Patent Application
20230030433
The present disclosure generally relates to computer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) including touch-displays. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for adding and simultaneously displaying auxiliary content to main content displayed via a GUI. More particularly, but still not exclusively, the auxiliary content includes images, command input images and/or interfaces and adding includes superimposing and/or integrating the auxiliary content over or within the main content being displayed.
Computer graphical user interfaces using touch touch-displays are widely used on a daily basis on mobile units, tablets, laptops, PCs and other computers for a variety of purposes including streaming material for entertainment, educational or business purposes such as transactions including purchasing. Touch display screens can be capacitive or resistive. Resistive screens rely on applied pressure which means that sometimes the tip of a pen or another object can initiate a response from the system. Capacitive touch screens use electrical conductors rather than pressure to recognize a command and respond. Capacitive touch screens depend on a specific amount of electrical charge to get a response from the operating system. This electrical charge can be provided by the user's bare fingers or special styluses, gloves, and the like.
Merchants provide users with graphical user interfaces to view article or service information and to proceed to purchase. The merchant-provided user interfaces as usually “busy” with clickable material and adds as merchants are always trying to capture the attention of potential customers streaming in an online marketplace. One of the challenges merchants have is incentivizing users to view advertising material during live streams (such as sports, concerts and other events).
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for adding and simultaneously displaying auxiliary content to main content displayed via a GUI.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for adding and simultaneously displaying auxiliary content to main content displayed via a GUI.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system for adding auxiliary content to main content for simultaneous display therewith via the same graphical user interface, wherein the main content and auxiliary content are hosted by one or more remote host controllers, the system comprising: a user device in operative communication with the one or more remote host controllers and comprising an interface display for displaying the graphical user interface containing the simultaneously displayed main content and auxiliary content; a system controller in operative communication with the user display device and the one or more remote host controllers, the system controller having a processor with an associated memory of processor executable code that when executed provides the system controller with performing computer-implementable steps comprising: determining whether the main content is being displayed via the interface display; selectively adding the auxiliary content to the displayed main content for simultaneous display therewith via the interface display, wherein the step of adding comprises at least one of: superimposing the auxiliary content on the main content; integrating the auxiliary content to the main content; and providing for the auxiliary content to underly the main content and be visible therethrough; and providing for the user to input a command via the user display device for modulating displaying of the auxiliary content via the interface display.
In an embodiment, the computer-implementable steps further comprise positioning the auxiliary content on a selected portion of the main content. In an embodiment, the selected portion comprises a background of the main content or an area of the main content devoid of foreground activity.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary content comprises a visual representation selected from the group consisting of an image, an input command image, an application icon, an interface, and any combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary content is smaller in size than the main content.
In an embodiment, selectively adding the auxiliary content to the main content is provided without re-sizing the main content.
In an embodiment, when the auxiliary content is superimposed on a portion of the main content, the auxiliary content covers and obscures the portion.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary content is superimposed on a portion of the main content, the auxiliary content being translucent providing for the portion to be visible therethrough.
In an embodiment, the computer implementable step of modulating displaying of the auxiliary content comprises one or more of the following: removing the auxiliary content from the main content; repositioning the auxiliary content on the main content; splitting the graphical user interface into two sub-graphical user interfaces simultaneously displayed side by side via the interface display, wherein one of the two sub-graphical user interfaces comprises the main content and the other of the two sub-graphical user interfaces comprises the auxiliary content.; switching the main content with the auxiliary content; transforming the auxiliary content from covering and obscuring a portion of the main content to being translucent and providing this portion to be visible therethrough; transforming the auxiliary content from being translucent to being opaque for covering and obscuring a portion of the main content; resizing the auxiliary content; replacing the main content and any combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary content comprises one or more auxiliary content visual representations hosted on a respective one of the remote host controllers. In an embodiment, one of the one of more remote host controllers hosts the main content and another of the one or more host controllers hosts the auxiliary content.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer implementable method for adding auxiliary content to main content for simultaneous display therewith via the same graphical user interface, the method comprising: providing an interface display for displaying the graphical user interface containing the simultaneously displayed main content and auxiliary content; determining whether the main content is being displayed via the interface display; selectively adding the auxiliary content to the displayed main content for simultaneous display therewith via the interface display, wherein the step of adding comprises at least one of: superimposing the auxiliary content on the main content; integrating the auxiliary content to the main content; and providing for the auxiliary content to underly the main content and be visible therethrough; and providing for the user to input a computer implementable command for modulating displaying of the auxiliary content via the interface display.
