1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 11111 1111111111 11111 111111111111111 1111111111 1111111111 11111111
`US 20040045040Al
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication
`Hayward
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0045040 Al
`Mar. 4, 2004
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) METHOD OF SIZING AN EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Monte Duane Hayward, Seattle, WA
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Joseph S Tripoli
`Thomas Multimedia Licensing Inc Patent
`Department
`PO Box 5312
`Princeton, NJ 08543-5312 (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`10/415,210
`
`(22)
`
`PCT Filed:
`
`Oct. 24, 2001
`
`(86)
`
`PCT No.:
`
`PCT/US0l/51373
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 60/242,848, filed on Oct.
`24, 2000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 .............................. H04N 7/16; H04N 7/00;
`H04N 11/00; H04N 7 /04
`(52) U.S. Cl. ......................... 725/135; 725/139; 725/151;
`348/469; 348/461
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In a method of displaying video data using an embedded
`media player page, frame dimensional data for a first video
`file is received from a database 106. The database 106
`includes frame dimensional data indexed therein for a plu(cid:173)
`rality of video files. The plurality of video files includes the
`first video file, and the plurality of video files is retrievable
`from at least one video server 104 through a communica(cid:173)
`tions network 114. A media player is launched within the
`embedded media player page. A video display area of the
`media player is sized based upon the received frame dimen(cid:173)
`sional data. The video data from the first video file is
`displayed within the video display area.
`
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 4, 2004 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2004/0045040 Al
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`100A
`
`-
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`116
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`MEDIA
`FILE w-----+1
`SOURCE
`
`110
`
`122
`
`MEDIA FILE
`INDEX AND LOG
`SYSTEM
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`ADVERTISEMENT
`SYSTEM
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`120
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`FIG~ 1A
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`Page 3 of 15
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 4, 2004 Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 2004/0045040 Al
`
`NO
`
`USE
`DEFAULT
`VALUES
`
`302
`
`RECEIVE·
`FRAME DIMENSIONAL
`DATA
`
`301
`
`LAUNCH MEDIA
`.___ __ ,... PLAYER WITHIN EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`
`304
`
`306
`
`308
`
`310
`
`SIZE VIDEO DISPLAY
`AREA HEIGHT
`AND WIDTH
`
`SIZE EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`
`LOCATE CONTENT
`WITHIN EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 5 of 15
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 4, 2004 Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 2004/0045040 Al
`
`400
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`402
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`404
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`TRANSMIT EMBEDDED
`-~ MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`TO MEDIA DEVICE
`,
`.
`'
`~ SELECT 'ADD TO
`FAVORITES• OPTION
`, ,
`~ CREATE BOOKMARK TO
`EMBEDDED MEDIA
`PLAYER PAGE
`,
`'
`SELECT
`BOOKMARK
`,,
`.
`TRANSMIT EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`~
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 6 of 15
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 4, 2004 Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 2004/0045040 Al
`
`50 0
`
`502
`
`50 4
`
`-
`
`506
`
`-
`
`508
`
`-
`
`TRANSMIT EMBEDDED
`MEDIA PLAYER PAGE
`TO MEDIA DEVICE
`"'I ,
`TRANSMIT MEDIA FILE
`IDENTIFICATION
`MESSAGE TO LOG SERVER
`i
`STORE MESSAGE
`INFORMATION IN LOG
`FOR MEDIA FILE
`' ,
`TRANSMIT SUBSEQUENT
`MESSAGE TO LOG SERVER
`WHILE EMBEDDED MEDIA
`PLAYER PAGE OPEN
`~ ,.
`RECORD TIME STAMP
`FOR SUBSEQUENT
`MESSAGE IN LOG
`FOR MEDIA FILE
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 7 of 15
`
`

`

`US 2004/0045040 Al
`
`Mar. 4, 2004
`
`1
`
`METHOD OF SIZING AN EMBEDDED MEDIA
`PLAYER PAGE
`[0001] This invention relates to media players for playing
`media files, such as audio and video files, and more par(cid:173)
`ticularly to embedded or wrapped media players.
