Video promotional and advertising systems for video on demand system

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide and implementing the client device to present the interactive media guide to said user. A system operator of the programmable media services server device is provided with an interface to the programmable media services server that includes control options within the interface to allow said system operator to command which of the plurality of promotional media is displayed in specific areas of said interactive media guide.

1 . A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of: 
 implementing an interactive media guide;    implementing said client device to present said interactive media guide to said user;    providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and    providing control options within said interface to allow said system operator to command which of said plurality of promotional media is to be displayed in specific areas of said interactive media guide.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user can command said interactive media guide to request more information regarding a media title.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said system operator has the ability to configure said programmable media services server to display a specific type of promotional media in association with said request of said user, and to display said specific type of promotional media in a specific format.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said specific type of promotional media comprises a trailer, a preview, and a still image.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said specific format of display comprises a segmented area of a catalog screen and a full screen display of said promotional media.  
   
   
       6 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of preview media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of: 
 providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and    providing control options within said interface to allow said system operator to dictate which of said plurality of preview media is available to said user and the functionality available to the user before, during, and after a preview.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said system operator can configure the duration of said preview and whether interactive media system prompts said user to purchase media being previewed.  
   
   
       22 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of: 
 implementing an interactive media guide to be presented to said user through said client device;    implementing a broadcast file server (BFS);    providing a system operator with an interface to said programmable media services server; and    prompting said system operator to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of promotional media could contain brand specific promotional media relevant to a plurality of service providers of said media.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of promotional media could contain advertisement media.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of promotional media are transmitted over said media services system to said client device from a source location of said broadcast file server.  
   
   
       12 . A method for an interactive media services system to provide a plurality of promotional media to a user through an interactive media services client device, said client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said method comprising steps of: 
 implementing an interactive media guide to be presented to said user through said client device;    implementing an external data source;    providing a means by which to access said programmable media services system applications externally; and    providing a means by which to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of promotional media are retrieved by said interactive media services system from said external data source and transmitted over said interactive media services system to said client device.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said external data source is a device that exists in the Internet and said plurality of promotional media is accessed by said interactive media services system per a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said means by which to access said media services system applications externally is a set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) through which control modules existing outside the interactive media services system can configure and modify said plurality of promotional media.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said means by which to configure and modify said interactive media guide viewed by said user with said plurality of promotional media is accessible to an application that provides constantly changing and updated said plurality of promotional media.