Inserting personalized information into digital content

[0001] The subject matter of this application relates generally to methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for inserting personalized information into digital content.

[0002] In recent years, the dissemination and availability of digital video content has grown exponentially. The development of recording and production technology such as handheld digital video cameras and advanced editing software, along with the expansion of hosting resources on the Internet, has allowed both traditional media outlets (e.g., television networks) and small, “do-it-yourself” content providers to create an array of diverse video content. In addition, the consumption of video content is no longer confined to the home computer or television set. The proliferation of portable media devices like the iPod Touch® from Apple® Computer, Inc. and the PSP® from Sony® Corporation has made digital video content readily available almost anywhere.

[0003] Despite the vast number of content choices, very few sources of digital video are customized for the person viewing the content. In order for the viewer to obtain personalized content (e.g., investment performance of the user's portfolio, personal credit card transaction summary, etc.), often the user has to connect to a different source—e.g, a website requiring discrete authentication in order to access the information. This means that the user opens multiple applications and/or switches back and forth between viewing the video content and the personalized information.

[0004] The current methods of providing “personalized” digital video content can utilize techniques like overlays created with the Adobe Flash family of products. Instead of inserting the personalized data into the video content stream on a frame-by-frame basis, the content provider converts the underlying video stream into a Flash application with specialized software, often using dedicated server hardware to execute the conversion. In addition, content files in protocols such as Flash sometimes require specific plug-ins in order to be played back. Availability of these plug-ins for a specific type of device might be limited.

[0005] In light of the above, it would be desirous to develop a system and method that can provide a fully-integrated stream of digital video content and personalized information such that a user can receive the digital video and the personalized information in one content-viewing experience. It would also be desirous to develop a system and method allowing for the distribution of a single video content stream containing personalized information for many users but where each user is permitted to view only the personalized information pertaining to him as part of the content stream.

[0006] In one aspect, there is a computerized method for personalizing video content. A request for digital video content is received by a computing device. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. Personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content is generated by the computing device. The personalized data and the requested video content are combined by the computing device. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content.

[0007] In another aspect, there is a system for personalizing video content. The system includes a computing device configured to receive a request for digital video content. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. Personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content is generated by the computing device. The personalized data and the requested video content are combined by the computing device. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content.

[0008] In another aspect, there is a system for personalizing video content. The system includes means for receiving a request for digital video content. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. The system includes means for generating personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content. The system includes means for combining the personalized data and the requested video content. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content.

[0009] In another aspect, there is a computer program product for personalizing video content. The computer program product includes instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to receive a request for digital video content. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. Personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content is generated by the data processing apparatus. The personalized data and the requested video content are combined by the data processing apparatus. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content.

[0010] In another aspect, there is a computerized method for displaying personalized video content. A personalized video content stream is received by a digital media player. The personalized video content stream includes personalized data associated with a user. The personalized data replaces one or more frames of requested video content. The personalized data is extracted from the one or more replaced frames of the video content stream. The personalized data and the video content stream are displayed to a user.

[0011] In another aspect, there is a system for displaying personalized video content. The system includes a computing device with a digital media player configured to receive a personalized video content stream. The personalized video content stream includes personalized data associated with a user. The personalized data replaces one or more frames of requested video content. The personalized data is extracted from the one or more replaced frames of the video content stream. The personalized data and the video content stream are displayed to a user.

[0012] In another aspect, there is a system for displaying personalized video content. The system includes means for receiving a personalized video content stream. The personalized video content stream includes personalized data associated with a user. The personalized data replaces one or more frames of requested video content. The system includes means for extracting the personalized data from the one or more replaced frames of the video content stream. The system includes means for displaying the personalized data and the video content stream to a user.

[0013] In another aspect, there is a computer program product for displaying personalized video content. The computer program produce includes instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to receive a personalized video content stream. The personalized video content stream includes personalized data associated with a user. The personalized data replaces one or more frames of requested video content. The personalized data is extracted from the one or more replaced frames of the video content stream by the data processing apparatus. The personalized data and the video content stream are displayed to a user by the data processing apparatus.

