US007401151B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Chatani
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`Jul. 15, 2008
`
`(54) METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING
`AUXILIARY CONTENT DURING USER
`INTERACTIVITY WITH DIGITAL DATA
`OVER A NETWORK
`
`(75) Inventor: Masayuki Chatani, Foster City, CA
`U S
`(
`)
`(73) Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment
`America Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`$23“? 1155223???) gyes‘dwsted under 35
`
`(21) Appl- N05 11/ 361,121
`_
`(22) Flledi
`
`Feb- 241 2006
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Us 2006/0143268 A1
`
`Jun‘ 29’ 2006
`
`5,937,158 A
`5,937,164 A
`
`8/1999 Uranka ..................... .. 713/200
`8/1999 Mages et a1. .............. .. 709/200
`
`Continued
`(
`)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`
`10'275114
`
`10/1998
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Chatani et :11, “Method and System for Enabling Optional Customer
`Election ofAuxiliary ContentProvided on Detachable Local Storage
`Media During Access of Primary Content Over a Network and for
`Collecting Data Concerning Wewed Auxiliary Content”, US. Appl.
`No. 09/452,811, ?led Dec. 2, 1999.
`
`Primary ExamineriKenny Lin
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiMartine Penilla &
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Gencarena’ LLP
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/771,751, ?led on
`Jan. 29, 2001, noW Pat. No. 7,171,480.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51) Int CL
`(200601)
`G06F 15/16
`(52) us. Cl. ........................ .. 709/229; 709/217; 705/14
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 709/227,
`709/229 217_ 705/14
`See a lication ?le for Com lete search’histo’
`pp
`p
`ry'
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8/1993 Jernigan et a1. ........... .. 358/181
`5,233,423 A
`7/1996 Blahut et a1.
`348/13
`5,532,735 A
`4/1998 Reilly et a1. ................ .. 705/14
`5,740,549 A
`5,838,314 A 11/1998 Neel et a1. ................ .. 345/327
`5,913,040 A
`6/1999 Rakavy et a1. ..
`.. 395/200.62
`5,926,624 A
`7/1999 KatZ et a1. .................. .. 709/47
`
`A~method and system for presenting auxiliary content to 'a
`cl1ent during doWnload of prlmary content from a server 1s
`Provides The System iPcludes a Sewage/W051‘ including a
`Server‘ 2“ manages Pnmary conlent an a C lent Computer
`connectable to the server. At the cl1ent computer, local storage
`for storing user information and auxiliary contentis provided.
`In one example, the auxiliary content is stored in the local
`storage prior to doWnload of the primary content from the
`doWnload management server. The user information is com
`municated from the client computer to the server, and the user
`information is used to direct initial access to primary content.
`Then, speci?c portions of the auxiliary content stored in the
`local storage device is displayed at the client computer during
`doWnload of the primary content.
`
`14 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`ESTABL‘SH DDMMLINICATION
`WITH THE DOWNLOAD
`MANAGEMENT SERVER
`
`302
`
`SEND USER‘S REQUEST FOR
`PR‘MARV CONTENT TO THE
`DOWNLOAD MANAGEMENT SERVER
`
`BEGIN PLAYING AUXILLARV
`CONTENT STORED IN
`THE LOCAL STORAGE DEVICE
`
`310
`
`312
`
`HAS
`TED
`ALL REOUES
`CONTENT B
`EEN
`RECEIVE
`D
`S
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 1
`
`

`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,026,368 A
`6,049,823 A
`6,101,534 A
`6,108,637 A
`6,195,693 B1
`6,237,039 B1 *
`6,279,036 B1
`6,314,451 B1
`
`2/2000 Brown @191 ---------------- -- 705/14
`4/2000
`8/2000
`8/2000
`2/2001
`5/2001
`8/2001 11111111161 61 a1. ........... .. 709/224
`11/2001 Landsman et a1.
