Apparatus and method for continuous video advertising

Abstract

An advertising system is described. An advertising system includes a storage module to store video advertising content. The advertising system also includes a server coupled with the storage module. The server to deliver a continuous feed of video advertising content to an interactive device and to adapt the video advertising content responsive to input received from the interactive device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 on a server system including one or more processors and memory for storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors:   storing at least a first video clip including a plurality of video frames, wherein:
 at least one video frame of the first video clip is divided into a plurality of context regions, each respective context region of the at least one video frame corresponding to a different graphical area within the at least one video frame; and 
 at least one context region is associated with one or more selectable context tags; and 
   detecting, from a respective user, a selection of the at least one context region;   in response to detecting the selection of the at least one context region, causing the one or more selectable context tags associated with the at least one context region to be displayed on a display device associated with the respective user;   detecting, from the respective user, a selection of a particular context tag of the one or more selectable context tags;   in response to detecting the selection of the particular context tag, retrieving at least one additional video clip that is contextually relevant to the selected context tag; and   causing the at least one additional video clip to be delivered to said interactive device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more selectable context tags are each contextually relevant to video content to be displayed in a graphical area of the at least one video frame that corresponds to the graphical area to which the at least one context region corresponds. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the one or more selectable context tags to be displayed in a pop-up window of a graphical user interface on the display device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to retrieving the at least one additional video clip, retrieving a playlist including a plurality of additional video clips, the plurality of additional video clips including the at least one additional video clip. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein each video clip of the plurality of video clips is contextually relevant to the selected context tag. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising creating the playlist. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the selection of the at least one context region includes detecting a presence of a cursor in the at least one context region for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein detecting the selection of the at least one context region includes detecting the presence of the cursor in the at least one context region for at least one second. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 for a first user, the one or more selectable context tags include a first set of selectable context tags; and   for a second user different from the first user, the one or more selectable context tags include a second set of selectable context tags different from the first set of selectable context tags.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first set of selectable context tags is selected based on user preferences and/or usage history of the first user; and   the second set of selectable context tags is selected based on user preferences and/or usage history of the second user.   
     
     
         11 . A server computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs including instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server computer system to:
 store at least a first video clip including a plurality of video frames, wherein:
 at least one video frame of the first video clip is divided into a plurality of context regions, each respective context region of the at least one video frame corresponding to a different graphical area within the at least one video frame; and 
 at least one context region is associated with one or more selectable context tags; and 
 
 detect, from a respective user, a selection of the at least one context region; 
 in response to detecting the selection of the at least one context region, cause the one or more selectable context tags associated with the at least one context region to be displayed on a display device associated with the respective user; 
 detect, from the respective user, a selection of a particular context tag of the one or more selectable context tags; 
 in response to detecting the selection of the particular context tag, retrieve at least one additional video clip that is contextually relevant to the selected context tag; and 
 cause the at least one additional video clip to be delivered to said interactive device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The server computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more selectable context tags are each contextually relevant to video content to be displayed in a graphical area of the at least one video frame that corresponds to the graphical area to which the at least one context region corresponds. 
     
     
         13 . The server computer system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server computer system to cause the one or more selectable context tags to be displayed in a pop-up window of a graphical user interface on the display device. 
     
     
         14 . The server computer system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server computer system to, prior to retrieving the at least one additional video clip, retrieve a playlist including a plurality of additional video clips, the plurality of additional video clips including the at least one additional video clip. 
     
     
         15 . The server computer system of  claim 14 , wherein each video clip of the plurality of video clips is contextually relevant to the selected context tag. 
     
     
         16 . The server computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server computer system to create the playlist. 
     
     
         17 . The server computer system of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the selection of the at least one context region includes detecting a presence of a cursor in the at least one context region for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         18 . The server computer system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 for a first user, the one or more selectable context tags include a first set of selectable context tags; and   for a second user different from the first user, the one or more selectable context tags include a second set of selectable context tags different from the first set of selectable context tags.   
     
     
         19 . The server computer system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first set of selectable context tags is selected based on user preferences and/or usage history of the first user; and   the second set of selectable context tags is selected based on user preferences and/or usage history of the second user.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to:
 store at least a first video clip including a plurality of video frames, wherein:
 at least one video frame of the first video clip is divided into a plurality of context regions, each respective context region of the at least one video frame corresponding to a different graphical area within the at least one video frame; and 
 at least one context region is associated with one or more selectable context tags; and 
   detect, from a respective user, a selection of the at least one context region;   in response to detecting the selection of the at least one context region, cause the one or more selectable context tags associated with the at least one context region to be displayed on a display device associated with the respective user;   detect, from the respective user, a selection of a particular context tag of the one or more selectable context tags;   in response to detecting the selection of the particular context tag, retrieve at least one additional video clip that is contextually relevant to the selected context tag; and   cause the at least one additional video clip to be delivered to said interactive device.