Patent Application
20180190058
Embodiments generally relate to technology that enables live voting on time-delayed content and pre-existing content.
During the viewing of broadcast television programs, viewers of the programs may be able to perform live voting on various aspects of the programs, thereby creating an interactive experience by enabling the viewers to participate in the streaming programs.
With the advent of personal video recorders (PVRs) such as digital video recorders (DVRs), the time-shifting of media content has become more appealing than the viewing of live content, since viewers have the ability to perform functions such as pausing of the media content, playing back the media content, and skipping over advertisements during playback of the time-delayed media content.
The various advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:
Turning now to
According to the exemplary embodiment, time-delayed media content 11 may be streamed to one or more media player devices 14. The time-delayed or time-shifted content 11 may refer to content or programming that has been recorded on a storage medium such as a DVR, to be viewed after the live broadcast has been transmitted. According to an exemplary embodiment, the time-delayed content may be recorded with alternate branches of content, each with alternate endings. Specifically, the pre-recorded content may include media that is prerecorded with alternate branches, each of the alternate branches including alternate endings of the particular storyline or content.
For example, if the time-delayed media content 11 relates to an episode of a particular television program (e.g., “Crime Series A”), the episode may be pre-recorded with alternate branches, each of the alternate branches including alternate endings where the villain is portrayed as being different characters. Additionally, if the time-delayed content relates to a golf tournament, the golf tournament may be pre-recorded where the tournament is won by any number of different players.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment, media content 11 may be created with three dimensional (3D) models that follow programmed instructions. For example, the media content 11 may be created with 3D models of cartoon characters. This content may be created at any point before or even during viewing of the content, and thus may be automatically generated. For example during a pause in viewing, the content may be created in response to user inputs. As discussed below, viewers may be able to vote on changing the characters, setting, or background of the content created with the 3D models to different models, settings, or backgrounds. In response to the result of the voting, media content may be automatically created using previously created 3D models. The automatically created content may be added to the prerecorded content.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the 3D models may be created based on newly introduced images, such as, for example, a 3D rendering of a user's face. This is only exemplary, and the newly introduced images may be 3D renderings selected by the users.
One or more users of the media player devices 14 may view the time-delayed media content 11 by signing-in to the authentication sub-system 16, and undergoing an authentication process. The users may sign-in to the authentication sub-system 16 in order to be able to view media content simultaneously, thus allowing voting on a manner that the content should proceed. Although the authentication sub-system 16 is shown as a separate entity, this is only exemplary, and the authentication sub-system 16 may be incorporated in the vote sub-system 18. For example, the authentication process and the tabulation of the votes may be conducted by a single sub-system or server. The authentication process may include verification that the one or more viewers are authorized to view the time-delayed content 11, or verification that the one or more viewers are authorized to use the one or more media player devices 14.
Upon successful authentication of the one or more viewers, the viewers may vote on desired events to take place in the time-delayed media content. Specifically, the one or more viewers may input votes on an alternate branch of media content that includes an alternate ending of the storyline or content. For example, the one or more viewers may cast votes on the storyline of a particular episode of a time-delayed media content to be switched in an alternate direction or branch, with an alternate ending.
Additionally, media content containing pre-existing 3D models may be created on the basis of a result of the inputted votes. Alternately, 3D content may be created with new images such as a 3D rendering of a user's face or other selected 3D images.
The cast votes may be received at the vote sub-system 18 and tabulated at vote tabulator 20. On the basis of the tabulated votes, a media content editor 12 may generate one or more alternate branches of the time-delayed content, each of the alternate branches of content including an alternate ending of the time-delayed media content. The alternate branches of media content may be streamed as adjusted media content 21 to the one or more media player devices 14. Additionally, as discussed above, 3D content may be added to the time delayed media content based on a result of the tabulated votes in order to, for example, change a characters' appearance in the time-delayed content, add a character to the time-delayed media content, or change the setting or background of the time-delayed content. Although the media content editor 12 is illustrated as a separate entity in
Turning now to
The illustrated media sub-system 10 may store pre-existing content. The pre-existing content may include existing media content or content that is generated from existing 3D models of characters, (for example, cartoon characters).
The illustrated authentication sub-system 16 may receive sign-in requests from one or more viewers, and perform an authentication process to authenticate the one or more viewers. Upon successful authentication, the one or more viewers may simultaneously view time-delayed media content that is stored in the media sub-system 10. The media content may be generated with alternate branches of content that include alternate endings.
After the one or more viewers have viewed the time delayed media content, and the alternate branches of the media content that include alternate endings of the media content, the one or more viewers may cast votes on desired events to take place in the time-delayed content. The illustrated vote sub-system/vote tabulator 18 may receive the cast votes, tabulate the votes and determine the wishes of a majority of the viewers.
