Method and apparatus for seamless expansion of media

A method of capturing references to a continuous play media stream segment store comprising

• capturing a collection of at least three segment descriptors wherein each of said segment descriptors comprises a first terminus referencing a first time point of a continuous play media stream segment contained in said continuous play media stream segment store;
• a second terminus referencing a second time point of said continuous play media stream segment contained in said continuous play media stream segment store;
• a continuity link representing one of a collection comprising an indicator of another of said segment descriptors and an indicator to a non-segment;
• capturing a collection of at least one expansion link elements wherein each of said expansion link elements comprising a expansion segment indicator, an expansion cue indicator and an indicator of one of a collection of an indicator of another of said expansion link elements and an indicator of a non-expansion link element;
• playing said at least one of said media stream segments;
• displaying to a user a visual cue corresponding to an expansion link element during playing of said at least one of said media stream segments;
• determining whether said visual cue is selected by the user for determining whether a content expansion is desired;
• and
• playing said expansion segment of stored content if said content expansion is desired;
• wherein each of said segment descriptors further comprises one of said indicators of one of said expansion link element;
• linking to said expansion segment prior to playing said expansion segment of stored content if said content expansion is desired and to a continuing segment of stored content and playing said continuing segment of stored content if said content expansion is not desired, where there is an additional link from said expansion segment of stored content to said continuing segment of stored content such that said continuing segment of stored content is played after said expansion segment of stored content has been played;
• wherein at least one of said continuing segments contains a landing sub-segment having a first landing sub-segment terminus and a second landing sub-segment terminus and wherein said linking of said expansion segment to said continuing segment and playing said continuing segment can proceed from a starting point of said landing sub-segment after playing said expansion segment;
• wherein said first landing sub-segment terminus of said continuing segment substantially coincides with said first terminus of said continuing sub-segment;
• wherein said starting point of said continuing segment after playing said expanding segment substantially coincides with said first landing sub-segment terminus of said continuing segment;
• wherein said starting point of said continuing segment after playing said expanding segment substantially coincides with said second landing sub-segment terminus of said continuing segment;
• wherein at least one of said expansion segments contains a contraction zone significantly preceding said second terminus;
• further comprising determining within playing said expansion segment containing said contraction zone prior to reaching said contraction zone whether a premature contraction is desired;
• and wherein playing said continuing segment follows playing said contraction zone if said premature contraction is desired;
• further comprising determining whether to play said content expansion after playing said contraction zone;
• wherein said visual cue at least occasionally moves with respect to a view display displaying the content;
• wherein said visual cue is capable of being selected by motions of a selector device without necessitating pushing a button;
• said motions including at least one of a motion in a first direction with a sharp change to a second direction essentially opposing to the first direction, a zig-zag motion, and a motion in the first direction with a sharp change to the second direction essentially opposing to the first direction where the first and second directions are essentially opposite of the corresponding directions of the motion, an essentially oval motion, and an essentially circular motion;
• wherein playing said at least one segment further comprises playing at least one visually discernible entity;
• and wherein displaying said visual cue comprises highlighting associated with one of said discernible entities;
• wherein determining whether said visual cue highlighted by said associated discernible entity is selected further comprises determining whether said associated discernible entity is selected;
• wherein linking to said expansion segment and playing said expansion segment further comprises playing a transition from said highlighting said associated discernible entity to playing said expansion segment;
• wherein linking to said segment further comprises requesting said segment;
• wherein said providing said plurality of said segments further comprises transmitting said requested segment to a segment player;
• and wherein playing said segment further comprises playing said requested and transmitted segment on said segment player;
• wherein each of said segments is associated with a link corresponding to said continuing segment;
• wherein linking a segment further comprises reading a link segment association table;
• and wherein providing said associating of one of said segments to one of said links and said corresponding one of said segments further comprises reading said link segment association table;
• wherein capturing said collection of said expansion link elements further comprises storing said expansion link elements in non-volatile memory.