Advertisement scheme for use with interactive content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016166934-A1
Application number	US-201615050288-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 9, 2006
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for use in advertising includes initiating playing of interactive content, suspending playing of the interactive content, displaying an advertisement, and resuming playing of the interactive content. A computer program product includes a medium embodying a computer program for causing a computer to perform these operations, and a system for use in advertising includes a display and a processing system configured to perform these operations.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 : A method comprising:
initiating, through a processor based apparatus, playing of interactive content; suspending, through the processor based apparatus, playing of the interactive content; and displaying a different item of content; wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content among a plurality of users interacting with the interactive content.

22 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the interactive content is played over a network.

23 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the interactive content is configured to have the plurality of users interacting with the interactive content simultaneously.

24 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content further comprises suspending playing of the interactive content for all of the plurality of users.

25 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content so that the playing of the interactive content stops at a substantially same time for all of the plurality of users.

26 : The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
resuming playing of the interactive content.

27 : The method of claim 26 , wherein the resuming playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the resuming playing of the interactive content so that the resuming playing of the interactive content starts at a substantially same time for all of the plurality of users.

28 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the different item of content comprises an advertisement.

29 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the displaying a different item of content comprises displaying a different item of content that is the same for all of the plurality of users.

30 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the displaying a different item of content comprises displaying a different item of content that is not the same for all of the plurality of users.

31 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the different item of content is selected based on a user profile.

32 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content is performed at a predefined time.

33 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content is performed at a random time.

34 : The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing a user with an indication that the playing of the interactive content will be suspended.

35 : The method of claim 34 , wherein the indication comprises a warning message.

36 : A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more computer programs configured to cause a processor based system to execute steps comprising:
initiating playing of interactive content; suspending playing of the interactive content; and displaying a different item of content; wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content among a plurality of users interacting with the interactive content.

37 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the interactive content is played over a network.

38 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the interactive content is configured to have the plurality of users interacting with the interactive content simultaneously.

39 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content further comprises suspending playing of the interactive content for all of the plurality of users.

40 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content so that the playing of the interactive content stops at a substantially same time for all of the plurality of users.

41 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the one or more computer programs are further configured to cause the processor based system to execute a step comprising:
resuming playing of the interactive content.

42 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 41 , wherein the resuming playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the resuming playing of the interactive content so that the resuming playing of the interactive content starts at a substantially same time for all of the plurality of users.

43 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the different item of content comprises an advertisement.

44 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the displaying a different item of content comprises displaying a different item of content that is the same for all of the plurality of users.

45 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the displaying a different item of content comprises displaying a different item of content that is not the same for all of the plurality of users.

46 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the different item of content is selected based on a user profile.

47 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content is performed at a predefined time.

48 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content is performed at a random time.

49 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 36 , wherein the one or more computer programs are further configured to cause the processor based system to execute a step comprising:
providing a user with an indication that the playing of the interactive content will be suspended.

50 : The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 49 , wherein the indication comprises a warning message.

51 : A system, comprising:
a display; and a processor based apparatus configured to initiate playing of interactive content, suspend playing of the interactive content, and display a different item of content on the display; wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content among a plurality of users interacting with the interactive content.

52 : The system of claim 51 , wherein the interactive content is played over a network.

53 : The system of claim 51 , wherein the interactive content is configured to have the plurality of users interacting with the interactive content simultaneously.

54 : The system of claim 51 , wherein the suspending playing of the interactive content further comprises suspending playing of the interactive content for all of the plurality of users.

55 : The system of claim 51 , wherein the synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content comprises synchronizing the suspending playing of the interactive content so that the playing of the interactive content

Assignees

• Sony Comp Entertainment Us

Inventors

• Zalewski Gary M

Classifications

• G06Q30/02 Primary

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title

• G07F17/3255

  Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements · CPC title

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• G06Q30/0277

  Online advertisement · CPC title

• G06Q30/0252

  based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals · CPC title