personalizable media presentations to a user's terminal on a network comprising: production logic for generating and continuing refining a user model of a user's requirements and temperament expressed through selection events generated by the user in navigation over a hypermedia presentation and a hierarchy of hypermedia descriptions of the presentation rendered at the user's terminal; selection event capture software for transmission to the user's terminal for capturing user selection events and providing them back to the server; and delivery logic responsive to the user model refined by one of the captured selection events, for delivering hypermedia streams containing the rendered presentation and the hierarchy hypermedia descriptions to the user's terminal, said delivery logic having rendering logic for dynamically changing the rendered presentations and hypermedia description based on said one of the selection events used to refine the user model.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 143 words

A server for delivering personalizable media presentations to a user's terminal on a network comprising: production logic for generating and continuing refining a user model of a user's requirements and temperament expressed through selection events generated by the user in navigation over a hypermedia presentation and a hierarchy of hypermedia descriptions of the presentation rendered at the user's terminal; selection event capture software for transmission to the user's terminal for capturing user selection events and providing them back to the server; and delivery logic responsive to the user model refined by one of the captured selection events, for delivering hypermedia streams containing the rendered presentation and the hierarchy hypermedia descriptions to the user's terminal, said delivery logic having rendering logic for dynamically changing the rendered presentations and hypermedia description based on said one of the selection events used to refine the user model.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

The server of claim 14 wherein the hierarchy hypermedia description is represented in a multitude of description levels where levels higher up in the hierarchy represent more abstract attributes and levels lower in the hierarchy represent further refinements on the more abstract attributes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

The server of claim 14 wherein said selection event capture software includes code for providing inputs to user model to determine user's temperament based on implicit navigational actions of the user over the hypermedia.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The server of claim 16 wherein the implicit events include repeated request for details, dwell time and return parameters relative to portions of the hypermedia presentation.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for delivering personalizable media presentations to a user's terminal on a network comprising: delivering rich media hypermedia presentation streams after first delivering and initially rendering in rich media a hierarchy of hypermedia descriptions of the hypermedia presentation stream for client navigation on the hypermedia descriptions; loading the hypermedia presentation streams on the user's terminal based on user's selection events during navigation of the hypermedia descriptions; constantly refining a user model based on the selection events; varying selection and query inputs to points in the hypermedia descriptions in response to the selection events; dynamically presenting to the user with the aid of the constantly refining user model, changes to the hypermedia presentation based on the user experiences first with the hypermedia description and then the hypermedia presentation; dividing the presentation into three different modes of operation; exposing a different set of selectable attributes in each of the modes of operation; and allowing the user to switch between the modes of operation using one control action and once in a particular mode select selectable attributes in that mode using a different control action.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for delivering personalizable media presentations to a user's terminal on a network comprising: delivering rich media hypermedia presentation streams after first delivering and initially rendering in rich media a hierarchy of hypermedia descriptions of the hypermedia presentation stream for client navigation on the hypermedia descriptions; loading the hypermedia presentation streams on the user's terminal based on user's selection events during navigation of the hypermedia descriptions; constantly refining a user model based on the selection events; varying selection and query inputs to points in the hypermedia descriptions in response to the selection events; dynamically presenting to the user with the aid of the constantly refining user model, changes to the hypermedia presentation based on the user experiences first with the hypermedia description and then the hypermedia presentation; dividing the presentation into three different modes of operation; exposing a different set of selectable attributes in each of the modes of operation; and allowing the user to switch between the modes of operation using one control action and once in a particular mode select selectable attributes in that mode using a different control action.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 18 including representation by a hypermedia file is represented in a multitude of description levels where the description levels belong to a hierarchical structure where levels higher up in the hierarchial structure represent more abstract attributes and levels lower in the hierarchial structure represent further refinements on those attributes.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 19 including presenting the hierarchy of descriptions on the client's terminal so that the client always first choose to navigate over representations at the most abstract level, of the descriptions, and transition to navigation over representations that correspond to less and less abstract descriptions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

The server of claim 18 wherein, said selection capture software includes counting software for determining the number times particular displayed material is visited and when a threshold level is exceeded providing user interest in that material back to the server.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The server of claim 21 wherein, said selection capture software includes timing software for timing user hovering on displayed material and when a time threshold is exceeded providing interest in that material back to the server.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 18 wherein, the one and the different control actions are multiple and single mouse button clicks respectively.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 121 words

The method of claim 18 wherein three different modes of operation in a presentation includes; a first navigation mode providing descriptive attributes for navigating a website including showing different categories, different members of the same category, and parent categories; a second inspection mode providing descriptive attributes for examination of a selection in a category of goods including video and animation views of the selection; panning and zooming in on the selection in a view and animating and rotating of the selection in a view; and a third transaction mode providing descriptive attributes facilitate acquisition of the selection including viewing various options for the selection, comparison shopping for comparable items to the selection, calling for a slates representative and completing the transaction.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 64 words

The server of claim 24 including, associating different descriptive attributes with different segments of an item in the hypermedia presentation involved in the client's navigation or interaction; and expanding in future viewing by the user the descriptions of the segments of the item which the user has shown interest by the user's navigation events while leaving description of other segments of the item unchanged.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 18 including: dividing the presentation up into data segments and permitting the user to select between: a manual mode where progress through the segments is by manual selection of the segments by the user; an automatic mode where progress through the segments is from segment to segment at preset intervals; or a semiautomatic mode where passing from one segment to another is a combination of manual and automatic actions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 26 permitting the user to select between rendering a portion or the whole of the data segments.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-09-09	2006-03-11	2006-09-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-09-09	2010-03-11	2010-09-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-09-09	2014-03-11	2014-09-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Personalizing rich media presentations based on user response to the presentation

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