Presenting media content to a plurality of remote viewing devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing and provisioning media content for display on a viewer device are provided. An example method may comprise accessing an advertisement database to obtain a plurality of advertisement media components The advertisement media components may be provided by an advertisement provider that pays to have the advertisement media components accessible. An entertainment database may be accessed to obtain a plurality of entertainment media components, the plurality of entertainment media components being provided by an entertainment provider that receives payment to make the entertainment media components accessible. Thereafter, the entertainment media components may be interspersed between the advertisement media components to provide viewer media content. An award associated with the viewer media content may be selectively allocated and the media content is communicated to at least one viewer device for viewing. A notification may be sent to the viewer device when the award has been awarded.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 interspersing a plurality of entertainment media components between a plurality of advertisement media components to provide viewer media content;   causing the viewer media content to be displayed to a first viewer for viewing;   causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be presented to the first viewer to display a plurality friends in a social network of the first viewer;   receiving a friend selection, by the first viewer, that identifies a selected friend of the plurality of friends, the selected friend corresponding to a second viewer;   monitoring selection of at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component by the first viewer using the GUI;   sharing the at least one advertisement media component or the at least one entertainment media component selected by the first viewer with the second viewer; and   in response to the second viewer viewing the selected at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component, apportioning an award between the first viewer and the second viewer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising configuring the GUI for display on a mobile device, the GUI displaying both the plurality of friends and the media content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 presenting a plurality of entertainment categories to the first viewer in the GUI; and   receiving a selection by the first viewer of a selected entertainment category from the plurality of entertainment categories, wherein the plurality of entertainment media components correspond to the selected entertainment category.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 monitoring interaction between the first viewer or the second viewer and an advertisement media component; and   causing information on the advertisement media component to be displayed in the event of the first viewer interacting or the second viewer interacting with the advertisement media component.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a media provider of the entertainment media components and an advertisement provider of the advertisement media components are independent of the first and second viewers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of entertainment media components comprise video works or a sequence of static images. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the award is a sweepstake entry. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the GUI provides an option for the first viewer or the second viewer to a designate a charity to receive the at least a portion of the award. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the award is generated randomly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising providing control objects in the GUI to allow the first viewer or the second viewer to skip one or more of the advertisement media components or entertainment media components. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising:
 determining a view count identifying a number of times that a particular entertainment media component is viewed; and   determining the award based on the view count.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the GUI includes a search field, the method comprising:
 receiving search criteria entered via the GUI;   searching the entertainment media database to identify entertainment media components associated with the search criteria; and   interspersing the associated entertainment media components between the advertisement media components.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 obtaining information indicating one or more demographics of the first viewer; and   selecting at least some of the advertisement media components or entertainment media components based on the one or more demographics.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving a viewer rating from the first viewer or the second viewer that is associated with the at least one entertainment media component. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 memory to store instructions; and   at least one processor to execute instructions to perform operations comprising:
 interspersing a plurality of entertainment media components between a plurality of advertisement media components to provide viewer media content; 
 causing the viewer media content to be displayed to a first viewer for viewing; 
 causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be presented to the first viewer to display a plurality friends in a social network of the first viewer; 
 receiving a friend selection, by the first viewer, that identifies a selected friend of the plurality of friends, the selected friend corresponding to a second viewer; 
 monitoring selection of at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component by the first viewer using the GUI; 
 sharing the at least one advertisement media component or the at least one entertainment media component selected by the first viewer with the second viewer; and 
 in response to the second viewer viewing the selected at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component, apportioning an award between the first viewer and the second viewer. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the GUI is configured for display on a mobile device, the GUI being configured to display both the plurality of friends and the media content. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a plurality of entertainment categories is presented to the first viewer in the GUI; and   a selection by the first viewer of a selected entertainment category from the plurality of entertainment categories is received, and wherein the plurality of entertainment media objects correspond to the selected entertainment category.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 interaction between the first viewer or the second viewer and an advertisement media component is monitored; and   information on the advertisement media component is provided in the event of the first viewer interacting or the second viewer interacting with the advertisement media component.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 an advertisement database is accessed to obtain a plurality of advertisement media components; and   an entertainment database is accessed to obtain a plurality of entertainment media components.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
 interspersing a plurality of entertainment media components between a plurality of advertisement media components to provide viewer media content;   causing the viewer media content to be displayed to a first viewer for viewing;   causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be presented to the first viewer to display a plurality friends in a social network of the first viewer;   receiving a friend selection, by the first viewer, that identifies a selected friend of the plurality of friends, the selected friend corresponding to a second viewer;   monitoring selection of at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component by the first viewer using the GUI;   sharing the at least one advertisement media component or the at least one entertainment media component selected by the first viewer with the second viewer; and   in response to the second viewer viewing the selected at least one advertisement media component or at least one entertainment media component, apportioning an award between the first viewer and the second viewer.