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    Us 8246454

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    2) United States Patent Zalewski oy SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING TELEVISION COMMERCIALS INTO INTERACTIVE, NETWORKED VIDEO GAMES (73) Inventor: Gary M. Zalewski, Oakland, CA (US) (93) Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Ameriea LLC, Foster City, CA (US) (4) Notice: Suibjectto any disclaimer, the term of this pateat is extended of adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 232 days. (21) Appl. Nos 121604887 (22) Filed: et. 23, 2009 (65) Prior Publication Data S 201010273583 A1 Oct. 28, 2010 Related US. Application Data (60) Provisional application No, 61/183,339, filed on Jun. 2.2088. oy (2006.01) (2) 46331 8) ation Search 463/29-33, 463/42; 705/14; 725/42 ‘See application file for complete search history (66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS sous B2* 122010 Colleen, 202062481 AL |.2002 Slaney ea aoovoost0se Al* Reisman doowo14k221_ Al cho 20060139100 Al aman sa: 2007 0043616 At DOROODTISE AL 20p8O201736 Al Kargi et a Bhat ta Gonlon el ‘USO08246454B2 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: US 8,246,454 B2 Aug. 21, 2012 20090320512 AL aonoonzeast AL 122008. Knight res 1/2009 Vanhoucke a a 20000089838 AL 42009 Pino eal va Sovooyp0028 AL 4200) Vasile ten aniuori9sig AL* ‘52011 Reman asin FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS wo Wonsin7728 122003 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Intemational Preliminary Reporton Patentability and Weiten Opin fon fr PCT/US2010133291, mai on De. 15,2011 Intrational Pretminary Report on Patentability and Writen Opin ion for PCTUS2O10U32485 mailed om De. 18,2011 Non-Final Oce Action for US, Appl. No. 1237,606 mailed on Nov 7.2011 * cited by examiner Ronald Laneaw Martine Penilla Group, LLP Primary Examiner (4) Attorney Agent, or Firm on ABSTRACT Methods, systems, and computer programs for converting television commercials into iterative network video games fare presented. In one method, «broadcast or stresmes! com ‘mercial is accompanied by an interactive segment. A media player coupled to the bmadeast or streaming media source ‘enlifes the existeace ofthe interactive segment snd pre- sents the user with an enhanced and interactive mini-game jommereal that can be played with other “viewers” in a ‘common ordisperse demographic. Mulkiple methods forcon- tent delivery are provided, incinding a model where television ‘commercials inserted within consecutive frames ofthe tele- Vision program, and a model wher Inid on frames ofthe television program allowing the user play the game while the lelevision program is displayed. laa preferred embodiment, the tennination of the interactive ‘mini-game commerea is set within fixed time period com: ‘measurate With traditional spot television alvertising. 82 Claims, 20 Drawing U.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2012 Sheet 1 of 20 US 8,246,454 B2 5 114d ESPN (~~ 102 y—~ 102 102 YF 102 ~J” MySpace US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 2 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent 2 Bly SJOMON eWOHY Jeieuuios angoesaqut Janiag Jelseuwog -engoesaqu « Jesanpy NdS3 O8N xo IN | yooqases t ‘eaedghy ‘eqnino,, /| wioo'98N ‘woo'gg fo) 202 zr US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 3 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent ¢ Bly zee ore SOEPeIU! OMION: ace ze vee ze. Oz, ino, ainpoy, soepoi zo1at09 12pe0) Sunes BWWOD wed BePeIaW }HBWWOD Jeuewwog o T I seBeuey seBeuey seBeuey) seBeuey, auved eiepeien jetorauuiog 1950 Sle SLE vie Ze ap eyepeiey ga ag sauyed eipaWN jeporauwog ay ore 0c 90¢ vor 206 Jenies US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 4 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent SINPOW Buneg v 64 yewouuiog | a Aranijaq |elosawwog aoepaiut uwipy ‘SpueuIBOS queweBeuen, uoy9109, ‘Aeyono ‘Buiwy ‘weans ut uaWede|d "yueyU0D) zw oy ¥ wed | ainpayog | —— Jainpauog vhy 4 4 eIePeION Zov — jeoeww09 | eyepeiey eIpeW sor jeprewwieg oy all a ‘yor (-"'s6e} jeroreuni09 ‘synsa1 web ‘Sunon) synsay (‘wuoperd /uaquos ‘eounos 'sesn) ysenbai py we ave US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 5 of 20 Aug. 21,2012 U.S, Patent ¢ “614 HOMION, ozs TebeueW soepaIul ‘fenag Tana WweED wasn ansey gis zs 809 49peo7 ~ 928 | wauo9 co veura |_| scbeven teu ‘Aejdsig ‘Aejdsiq ‘Keg earl leet ors vs 1 os seBeueyy 90s quewod 4 p06 | yesveuti09 20S qwalld US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 6 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent 9 “big sunBuag $ 799 —> sweug, sy qed 4 099 v99 959 Cc. ee se9) anup oy smoue asp 3¥OOs ~~ 9s9 US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 7 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent 261g aL Psuaars s syawHs| aL J8N8g jefrewwog ‘aagoesaIU 1 sy zsiNwi9) Geil au00s Lad a Nos] | 42594 ¢ Jap|noig Ua}UoQ Vv. U.