`[0002]
`"Wrapped" or "embedded" media players have
`become popular for providing content along with a media
`player application. A media player is an application that
`outputs audio and video files that are either stored locally in
`a multimedia device, or are streamed/downloaded from a
`remote storage site via a communications interface. A
`wrapped or embedded media player is a viewed application
`embedded within a data display. Examples of data displays
`being web pages, electronic programming guides, and other
`software applications creating graphical compositions. The
`data display code may include scripting that calls a media
`player, resident on a client, as an object for embedding
`within the data display. Alternatively, a functional media
`player applet may accompany a data page download, and the
`data page is configured to embed the media player generated
`by the applet.
`[0003] Many content providers employ this embedded
`technique because the surrounding Web page offers adver(cid:173)
`tising and branding space as a means to monetize the media
`experience. Known embedded media player pages that
`embed media players, however, suffer from several draw(cid:173)
`backs. First, and particularly with respect to streamed video
`content, prior embedded media player pages generally dis(cid:173)
`play all video data at one size, causing the image compo(cid:173)
`sition to be cropped by the fixed size of the video display
`area. This is particularly a problem with Synchronized
`Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) files that are
`hypertext markup language (HTML) like files that use the
`Extensible Markup Language (XML) syntax for bundling
`video, audio, text, graphic images and hyperlinks. SMIL
`files may not present to a user all of the available screen
`content if the presentation of the files is cut short by standard
`cropping techniques. Otherwise, a user has to manually
`adjust the embedded media player to the size of a video
`display.
`[0004]
`In addition, while a user may view or listen to a
`media file played by an embedded media player, any book(cid:173)
`mark created. by the user using a browser typically points to
`the media file itself. Bookmarking directly to the media file
`bypasses the content of the embedded media player page and
`prevents the generation of revenue from advertising content
`and branding exposure during subsequent playbacks of the
`media file by the user.
`[0005] Still further, collecting data from the use of an
`embedded media player could help content providers in
`gauging audience interest. For example, known embedded
`media player pages do not collect data indicating whether a
`user allowed a media file to play through to completion or
`closed an embedded media player page prior to completion
`of the playing of the media file. Also, data is not generated
`that indicate whether a user has left an embedded media
`player page open after completion of the playing of a media
`file. Such information may be used to evaluate the popularity
`of a media file, the relevance of a media file to a search query
`(when the file is identified to the user as a result of a search),
`and to identify the interest level of users with respect to
`content that surrounds an media player embedded within a
`web page.
`
`[0006]
`In a method of displaying video data using an
`embedded media player page, frame dimensional data for a
`first video file is received from a database. The database
`includes frame dimensional data indexed therein for a plu(cid:173)
`rality of video files. The plurality of video files includes the
`first video file. The plurality of video files is retrievable from
`at least one video server through a computer network. A
`media player is launched within the embedded media player
`page. A video display area of the media player is sized based
`upon the received frame dimensional data. The video data
`from the first video file is displayed within the video display
`area. The method of displaying video data thereby displays
`the video data in an uncropped manner, providing more
`viewable video, minimizing picture distortion.
`[0007] The above and other features of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion will be better understood from the following detailed
`description of the preferred embodiments of the invention
`that is provided in connection with the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred
`embodiments of the invention as well as other information
`pertinent to the disclosure, in which:
`[0009] FIG. 1 is a stylized overview of a system of
`interconnected computer networks;
`[0010] FIG. 1 A is a stylized overview of a system for
`providing an exemplary embedded media player page to a
`client;
`[0011] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a browser window
`displaying an exemplary embedded media player page;
`[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of
`sizing an exemplary embedded media player page;
`
`[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of
`disseminating advertisements using an exemplary embedded
`media player page; and
`[0014] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of
`collecting data using an exemplary embedded media player
`page.
`
`[0015] As used herein, the following terms are defined:
`[0016] "Script"-generally a short program written in an
`interpreted language such as Perl or Java and usually pro(cid:173)
`viding instructions for data and browser management;
`
`[0017]
`"Scripting" -server or client-side programming
`which supplements a static HTML page, usually written in
`languages such as Perl, Java, JavaScript, and sometimes
`used in combination with Common Gateway Interface (CGI)
`scripts.