`
`6/2002 1161115615 61111. ............ .. 700/83
`6,400,996 B1
`6/2002 Meade, 11
`. 707/1041
`6,405,214 B1
`9/2002 (36111111 ..................... .. 713/201
`6,453,420 B1
`6,684,249 B1* 1/2004 11161161116161. ........... .. 709/225
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`
`2000437721
`
`5/2000
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 013
`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`'- - - _ - - - - - - - - _-- - - - - - - - _ - -_--_-__---- - - - - ---
`
`I
`
`-
`l
`i
`I
`I
`:
`;
`:
`
`I
`
`CLIENT
`
`l
`
`./
`:
`:
`l
`_ i
`.
`l
`l
`
`l
`
`REMOVABLE
`STORAGE
`MEDIA
`
`| _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 1
`
`DOWN LOAD / 1 1°
`MANAG EMENT
`sERvER
`
`‘60
`
`PRIMARY
`CONTENT
`DATABASE
`
`OusTOMER
`DATABASE
`
`17°
`
`FIG. 1
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 3
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 013
`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`@)
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION WITH / 202
`NETWORKEO CLIENT CONSOLE
`
`I
`
`RECEIVE usER ID / 204
`FROM CLIENT CONSOLE
`
`I
`
`RECEIvE usER INFORMATION / 206
`FROM CusTOMER DATABASE
`
`I
`
`RECEIvE usER's REOuEsT / 208
`FOR PRIMARY CONTENT
`
`I
`
`RETRIEvE REOuEsTEO CONTENT / 21°
`FROM PRIMARY CONTENT DATABASE
`
`—'I
`
`SEND REOuEsTEO CONTENT / 212
`TO THE CLIENT CONSOLE
`
`HAS
`ALL REQUESTED
`CONTENT
`BEEN SENT
`'7
`
`YES
`
`RELEAsE THE / 216
`COMMUNICATION
`
`FIG.2
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 4
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2008
`
`Sheet 3 013
`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION / 302
`WITH THE DOWNLOAD
`MANAGEMENT sERvER
`
`SEND usER ID TO THE
`DOWN LOAD MANAG EMENT SERVER
`
`/ 304
`
`L
`
`SEND usER's REQUEST FOR / 306
`PRIMARY CONTENT TO THE
`DOWNLOAD MANAGEMENT sERvER
`
`T
`
`BEGIN PLAYING AuxILLARY / 308
`CONTENT STORED IN
`THE LOCAL sTORAGE DEvICE
`
`RECEIVE THE REOuEsTED / 31°
`PRIMARY CONTENT
`
`HAS
`ALL REQUESTED
`CONTENT BEEN
`
`RECEIVED
`
`YES
`
`STOP PLAYING AuxILLARY / 314
`CONTENT sTORED IN
`THE LOCAL sTORAGE DEvICE
`
`L
`
`RELEASE THE / 316
`COMMUNICATION
`
`FIG.3
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 5
`
`

`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`1
`METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING
`AUXILIARY CONTENT DURING USER
`INTERACTIVITY WITH DIGITAL DATA
`OVER A NETWORK
`
`CROSS REFERENCE AND PRIORITY CLAIM
`
`This Application is a continuation of US. application Ser.
`No. 09/771,751, ?led Jan. 29, 2001 now US. Pat. No. 7,171,
`480, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING
`AUXILIARY CONTENT LOCATED ON LOCAL STOR
`AGE DURING DOWNLOAD/ACCESS OF PRIMARY
`CONTENT OVER A NETWORK.” This Application is
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`This Application is also related to co-pending U.S. appli
`cation Ser.No. 09/452,811, ?led on Dec. 2, 1999, and entitled
`“METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING OPTIONAL
`CUSTOMER ELECTION OF AUXILIARY CONTENT
`PROVIDED ON DETACHABLE LOCAL STORAGE
`MEDIA DURING ACCESS OF PRIMARY CONTENT
`OVER A NETWORK AND FOR COLLECTING DATA
`CONCERNING VIEWED AUXILIARY CONTENT. This
`Application is hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`providing auxiliary content located on local storage to a client
`connected to a primary content provider over a bi-directional
`netWork, and more speci?cally to accessing auxiliary content
`during doWnload/access of primary content over the netWork,
`enabling dissemination of auxiliary content during otherwise
`dormant Wait periods.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
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`In recent years, improvements in the ability for members of
`the public to access valuable entertainment content by con
`nection to relatively loW cost high speed bi-directional net
`Works has raised interest in advertisers seeking to exploit such
`systems for promotion of goods and services to users of these
`netWorks.