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2012 Sheet 8 of 20 MAKEITYOUR WAY \ \ \ \\ \ WSs XS nami NANA Wi TR SSS \ US 8,246,454 B2 US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 9 of 20 Aug. 21,2012 U.S, Patent 6 “bis Q | 8 SY Osh \ 4 NX (sarwnocon 9081 ‘a 4 FMOWaHNOD ON OL SOTYNOGON, AVS 7828) wa 02a eo ash \ 219) = ¢ Wer aN zaet ret wis) ws) U.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2012 Sheet 10 of 20 US 8,246,454 B2 1016 Targets Fig. 10 é CSS US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 11 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent zou S by Bid ¢ “punouByoeq ‘si9}2e1ey9 ‘Ayneu6 ‘uoyedd} 21g) eNepEOW US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 12 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent zy 614 i P10 INOK 40} NOK yueyL Le] Wo ‘ajeakuung 4s Addey 00zt 0} Auanjop Joy eseyoind wiyuod ulus eor SeINUIM OF UI ANanljap peejuETENd lepads 66'6s ‘ng US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 13 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent e164 3 Baw uly ang aor. Bey _uety # eng aor oc N es ae ; W Y eos ool"|o8soe@ 6eN ely = ang aor Sew uely = ang aor viet (00:00) SLINSSYONILOA | 88 | (Go:00) IMON 3LOA ze [—” BOW _uely ang aor oN uely ang or wa et Ay) or +7 ze] _ BoW uely eng or mer] BIW BY ang or vith _(Gi00 IMON LOA | 2p¢~] C0800) iMON 3LOA US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 14 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent vb Bis = LY \ io Quonoy Jo eoueWOY anow vay asy US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 15 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent ais $1 614 6 08 8 Wz ewes, SL. Le 6 sz yweaL 01095 zs US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 16 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent 9p 614 a 1g W ‘8 9 v plo sie9K ge ojeus i Plo sieeh 9 ajeway Et 3 > seBeueyy wuejuog sounog oa *3 jeriauwog) eIpaw US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 17 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent \ #1 woss300us 1730 US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 18 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent 8b “Bid U.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2012 Sheet 19 of 20 US 8,246,454 B2 USERA SOENED 1g0 ‘iF USERB 108 SERVER PROCESSING. APPLICATIONS INUSE USERSESSION || f : ae {SERVER APPA | SHARING! Y SERVER APPB | communcarion |] 3. [__Locie |} SeRVERAPP x1 USER : GEOLOCATION TOAD BALANCE PROCESSING + SERVICE SERVERAPP X | NETWORK, PROCESSING DISTRIBUTED STORAGE US 8,246,454 B2 Sheet 20 of 20 Aug. 21, 2012 U.S, Patent > “Bly s9pinoig So1As9§ UONEUAOSTT feidsig | 0 | we. 4 osz 9 a {] sepnoig = 092 «92 . z FA pW 882, Ae\dsiq | 0 a d on |? TEpIAOId eBueyox3, Fy Bussso01g [1 gz eed seopeog feydsig | 0 d fees on 1? Busseooig LL oz | sued | | es ~U fejdsig | 0 | a] Benes d }- zsz (ori ae | os JEPIADY SOWMAG UOHEUO}U| US 8,246,454 B2 1 SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING TELEVISION ‘COMMERCIALS INTO INTERACTIVE NETWORKED VIDEO GAMES CLAIM OF PRIORITY ‘This application claims priosty from U.S. Provisional Pateat Application No, 61/183,539, filed Jun, 2, 2009, and centied "ADDITION OP SUPPLEMENTAL MULTIME= DIA CONTENT AND INTERACTIVE CAPABILITY AT ‘THE CLIENT" and US. patent application Ser. No. 12/837, 606, filed. Aug. 7, 2009, and entitled “ADDITION OF SUPPLEMENTAL MULTIMEDIA CONTENT AND INTERACTIVE CAPABILITY AT THE CLIENT" which ‘are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND 1, Field of the Invention, ‘The present invention relates to methods, systems and ‘computer programs for ading content to streamed met and more particularly, methods, systems and computer pro- rams for embedding advertising within television program- sng. 2, Description ofthe Related Art ‘The video game industry has sea many changes over the ‘years, As computing power has expanded, developers of Video pames have likewise created game software that takes advantage of these inereases in computing power. Tothisend, video gsme developers have been coding games that incor Porate sophisticated operations and mathomaticso produce a very realistic game experience ‘Example gaming platlorms, may be the Sony Playsta- tion, Sony Playstation? ® (PS2), and Sony Playstation’ (PS3) cach of whichis sold inthe form ofa game console. As 's well known, the game console is designed to eonnect to a monitor (usually a television) and enable user interaction though handheld controllers. The game console is designed with specialized processing hardware, including « CPU, & raphics synthesizer for processing intensive praphics opera- tions, vector unit for performing geometry transformations, ‘and oiber glue hardware, firmware, and software. Online ‘gaming is