# US 8,707,347 B2 ยท Content item receiver module and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server โ€” see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,707,347 B2 - Document ID: US8707347B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/395,646 - Filed: 2010-09-03 - Published: 2013-01-10 - Granted: 2014-04-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-10 - Assignees: Miniweb Technologies Limited - Applicants: Patrick Michael Sansom; Ian James Valentine - Inventors: Patrick Michael Sansom; Ian James Valentine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8707347B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time} - G06F 16/735: Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles - G06F 16/7867: {using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title and artist information, manually generated time, location and usage information, user ratings} - H04L 65/1059: End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content - H04N 21/4725: using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots {(details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94)} - H04N 21/4828: {for searching programme descriptors (retrieval of video data G06F16/739)} - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - H04N 21/8586: {by using a URL (processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02)} - H04L 65/61: for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a content item receiver module and method. The content item receiver module is operative for a content item distribution system, configured to operate in a first and second mode: said first mode operative to drive a display apparatus to display a received content item; said second mode operative for a specified time window to drive said display apparatus to display a sequence of linked content items and to respond to user input to initiate transition from display of a currently displayed linked content item to display of another linked content item in said sequence of linked content items prior to an end of said currently displayed linked content item. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a content item receiver using a CPU and a software program, said method comprising: in a first mode driving a display apparatus to display a received content item; in a second mode driving for a specified time window said display apparatus to display a sequence of linked content items and responding to user input prior to an end of said currently displayed linked content item to initiate transition from display of a currently displayed linked content item to display of another linked content item in said sequence of linked content items, wherein each of said linked content items has a duration less than said specified time window and said sequence of linked content items has a duration greater than said specified time window; in said second mode initiating transition to another linked content item responsive to the combined duration of remaining linked content items in said sequence being less than the remaining duration of said specified time window; and in said second mode displaying a still image, and sponsored countdown timer, representative of said another linked content item for a remaining duration of said specified time window being equal to or less than a threshold time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said another linked content item is next to said currently display content item in said sequence. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said threshold time is that time for which the minimum amount of said another linked content item can be displayed for a viewer to understand the main idea of said another linked content item without watching the full amount. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein said sequence comprises a number of linked content items sufficient for a total duration of said sequence of linked content items to be greater than said specified time window. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein said number is sufficient for a time period in the range 1โ…“ to 4 times the specified time window to elapse. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein said number is between 3 and 19. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, further comprising in said second mode initiating transition to display a first of said sequence of linked content items from a display of a last of said sequence of linked content items ending prior to an end of said specified time window. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, further comprising in said second mode ceasing display of a currently displayed linked content item proximal an end of said specified time window. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, further comprising in said second mode truncating a currently displayed linked content item to finish display of said currently displayed linked content item coincident with a finish of said specified time window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, further comprising in said second mode continuing display of a currently displayed linked content item beyond an end of said specified time window and initiating recording of a received content item that would be displayed had said system returned to said first mode, and return to the start of said recording responsive to a finish of said currently displayed linked content item. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, further comprising in said second mode initiating said first mode proximal to said end of said specified time window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, further comprising interrupting said first mode with said second mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, further comprising responding to said user input comprising a signal from a user interface device representative of a command and initiating said transition from a display of a currently linked content item to display of another linked content item. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said user interface device comprises a keypad and said signal representative of said command to initiate said transition is activatable via user activation of a key on said keypad. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein said key is dedicated to activating said signal representative of said command to initiate said transition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, further comprising displaying in said second mode one or more viewer actuable interface elements actuable to initiate said transition from display of a currently displayed linked content item to display of another linked content item. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising superimposing said one or more viewer actuable interface elements over a display of a linked content item. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying said one or more viewer actuable interface elements in a partially transparent display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, further comprising recording details of a transition from a displayed linked content item to another linked content item. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, further comprising recording one or more of the following details concerning said transition: linked content item displayed when transition occurred; duration of display of linked content item prior to transition; viewer profile information; viewer identity; and/or number of transitions during specified time window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, further comprising storing one or more sequences of linked content items for a respective viewer profile. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method according to claim 21, wherein said one or more sequences of linked content items for a respective viewer profile comprise content items targeted for said respective viewer profile. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A method according to claim 22, further comprising storing one or more sequences for a plurality of respective viewer profiles. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method according to claim 23, further comprising in said second mode displaying a plurality of content item identifiers corresponding to said sequence of linked content items. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, further comprising in said second mode responding to a user generated prompt signal to initiate said display of said plurality of content item identifiers. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method according to claim 25, further comprising superimposing said plurality of content item identifiers over said display of said first linked content item. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26, further comprising responding to a prompt signal generated automatically responsive to initiation of said specified time window. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein respective said content item identifiers comprises an image representative of a corresponding one of said linked content items. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising responding to user selection of an image to initiate display of a corresponding linked content item. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A method according to claim 29, further comprising prompting a user to select an option to continue display of a linked content item beyond a finish of said specified time window. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, further comprising storing local to a content item receiver a plurality of content items and forming said sequence of linked content items from said plurality of content items in accordance with a sequence descriptor provided to said content item receiver module. