Jeffrey S Norton

US Patent:

20060064733, Mar 23, 2006

Filed:

Sep 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/231431

Inventors:

Jeffrey Norton - Venice CA, US
Michelle Crames - Los Angeles CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/10
H04N 7/025

US Classification:

725135000, 725136000, 725032000

Abstract:

A method of playing an audiovisual work supports dynamic user choosing of story branches and outcomes. For example, a first segment of a digital audiovisual work is played. Upon reaching a decision point associated with the first segment, one or more decision selection icons are displayed in association with the first segment. The icons correspond to different branches in a story represented by the digital audiovisual work. User input representing a selection of one of the icons is received. One of a plurality of other segments of the digital audiovisual work is played, based on the user input. If no user input is received during a decision time period prior to an end of the first segment, automatically selecting one of the other segments and displaying the selected other segment. While awaiting the user input, the audiovisual work may continue to play so that the user viewing experience is uninterrupted.