also possible, where a user ean interactively play ‘aztinst or with other users over the Interne. ‘Today's game console is not used jst to play games, but are used as a computing device that can access the Internet (0 search for content, browse for multimedia dowaloads, shop ‘online music, videos or movies, participate in multiplayer ames, enter virtual words et. Thus, community of user is ‘accessing online media, and ths community of users has powerful computing devices and versatile interfaces. Hom ‘ver, users are actively engaged while playing a game but bhocome passive watchers while viewing downloaded medi Additionally, these powerful computing devies and versatile Interfaces are used by a well known community of users ‘enabling new opportunities to improve the viewing of Streamed media isin this conten that embodiments ofthe invention arse SUMMARY Embodiments ofthe present invention provide methods, systems, and computer programs for converting television ‘commercials into interscive network video games. In one ‘method, a broadest or streamed commercial i accompanied by an interactive segment. A media player coupled to the broadcast or streaming media source identifies the existence 0 o 2 of the interactive sepment and presents the user with an ‘ahanced and interactive mini-game commercial tht cam be played with othe “viewers” ina common or disperse demo- sraphic. Multiple methods for content delivery are provided, Sncluding a model where television commercial is inserted within consecutive fiames ofthe television program, and a ‘model where the commercial is overlaid on frames of the television program allowing the use ta play the game while te television program is displayed. In a preferred embod ‘meal, the termination ofthe interactive mini-game commer- cial is set within a fixed time period commensurate with {nalitonal spot television advertising Tt should he appreciatd that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, such asa process, an appa- rats, a system, a device ora method on a computer readable vediunn. Several inventive embodiments ofthe present iven= tion are described below: In one embodiment, a method includes an operation to ‘obtain. television program that lacks interactive capabilities. Purlier, dae method obtsis television commercial, which includes an interactive network video game. Additionally, instractons for adding the television commercial tothe tele- vision program are obtained. The instnictions are wsed to ‘combine the television program with the television commer- cial resulting in an interactive segment which responds to player input. The resulting interactive seament is displayed 10 ‘user fo enable the user to play the interactive network video ‘game, The television commercial ean be inserted within eon- Ssecttive frames of the television program, or ean be overlaid ‘on frames ofthe television program, allowing the user play the game while the television program is displayed, Tn another embodiment, a method includes an operation to ‘obtain a media segment that lacks interactive capabilities and is defined for presentation at display. Further, the method blaine an interictive package containing interactivity instructions for adding interactive funetions wo the media segment, The interactivity instructions include player input processing instructions ax well as instactions for adding ‘addtional display elements to the media segment. Further, the method combines the media segment with te interactive package to obtain an interactive segment which i responsive to player input In addition, operations of the method display the interactive segment while checking forthe player input ‘and dynamically update the interactive segment being di played ia respoase to the player input. In another embodi- ‘ment, a computer program embedded ina computer-eadable storage medium, when exceuted by one oF more processors, perfoems the method operations Inyetanother embodiment, a client device includes acom- ‘mercial content manager, a content manager, and a display ‘manager. The commercial content manager receives aa inter active package from an interactive content server. The inter- ‘etve package contains interoetvity instruetions For adding interactive functions toa media segment, where the interac- tivity instrctions inelude player input processing instue- ‘ions and instructions for adding additional display elements to the media sepment. The content manager receives the ‘media seument, which does not have interactive capabilities, ‘and combines the media segment with te interactive package to obiain an jteractive segment responsive to player input Furr, the display manager shows the interactive seument ‘while checking forthe player input. The content manager «dynamically updates the interactive segment being displayed in response to the player inp. Inyetanotber