`
`[0018] The Internet is a worldwide system of computer
`networks-a network of communication networks in a user
`at one computer can obtain information and communicate
`with a user of another computer, connected to one of the
`communication networks. The most used part of the Internet
`is the World Wide Web (often-abbreviated "WWW" or
`called "the Web"). One of the most outstanding features of
`the Web is its use of hypertext, which is a method of
`cross-refer ncing information. In most W b sites, certain
`words or phrases appear in text of a different color than the
`
`Page 8 of 15
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`US 2004/0045040 Al
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`Mar. 4, 2004
`
`2
`
`surrounding text, indicating that such terms may be links to
`other websites. These links identify other resources on the
`Internet via the use of a tag called a Universal Resource
`Indicator (URI) or Universal Resource Locator (URL), for
`example http://www.yahoo.com is a URI identifying a web
`page located at yahoo.com. Sometimes, there are buttons,
`images or portions of images that are "clickable." Using the
`Web provides access to millions of pages of information.
`Web "surfing" is done with an Internet browser; the most
`popular of which presently are Netscape Navigator and
`Microsoft Internet Explorer. The appearance of a particular
`website may vary slightly depending on the particular
`browser used. Some browsers have "plug-ins," which pro(cid:173)
`vide animation, virtual reality, sound, video, and other forms
`of multimedia.
`
`[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a stylized
`overview of a system 100 of interconnected computer sys(cid:173)
`tem networks 102. Each computer system network 102
`contains a corresponding local computer processor unit 104,
`which is coupled to a corresponding local data storage unit
`106, and local network users 108. Computer system network
`102 may be a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
`network (WAN) for example. Local computer processor
`units 104 are selectively coupled to plurality of clients 110
`through Internet 114 described above. Each of the plurality
`of clients 110 may have various multimedia devices con(cid:173)
`nected to their local computer systems, such as scanners, bar
`code readers, printers, and other interface devices 112.
`Client 110, programmed with an Internet browser, locates
`and selects (such as by clicking with a mouse) a particular
`Web page, the content of which is located on local data
`storage unit 106 of computer system network 102, in order
`to access the content of the Web page. The Web page may
`contain links to other computer systems and other Web
`pages.
`
`[0020] Client 110 may be a computer terminal, a pager that
`can communicate through the Internet using the Internet
`Protocol (IP), a Kiosk with Internet access, a connected
`electronic planner (e.g., a PALM device manufactured by
`Palm, Inc.) or other device capable of interactive Internet
`communication, such as an Internet enabled television.
`Client 110 may also be a wireless device, such as a hand held
`unit (e.g., cellular telephone) that connects to and commu(cid:173)
`nicates through the Internet using the wireless access pro(cid:173)
`tocol (WAP) or a third generation (3G) compatible protocol.
`
`[0021] FIG. 1 A is a stylized overview of system lO0A for
`providing an exemplary embedded media player page to
`client 110. System lO0A generally utilizes the Internet
`structure described above in connection with system 100.
`System lO0A preferably includes plurality of clients 110
`connected to Internet 114. The system lO0A also includes at
`least one media file source 116 which may be configured as
`computer system network 102 (FIG. 1). In any case, the
`media file source 116 is accessible through Internet 114 and
`provides at least one media file through Internet 114 for
`playing on client 110.
`
`[0022] As used herein, the term "media file" includes
`audio, video, textual, interactive and multimedia data files,
`and includes "streaming media files." Streaming media files
`include audio, video, multimedia, textual and interactive
`data files that are typically delivered over the Internet or
`other network environment to a client and playback on the
`
`client begins before delivery of the entire file is completed.
`This enables the stream to be played as quickly as possible
`without the user having to wait for a complete download.
`There is almost an unlimited variety of media content
`including songs, political speeches, news broadcasts, movie
`trailers, and playable animations.
`
`[0023] Millions of media files already exist and are avail(cid:173)
`able from media file sources 116 through the World Wide
`Web. Many of these media files comporting to a streaming
`media file format. While a variety of streaming media file
`formats exist, the vast majority of streaming media files have
`been encoded as either REALAUDIO™, REALVIDEO#,
`MICROSOFT WINDOWS MEDIA
`FORMAT™,
`FLASH™, APPLE QUICKTIME™, MPEG-2 Layer III
`Audio, and MP3. Certain files, such as MP3 files and
`QUICKTIME™, can be used as both streaming (not com(cid:173)
`pletely received) and downloaded ( completely received)
`files.
`
`[0024] The system lO0A also includes at least one cus(cid:173)
`tomer system 118, at least one advertisement system 120,
`and at least one media file index and log system 122. Each
`system 118, 120, and 122 are connected to Internet 114 and
`may be configured as computer system network 102
`described above in connection with FIG. 1. Each system is
`described below in detail in connection with a description of
`an exemplary embedded media player page. As used here(cid:173)
`after, "embedded media player page" refers to both the
`underlying code that directs the display of content by a
`browser and instructs the client to take certain actions and
`the content actually displayed as a Web page in a browser
`window.