`Current methods and trends to advertise over such net
`Works are frequently unsatisfactory due to their failure to
`provide a satisfactory combination of incentive and accept
`able amount of effort on the part of the users targeted by the
`advertisements, or by excessive advertiser commitments (i.e.,
`effort, expense, time, etc.). This is particularly true With
`regard to methodology that requires users to perform sub stan
`tial amounts of data entry or other time-consuming tasks to
`acquire access to content and services that are initially indi
`cated to be readily available or free. Oftentimes such meth
`odology can also require a user to enter sensitive personal
`information, such as home address and/or credit card infor
`mation, Which may also be unacceptable to the user. For
`advertisements that require more ef?cient involvement of
`user interaction, this trend of requiring substantial expendi
`ture of effort and/or disclosure of sensitive information,
`coupled With the subsequent Wait period during doWnload of
`the desired content has signi?cant drawbacks.
`Another related trend has been to offer certain services,
`such as netWork access, or access to specialiZed content,
`e-mail accounts, e-fax accounts, and so forth, over a netWork
`connection, for free to customers Who are Willing to sign up
`and provide detailed personal identifying information to be
`maintained in a server database. In return for providing such
`customer information, the service provider provides desired
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`access to services, for example an e-mail account, to the
`customer for free or at reduced cost, With the provision that
`the customer must then vieW attached advertisements, Which
`may be targeted to the customer based on his or her identify
`ing information, broWsing activity, etc. Such advertisements
`can be attached to customer e-mail or appear in pop-up Win
`doWs or frames Which are generated upon accessing the
`server netWork. By such systems, the costs necessary for
`maintaining the netWork services or paying for netWork con
`tent can be paid for by advertising revenues, Whereas the
`customer gains access to desired services by release of certain
`personal information and being forced to vieW targeted com
`mercial advertisements.
`HoWever, despite their popularity as an advertising
`medium, such systems suffer from the draWback that custom
`ers, in general, do not like being forced to vieW advertise
`ments or commercials in this fashion. In addition, many cus
`tomers are reluctant to give up personal information,
`particularly to advertisers, in exchange for free netWork ser
`vices or free access to content over a netWork. Thus, a need
`exists for improvement in When and Where a user Wishes to
`vieW auxiliary content. At the same time, ?exibility needs to
`be provided to advertisers in terms of the manner in Which
`such auxiliary content is delivered to customers, so that
`advertisements can be presented in a non-offending Way more
`likely to appeal to customer interest. Therefore, more ?exible
`systems have been sought in Which auxiliary content can be
`provided to customers.
`According to one knoWn system, embedded commercials
`may be provided in a memory device installed in a television
`receiver, the commercials being displayed on a portion of the
`screen through use of a graphics generator When a control
`function on the television receiver is activated. Local storage
`of advertisements may be done on a programmable read-only
`memory (PROM), hoWever, this system places a heavy bur
`den on advertisers Who must establish access With the PROM
`device in some manner through a server netWork.
`According to another knoWn technique, advertisements
`may be provided over a computer netWork or on a local
`storage device such as a CD-ROM and displayed on a local
`computer. The advertisements displayed on the local com
`puter can be selected based on pre-con?gured user preference
`information, such as Which types or categories of advertise
`ments a givenuser may choose to vieW. Here, the main feature
`intended to be accessed by this system is simply the intemet
`as a Whole, so there is no linkage or association betWeen
`predetermined primary content and auxiliary advertising con
`tent. There is no suggestion that advertisements are provided
`on local removable storage Which acts as the means (or key)
`by Which customers gain access to predetermined content
`servers providing valuable information such as movies, inter
`active games, programs, and so forth.