[0014] In some examples, any of the aspects can include one or more of the following features. The personalized data does not have to contain any video or audio associated with the requested video content. The personalized data can be unrelated to the requested video content.

[0015] The personalized data can be encrypted prior to combination with the requested video content. A portion of the personalized data can be associated with each of a plurality of different users. The portion of personalized data associated with a single user of the client device can be extracted by the client device. The portion of personalized data can be decrypted for display on the client device. The decrypting can be based on the authentication data associated with the single user.

[0016] Extracting the personalized data can include identifying one or more frames of the video content stream containing the personalized data and decompressing, decrypting, or both, the personalized data according to a specialized compression protocol.

[0017] The user of the client device can be authenticated based on the authentication data. The personalized video content can be encrypted based on the authentication data to allow only the user to access the personalized data associated with the user that is included in the personalized video content.

[0018] The personalized data and the requested video content can share a common characteristic, genre, subject matter, or any combination thereof. The personalized data can be based on a financial portfolio of the user.

[0019] The personalized data can be displayed to the user within the boundaries of an area displaying the video content stream. The personalized data can be displayed in a pop-in window associated with the media player. The personalized data can be displayed to the user outside of the boundaries of an area displaying the video content stream. The personalized data can be displayed in a pop-up window that is separate from the media player. The personalized data can be displayed in a fly-out window associated with the media player.

[0027] In general overview, the techniques described below includes methods and apparatuses that are for inserting personalized information into digital content. The techniques are related to extracting frames of digital video and/or audio from a video content stream and embedding frames of personalized information into the video stream.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 100 for inserting personalized information into digital content. The system 100 includes a client computing device 102, a communications network 104, a server computing device 106, a data source 108, and a video server 110. The server computing device 106, data source 108, and video server 110 can reside at the same physical location or may be dispersed to multiple physical locations. The server computing device 106, data source 108, and video server 110 can be integrated into the same physical device. Alternatively, or in addition the server computing device 106, data source 108, and/or video server 110 can be distributed over many devices. The server computing device 106, data source 108, and video server 110 can communicate via a communications network, e.g., communications network 104.

[0029] The client computing device 102 is the hardware that displays the personalized video content to a user. Example computing devices take on many forms, including but not limited to a personal computer, a standalone video player, a home video game console, a portable video game system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an internet appliance, a digital video recorder (DVR), a smart phone, a set-top box, or the like. The client computing device 102 includes network-interface components to enable the user to connect to a communications network 104, such as the Internet. The computing device 102 also includes digital content viewing and playback plug-ins or standalone software to enable the user to view both digital content (e.g., video and audio) and personalized information received over the communications network 104. The digital content playback software can be customized to play back only personalized video content received from the server computing device 106. Alternatively, the digital video content playback software can play back many different forms of content; such examples include Microsoft® Windows Media® Player, Adobe® Flash® Player, QuickTime® from Apple® Computer, Inc., or other similar applications.

[0030] The server computing device 106 communicates with the client computing device 102 via a communications network, e.g., communications network 104. The server computing device 106 receives requests for personalized video content from the client computing device 102. The server computing device 106 can generate a personalized video content stream for transmission to and playback on the client computing device 102.

[0031] The communications network 104 channels communications from the client computing device 102 to the server computing device 106 and back. The network 104 may be a local network, such as a LAN, or a wide area network, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web.

[0032] The data source 108 holds personalized information related to the user of the client computing device 102. When the server computing device 106 receives a request for video content from the client computing device 102, the server 106 can retrieve information from the data source 108 pertaining to that user for insertion into the personalized video content stream. Although one data source 108 is shown, there can be multiple data sources in the system 100. The data source 108 need not be a computing device hosting database applications, as in the traditional sense. In some examples, the data source 108 can be a communication link to sensors, GPS-enabled mobile devices, or other devices which can transmit data directly to the server 106 as that data is collected. In other examples, the data source 108 can be a data feed received from various commercial entities which collect and make the requisite data available for retrieval by the server 106. In still other examples, the data source 108 is a computing device hosting database applications.