`
`[0025] Before the details of an exemplary embedded
`media player page ar described, one preferred method of
`providing the embedded media player page is described. A
`user of client 110 accesses customer system 118 through
`Internet 114 using an Internet browser in a manner described
`above. Customer system 118 transmits a web page to client
`110 through Internet 114. Customer system 118 may be, for
`example, a Web portal site, which provides access to a wide
`variety of information through a common interface central(cid:173)
`ized in a location, e.g., sports news, world news, weather
`information, travel information, etc. Although customer
`system 118 is described herein as a Web portal site, it should
`be understood that this is in no way a requirement, and
`customer system 118 may provide any manner of content or
`services, for example, customer system 118 may provide
`audio broadcasts streamed from radio stations that are
`selected from the portal site.
`
`[0026] The Web page transmitted to client 110 from cus(cid:173)
`tomer system 118 includes a media file search prompt. Any
`phrase, icon, or the like which is "clickable" or which
`accepts an input from a user may be considered a prompt for
`the user to make a selection. Providing the user with two
`"clickable" alternatives is essentially the equivalent of
`directly prompting the user with a textual prompt to make a
`selection, e.g., "Please select A or B." Generally, the media
`file search prompt may be configured as a search window ( as
`is common with many search engines) and prompts the user
`to enter search criteria for a media file, such as a streaming
`audio or video file. The search criteria are transmitted to
`customer system 118, which then transmits the search cri(cid:173)
`teria through Internet 114 to media file index and log system
`
`Page 9 of 15
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`

`US 2004/0045040 Al
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`Mar. 4, 2004
`
`3
`
`122. Customer system 118 may license these search capa(cid:173)
`bilities or otherwise obtain the search capabilities from an
`entity that populates the media file index and log system
`122.
`
`purposes only, but some or all of the illustrated and
`described functions may be combined physically within one
`or more systems. For example, a customer system 118 may
`also provide the functions of an advertisement system 120.
`
`[0027] Media file index and log system 122 includes a
`database having indexed therein a plurality of media files.
`The database of media files preferably does not include
`media files themselves, but rather includes data identifying
`media files that are available from the plurality of media files
`sources 116 in system 100A. Examples of data stored for
`each respective media file indexed within the database
`include the Web address of the media file, such as in the form
`of a URI or URL referring to the media file, the playing
`length of the media file (i.e., the amount of time it takes a
`media file to play in a media player from beginning to end),
`a unique identifier for the media file, and the type of media
`file (SMIL file, audio file, video file, REALAUDIO™ file,
`WINDOWS MEDIA TM file, etc.). The database may also
`include description data describing the content of each
`indexed media file, and the database may be populated using
`conventional search engine techniques known to those of
`ordinary skill. One known technique utilizes a program,
`called a "robot" or "spider", which pre-traverses a network
`in search of documents (e.g., web pages) and builds large
`index files of keywords found in the documents. As an
`example, description data for an audio file may identify
`whether the audio data is musical in nature, the title of a
`song, the artist, the type of music, copyright data, etc.
`
`[0028] Media file index and log system 122 transmits
`search results through Internet 114 to customer system 118,
`such as in an XML format. Customer system 118 converts
`the XML results to an HTML (hypertext markup language)
`format and transmits the results to client 110 as a Web page
`that preferably includes a list of links to media files located
`at media file sources 116, satisfying a user's search criteria.
`As an example, a user at client 110 may enter a search
`request for "Pearl Harbor" and "movie trailer". The search
`request is received by customer system 118 and is transmit(cid:173)
`ted to media file index and log system 122, which then
`searches local and remote databases for indexed media files
`that satisfy the search request. Assuming five streaming
`video files are indexed that meet the user's search request,
`media file index and log system transmits the results to
`customer system 118. These results may include the playing
`length of each video file, the URI address of each video file,
`encoding bit rate of the video file, file format, a database
`identifier unique to each video file, frame dimensional data
`for each video file, or any other information contained
`within the database. The customer system 118 then transmits
`the search results in a customized HTML page to the client
`110 for display to the user using a browser of a client 110.