In an embodiment of the method, modulating displaying of the auxiliary content comprises a computer implementable step selected from the group consisting of: removing the auxiliary content from the main content; repositioning the auxiliary content on the main content; switching the main content with the auxiliary content; replacing the main content with the auxiliary content; resizing the auxiliary content; splitting the graphical user interface into two sub-graphical user interfaces simultaneously displayed side by side via the interface display, wherein one of the two sub-graphical user interfaces comprises the main content and the other of the two sub-graphical user interfaces comprises the auxiliary content; transforming the auxiliary content from a visual representation covering and obscuring a portion of the main content superimposed thereby to being translucent and providing the portion to be visible therethrough, transforming the auxiliary content from being translucent to being opaque.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The following drawings form part of the present specification and present disclosure. In the appended drawings:
Generally stated and in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer-implemented system and method for adding auxiliary content to main content for simultaneous display therewith via the same graphical user interface. The main content and auxiliary content are hosted by one or more remote host controllers. The system comprises a user device and system controller. The user device in operative communication with the one or more remote host controllers and comprises an interface display for displaying the graphical user interface containing the simultaneously displayed main content and auxiliary content. The system controller is in operative communication with the user display device and the one or more remote host controllers. The system controller has a processor with an associated memory of processor executable code that when executed provides the system controller with performing computer-implementable steps. The system controller determines if the main content is being displayed via the interface display, selectively adds the auxiliary content to the displayed main content for simultaneous display therewith via the interface display and provides for the user to input a command via the user display device for modulating displaying of the auxiliary content via the interface display. The step of adding comprises at least one of superimposing the auxiliary content on the main content, integrating the auxiliary content to the main content, and providing for the auxiliary content to underly the main content and be visible therethrough.
In an embodiment, the system and method provide for adding an auxiliary content visual representation such as an image, an input command image, an icon, an interface including a chatbot to main content such streamed content, videogame content, websites and the like. The auxiliary content visual representation is smaller than the main content. The main content is not re-sized when the auxiliary content visual representation is added. The auxiliary content visual representation can be superimposed on the main content. Indeed a layer of auxiliary content can be superimposed on a layer of main content. it can be integrated within the main content (i.e. “ingested”) and it can underly the main content i.e. be positioned beneath main content and be visible therethrough. The auxiliary content visual representation allows third party merchants to selectively advertise and interface with users while other content is being streamed. A user can watch a sporting event and can receive advertisement information simultaneously via the auxiliary content visual representation. The user can open the visual representation or open an interface in order to transact with the merchant. The user via input commands can modulate the displaying of the auxiliary content visual representation by removing it, re-sizing it, splitting the screen and other actions as will be further discussed herein.
With reference to the drawings, non-restrictive illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be described so as to further exemplify the disclosure and by no means limit the scope thereof.
With reference to
In an embodiment, the main controller 24 is in operative communication with the display device 12 for providing the auxiliary content 22 to be displayed thereon.
In an embodiment, the system controller 24 is in operative communication via a network N with another remote host controller such as a third-party server 26 associated memory M″ of processor executable code that when executed provides for performing computer implementable steps. In an embodiment the third-party controller 26 is a merchant controller. In an embodiment, the third-party controller 26 provides the auxiliary content 22. Accordingly, the third-party acts as an auxiliary content controller 26 within the context of the present disclosure and transmits auxiliary content 22 for display to the system controller 24 which adds this auxiliary content 22 for simultaneous display via the interface display to the main content 20.