[0033] The video server 110 hosts video content for use by the server computing device 106. When the server computing device 106 receives a request for video content from the client computing device 102, the server 106 can locate the requested video content on the video server 110 to generate the personalized video content stream. The video content can take a variety of forms. The video content can be a ‘live’ stream. The video content can be a pre-recorded stream or clip. The video content can be short-form content, i.e., a four-minute music video. The video content can be long-form content, i.e., a thirty-minute television program. In some examples, the video content is a user-submitted amateur video or video podcast. In other examples, the video content is a professional television show, motion picture, webcast, music video or other similar content. The video content can be an advertisement (e.g., a commercial) or other promotional content. In some examples, the video content can exist in a standard compression protocol, such as MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. Alternatively, the video content can exist in a customized and/or proprietary compression protocol.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for inserting personalized information into digital content. The server computing device 106 receives (202) a request for video content from a client computing device 102 associated with a user. The server 106 retrieves (204) personalized information to be inserted into the video content from one or more data sources 108. The server 106 also retrieves (204) the requested video content from the video server 110. The retrieving steps 204 can be performed in parallel or in any order. The server 106 inserts the personalized information into the digital video content to generate personalized video content by replacing (208) one or more frames of video content with personalized information. The server 106 then transmits (210) the personalized video content to the client computing device 102 for playback to the user.

[0035] In some examples, the request sent from the client computing device 102 can include authentication data associated with the user and in other examples, the authentication data can be received before or after the request for the video content. The authentication data can comprise a username, password, personal identification number (PIN), digital certificate, pass code, or other similar credentials used to identify the user. A preferred embodiment, although not required, would incorporate two or more of the authentication data types in combination to identify the user. The server 106 can use the authentication data to determine whether to retrieve personalized information for the user, and if so, what types and quantity of personalized information to retrieve. In one example, the server 106 can create a secure cookie associated with the client device 102 to ensure that the user only has access to his personalized data. In another example, the user may decline to supply authentication data as part of the request. As a result, the server 106 may not retrieve any personalized information and instead send the unmodified video content back to the user. In other examples, the server 106 may determine that the user can be authenticated to only a discrete subset of available data sources (e.g., data source 108) or a discrete subset of data elements found in one or more data sources. The server 106 could then insert personalized information retrieved from the subset of data sources or data elements, whereas another user whose authentication data allows the server 106 full access to all available data sources may receive a much broader range of personalized information.

[0036] In some examples, the server 106 can receive a request for video content from a client 102 and determine a characteristic associated with the video content. In some examples, the request and/or the video content can include a ‘tag’ or other embedded indicia that identifies the characteristic. In other examples, the server 106 can conduct a speech or text analysis of the video content in order to determine the characteristic. The characteristic can be broad in scope (e.g., genre or subject matter of the video) or the characteristic can be more narrow (e.g., specific persons or companies named in the video). For example, the requested video content may generally discuss recent stock market trends or the latest corporate mergers. Upon receiving the request and/or retrieving the requested video content from the video server 110, the server 106 can determine that a characteristic of the video content is its financial subject matter. In another example, the server 106 can utilize speech recognition techniques to analyze the audio component of the video content and conclude that a person in the video is referring to Fidelity Corporation. As a result, the server 106 can determine that a characteristic of the video content is its mention of Fidelity.

[0037] In some examples, the server 106 can use the identified characteristic to retrieve personalized information that is both associated with the user and related to the characteristic in some way. For example, the server 106 could retrieve a current stock quote of Fidelity Corporation based on the server's 106 identification of Fidelity as a characteristic of the video content and the server's 106 determination that the requesting user holds shares of one or more Fidelity mutual funds in his brokerage account. In other examples, the server 106 could retrieve a recent portfolio transaction summary for the user based on a video content characteristic of general investment advice and the server's 106 determination that the user has a portfolio with Fidelity Investments.

