System and process for incorporating, retrieving and displaying an enhanced flash movie

A system for providing, to at least one client device, an EFM and Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided with the EFM comprising:

• a server for obtaining an EFM requested by at least one client device and providing the EFM to the at least one client device;
• and
• at least one network connection, between the at least one client device and the server, facilitating the communication of the request and the providing of the EFM;
• whereupon establishment of the at least one network connection between the server and the at least one client device and whereupon receipt by the server of the request, the server obtains and provides the requested EFM to the at least one client device.

A system for presenting Enhanced Content related to an EFM comprising:

• a server which provides, to a client device, an EFM comprising a Flash Movie and at least one trigger;
• an Enhanced Content provider which provides at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie;
• and
• at least one communications link between at least one of the Enhanced Content provider and the client device, the Enhanced Content provider and the server, and the server and the client device;
• whereupon receiving the Flash Movie, the trigger and the EFM, the client device determines when, in relation to the presentation of the Flash Movie, to utilize an address provided with the trigger in order to retrieve the at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie and present the at least one segment of Enhanced Content to the client device.

A computer readable medium providing a data structure configured to present Enhanced Content related to a program encoded in Flash comprising:

• a Flash Movie further comprising a Flash encoded programming signal;
• a Flash Movie layer further comprising an application layer for presenting the Flash Movie;
• at least one trigger providing an address and a reference to the Flash Movie, wherein the address identifies a provider of Enhanced Content and the reference identifies when, in relation to the presentation of the Flash Movie, the address is to be utilized to obtain from the provider at least one segment of Enhanced Content;
• and
• a Movie Player layer, wherein the Movie Player layer controls the presentation of the Flash Movie, implements the at least one trigger and obtains the at least one segment of Enhanced Content identified by the at least one trigger.

An apparatus for presenting an Enhanced Flash Movie comprising:

• a controller for controlling the presentation of the Flash Movie;
• a timing and frame counter, in communication with the controller, for determining a current frame count of the Flash Movie as it is being presented;
• and
• a script generator, which receives the current frame count from the timing and frame counter, provides a holding location for at least one trigger and implements at least one trigger when the current frame count equals a triggered frame number.

A computer readable medium providing a mean value pair data structure for specifying when, during the presentation of a Flash Movie, to utilize at least one address identifying a provider of at least one segment of Enhanced Content comprising:

• a variable segment identifying a trigger;
• a value segment, further comprising:
• a reference, indicating when to utilize an address provided in the value segment of a mean value pair data structure;
• and
• the address providing at least one identification of a provider of Enhanced Content;
• whereupon the occurrence of a predetermined event specified by the reference, the at least one address provided in the value segment is utilized to contact the provider of Enhanced Content and provide the at least one segment of Enhanced Content to a client.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie during a presentation of the Flash Movie, the method comprising:

• receiving an Enhanced Flash Movie further comprising a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the at least one trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure including a variable segment and a value segment;
• establishing a Movie Player layer, wherein the Movie Player layer further comprises a control layer, a Flash Movie layer, a timing and frame counting layer and a scripting layer;
• loading the Flash Movie into the Flash Movie layer;
• identifying the at least one trigger provided in the Flash Movie and placing the at least one identified trigger into the scripting layer;
• monitoring the frame count of the Flash Movie as the Flash Movie is presented;
• and
• implementing the at least one trigger when a frame number specified in a reference provided in the value segment equals the current frame count;
• whereupon implementing the trigger the Movie Player utilizes information provided in the value segment to identify a provider of Enhanced Content, establish a connection with the provider and obtain at least one segment of Enhanced Content from the provider.

A method in a computer system for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie, comprising:

• providing an EFM comprising a Flash Movie and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a variable segment and a value segment;
• establishing a communications link between a client device and a provider of Enhanced Content identified in a value segment of at least one trigger, when a condition specified in a reference provided in the value segment is satisfied;
• and
• providing at least one segment of Enhanced Content to the client device upon establishing of the communications link between the client device and the provider of Enhanced Content;
• wherein the at least one segment of Enhanced Content provided is related to at least one frame of the Flash Movie provided with the EFM.

A process for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie provided in conjunction with a programming signal comprising:

• (a) receiving a combined signal, wherein the combined signal further comprises a programming signal and at least one address identifying a provider of an EFM related to the programming signal;
• (b) separating the at least one address from the combined signal;
• (c) providing the programming signal to a presentation device for presentation to at least one client;
• (d) providing the at least one address separated from the combined signal to a Web browser;
• (e) establishing a connection between the Web browser and a server identified by the at least one address;
• (f) receiving, from the server and at the Web browser, the EFM;
• wherein the EFM further comprises a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure further comprising a variable segment specifying a trigger and a value segment providing a reference for when to utilize an address provided in the value segment and the address identifying at least one provider of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie;
• (g) loading the EFM into the Web browser;
• (h) presenting, with the Web browser, the Flash Movie;
• (i) monitoring a frame count of the Flash Movie as it is presented;
• (j) determining when a triggered frame will occur in the Flash Movie;
• (k) implementing a trigger when a triggered frame occurs in the Flash Movie;
• (l) repeating steps (h) to (k) until at least one of the Flash Movie ends and the presentation of the Flash Movie is terminated.

A process for providing Enhanced Content related to a Flash Movie comprising:

• (a) establishing a connection between the Web browser and a device providing an EFM;
• (b) receiving from the device and at the Web browser, the EFM;
• wherein the EFM further comprises a Flash Movie, a Movie Player and at least one trigger, wherein the trigger further comprises a mean value pair data structure further comprising a variable segment specifying a trigger and a value segment further comprising a reference indicating when to utilize an address provided in the value segment, and the address providing at least one identification from where at least one segment of Enhanced Content related to the Flash Movie can be obtained by the Web browser;
• (c) loading the EFM into the Web browser;
• (d) presenting, with the Web browser, the Flash Movie;
• (e) monitoring a frame count of the Flash Movie as it is presented;
• (f) determining when a triggered frame will occur in the Flash Movie;
• (g) implementing a trigger when a triggered frame occurs in the Flash Movie;
• (h) repeating steps (d) to (g) until at least one of the Flash Movie ends and the presentation of the Flash Movie is terminated.