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, further comprising determining if at least one linked content item of said sequence of linked content items has assigned thereto a protection tag and, if such a tag is assigned to said at least one linked content item, preventing user invoked transition to another linked content item during display of said at least one protected linked content item. ### Claim 33 A content item receiver module operative for a content item distribution system, configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode: said first mode operative to drive a display apparatus to display a received content item; said second mode operative for a specified time window to drive said display apparatus to display a sequence of linked content items and to respond to user input to initiate transition from display of a currently displayed linked content item to display of another linked content item in said sequence of linked content items prior to an end of said currently displayed linked content item, wherein each of said linked content items has a duration less than said specified time window and said sequence of linked content items has a duration greater than said specified time window; second mode further configured to initiate transition to another linked content item responsive to the combined duration of remaining linked content items in said sequence being less than the remaining duration of said specified time window; and further configured to display a still image, and sponsored countdown timer, representative of said another linked content item for a remaining duration of said specified time window being equal to or less than a threshold time. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A content item receiver module according to claim 33, wherein said another linked content item is next to said currently displayed content item in said sequence. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) A content item receiver module according to claim 33, wherein said threshold time is that time for which the minimum amount of said another linked content item can be displayed for a viewer to understand the main idea of said another linked content item without watching the full amount. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) A content item receiver module according to claim 34, wherein said sequence comprises a number of linked content items sufficient for a total duration of said sequence of linked content items to be greater than said specified time window. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A content item receiver module according to claim 36, wherein said number is sufficient for a time period in the range 1โ…“ to 4 times the specified time window to elapse. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A content item receiver module according to claim 36, wherein said number is between 3 and 19. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A content item receiver module according to claim 38, said second mode further configured to initiate transition to display a first of said sequence of linked content items for a display of a last of said sequence of linked content items ending prior to an end of said specified time window. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) A content item receiver module according to claim 35, further configured in said second mode to cease display of a currently displayed linked content item proximal an end of said specified time window. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) A content item receiver module according to claim 35, further configured in said second mode to truncate a currently displayed linked content item to finish display of said currently displayed linked content item coincident with a finish of said specified time window. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) A content item receiver module according to claim 35, further configured in said second mode to continue display of a currently displayed linked content item beyond an end of said specified time window and to initiate recording of a received content item that would be displayed had said system returned to said first mode, and return to the start of said recording responsive to a finish of said currently displayed linked content item. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) A content item receiver module according to claim 42, further configured in said second mode to initiate said first mode proximal to said end of said specified time window. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) A content item receiver module according to claim 43, further configured to interrupt said first mode with said second mode. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) A content item receiver module according to claim 44, further configured to respond to said user input comprising a signal from a user interface device representative of a command to initiate said transition from a display of a currently linked content item to display of another linked content item. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) A content item receiver module according to claim 45, wherein said user interface device comprises a keypad and said signal representative of said command to initiate said transition is activatable via user activation of a key on said keypad. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) A content item receiver module according to claim 46, wherein said key is dedicated to activating said signal representative of said command to initiate said transition. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) A content item receiver module according to claim 46, further configured to display in said second mode one or more viewer actuable interface elements actuable to initiate said transition from display of a currently displayed linked content item to display of another linked content item. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) A content item receiver module according to claim 48, further configured to superimpose said one or more viewer actuable interface elements over a display of a linked content item. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) A content item receiver module according to claim 49, further configured to display said one or more viewer actuable interface elements in a partially transparent display. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) A content item receiver module according to claim 50, further configured to record details of a transition from a displayed linked content item to another linked content item. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) A content item receiver module according to claim 51, further configured to record one or more of the following details concerning said transition: linked content item displayed when transition occurred; duration of display of linked content item prior to transition; viewer profile information; viewer identity; and/or number of transitions during specified time window. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) A content item receiver module according to claim 52, further configured to store one or more sequences of linked content items for a respective viewer profile. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) A content item receiver module according to claim 53, wherein said one or more sequences of linked content items for a respective viewer profile comprise content items targeted for said respective viewer profile. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) A content item receiver module according to claim 54, further configured to store one or more sequences for a plurality of respective viewer profiles. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) A content item receiver module according to claim 55, further configured in said second mode to display a plurality of content item identifiers corresponding to said sequence of linked content items. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) A content item receiver module according to claim 56, further configured in said second mode to be responsive to a user generated prompt signal to initiate said display of said plurality of content item identifiers. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) A content item receiver module according to claim 57, wherein said display of said plurality of content item identifiers is superimposed over said display of said first linked content item. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) A content item receiver module according to claim 58, further configured to be responsive to a prompt signal generated automatically responsive to initiation of said specified time window. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) A content item receiver module according to claim 59, wherein respective said content item identifiers comprises an image representative of a corresponding one of said linked content items. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) A content item receiver module according to claim 60, further configured to respond to user selection of an image to initiate display of a corresponding linked content item. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) A content item receiver module according to claim 61, further configured to prompt a user to select an option to continue display of a linked content item beyond a finish of said specified time window. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) A content item receiver module according to claim 62, configured to store local thereto a plurality of content items and to form said sequence of linked content items from said plurality of content items in accordance with a sequence descriptor provided to said content item receiver module. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) A content item receiver module according to claim 63, operative to determine if at least one linked content item of said sequence of linked content items has assigned thereto a protection tag and, if such a tag is assigned to said at least one linked content item, the content item receiver module is operative to prevent user invoked transition to another linked content item during display of said at least one protected linked content item.