`Therefore, current methods of advertisement in the com
`puter netWork environment do not contain the incentives and
`ease-of-use necessary to provide auxiliary content ef?ciently
`and at optimal times, and thereby provide effective and suc
`essful advertisement content.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A system and computer-based method for providing aux
`iliary content located on local storage to a client connected to
`a primary content provider over a netWork, particularly dur
`ing transfer of primary content via a server dedicated to
`doWnload operations. Control over the auxiliary content, pri
`mary content and/ or the doWnload management server is
`exercised by a distributor. The system includes the doWnload
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 6
`
`

`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`3
`management server, a customer database and a primary con
`tent database on the server side, and a client console including
`a local storage device containing the auxiliary content on the
`client side. The auxiliary content provided can be varied
`based on one or more user preferences, one or more distribu
`tor preferences, or a combination of both user and distributor
`preference information. With respect to user preferences,
`either previously acquired information is used or the user is
`prompted to chose from a selection of speci?c content items
`and categories of content; default content is provided if no
`user preferences are available/selected. With respect to dis
`tributor preferences, the doWnload management server sends
`the user auxiliary content assignment data before sending the
`requested primary content; according to the data, the client
`computer executes the appropriate auxiliary content stored in
`the local storage. The auxiliary content is stored in the local
`storage prior to doWnload of the primary content from the
`doWnload management server, though the user can acquire
`the local storage and/or auxiliary content by a variety of
`means (e.g., the auxiliary content can be provided on a CD
`ROM, sent to a client hard drive over the netWork, etc.).
`A general aspect of the present invention is to provide a
`system and method Whereby advertisements or auxiliary con
`tent are made available to customers via removable local
`storage, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, Which is intended
`to be inserted into a client console connected via a bi-direc
`tional netWork to a speci?ed content provider, Wherein the
`client console includes a control function for enabling the
`auxiliary content such as advertisements to be vieWed, at the
`option of the customer, While the customer accesses valuable
`content from a primary content database maintained solely by
`the content provider.
`A further aspect of the invention is to provide a system and
`method as described above, Wherein a customer database is
`maintained in the server station, containing identifying infor
`mation of users Who access the server station, Wherein such
`identifying information is capable of being doWnloaded into
`the client console in order to enable only auxiliary content
`Which is customiZed based on a user’ s identi?cation pro?le to
`be loaded and vieWed.
`A further aspect of the invention is to provide key data,
`Which may include a local storage device identi?er or cus
`tomer identi?er and an authentication code, on removable
`local storage on the client side of the system, Whereby the key
`data is used to authenticate access to a speci?ed server station
`Which provides primary content, and Whereby such primary
`content cannot be accessed unless the local storage is inserted
`into the client console.
`As a result of the above-described examples, improve
`ments over knoWn advertisement methods can be achieved.
`As an advertisement medium, by use of local storage such as
`CD-ROM or DVD, there is no need as in the prior art for
`advertisers to expend costs for maintenance of a large-scale
`advertisement database on the server side of the system.
`Therefore, advertisers are afforded great ?exibility in prepar
`ing their oWn advertising content on relatively loW cost pack
`aged storage media, Where at the same time advertisers can
`associate their auxiliary content With speci?ed valuable pri
`mary content doWnloadable from a main primary content
`provider.
`Furthermore, the cost and time associated With doWnload
`ing of large-volume auxiliary data can be avoided. Because
`the cost of packaged storage media such as CD-ROM or DVD
`is relatively loW, advertisers have the advantage of being able
`to easily distribute such devices as inserts in magaZines and
`the like. In addition, because of their ability to hold large
`amounts of data, such removable packaged storage media
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`have the ability to handle multicolored animation or other
`lengthy auxiliary content, Which is highly suitable for adver
`tisements.