The media content editor 12 may receive the result of the tabulated votes from the vote sub-system/vote tabulator 18, and adjust an output of the media content on the basis of the tabulated votes. Adjusting the output of the media content may include generating an alternate branch of a storyline with an alternate ending of the storyline, automatically creating content based on the 3D models, or creating content based on newly introduced 3D renderings. The automatically generated content that is based on the 3D models or the newly introduced 3D renderings may also be added to the pre-recorded media content.
Turning now to
The illustrated media sub-system 10 may store pre-recorded or time-delayed media content 10A or 3D model content 10B. The illustrated media sub-system 10 may include a media content editor 12, which edits or adjusts media content on the basis of the tabulated voting requests of a majority of viewers. A media distribution system 13 may transmit the adjusted media content to the one or more media player devices 14.
The illustrated vote sub-system 18 may include a vote tabulator 20. One or more users of the one or more media player devices 14 may sign on (18A) to the vote sub-system so that the one or more users may be able to simultaneously view media content. The illustrated one or more media player devices 14 may include a display 14A, a communication manager 14B, a media buffer 14C, a voting application 14D, and various input/output ports 14E. The media player devices 14 may include, for example, a smart television (TV), display (e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, plasma display, etc.), personal digital assistant (PDA) imaging device, mobile Internet device (MID), any smart device such as a smart phone, smart tablet, and so forth, or any combination thereof.
For example, computer program code to carry out operations shown in the method 400 may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as JAVA, SMALLTALK, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. Additionally, logic instructions might include assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, state information that personalizes electronic circuitry and/or other structural components that are native to hardware (e.g., host processor, central processing unit/CPU, microcontroller, etc.).
Illustrated processing block 40 may provide for storing, by a media sub-system 10 (
The votes that are inputted by the one or more viewers may be tabulated at processing block 44. The tabulation of the votes may be done by a vote tabulator 20 (
On the basis of the determination of the requests of a majority of viewers, illustrated processing block 46 may provide for adjusting the pre-recorded or time-delayed content by generating an alternate branch of media content, or providing instructions for creating new automatically generated content that may include selected 3D models.
Turning now to
The illustrated method begins at processing block 50, where media content is created with alternate branches of content. The media content may be created in media sub-system 10 (
With continuing reference to
As illustrated in processing block 53, one or more of the viewers may record or cast a vote on one or more facets of the pre-recorded media content being viewed. The votes may be recorded and tabulated on a vote sub-system 18 (
At processing block 55, the pre-recorded content may be adjusted based on a result of the tabulated votes. For example, if a majority of viewers vote to see a particular alternate branch of media content with an alternate ending, the media content may be adjusted to transmit the requested alternate branch of media content. Alternately, if a majority of the viewers vote to create media content using preexisting 3D characters or models, or alternately, create media content using 3D content based on newly introduced images, such as a user's facial features, the media content may be adjusted to reflect the requested automatically created content.
At illustrated processing block 56, the adjusted content may be transmitted to the one or more viewers.
Turning now to
The illustrated method begins at processing block 60, where 3D model content with various settings and/or backgrounds may be created. The 3D model content may be created in media sub-system 10 (
In illustrated processing block 61, one or more viewers may sign-in to an authentication sub-system 16 (
As illustrated in processing block 63, one or more of the viewers may record or cast a vote on one or more facets of the automatically generated 3D media content being viewed. The votes may be recorded and tabulated on a vote sub-system 18 (
At processing block 65, the automatically generated content may be adjusted based on a result of the tabulated votes. For example, if a majority of viewers vote to see a different character or a different setting or background in the 3D media content being viewed, the 3D media content may be adjusted to reflect the requested change.
At illustrated processing block 66, the adjusted content may be transmitted to the one or more viewers.
The processor core 200 is shown including execution logic 250 having a set of execution units 255-1 through 255-N. Some embodiments may include a number of execution units dedicated to specific functions or sets of functions. Other embodiments may include only one execution unit or one execution unit that can perform a particular function. The illustrated execution logic 250 performs the operations specified by code instructions.
After completion of execution of the operations specified by the code instructions, back end logic 260 retires the instructions of the code 213. In one embodiment, the processor core 200 allows out of order execution but requires in order retirement of instructions. Retirement logic 265 may take a variety of forms as known to those of skill in the art (e.g., re-order buffers or the like). In this manner, the processor core 200 is transformed during execution of the code 213, at least in terms of the output generated by the decoder, the hardware registers and tables utilized by the register renaming logic 225, and any registers (not shown) modified by the execution logic 250.