[0038] In other examples, the server 106 does not need to identify a characteristic of the video content or associate an identified characteristic with the personalized information. The video content and the personalized information do not have to contain any similarity in subject matter or any other characteristic. For instance, the server 106 can retrieve a recent credit card transaction history for the user from the data source 108 upon receiving a request for a recent episode of a national network sitcom.

[0039] In determining what types of personalized information to retrieve from the data source 108, the server 106 can determine if the user has specified any personalized information preferences. In some examples, the preferences can be specified in the request received from the client computing device 102, or the preferences can be part of a user profile stored in a data source 108 and retrieved by the server 106 when a video content request is received from that particular user. For example, the user could specify as a preference that he always wants to see his current bank account balance when he requests any video content. Thereafter, when the server 106 receives a video content request from that user, the server 106 can consult a data source 108 containing the preference and retrieve his balance information in generating the personalized video content.

[0040] In some examples, the user profile can include various types of information related to the user (e.g., demographics, finances, interests, etc.) and associated with a specific entity (e.g., Fidelity Investments.). The entity can be the same entity that distributes the video content. For example, the user could hold a Fidelity mutual fund account, and the user profile could contain information regarding the account. In other examples, the user profile can include information from third-party sources such as, for example, credit card companies, banks, social networking websites, email services, etc. The user profile can include information entered by the user and information retrieved from internal and/or external data sources. The user profile can be configurable by the user via a network application (e.g., a web page). The user could log in and update his user profile associated with delivery of video content. For example, the user could log in to his Fidelity account page and he could see that his Fidelity account is associated with two credit cards (e.g., one for his own use and one for his wife's use). The user could configure his user profile to restrict the display of personalized information so that only information associated with the credit card for his own use appears when he requests video content.

[0041] After the server 106 retrieves the requested video content and the personalized information, the server 106 generates the personalized video content by replacing one or more frames of the digital video content with the personalized information. FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 of exemplary frame extraction and insertion for inserting personalized information into digital content.

[0042] Generally, traditional video compression techniques operate using the concept of ‘frames.’ A video content stream is usually divided up into raw, uncompressed frames, which are then compressed by using an algorithm to identify and eliminate many of the redundant data between frames. The resulting compressed frame is then classified as a specific type of frame. For example, the MPEG-2 compression protocol uses intra-coded frames (I-frame), predictive-coded frames (P-frames), and bidirectionally-predictive-coded frames (B-frames). When a media player or other device receives the compressed video content, the player applies the reverse algorithm to restore each frame to substantially the same as the corresponding raw frame in order to display the content.

[0043] Similar techniques can be associated with the claimed invention, as shown in FIG. 3. At time one, the server 106 has retrieved the personalized information and at least a portion of the requested video content stream 310. The server 106 can determine one or more video content frames 320 to remove from the video content stream. In some examples, the server 106 can determine which video frames to remove based on considerations such as, for example, impact to the overall video quality, continuity of the video content, buffering capacity, or other similar considerations. In other examples, the video stream 310 may have pre-assigned frames that can be extracted or ‘empty’ frames in which the server 106 can insert the personalized information.

[0044] Once the server 106 has removed the identified video frames 320, at time two the server 106 can convert the personalized information into frames 340 that comply and/or can be integrated with a data compression protocol and insert the frames 340 at the locations in the video content stream 330 where the video frames have been removed.

[0045] In some examples, the server 106 can also encrypt the personalized information either before or after converting the information into frames 340 and inserting the frames 340 into the video content stream 330. Due to the sensitive nature of some types of personalized data such as financial records, the server 106 can apply known encryption techniques to the personalized information so that a person who inadvertently or purposefully intercepts the transmitted video content cannot gain access to the personalized data contained therein. The server 106 can also use the authentication data received from the user as part of the data encryption techniques. The client computing device 102 can receive the encrypted video content and subsequently decrypt the content for purposes of displaying the video and personalized information to the user.

