System and method for enabling interaction with an electronic device

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for enabling advertisement interaction with an electronic device, for use in a digital media content environment. A media device includes a touch-sensitive display screen, and user interface that enables access to a stored media application. During the streaming of media content from a media server, an audio advertisement or other type of advertisement can be inserted into a stream, for playback at the media device. Using playback controls provided either by the user interface, or by a headphones, headset, or other type of device, a user can interact with the advertisement (even if the user interface is locked), by performing a defined gesture, which, if received at the media application during a defined time period associated with the advertisement, is interpreted as a signal to select or otherwise interact with the advertisement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for enabling interaction with an electronic device, for use in a digital media content environment, comprising:
 a media device having a processor and a stored media application adapted to play a stream of media content received at the media device, wherein the media device operates in communication with a media server to control playback of the stream of media content received at the media device;   wherein the media application is configured to:
 associate media interactions by a user that are received at the media device with defined gestures, 
   wherein each defined gesture is associated with a time threshold within which a media interaction by the user must be received in order for the defined gesture to be recognized;   wherein during streaming of the media content from a media server, the media application receives an indication of a media interaction by the user at the media device; and   wherein if the received media interaction by the user is determined to be a defined gesture as indicated by:
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction within the time threshold associated with the defined gesture, and 
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction during a defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, 
 then the receipt of the media interaction is interpreted as a signal indicative of selection or interaction with the media content; 
   otherwise a regular functionality associated with the media interaction is performed.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media interaction comprises a voice control input that is received at the media device to control the playback of the stream of media content that is streamed by the media server and received at the media device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the media content comprises at least one of an advertisement or sponsored content, and wherein the received media interaction by the user that is determined to be a defined gesture and is received during the defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, is interpreted as a signal indicative of a selection or interaction with the advertisement or sponsored content. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the defined time period is a period of time during which the media content is being played at the media device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the defined gesture comprises a media interaction to control media playback using playback controls at a user interface of the media device, or at a headphones, headset, or other type of device in communication with the media device, and passed to the media application, for use in determining whether the defined gesture is received during the defined time period associated with the media content. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface can be locked, and wherein the defined gesture, performed using the playback controls at the user interface, headphones, headset, or other type of device, can be communicated to the media application while the user interface is locked. 
     
     
         7 . A method of enabling interaction with an electronic device, for use in a digital media content environment, comprising:
 providing, at a media device having a processor, a stored media application adapted to play a stream of media content received at the media device, wherein the media device operates in communication with a media server to control playback of the stream of media content received at the media device;
 wherein the media application is configured to: 
 associate media interactions by a user that are received at the media device with defined gestures, 
 wherein each defined gesture is associated with a time threshold within which a media interaction by the user must be received in order for the defined gesture to be recognized; 
   wherein during streaming of the media content from a media server, the media application receives an indication of a media interaction by the user at the media device; and   wherein if the received media interaction by the user is determined to be a defined gesture as indicated by:
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction within the time threshold associated with the defined gesture, and 
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction during a defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, 
 then the receipt of the media interaction is interpreted as a signal indicative of selection or interaction with the media content; 
   otherwise a regular functionality associated with the media interaction is performed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the media interaction comprises a voice control input that is received at the media device to control the playback of the stream of media content that is streamed by the media server and received at the media device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media content comprises at least one of an advertisement or sponsored content, and wherein the received media interaction by the user that is determined to be a defined gesture and is received during the defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, is interpreted as a signal indicative of a selection or interaction with the advertisement or sponsored content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the defined time period is a period of time during which the media content is being played at the media device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the defined gesture comprises a media interaction to control media playback using playback controls at a user interface of the media device, or at a headphones, headset, or other type of device in communication with the media device, and passed to the media application, for use in determining whether the defined gesture is received during the defined time period associated with the media content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface can be locked, and wherein the defined gesture, performed using the playback controls at the user interface, headphones, headset, or other type of device, can be communicated to the media application while the user interface is locked. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by a computers cause the a computers to perform the steps comprising:
 providing, at a media device having a processor, a stored media application adapted to play a stream of media content received at the media device, wherein the media device operates in communication with a media server to control playback of the stream of media content received at the media device;
 wherein the media application is configured to: 
 associate media interactions by a user that are received at the media device with defined gestures, 
 wherein each defined gesture is associated with a time threshold within which a media interaction by the user must be received in order for the defined gesture to be recognized; 
   wherein during streaming of the media content from a media server, the media application receives an indication of a media interaction by the user at the media device; and   wherein if the received media interaction by the user is determined to be a defined gesture as indicated by:
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction within the time threshold associated with the defined gesture, and 
 receipt, at the media device, of the media interaction during a defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, 
 then the receipt of the media interaction is interpreted as a signal indicative of selection or interaction with the media content; 
   otherwise a regular functionality associated with the media interaction is performed.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the media interaction comprises a voice control input that is received at the media device to control the playback of the stream of media content that is streamed by the media server and received at the media device. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the media content comprises at least one of an advertisement or sponsored content, and wherein the received media interaction by the user that is determined to be a defined gesture and is received during the defined time period associated with the media content being streamed, is interpreted as a signal indicative of a selection or interaction with the advertisement or sponsored content. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the defined time period is a period of time during which the media content is being played at the media device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the defined gesture comprises a media interaction to control media playback using playback controls at a user interface of the media device, or at a headphones, headset, or other type of device in communication with the media device, and passed to the media application, for use in determining whether the defined gesture is received during the defined time period associated with the media content. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface can be locked, and wherein the defined gesture, performed using the playback controls at the user interface, headphones, headset, or other type of device, can be communicated to the media application while the user interface is locked.