In an embodiment , the main content controller 10 is in operative communication via a network communication N with the system controller 24. The main content controller 10 can transmit the main content 20 to the system controller 24 for analysis thereof. In an embodiment, the system controller 24 can analyze the main content 20 during streaming directly onto the user device 12. In an embodiment , the system controller 24 can analyze the main content 20 directly on the main content controller 10. The foregoing main content analysis is a computer implemented step comprising steps such as determining if main content 20 is being streamed and displayed via the interface display, the type of main content displayed, determining the foreground and background of the main content 20 (via artificial intelligence recognition), determining “empty spots” of the main content, segmenting the main content into portions (as provided in U.S. Ser. No. 17/561,261 and U.S. Ser. No. 17/443,563).
Following analysis of the main content 20, the system controller 24 executes the computer implementable step of positioning the auxiliary content 22 in the user interface 16 to be displayed simultaneously with the main content 20.
In an embodiment, the remote host controller 10 is the system controller and provides both the main content 20 and the auxiliary content 22. In an embodiment, system controller 10 is in operative communication with the auxiliary content controller 26 via a network communication N for receiving the auxiliary content therefrom to be transmitted to the user device 12 as previously explained.
In an embodiment, the system controller comprises an assembly 28 of one or more controllers, such as but not limited to controllers 10, 24 and 26 in various mutual operative communication links via network communication as explained above and as can be contemplated by the skilled artisan. It should be noted that the term “system controller 24” herein is replaceable by “system controller assembly 28” and/or “system controller 10” throughout the disclosure mutatis mutandis.
Indeed, various controller combinations and assemblies can be contemplated within the context of the present disclosure. Thus, the system controller 24 is but one non-limiting example of the system controllers of system S.
In an embodiment, the main content 20 is provided by a main content controller 10 and the auxiliary content 22 is provided by an auxiliary content controller 26 with the system controller 24 providing for simultaneous display via interface 16 of the auxiliary content 22 together with the main content 20.
Turning to
The system controller 24 executes the computer implementable step of providing the user (i.e. the viewer) to input a command via the auxiliary content visual representation 22 including by touch commands, cursor clicks, eye orientations (e.g., Φ) as described in U.S. Ser. No. 17/443,563, voice commands and combinations thereof. In one example, the user moves the auxiliary content image 22 by finger touch in one or more directions which corresponds to respective input commands or finger taps it which corresponds to another respective input command.
The type of input commands including touch commands, cursor clicks, eye orientation commands, voice commands, and combinations thereof cause the auxiliary content visual representation 22 to change position, to be removed from view, to re-size such as enlarging so as to be more visible or being made smaller to make the main content 20 more visible, to split the interface 16 (as described in U.S. Ser. No. 17/561,261), to switch positions with the main content 20 (i.e. the main content becomes the auxiliary content 22 and the auxiliary content 22 becomes the main content 20). In an embodiment, the main content 20 is paused via input commands to view the auxiliary content 22. In an embodiment the auxiliary content 22 comprises an auxiliary interface allowing for input commands such as perusing advertised articles and making a purchase as is known in the art to be executed.
Turning to
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, and as shown in
User input commands can modify the auxiliary content visual representation from being a superimposed image to being an underlying image (as defined above) and from being a translucent image (as image 22B in
The simultaneously displayed auxiliary content can be an application icon. For example, in
Turning to
The system S provided for a variety Pictures in Pictures (PIP) input command images for accessing merchant interfaces including splitting screens as provided herein.
The various features described herein can be combined in a variety of ways within the context of the present disclosure so as to provide still other embodiments. As such, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Elements of the embodiments and examples discussed can be combined within the context of the disclosure as those having skill in the art will readily appreciate. Moreover, the embodiments discussed herein need not include all of the features and elements illustrated and/or described and thus partial combinations of features can also be contemplated. Furthermore, embodiments with less features than those described can also be contemplated. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present disclosure has been provided hereinabove by way of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the scope, spirit and nature thereof and of the appended claims.
The present application is a Continuation in part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/561,261 filed on Dec. 23, 2021 and which is a Continuation in part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/443,563 filed on Jul. 27, 2021 both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17561261 | Dec 2021 | US |
| Child | 17872149 | US | |
| Parent | 17443563 | Jul 2021 | US |
| Child | 17561261 | US |