embodiment, an interactive content includes fuser manager, 8 commercial manager, and a commer ‘elivery administrator. The user manager receives request US 8,246,454 B2 3 from a clieat device for an iterative package, which con tains interactivity instructions for adding interactive fune- tions oa media sepment lacking interactive capabilites. The interactivity instructions inchide player input processing instructions and insuctions for adding addtional display ‘elements to the media segment. The commercial manager selects a interactive package to be sent to the user, and the ‘commercial delivery administrator sends the yelected inter- ‘active package to the user. (Other aspects ofthe invention will become apparent Fon the following detailed description, taken in eoujunetion with the secompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles ofthe invention BRIE DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. ‘The invention may best be understood by reference to the {ollowing description taken in conjunction with the aces panying drawings in whieh IG. 1 showsa schematic diagram ofa networked environ- meat for delivery of multimedia content, according to one ‘embodiment. IG. 2 illustrates the fw of content delivered in anetwork ‘environment according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 depicts the Interactive Commercial Server architee: ture, according fo one embodiment. IG, dillstatesthearchitectute ofthe Commercial Deliv ‘ey Administrator in accordance to one embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates the architecture for an embodiment of 3 tions are shown (the use atthe beginning of the interactive television commercial. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the instructions are “Throw the pickle to speed up commercial.” ‘The user, which is holding a one-handed controller with ‘motion detection, swings his arm to simulate the at of throv- ‘nga pickle. Asa result the fying interactive pickles placed inthe burger, and the commercial message "Make it your 0 o 10 way" displayed briefly before the commercial ends andthe ver ret to watching the streaming media, In another embodiment, the user may tse other inputs sich as a hand motion which fs captred by camer, x clap ofthe hands to senerstoa sound input a contact ona buttonof the contig, fc Inanctber embodiment, malipleinpi methods are wa fhe tothe user forthe same interaetion and the ver selects ‘which one to use for participation, For example, the user thooses one of the options eluding pressing buton on 8 controller or remote contol clicking a mone. citering text ona Keybed, speaking to ble-ooih deve in communi- cation wilh he cient device, waving a hand, FIG. 9 strates user interacting verbally wih a com- mercial, according oon cabot In fist cate 1502 othe sequenoe, a User is watching mee ISIN. Progress pointer 1820 in proress ba 1512 shows that content 1522 Aisplay corresponds to a movie and that break 1824 is approaching, Oa second captre 1504, progres pointer 1520 Sows that the movies progressed trek 1524 for pacing TCISH4.IC 1St4isinteractveand instructions 1826 fromthe display ask the user to “Say "MeDonals”to end comme {ial On hint expr 1506 the users saying “MeDonals! ‘he client device inches » microphone that captures the user's words ad voice recognition on the device determines that tho user has responded. The system then proceeds skip the rest of the commercial 3s shown on fourth eapre 1508, ‘what the user goes backo wach the move. Inoneembod ‘ent the user gets rewaeded with some points oe coupon {fom he sponsor. The rewards canbe collect by the vse in a varity of ways, sb reseving coupon on the mal or ‘in mal, gating a text mestage a motile phone withthe coupon, collecting points toward electing pres in a Web IG. 10 shows interoetve objects embeded inthe mea stream detected by the client device. according 10. one embodiment A media seamen, being displayed see 1018, Includes frames 1002, 1004, 1006, nd 1008, Not all frames a shown foe brevity of description with only 2 fe sample {ames shown, [none cosbodiment, the media sepment i ot interptewo inser video frames and interactive objects are axed or overlaid on lop ofthe video frames. In another embodiment, game console 24 ad the interactive objects, Such ay fying bids 1010 ia feme 1002, tothe steamed ‘ideo, Ganevonsole 1024inserstheintenetive objets upon insimetions receive fom the interalve comercial server ‘Tho instmetions can vary and can nlude from simple instructions fo insert static objets, to more comple instre- tions inching the location and movement of the interactive objets, the location of jects the streamed media alow: ing the interactive objets to be pled in font or behind smovicobjets).3-D propetisof the inlrtive objets, rele tivescalingof the objects, sound, pssibleuser inp object Tm another