Although not illustrated in
Referring now to
The system 1000 is illustrated as a point-to-point interconnect system, wherein the first processing element 1070 and the second processing element 1080 are coupled via a point-to-point interconnect 1050. It should be understood that any or all of the interconnects illustrated in
As shown in
Each processing element 1070, 1080 may include at least one shared cache 1896a, 1896b. The shared cache 1896a, 1896b may store data (e.g., instructions) that are utilized by one or more components of the processor, such as the cores 1074a, 1074b and 1084a, 1084b, respectively. For example, the shared cache 1896a, 1896b may locally cache data stored in a memory 1032, 1034 for faster access by components of the processor. In one or more embodiments, the shared cache 1896a, 1896b may include one or more mid-level caches, such as level 2 (L2), level 3 (L3), level 4 (L4), or other levels of cache, a last level cache (LLC), and/or combinations thereof.
While shown with only two processing elements 1070, 1080, it is to be understood that the scope of the embodiments are not so limited. In other embodiments, one or more additional processing elements may be present in a given processor. Alternatively, one or more of processing elements 1070, 1080 may be an element other than a processor, such as an accelerator or a field programmable gate array. For example, additional processing element(s) may include additional processors(s) that are the same as a first processor 1070, additional processor(s) that are heterogeneous or asymmetric to processor a first processor 1070, accelerators (such as, e.g., graphics accelerators or digital signal processing (DSP) units), field programmable gate arrays, or any other processing element. There can be a variety of differences between the processing elements 1070, 1080 in terms of a spectrum of metrics of merit including architectural, micro architectural, thermal, power consumption characteristics, and the like. These differences may effectively manifest themselves as asymmetry and heterogeneity amongst the processing elements 1070, 1080. For at least one embodiment, the various processing elements 1070, 1080 may reside in the same die package.
The first processing element 1070 may further include memory controller logic (MC) 1072 and point-to-point (P-P) interfaces 1076 and 1078. Similarly, the second processing element 1080 may include a MC 1082 and P-P interfaces 1086 and 1088. As shown in
The first processing element 1070 and the second processing element 1080 may be coupled to an I/O subsystem 1090 via P-P interconnects 10761086, respectively. As shown in
In turn, I/O subsystem 1090 may be coupled to a first bus 1016 via an interface 1096. In one embodiment, the first bus 1016 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or a bus such as a PCI Express bus or another third generation I/O interconnect bus, although the scope of the embodiments are not so limited.
As shown in
Note that other embodiments are contemplated. For example, instead of the point-to-point architecture of
Example 1 may include an electronic voting system including a media sub-system to one or more of store pre-recorded content or automatically generate content, a media content delivery subsystem to deliver one or more of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content to one or more media players, a voting sub-system to receive, from the one or more media players, votes related to the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content and tabulate the received votes, and an editor to adjust the pre-recorded content or provide instructions to create the automatically generated content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 2 may include the system of example 1, wherein the pre-recorded content includes one or more alternate branches of content, and in adjusting the pre-recorded content, at least one of the one or more alternate branches of content is to be displayed based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 3 may include the system of any one of examples 1 and 2 wherein the automatically generated content includes three-dimensional (3D) content.
Example 4 may include the system of example 3, wherein the 3D content is to be added to the pre-recorded content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 5 may include the system of example 1, further comprising an authentication sub-system to authenticate one or more users and authorize simultaneous viewing of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content by the one or more users based on a result of the authentication.
Example 6 may include system of example 1, wherein the instructions to create the new automatically generated content include one or more of changing a background of the automatically generated content, changing colors of characters in the automatically generated content, or adding characters to the automatically generated content.
Example 7 may include a pre-recorded media content voting apparatus comprising a media sub-system to store pre-existing content, a vote sub-system to tabulate votes received from one or more media players, wherein the votes are to be related to the pre-existing content, and an editor communicatively coupled to the media sub-system and the vote sub-system, the editor to one or more of adjust the pre-existing content or provide new content creation instructions based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 8 may include the apparatus of example 7, wherein the pre-existing content is to comprise pre-recorded content that includes one or more alternate branches of content, and in adjusting the pre-existing content at least one of the one or more alternate branches of content is to be displayed based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 9 may include the apparatus of any one of examples 7 and 8, wherein the pre-existing content is to comprise automatically generated content that includes three-dimensional (3D) content.
Example 10 may include the apparatus of example 9, wherein the editor is to add the 3D content to the pre-existing content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 11 may include the apparatus of example 7, further comprising an authentication sub-system to authenticate one or more users and authorize simultaneous viewing of the pre-existing content by the one or more users based on a result of the authentication.
