MPEG objects and systems and methods for using MPEG objects

An MPEG object data structure on a computer readable storage medium for use with a computer in communication with a client device for providing interactive MPEG video to the client device, the MPEG object data structure comprising:

• an MPEG object interface defining data received by the MPEG object and data output by the MPEG object;
• a plurality of MPEG video elements wherein each element relates to a different MPEG object state;
• and
• a computer method for receiving input through the MPEG object interface from the client device indicative of an MPEG object state and in response outputting the MPEG video element related to the MPEG object state indicated in the input through the MPEG object interface.

An MPEG object data structure on a computer readable storage medium for use with a computer in communication with a client device for providing interactive MPEG video to the client device, the MPEG object data structure comprising:

• an MPEG object interface defining data received by the MPEG object and data output by the MPEG object;
• a computer method for receiving input through the MPEG object interface from the client device indicative of a request for streaming MPEG video content;
• a computer method for requesting the streaming MPEG video content from a source external to the computer;
• and
• a computer method for outputting the MPEG video content through the MPEG object interface.

A method for preparing MPEG video content for use in an interactive communications network, the method comprising:

• maintaining a current state of an MPEG object within a memory;
• receiving a request for a change in state of the MPEG object from a client device within the interactive communications network;
• accessing an MPEG element associated with the MPEG object and representative of the change in state;
• and
• stitching the MPEG element representative of the change in state into a data sequence representative of an MPEG frame based in part on the current state of the MPEG object.