embodiment, the interactive objects are aleady ‘nluded inthe video stream and game console 1024 receives instmetions on how to detect these objects in the video frames. Some of the possible characte of detectable objets inclode color, shape size, location on the seeen, te Forexample,an nteraetve true may be detected by finding sbjctsata pectic shade of ay. or certain ombination ot olor inthe pielation ofthe objet. Ta another example the target isa black get located ata fixed location with specific orizoaal and verteal coordinates, Tn the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, interactive objets 1010 have been sere bythe interactive commercial server ound actress 1012 in the video frame. Interactive objets 1010 ee black and ane console 124 makes any black sea US 8,246,454 B2 uu inthe sereen over certain minimum threshold size a tangt. Frame 1016 shows the tanget detected on frame 1006 by me ‘console 1024. User 1018 holds a single handed voutolle ith wireless communication to game console 1024, Addi tionally, video camera 1022 isusd to detect the movement of the controller when user LOI sims tthe soren, At the pas ‘ofabutton, user 1018 fresonto the targets on thesereen. Ifthe firing hits target, gume console 1024 mementarly changes the color oF interactive object 1014 to show ahi, or make the Inleractive object disappear or change location. A miss may ‘alko be indicated on the video sereea by a distinctive mark such asa circle. score (not shown) can be displayed t the user during the interactive commercial o atthe end of the ‘commercial to give the user fesTback on his performance, In another embodiment, the user is given a signal to indi= ‘cate when the video display is interactive mode. The signal ‘can include banner on te seren ("shoot the birds now”), 3 sound (“beep”), a LED liton game console 1024, a LED or ‘other type of fight lito controler 1020, s vibration of con- twoller 1020, et. nthe embodiment of FIG. 10 the single handed controller has aspherical end that can be programmed to light up in different colors. In this case, controller 1020 ‘lowes with a white light when the video becomes intertive ‘and then goes back to non-iluminated state aftr the end of the interactive segment. none embodiment, the spherical end flashes red every time the user hits a target on the screen FIG. 11 ilusrates the insertion of interactive objeetsat the ‘liga based on received object metadata, in accordance with ‘one embodiment. Movie 1150 includes interactive commer- ‘ial 1152, which includes a sequence of frames. Metadata 1162 is sent to the gatne console with information regarding Jteracivity objects to be overlaid ontop the frames ia movie 50, Metadata 1162 also includes information about objects that are part ofthe movi, such as actors tables, glasses, the moon, the sun, light sources, direction of gravity, relative scaling of objets, camera angles, ete, With metadata infor ‘ation 1162 and the proper computer code for processing imeractive objects, the game console places interactive ‘objects on the sercen to deliver a game to the user. In one ‘embodiment, the movie objects can also become interactive, Forexample, a userean score pints forshootinga warrior oF ‘opening. door, oF Finding certain object on the sereen ete. 1n another embodiment, the movie object can even by manipu- Jated by the game console to react (© user input, sued as taking sper, hangings ize or loan, changing Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, movie 1180s show= {nga scene at ar where a man and a Woman are talking and fahlesils behind the actors, While the movieisshoving, the ‘’iet device places ean 1154 ontop ofthe table that becomes a shooting target. The player “hits” can 1156 in the second frame, that causes the canto fly away, as seen in can position -IS8 ofthe third frame, Inthe last fame, can. 1160 is falling to the ground, The client devie reduces the sizeof can 1160 ‘acconling tothe perspective ofthe scene to show that the ean has travelled away from the table aftr the impact. Further, the ‘client device will place the ean on the ground (not shown) acconing tothe geomet ofthe room received in metadata 11162, which includes the oor plane as well as other objects thatthe ean may hit as if les away’alter he shot. Adition- ‘lly, the characteristics of the can may change according 10 the game, suchas adding abullet hole everytime thecan isi, ‘adding additonal point ifthe ean is hit again in the ai, ete Inanother embodiment, image recognition, as deseribed in reference 10 FIG, 10, can be combined with metadata t0 provide interactivity to the game. For example, the mavie ‘may already include interactive objects whenit is received by 0 o 12 the client devie, and the metadata indicates the frames in whieh zaming objets are embedded as well asthe character istics ofthe object, suchas colo, shape, ee. The