[0046] In some embodiments, as part of the receipt and display of video content, the server 106 can create an individualized session (or ‘tunnel’) between itself and the client computing device 102. During the session, the personalized video content is transmitted from the server 106 to the client 102 in a streaming fashion, and the server 106 can dynamically change the personalized data ‘mid-stream.’ For example, the user could request video content associated with a financial news network. The server 106 can receive the request, retrieve the video content, and insert personalized data regarding news headlines for companies whose stock the user currently owns. The server 106 can transmit the personalized video content to the client computing device 102, creating a session. During playback of the video content, one of the stocks contained in the user's account could reach a certain benchmark (e.g., reach a 52-week high price). The server 106 could detect this benchmark, and insert a price alert as personalized data into the video content while the user is watching the content. When the price alert reaches the client computing device 102, the device 102 no longer displays the news headlines but instead displays the alert to the user. In other examples, the device 102 could prompt the user for confirmation before displaying the alert. If the user indicates that he does not want to view the alert, the server 106 would continue providing the news headlines as personalized information. The technique of dynamically changing personalized information during playback of the video content has the advantage of providing up-to-date information to the user, creating a more useful and interesting video content experience.

[0047] In other examples, the server 106 can check the size and integrity of the data frames 340 placed into the video content stream 330. Example data integrity techniques known in the art, such as hashing, can be used to perform the check.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a depiction of a media player 400 for display of personalized video content on a client device (e.g., client computing device 102). The media player 400 can be a customized software application designed for compatibility with the personalized video content. The media player 400 includes a video content display area 402, and playback controls such as a play/pause button 404a, a scrubber bar 404b, a volume control 404c, and a time indicator 404d (collectively playback controls 404). The media player 400 also includes pop-in window area 406 and a fly-out window area 408, preferably hidden from view when the video content playback begins. A pop-up window (not shown) that is separate from the media player 400 can also be included. The pop-in window 406, fly-out window 408, and/or the pop-up window can be used to display the personalized information, as described in greater detail below.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for displaying the personalized video content to the user via a media player, e.g., media player 400. Once the server 106 has generated the personalized video content, the server 106 transmits (502) the video content to a client computing device 102 associated with the requesting user. The client device 102 displays the video content and personalized information to the user via the media player 400 located on the client device 102. Upon receiving the personalized video content for playback, the media player 400 buffers (504) the content into a temporary storage buffer (e.g., a memory or other storage device located on the client device 102). During the buffering process, the media player 400 analyzes (506) the frames of the personalized video content and determines the type of frame (e.g., I-frame, P-frame, B-frame or personalized data frame). If the type of frame is associated with the video content, the media player 400 decompresses (508) the frame back into the raw form so the frame can be displayed to the user and places the frame into the buffer. If the type of frame is associated with the personalized information, the media player 400 extracts (510) the personalized information from the frame and stores the information in a storage device for use during playback of the video content.

[0050] In some examples, the media player 400 receives the personalized video content from the server device 106 in an encrypted form. In other examples, only the frames in the personalized video content stream which are associated with the personalized information are encrypted. The media player 400 can decrypt the personalized video content based on a predefined encryption algorithm. Decryption can also be performed by the media player 400 in conjunction with authentication of the user. For example, the media player 400 can use authentication credentials received from the user, the server device 106, and or retrieved from the client device 102 as part of the decryption techniques. In other examples, the media player 400 can request the user to provide authentication credentials before playback of the video content begins. In still other examples, the media player 400 can authenticate the user by communicating with the server device 106 to confirm the identity and authorization of the user to view the requested content. The media player 400 can cancel playback of the requested video content if authentication of the user and/or decryption of the personalized video content is not successful. Alternatively, the media player 400 can limit or cancel display of only the personalized information if authentication and/or decryption is not successful, and continue with playback of the video content stream.