`An advantage of the present invention is the ability for
`content providers to associate their auxiliary content With
`speci?ed highly popular and valuable primary content such as
`feature movies, interactive games, popular utility programs
`and the like, Which are doWnloaded from the main content
`server. That is, merely by contracting With and folloWing a
`prescribed format determined by the primary content pro
`vider, advertisers are then able to easily manufacture their
`oWn advertisement containing CD-ROM or DVD discs Which
`are easily distributed to customers. Because of their associa
`tion With popular and valuable primary content, customers
`become highly motivated to use CD-ROM or DVD as a means
`for gaining access to the primary content.
`The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
`present invention Will become apparent from the folloWing
`description When taken in conjunction With the accompany
`ing draWings in Which preferred embodiments of the present
`invention are shoWn by Way of illustration and not limitation.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention is illustrated by Way of example and
`not limitation in the ?gures of the accompanying draWings, in
`Which like references indicate similar elements, and in Which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer netWork
`system that implements embodiments of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a ?owchart that illustrates some doWnload man
`agement server steps taken in providing the desired auxiliary
`content during doWnload of primary content, according to
`one embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 3 is a ?owchart that illustrates some client-side steps
`taken in providing the desired auxiliary content during doWn
`load of primary content, according to one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`A system and method for providing auxiliary content
`located on local storage to a client connected to a content
`provider over a bi-directional netWork is described. In the
`folloWing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous
`speci?c details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
`understanding of the present invention. It Will be evident,
`hoWever, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the present
`invention may be practiced Without these speci?c details. In
`other instances, Well-knoWn structures and devices are shoWn
`in block diagram form to facilitate explanation. The descrip
`tion of preferred embodiments is not intended to limit the
`scope of the claims appended hereto.
`Aspects of the present invention may be implemented on
`one or more computers executing softWare instructions.
`According to one embodiment of the present invention, server
`and client computer systems transmit and receive data over a
`computer netWork or standard telephone line. The steps of
`accessing, doWnloading, and manipulating the data, as Well as
`other aspects of the present invention are implemented by
`central processing units (CPU) in the server and client com
`puters executing sequences of instructions stored in a
`memory. The memory may be a random access memory
`(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a persistent store, such as
`a mass storage device, or any combination of these devices.
`Execution of the sequences of instructions causes the CPU to
`perform steps according to embodiments of the present inven
`tion.
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 7
`
`

`
`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`5
`The instructions may be loaded into the memory of the
`server or client computers from a storage device or from one
`or more other computer systems over a network connection.
`For example, a client computer may transmit a sequence of
`instructions to the server computer in response to a message
`transmitted to the client over a network by the server. As the
`server receives the instructions over the network connection,
`it stores the instructions in memory. The server may store the
`instructions for later execution, or it may execute the instruc
`tions as they arrive over the network connection. In some
`cases, the downloaded instructions may be directly supported
`by the CPU. In other cases, the instructions may not be
`directly executable by the CPU, and may instead be executed
`by an interpreter that interprets the instructions. In other
`embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of, or
`in combination with, software instructions to implement the
`present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to
`any speci?c combination of hardware circuitry and software,
`nor to any particular source for the instructions executed by
`the server or client computers.
`Download Management System and Server Architecture
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network system
`that can be used to
`locate and transmit requested content from a primary con
`tent database while providing designated auxiliary content
`stored in local storage media, according to embodiments of
`the present invention. The download management system 100
`of FIG. 1 enables the auxiliary content to be varied based on
`preferences of system participants during download of pri
`mary content over the download management server 110.
`Control over the auxiliary content, primary content and/ or the
`download management server 110 is exercised by a distribu
`tor. The auxiliary content provided can be varied based on one
`or more user preferences, one or more distributor preferences,
`or a combination of both user and distributor preference infor
`mation.
