Method and apparatus for presenting content

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing content to a user. The method includes using sensor data from multiple sensors associated with the user to determine a trigger event, determining content associated with the trigger event, and causing the content to be presented to the user. A trigger rule is created which defines the trigger event, representing when content is to be presented. A number of different types of event criteria may be defined such as position event criteria, movement event criteria, timing or duration criteria, time and/or date criteria, heart rate criteria, or the like, allowing each of the event criteria to be associated with a respective type of sensor. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging for providing content to a user.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for providing content to a user, the apparatus including a processing system for:
 a) using sensor data from multiple sensors associated with the user to determine a trigger event;   b) determining content associated with the trigger event; and,   c) causing the content to be presented to the user.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the multiple sensors are selected from the group of:
 a) a position sensor for determining position information indicative of a position of the user;   b) a temperature sensor for determining temperature information indicative of an environment temperature;   c) a timer to provide timing information indicative of a time;   d) a clock to provide at least one of time and date information indicative of a time;   e) a heart rate sensor for determining heart rate information indicative of a heart rate of the user; and,   f) a movement sensor for determining movement information indicative of movement of the user.   
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processing system forms part of at least one of:
 a) a presentation device for presenting content; or,   b) an end station for at least one of:
 i) providing content to a presentation device for presentation; or, 
 ii) communicating with a computer system to obtain content for presentation. 
   
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processing system includes:
 a) a store for storing at least one of:
 i) content to be presented; or, 
 ii) at least one trigger rule indicative of a trigger event; and, 
   b) a processor for:
 i) comparing sensor data received from sensors to the at least one trigger rule to determine a trigger event; and, 
 ii) selectively causing content to be presented to the user in response to a trigger event. 
   
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processing system forms part of a presentation device, and wherein the presentation device further includes at least one of:
 a) a display for displaying content; or,   b) an audio system for presenting audio content.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of providing content to a user, the method including, in a computer system:
 a) receiving, from a processing system, a request for content; and,   b) providing content to the processing system in response to the request to thereby allow the processing system to:
 i) use sensor data from multiple sensors associated with the user to determine a trigger event; 
 ii) determine content associated with the trigger event; and, 
 iii) cause the content to be presented to the user. 
   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the method includes, in the computer system:
 a) providing at least one trigger rule associated with a content thread to the processing system, the content thread including at least one trigger rule and at least one content instance, the processing system being for:
 i) storing the at least one trigger rule in a store; 
 ii) comparing sensor data to the at least one trigger rule to determine a trigger event; and, 
 iii) selectively requesting at least one content instance from the computer system in response to determination of a trigger event; and, 
   b) providing the requested content instance to the processing system to allowing the content instance to be presented to the user.   
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of providing content to a user, the method including, in a system:
 a) causing a trigger rule to be defined representing a trigger event, the trigger rule representing conditions that must be met by data from each of multiple sensors for a trigger event to occur; and,   b) causing an association between content and the trigger rule to be created, such that the content can be presented when a trigger event occurs.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method includes, in the system:
 a) defining metadata representing the trigger rule; and,   b) associating the metadata with respective content to form a content thread.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method includes, in the system creating event criteria for each trigger rule, the event criteria defining conditions representing the trigger event. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the event criteria define a sequence of events. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein each type of sensor is associated with a respective type of event criteria. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method includes, in the system, defining at least one of:
 a) position event criteria defining conditions associated with a position of the user;   b) temperature event criteria defining conditions associated with an environment temperature;   c) time event criteria defining conditions associated with a time;   d) date event criteria defining conditions associated with a date;   e) duration event criteria defining conditions associated with a duration;   f) heart rate event criteria defining conditions associated with a heart rate of the user; or,   g) movement event criteria defining conditions associated with movement of the user.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method includes, in the system:
 a) determining a gross value associated with the content; and,   b) causing the content and the associated trigger rule to be provided in response to payment, at least partially in accordance with the gross value.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method includes, in the system:
 a) determining at least one of a visibility setting and a publish date associated with the content; and,   b) causing the content to be made available in accordance with at least one of the visibility setting and the publish date.   
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the system includes a computer system and a processing system that communicate to allow at least one of:
 a) trigger rules to be defined;   b) content threads to be created;   c) packages of content threads to be created; or,   d) content to be obtained for presentation.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the method includes, in a processing system:
 a) determining an indication of a trigger rule and associated content at least partially in accordance with user input commands; and,   b) transferring the indication to the computer system.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the method includes, in the computer system:
 a) receiving an indication of at least one trigger rule and at least one associated content instance from the processing system; and,   b) creating a thread representing an association between the at least one content instance and the at least one trigger rule.   
     
     
         43 - 66 . (canceled)