[0051] When the media player 400 begins playback of the personalized video content, the video content stream is displayed in the video content display area 402. The user can manipulate the playback controls 404 to affect the display or other characteristics of the video (e.g., volume). When the video completes, the user can opt to restart the video from the beginning, or use the scrubber bar 404b to ‘rewind’ the video to a specific point.

[0052] During playback of the video content, the media player 400 can also display the personalized information. The media player 400 can use the pop-in window 406 to display a portion of the personalized information within the boundaries of the video content display area 402. In some examples, the pop-in window can completely obstruct the user's view of the video content. In other examples, the pop-in window 406 can be transparent or opaque, allowing the user to see the video content underneath. The pop-in window 406 can appear for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., ten seconds) before automatically disappearing, or the pop-in window 406 can appear continuously throughout the playback of the video until the user takes action (e.g., clicks a button in the media player 400 or presses a key on the client device 102) to remove the pop-in window 406. Once the pop-in window 406 is closed, a button can appear which allows the user to re-open the pop-in window. The pop-in window 406 can be triggered to appear based on a specific time reference point in the video content. For example, the media player 400 can display the personalized information in the pop-in window 406 when the elapsed time of the video content reaches, e.g., 02:25. In other examples, the pop-in window 406 can be triggered to appear based on the currently displayed video content.

[0053] In similar fashion, the media player 400 can use the fly-out window 408 to display a portion of the personalized information outside of the boundaries of the video content display area 402. The fly-out window 408 can appear at the top, bottom, or sides of the video content display area 402. The fly-out window can also appear somewhere else on the screen not attached to the video player and/or in a separate window, like a pop-up window. The fly-out window 408 can have the same characteristics as the pop-in window 406 described above.

[0054] In other embodiments of the claimed invention, the server 106 can retrieve personalized data for a plurality of users and generate a single personalized video content stream for transmission to the plurality of users. The server 106 can thereby avoid having to generate a personalized video content stream for each user in a group of users requesting the same video. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system 600 for inserting personalized information of a plurality of different users into digital content.

[0055] For example, User A 602a and User B 602b are both holders of shares in a particular mutual fund (e.g., Freedom Fund offered by Fidelity Corporation). User A is associated with client computing device 604a and User B is associated with client computing device 604b. The client computing devices 604a and 604b communicate with the server device 606. In a case where the data is not confidential data, such as the performance data of the Freedom Fund, this data is transmitted to both User A 602a and User B 602b in an unencrypted form and displayed to each user in their corresponding video players as described above.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a method 700 for inserting personalized information of a plurality of different users into digital content. Upon logging in to Fidelity's web site via communication with, e.g., the server device 606, the users 602a and 602b are each presented with a link to video content associated with the Freedom Fund. Both User A 602a and User B 602b click the link to request (702) the video content 608 from the server computing device 606. As described above, the server device 606 can retrieve (704) the video content from a video server (e.g., video server 110) and the personalized information (e.g., current share value) from a data source (e.g., data source 108) for all persons holding shares in the Freedom Fund. The server device 106 can generate (706) personalized video content 608 by replacing video frames from the video content with frames containing the personalized information of all persons.

[0057] The server device 606 transmits the same personalized video content stream 608 to each user 602a and 602b. In some examples, the users receiving the transmission may have all registered to receive a Web seminar on the Freedom Fund scheduled to be displayed at a specific time. In other examples, the users receiving the transmission may have all requested the transmission within the same time period, for example, all within 20 seconds of each other, and therefore receive the transmission as a multicast transmission for ease of distribution. When the content stream 608 is received by the respective client devices 604a and 604b, the media player on each device extracts the personalized information from the content stream 608. In some examples, the media player can determine the identity of User A 602a by authenticating (708) User A based on credentials associated with User A. Once User A 602a is authenticated, the media player can extract only the personalized information associated with User A that is contained in the video content stream 608. In some examples, the media player can also decrypt (710) the personalized information using a decryption technique and based on the authentication credentials. Similarly, the media player on the client device 604b of User B 602b can authenticate User B and extract only the personalized information associated with User B that is contained in the video stream 608. Both User A 602a and User B 602b view the same requested video content, but according to the above techniques, each user 602a and 602b sees, for example, his or her personal current share value displayed and not the share value of any other user during video playback. These techniques can be applied to any number of different users, affording the content provider a great deal of processing efficiency while still retaining the private nature of the personalized information.