`FIG. 1 shows the con?guration of a system for enabling
`display of auxiliary content during download of primary con
`tent, according to embodiments of the present invention. The
`term “primary content” should be understood to refer to a
`collection of downloadable content which may consist of any
`one of video linear streaming data, such as a motion picture in
`the MPEG2 format, linear audio streaming data such as MP3
`data, binary program data, including game data, or any com
`bination of such data. This de?nition is intended to describe
`the types of data broadly, and is not limited to any speci?c
`data formats such as MPEG2 or MP3. On the other hand,
`excluded from the de?nition of “primary content” are data
`functioning solely to provide access to a network, for
`example, browser software or protocol handlers, whose main
`function is only to establish a network connection. “Auxiliary
`content” refers to the same types of data. “Auxiliary” can be
`distinguished from “primary” in terms of distributor or adver
`tiser priority, or in terms of the user’s priorities or preferences
`(i.e., one type of content might be more important to a user,
`and thus ‘primary’). In terms of data types, “primary content”
`and “auxiliary content” are coextensive.
`With regard to system con?guration, as seen in FIG. 1, the
`download management system 100 is made up of a server side
`system comprising a download management server 110, a
`primary content database 160, and a customer database 170,
`which are interconnected by a bidirectional network 13 0. The
`download management server 110 is shown connected
`directly to the databases 160, 170 in this embodiment of the
`server side system, however server connection to these or
`comparable databases can be made over any type of network
`as well. The “primary content” as described in the preceding
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`paragraph is stored in the primary content database 160. The
`customer database 170 contains a collection of data about
`individual customers who access the download service
`through the network 130. The data for individual customers
`may consist of the customer’s name, home address, age,
`gender, occupation, income, hobbies and interests, informa
`tion about family members, purchasing history, preference of
`gender in content viewed, or any other descriptive informa
`tion about a user which may be bene?cial to advertisers in
`targeting auxiliary content to customers. Further, such cus
`tomer data is not static, but can be updated based on a user’s
`access history of the primary content data, for example, data
`concerning which primary content is accessed and/or how
`many times a given category (e.g. type of music, genre of
`movies, etc.) of primary content is accessed may be recorded
`and used for updating the customer data, thereby enabling
`advertisers to tailor their advertisements more effectively to a
`given customer.
`The download management server 110 is a server system
`that is set up to handle download requests from a user. Access
`to the server 110, which may comprise one of several servers,
`is facilitated through a typical device known as a router (not
`shown) on the network 130, which directs requests to the
`download management server 110. When the server 110
`receives requests from a client console user, the server
`executes a download of requested primary content from the
`primary content database 160. Along with processing
`requests for downloading of primary content, the server 110
`also retrieves the requesting user’s customer data from the
`customer database 170 and can attach it with the requested
`primary content, transmitting both via the network by means
`of a known networking protocol standard, such as ftp (?le
`transfer protocol).
`The network 13 0 may be the Internet, a Wide Area Network
`(WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or any combination
`thereof. The network is normally a bi-directional digital com
`munications network that connects a client’s terminal hard
`ware with the download management server 110. With cur
`rent technologies, a CATV (cable television) bi-directional
`network, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), DSL
`(Digital Subscriber Line), or xDSL high-speed networks are
`examples of existing network infrastructures enabling the
`necessary network connections for implementing embodi
`ments of the present invention, though they are not intended
`to be exclusive as to the types of networks capable of prac
`ticing the present invention. In one embodiment, network 130
`may represent the Internet, in which case the server 110
`typically executes a web server process to transmit data in the
`form of HTML data to client computers executing web
`browser processes.
`As shown in FIG. 1, the download management system 100
`includes a client side made up of a client console 120 com
`prising a client 140, and, optionally, a local storage device 150
`that can include a removable storage media 152 component.
`The client 140 can be a personal computer, a set top box, a
`computer/ gaming device such as PlayStation®2, a comput
`ing device of comparable capabilities, or any terminal device
`providing access to the system. The local storage device 150
`can be any conceivable data storage device (e.g., CD- or
`DVD-ROM, hard disk drive, magnetic, optical or other card
`drive, Zip drive, etc.), and may be, and frequently is, integral
`with the client 140, though is depicted here as a distinct
`element. Additionally, the removable storage media 152 can
`be compatible and removable directly with the client 140; this
`may be true for embodiments both where the local storage
`device 150 is external or where it is internal to client 140.