`
`[0029] The user of the client 110 may then decide to view
`the video data contained within a video file listed in the
`search results displayed to the user by clicking a link to one
`of the video files. When the user "clicks" on a link to a
`selected video file, a script file, such as a JavaScript file,
`transmitted to the client from the customer system 122
`instructs the client to request the embedded media player
`page from the customer system 122. The details of the
`embedded media player page are described below.
`
`It should be understood that FIG. 1A shows indi(cid:173)
`[0030]
`vidual systems as separate functional blocks for illustrative
`
`[0031] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary embedded
`media player page transmitted from customer system 118
`through Internet 114 and displayed to the user by a client
`110. Embedded media player page includes a reference to a
`functional media player object (such as a RealPlayer plug
`in). A reference is a tag (as a file locator as a universal
`resource indicator, URI, URL, or a file/object accessed
`through a directory structure) that refers to file, media
`object, or executable computer code stored in a memory
`structure. The media player object generally is resident on
`the client, although the reference tag could trigger a down(cid:173)
`load of a media player applet to control the output of a media
`file. Embedded media player page also includes a reference
`through a URL to one or more advertisements to be provided
`by at least one advertisement system 120 for display.
`Embedded media player page may also include a reference
`to one or more branding logos to be displayed. The reference
`to the branding logos may also be a URL address of a
`graphics file available from customer system 122 or com(cid:173)
`puter system 102. The graphics file may be in a graphics file
`format as a graphic interchange format (GIF), or another
`type of compressed/decompressed graphic file format.
`Embedded media player page may also include a search
`query input form (e.g., a search window) and clickable
`search command button. The above references and features
`may be contained within an HTML frameset.
`
`[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, the embedded media player
`page is shown in a pop-up window 200 generated by a
`browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, of a client 110.
`The embedded media player page includes video display
`area 202 (when the embedded player plays video files) and
`control 204 for controlling the output of a media file.
`Exemplary control 204 includes a play button, pause button,
`stop button, slider bar, forward and rewind buttons, and a
`status window for displaying buffer status information rel(cid:173)
`evant to streamed files. An autosizing feature of an exem(cid:173)
`plary embedded media player page is described hereafter in
`connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.
`
`[0033]
`If frame dimensional data for a selected video file
`is available at step 300, i.e., if it is available in media file
`index and log system 122, embedded media player page
`receives at step 302 frame dimensional data for the video file
`selected for playing by the user. In one embodiment, the
`frame dimensional data is transmitted to customer system
`118 from media file index and log system 122 and is
`forwarded to client 110 along with search results (if the
`frame dimensional data is available from media file index
`and log system 122). When the user selects a video file for
`viewing, the embedded media player page is transmitted
`from the customer system 118 to the client 110. Embedded
`media player page can then utilize frame dimensional data
`forwarded to client 110 as described above. Alternatively,
`frame dimensional data can be forwarded along with the
`embedded media player page to client 110, once the user
`makes a video file selection that prompts the transmission of
`the embedded media player page to the client 110. If frame
`dimensional data is not available, embedded media player
`page uses default values at step 301 that are transmitted
`along with the embedded media player page. It has been
`
`Page 10 of 15
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`US 2004/0045040 Al
`
`Mar. 4, 2004
`
`4
`
`found that default values of approximately 780 pixels for the
`width 202b of a video display area 202 and 348 pixels for the
`height 202a of a video display area are generally appropri(cid:173)
`ate, although other values may certainly be utilized.
`[0034] Frame dimensional data preferably include a frame
`height value and a frame width value for the video file that
`is to be played with the embedded media player page. These
`values may identify the total number of pixels in the height
`of an individual frame in the video data of the video file and
`the total number of pixels in the width of an individual frame
`in the video data of the video file. The media player is called
`as an object by the embedded media player page when
`launched (i.e., operated or run) within the embedded media
`player page at step 304. At step 306, the height 202a and
`width 202b (FIG. 2) of the video display area 202 are
`dynamically sized based upon the received frame dimen(cid:173)
`sional data or the default dimensional value (if the frame
`dimensional data for the video file is not available at step
`300).
`[0035] By dynamically sizing the video display area 202
`based upon the frame dimensional data, the video file data
`( e.g., the picture) is displayed at its intended dimensions or
`at a scale thereof as appropriate. Particularly with respect to
`SMIL files, the video data is displayed in an uncropped
`form, in contrast to prior embedded player pages, which
`crop video data, often making the video data un-viewable or
`at least unsatisfying.