Example 12 may include the apparatus of example 7, wherein the new content creation instructions include instructions to one or more of change a background of the automatically generated content, change colors of characters in the pre-existing content, or add characters to the pre-existing content.
Example 13 may include a method for voting on pre-recorded media content comprising one or more of storing pre-recorded content or automatically generating content, receiving, from one or more media players, votes related to the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content and tabulating the received votes, and adjusting the pre-recorded content or providing instructions to create the automatically generated content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 14 may include the method of example 13, wherein the pre-recorded content includes one or more alternate branches of content, and in adjusting the pre-recorded content, at least one of the one or more alternate branches of content is to be displayed based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 15 may include the method of any one of examples 13 and 14, wherein the automatically generated content includes three-dimensional (3D) content.
Example 16 may include the method of example 15, wherein the 3D content is to be added to the pre-recorded content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 17 may include the method of example 13, further comprising authenticating one or more users and authorizing simultaneous viewing of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content by the one or more users based on a result of the authentication.
Example 18 may include the method of example 13, wherein the instructions to create the automatically generated content include one or more of changing a background of the automatically generated content, changing colors of characters in the automatically generated content, or adding characters to the automatically generated content.
Example 19 may include at least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to one or more of store pre-recorded content or automatically generate content, receive, from one or more media players, votes related to the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content and tabulate the received votes, and adjust the pre-recorded content or provide instructions to create new automatically generated content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 20 may include the at least one computer readable storage medium of example 19, wherein the pre-recorded content includes one or more alternate branches of content, and in adjusting the pre-recorded content, at least one of the one or more alternate branches of content is to be displayed based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 21 may include the at least one computer readable storage medium of any one of examples 19 and 20, wherein the automatically generated content includes three-dimensional (3D) content.
Example 22 may include the at least one computer readable storage medium of example 21, wherein the 3D content is to be added to the pre-recorded content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 23 may include the at least one computer readable storage medium of example 19, further comprising authenticating one or more users and authorizing simultaneous viewing of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content by the one or more users based on a result of the authentication.
Example 24 may include the at least one computer readable storage medium of example 19, wherein the instructions to create the automatically generated content includes one or more of changing a background of the automatically generated content, changing colors of characters in the automatically generated content, or adding characters to the automatically generated content.
Example 25 may include a pre-recorded media content voting apparatus comprising means for one or more of storing pre-recorded content or automatically generating content, means for receiving, from one or more media players, votes related to the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content and tabulating the received votes, and means for adjusting the pre-recorded content or providing instructions to create the automatically generated content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 26 may include the apparatus of example 25, wherein the pre-recorded content is to include one or more alternate branches of content, and adjusting the pre-recorded content, at least one of the one or more alternate branches of content is to be displayed based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 27 may include the apparatus of any one of examples 25 and 26, wherein the automatically generated content is to include three-dimensional (3D) content.
Example 28 may include the apparatus of example 27, wherein the 3D content is to be added to the pre-recorded content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Example 29 may include the apparatus of example 25, further comprising means for authenticating one or more users and authorizing simultaneous viewing of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content by the one or more users based on a result of the authentication.
Example 30 may include the apparatus of example 25, wherein the instructions to create the automatically generated content are to include one or more of changing a background of the automatically generated content, changing colors of characters in the automatically generated content, or adding characters to the automatically generated content.
Example 31 may include a processor-based electronic voting system comprising a processor, one or more computer readable storage devices coupled to the processor, a media sub-system, coupled to the processor, to one or more of store pre-recorded content or automatically generate content, a media content delivery subsystem coupled to the processor, to deliver one or more of the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content to one or more media players, a voting sub-system coupled to the processor, to receive, from the one or more media players, votes related to the pre-recorded content or the automatically generated content, store the received votes in one or more of the storage devices, and tabulate the received votes, and an editor to adjust the pre-recorded content or provide instructions to create the automatically generated content based on a result of the tabulated votes.
Embodiments described herein are applicable for use with all types of semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) chips. Examples of these IC chips include but are not limited to processors, controllers, chipset components, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), memory chips, network chips, systems on chip (SoCs), SSD/NAND controller ASICs, and the like. In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines are represented with lines. Some may be different, to indicate more constituent signal paths, have a number label, to indicate a number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate primary information flow direction. This, however, should not be construed in a limiting manner. Rather, such added detail may be used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit. Any represented signal lines, whether or not having additional information, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog lines implemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/or single-ended lines.
Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, although embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the same. As manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, it is expected that devices of smaller size could be manufactured. In addition, well known power/ground connections to IC chips and other components may or may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of the embodiments of the invention. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the invention, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the embodiment is to be implemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art. Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.
The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.
As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “one or more of” may mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B or C” may mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