[0058] The above-described systems and methods can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, in computer hardware, firmware, and/or software. The implementation can be as a computer program product (i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in a computer readable storage medium). The implementation can, for example, be in a machine-readable storage device and/or include a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The implementation can, for example, be a programmable processor, a computer, and/or multiple computers.

[0059] A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled and/or interpreted languages, and the computer program can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a subroutine, element, and/or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site.

[0060] Method steps can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps can also be performed by and an apparatus can be implemented as special purpose logic circuitry. The circuitry can, for example, be a FPGA (field programmable gate array), an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), a DSP (digital signal processor), and/or any other discrete circuitry that is configured to implement the required functions. Modules, subroutines, and software agents can refer to portions of the computer program, the processor, the special circuitry, software, and/or hardware that implements that functionality.

[0061] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer can include, can be operatively coupled to receive data from and/or transfer data to one or more mass storage devices for storing data (e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks).

[0062] Data transmission and instructions can also occur over a communications network. Computer readable mediums suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices. The computer readable mediums can, for example, be EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory devices, magnetic disks, internal hard disks, removable disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROM, and/or DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, and/or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry.

[0063] To provide for interaction with a user, the above described techniques can be implemented on a computer having a display device or a transmitting device. The display device can be, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) and/or a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. The interaction with a user can be, for example, a display of information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer (e.g., interact with a user interface element). Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user. Other devices can be, for example, feedback provided to the user in any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback). Input from the user can be, for example, received in any form, including acoustic, speech, and/or tactile input.

[0064] The client device and the computing device can include, for example, a computer, a computer with a browser device, a telephone, an IP phone, a mobile device (e.g., cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) device, smart phone, laptop computer, electronic mail device), and/or other communication devices. The browser device includes, for example, a computer (e.g., desktop computer, laptop computer) with a world wide web browser (e.g., Microsoft® Internet Explorer® available from Microsoft Corporation, Mozilla® Firefox available from Mozilla Corporation). The mobile computing device includes, for example, a Blackberry® or iPhone®.

[0065] The web servers can be, for example, a computer with a server module (e.g., Microsoft® Internet Information Services available from Microsoft Corporation, Apache Web Server available from Apache Software Foundation, Apache Tomcat Web Server available from Apache Software Foundation).

[0066] The above described techniques can be implemented in a distributed computing system that includes a back-end component. The back-end component can, for example, be a data server, a middleware component, and/or an application server. The above described techniques can be implemented in a distributing computing system that includes a front-end component. The front-end component can, for example, be a client computer having a graphical user interface, a Web browser through which a user can interact with an example implementation, and/or other graphical user interfaces for a transmitting device. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network).

[0067] The system can include clients and servers. A client and a server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0068] The above described communication networks can be implemented in a packet-based network, a circuit-based network, and/or a combination of a packet-based network and a circuit-based network. Packet-based networks can include, for example, the Internet, a carrier internet protocol (IP) network (e.g., local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus area network (CAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), home area network (HAN)), a private IP network, an IP private branch exchange (IPBX), a wireless network (e.g., radio access network (RAN), 802.11 network, 802.16 network, general packet radio service (GPRS) network, HiperLAN), and/or other packet-based networks. Circuit-based networks can include, for example, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a private branch exchange (PBX), a wireless network (e.g., RAN, bluetooth, code-division multiple access (CDMA) network, time division multiple access (TDMA) network, global system for mobile communications (GSM) network), and/or other circuit-based networks.

[0069] Comprise, include, and/or plural forms of each are open ended and include the listed parts and can include additional parts that are not listed. And/or is open ended and includes one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts.

[0070] One skilled in the art will realize the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting of the invention described herein.