lien devi scans the image for those characteristics inthe metadata and then determines te location of the received embeslde inter active objects. FIG. 12 shows an interactive television commercial with sheoption to purchase an tem, aecording to one embodiment. In frame 1202, frame atthe beginning ofthe commercial, a ‘commercial offer is presented tothe player, in this ease the purchase ofa pizza for home delivery. In subsequent frame 1204, te player selects Buy button 1210 10 request the pur- chase of the item, Upon receipt of the purchase request, the system erieves he player address from a player information database, such os user database 34 of FIG. 3 In frame 1206, the user is presented! with the delivery address andthe television commercial requests purchase con- finmation from the player. At ths time, the player selects bution 1212 to confirm the purchase order. The system bills the player in a prearranged matter, such as elaming i to 4 credit card or adding it to the usee's cable TV bill. In another embodiment, the user is presented additional frames for entering payment information or delivery address informa. ‘ion, In fame 1208, the users presented witha confination ofthe order and thank you fr the purchase. Since the purchase process may take more time than the ‘oneallocated forthe commercial without a purchase, the user ‘ay not see some of the content following the commercial, sch as when viewing live broadcast, [a one embodiment, the content is recorded in a DVR oF similar device so the player does aot miss content, After the purchase, the player -esumes Viewing atthe next commercial, atthe curentcom- percal being shown, or atthe continuation of the movie. FIG. 13 illustrates a voting sequence aoconding to one embodiment. A player is presented with several options for voting, such as selecting from a group of contestants or answering a trivia question, In frame 1302 the voting sequence starts. Clock 1314 indicates the amount of time that the player has for voting, which is 30 seconds in the example shown in FIG. 13. The same of the options, which inthis ‘example corresponds to contestants, are shown next to the button that will perfor a ote forthe coresponding contes- ‘ant. Tn subsequent frame 1304, downward counting elock 1314 indicates that 15 seconds ae left for voting and that & ‘numberof votes have already been casted, Histogram 1312 shows the distribution of votes up to that point in time. In nother embodiment, histogram 1312 does not show the par til results unt the end of the voting period to avoid inla- encing the votes of viewers. The player viewing the interactive commercial has selected ‘contestant Alan by pressing the X button in the two-handed ‘game controller. Frame 1308 shows that the ine for voting has expired with clock 1314 showing no time left for voting. Histogram 1312 shows the final results in bar form. as wells ‘in numerie percentages for each option. In another embodi- ‘meat, the voting periods large, suc as 24 hours, and single TV channel is delicate to voting. Viewers that wish to wote can tune (o the voting channel and cast their vote anytime ‘within the voting period. In another embodiment, the voting channel may be a dedicated channel for voting, Viewers are giving options for entering one of many voting processes. For ‘example, one of the options can be entering te intention of vote in a democratic election, thus creating voting forecasts Tor candidates, Once the user enters a selection, the core sponding voting pees is started and the viewer can enter @ vote as previously described US 8,246,454 B2 13 should be appreciated thatthe embodiment illustrated FIG. 13 isan exemplary method for interactive voting. Other ‘embodiments may utilize different fields, options, input ‘thos, times allowed for voting, time to count the results, sdisplay of results ete. The embodiment ilustrated in FIG. 13, should therefore not be interpreted to be exclusive or limiting, but rather exemplary or ilustrative. FIG. 14 illustmates the selection of different interactive ‘content based on user input, according to one embodiment. Movie 452 is being watched by viewers 464 and 466 at «ifferent locations, Commercial A 458 is inserted in movie 45810 allow the viewer to select he typeof commercial he oF sho would ike o watch, Inthe embodiment shovsn in FIG. 14, the viewer is asked whether she prefers Romance or Action “Micropione 462 connected to console 460 allows the user 10 ster voice command to perform the selection In this case, Viewer 464 says “Action” resulting in viewer 464 socing ‘commercial I, and viewer 466 says “Romance” resulting in viewer 466 seving commercial B,.Typically, commercials B, sand B, will have the same length, but in other embodiments the length of the commercials are independent and can be

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