`[0036] At step 308, the dimensions of the pop-up window
`200 in which the embedded media player page is displayed
`are sized based upon the frame dimensional data, and,
`therefore, based in part upon the sizing of the video display
`area 202. The pop-up window 200 is sized to accommodate
`the dynamically sized video display area 202, control 204
`and any other content of the embedded media player page.
`For example, the height 200a and width 200b of the pop-up
`window 200 may be sized based upon a predefined rule
`relating the dimensions 200a, 200b of the pop-up window to
`the dimensions 202a, 202b of the video display area 202. In
`one exemplary embodiment, a JavaScript file associated
`with the embedded media player page (i.e., transmitted
`along with the embedded media player page to the client
`110) adjusts various attributes of the pop-up window 200,
`such as the HSPACE, BORDER and/or VSPACE attributes
`of a Microsoft Internet Explorer browser window, according
`to the predefined rule.
`
`[0037] An exemplary embedded media player page also
`includes content displayed along at least one edge 203 of the
`video display area 202. This content may include, for
`example, advertisements 206, branding logos 208, a search
`window 210a and search command button 210b, to name a
`few types of content. This content is dynamically located
`within the embedded media player page at step 310. The
`dimensions of the player page, and therefore, of the popup
`window 200, may be sized to leave sufficient margin for the
`content between at least one edge 203 of the video display
`area 202 and the edges 201 of the pop-up window 200.
`
`[0038] Again, the positioning of this content relative to the
`edges 201 of pop-up window 200 and the edges 203 of the
`video display area 202 may be determined based upon a
`predefined rule, such as one that, for example, centrally
`locates a branding logo 208 between a selected edge 203 of
`the video display area 202 and a selected edge 201 of the
`
`pop-up window 200, or that centrally locates an advertise(cid:173)
`ment 206 between two opposite edges 201 of popup window
`200. Controls 204 may similarly be located. A predefined
`rule may even dynamically position content in relation to
`different edges 201, 203 based at least in part on the frame
`dimensional data. For example, if the frame dimensional
`data dictates a particularly large width 202b for the video
`display area, and a determination has been made that
`extremely wide pop-up windows are unattractive or cum(cid:173)
`bersome, selected content can be located above or below the
`video display area 202 rather than along a side edge 203 or
`edges 203 of the video display area 202.
`[0039] Search window 210a and search command button
`210b allow the user to request a search for media files, such
`as video files, indexed within media file index and log
`system 122. The search results may be displayed to the user
`in the original search results page described above. The user
`may then launch another embedded media player page in a
`second pop-up window by selecting a media file as
`described above. A media type checkbox grid (not shown)
`may also be displayed in the embedded media player page
`for allowing the user to limit a,search to a particular media
`type, such as WINDOWS MEDIA files or MP3 files.
`[0040] As mentioned in connection with FIG. lA, the
`embedded media player page includes a reference to one or
`more advertisements to be provided by at least one adver(cid:173)
`tisement system 120 for display as content within the
`embedded media player page. An example of an ad reference
`which instructs a client to request advertisements for inclu(cid:173)
`sion in the embedded media player page is: <IMGSRC=
`http://theadservercompany.com/ad.GIF>. The
`IMGSCR
`command identifies a file named "ad.GIP" (located at thead(cid:173)
`servercompany.com) as a screen image that is to be dis(cid:173)
`played within the embedded media player page.
`[0041] The media player located in an embedded media
`player page supports the type of media that a regular media
`player. Preferably, the embedded media player reference
`video files ( or other media file as appropriate in a non-video
`context), such as a SMIL streaming file, for playback. The
`embedded media player also supports the display of an
`advertisement (second video file or image), streamed from a
`secondary source. The streamed advertisement may be
`optionally adjusted in accordance with the sizing of the
`video file. Also, the streamed advertisement is selected in
`reference to the video file. For example, an HTML code is
`sent from customer system 118 to client 110 (the example
`referring to FIGS. 1 and 2):
`
`[0042] <EMBED TYPE="application/x-mplayer2"
`
`[0043] NAME="MediaPlayer"
`
`[0044] SRC="http://thestreamhost.com/thestrea(cid:173)
`m.asx"
`
`[0045] WIDTH=400 HEIGHT=320></EMBED>.
`
`[0046] The command "EMBED TYPE" is a MIME based
`command tha