`
`PATENT OWNER EX. 2006 - PAGE 8
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`

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`US 7,401,151 B2
`
`7
`According to one preferred embodiment, removable stor
`age media 152 is speci?cally intended to be used in a net
`worked environment and to operate in consort with down
`loaded primary content retrieved through a network
`connection, in order to provide linked or associated auxiliary
`content that is customiZed based on user and/or distributor
`preferences. For example, removable storage media 152 can
`store a collection of interactive or non-interactive auxiliary
`content, for example advertisements that may be made up of
`video images, animations, sounds, applets, etc. In this pre
`ferred embodiment, the removable storage media 152 com
`prises a CD-ROM disc or DVD disc. Moreover, each item of
`auxiliary content can include appended “trigger data” which
`is appended as an access ?ag to the auxiliary content, as shall
`be discussed in further detail below.
`FIG. 2 is a ?owchart that illustrates some download man
`agement server steps taken in providing the desired auxiliary
`content during download of primary content, according to
`one embodiment of the present invention. Execution of this
`download management process requires the receipt of neces
`sary user identi?cation and requested content information, as
`well as the transmission of requested content to the client
`console. Once a user desires to download primary content, the
`user will make association with the client terminal 140 por
`tion of the client console 120 (FIG. 1). The subsequent steps
`that the download management server goes through to pro
`vide both the primary and auxiliary content, as shown herein,
`begin after this initial step of the user associating him or
`herself with the client console.
`According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, a download man
`agement server ?rst performs the step of establishing com
`munication with a networked client console, step 202. Here,
`as best seen in FIG. 1, the communication is indicated as
`being established with a client console 120, however, it
`should be understood that this term is interchangeable with
`client 140 (the client terminal) throughout these discussions
`for the purpose of disclosing other embodiments not limited
`by a de?nable client console. Once communication has been
`established with the client console, the download manage
`ment server then receives a user ID from the client console,
`step 204, for the initial purpose of identifying the particular
`user.
`Next, in step 206 of this embodiment, the download man
`agement server retrieves user information from the customer
`database; this user information consisting of the data for
`individual customers discussed above with respect to FIG. 1.
`The download management server then proceeds to step 208
`where the user’ s request for content is received. After receiv
`ing such user request information, in step 210, the download
`management server ?nds the requested content from the pri
`mary content database.
`In the subsequent step, step 212, the download manage
`ment server sends the requested content to the client console.
`After such sending of requested content, in step 214, the
`download management server veri?es whether all of the
`requested content has been sent. If all of the requested content
`has not been sent, the server will maintain a state of sending
`the requested content to the client console. Once all of the
`content has been sent, however, the download management
`server moves on to the ?nal operation. The last operation of
`this embodiment is simply the release of communication
`between the download management server and the client
`console, step 216.
`FIG. 3 is a ?owchart that illustrates some client-side steps
`taken in providing the desired auxiliary content during down
`load of primary content, according to one embodiment of the
`present invention. The preliminary steps of this client-side
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`process mirror the comparable steps of FIG. 2 as they occur in
`a mutually exchanged fashion, and also begin with the user
`making association with the client 140 portion of the client
`console 120 (FIG. 1) with the desire to download primary
`content. The subsequent steps of FIG. 3, then, also begin after
`this initial step of the user associating him or herself with the
`client console.
`Correspondingly, the ?rst three steps of FIG. 3, establish
`ing communication, step 302, sending a user ID, step 304, and
`sending user request for primary content, step 306, are client
`side steps describing behavior done with the download man
`agement server that precisely mirror steps 202, 204 and 208
`from FIG. 2, and no additional description is warranted. The
`next client side step, step 308, is to begin playing auxiliary
`content stored in the local storage device. The auxiliary con
`tent play