Systems and methods for variable video production, distribution and presentation

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and machine readable medium for variable video production, distribution and presentation are disclosed. An example system to generate a variable video includes a data center storing a plurality of media assets and a composer communicatively coupled to the data center over a network. The composer is to identify a first order of a first subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a first variable video for a first viewer. The example system also includes a player communicatively coupled to the composer and the data center over the network. The player is to receive the first order, download the first subset of media assets, and present the first variable video.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to generate a variable video, the system comprising:
 a data center storing a plurality of media assets;   a composer communicatively coupled to the data center over a network, the composer to identify a first order of a first subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a first variable video for a first viewer; and   a player communicatively coupled to the composer and the data center over the network, the player to receive the first order, to download the first subset of media assets and to present the first variable video.   
     
     
         2 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the player is to download the first subset on demand. 
     
     
         3 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the player is to begin to present the first variable video before a portion of the first subset is downloaded. 
     
     
         4 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the composer is to identify a second order of a second subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a second variable video for a second viewer and the player is to receive the second order, to download the second subset of media assets and to present the second variable video. 
     
     
         5 . A system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the composer is to change at least one of the assets to dynamically modify the first variable video. 
     
     
         6 . A system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the composer is to change at least one of the assets after the player has begun to download the first subset. 
     
     
         7 . A system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the composer is to identify a change in the first subset based on a characteristic of an intended viewer. 
     
     
         8 . A system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the change in the first subset is determined prior to a download by the player. 
     
     
         9 . A system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the composer is to package the first order and the identified change into a file for receipt by the first viewer and a second viewer, and the change causes the first viewer to receive a first variable video and the second viewer to receive a second variable video, different from the first variable video, based on the same file. 
     
     
         10 . A system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the first variable video and the second variable video contain one or more different assets and the first variable video and the second variable video are of the same duration. 
     
     
         11 . A method to generate a variable video, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of media assets at a first location on a network;   identifying, at a second location on the network, a first order of a first subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a first variable video for a first viewer;   receiving, at a third location on the network, the first order;   downloading the first subset of media assets; and   presenting the first variable video.   
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the downloading comprises downloading the first subset on demand. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , the presenting begins prior to the downloading of a portion of the first subset. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising:
 identifying, at the second location, a second order of a second subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a second variable video for a second viewer; 
 receiving, at the third location, the second order; 
 downloading the second subset of media assets; and 
 presenting the second variable video. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising changing at least one of the assets to dynamically modify the first variable video. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the changing occurs after the downloading of the first subset has begun. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 15  further comprising identifying a change in the first subset based on a characteristic of an intended viewer. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 17  further comprising determining the change in the first subset prior to the downloading. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 17  further comprising:
 packaging the first order and the identified change into a file for receipt by the first viewer and a second viewer; and 
 using the change to cause the first viewer to receive a first variable video and the second viewer to receive a second variable video, different from the first variable video, based on the same file. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the first variable video and the second variable video contain one or more different assets and the first variable video and the second variable video are of the same duration. 
     
     
         21 . A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed cause a machine to at least:
 store a plurality of media assets at a first location on a network;   identify, at a second location on the network, a first order of a first subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a first variable video for a first viewer;   receive, at a third location on the network, the first order;   download the first subset of media assets; and   present the first variable video.   
     
     
         22 . A medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a machine is to download the first subset on demand. 
     
     
         23 . A medium as defined in  claim 21 , a machine is to present prior to the downloading of a portion of the first subset. 
     
     
         24 . A medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a machine is further caused to:
 identify, at the second location, a second order of a second subset of the plurality of media assets for inclusion into a second variable video for a second viewer;   receive, at the third location, the second order;   download the second subset of media assets; and   present the second variable video.   
     
     
         25 . A medium as defined in  claim 21  further causing a machine to change at least one of the assets to dynamically modify the first variable video. 
     
     
         26 . A medium as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the changing occurs after the downloading of the first subset has begun. 
     
     
         27 . A medium as defined in  claim 25  further causing a machine to identify a change in the first subset based on a characteristic of an intended viewer. 
     
     
         28 . A medium as defined in  claim 27  further causing the machine to determine the change in the first subset prior to the downloading. 
     
     
         29 . A medium as defined in  claim 27  further causing a machine to:
 package the first order and the identified change into a file for receipt by the first viewer and a second viewer; and 
 use the change to cause the first viewer to receive a first variable video and the second viewer to receive a second variable video, different from the first variable video, based on the same file. 
 
     
     
         30 . A medium as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the first variable video and the second variable video contain one or more different assets and the first variable video and the second variable video are of the same duration. 
     
     
         31 - 123 . (canceled)