Method for video enabled electronic commerce

Abstract

A method is provided for conducting commerce over a network via vision-enabled content. First, content is encoded to convert it into vision-enabled content. Payment is received for vision-enabling the content. Also, a program to decode the vision-enabled content is provided. Finally, the vision-enabled content is sent to a user over a network. The program decodes the vision-enabled content and receives an image of the user. The vision-enabled content may include advertising content, entertainment content, and educational or instructional content. In one embodiment, the program combines the image of the user with the vision-enabled content. In another embodiment, the program utilizes the image of the user to control the vision-enabled content.

1 . A method of providing vision-enabled content over a network, comprising:
 encoding content, at a server, into vision-enabled content, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject; and   sending a program to decode the vision-enabled content from the server to a computing device, the program including computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 decode vision-enabled content; 
 receive an image of a subject; and 
 combine the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending an upgrade for the program to the computing device, payment being received in exchange for the upgrade. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending vision-enabled content to a plurality of computing devices and receiving payment:
 based on an amount of computing devices receiving the vision-enabled content;   based on a quantity of vision-enabled content sent to computing devices over the network;   for encoding the content; or   any combination of the foregoing.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving data identifying a user operating the computing device;   recognizing an identity of the user based on the received data;   selecting vision-enabled content based on the identity of the user; and   sending the selected vision-enabled content to the computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving data regarding a user operating the computing device;   associating the user with a group based on the received data;   selecting vision-enabled content based on the association of the user with the group; and   sending the selected vision-enabled content to the computing device.   
     
     
         6 . A system for providing vision-enabled content, comprising:
 a processor that implements an encoder configured to encode content into vision-enabled content, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject; and   a communication interface configured to communicate a decoder to a computing device over a network, the decoder including computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 decode vision-enabled content; 
 receive an image of a subject; and 
 combine the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an applet that includes the vision-enabled content encoded by the encoder, the applet configured to be sent over the network to the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for providing vision-enabled content over a network, the computer program product being embodied in a computer storage medium and comprising computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 encode content into vision-enabled content, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject; and   send a program to decode the vision-enabled content to a computing device, the program being configured to:
 decode vision-enabled content; 
 receive an image of a subject; and 
 combine the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content. 
   
     
     
         9 . A system for providing vision-enabled content, the system comprising:
 means for encoding content into vision-enabled content, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject; and   means for sending a program to decode the vision-enabled content to a computing device, the program being configured to:
 decode vision-enabled content; 
 receive an image of a subject; and 
 combine the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content. 
   
     
     
         10 . A method for receiving vision-enabled content over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving vision-enabled content at a computing device, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject;   decoding the vision-enabled content at the computing device;   receiving an image of a subject at the computing device; and   combining the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vision-enabled content includes advertising content relating to an item of apparel, and wherein combining the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content includes compositing an image of the item of apparel with the received image of the subject, the method further comprising displaying the resulting composite image on a display of the computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vision-enabled content includes multi-player game content and wherein combining the received image of the subject with the multi-player game content includes compositing the received image of the subject with an animated character representing the subject in a multi-player game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 sending data representing the composited image of the subject and animated character to computing devices associated with players of the multi-player game;   receiving data representing respective composited images of the players with corresponding animated characters; and   displaying composited images of the players and corresponding animated characters on a display of the computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 performing body part recognition on a plurality of images of the subject;   interpreting movement of a body part of the subject within the plurality of images as a gesture; and   controlling the animated character within the multi-player game based on the gesture.   
     
     
         15 . A system for receiving vision-enabled content over a network, the system comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive a decoder and vision-enabled content, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject;   a processor that implements the decoder, the decoder including computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 decode the vision-enabled content; 
 receive an image of a subject; and 
 combine the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a camera configured to capture the image of the subject and provide the image of the subject to the decoder. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product for receiving vision-enabled content over a network, the computer program product being embodied in a computer storage medium and comprising computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 receive vision-enabled content at a computing device, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject;   decode the vision-enabled content at the computing device;   receive an image of a user at the computing device; and   combine the received image of the user with the vision-enabled content.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to combine the received image of the user with the vision-enabled content comprise computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 perform body part recognition on the received image of the user; and   composite the vision-enabled content to the received image of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to combine the received image of the user with the vision-enabled content comprise computer instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to:
 remove a background from the received image of the user to obtain an extracted image of the user;   perform body part recognition on the extracted image of the user; and   composite the vision-enabled content to the extracted image of the user.   
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 means for receiving vision-enabled content at a computing device, the vision-enabled content including content configured to interact with an image or plurality of images of a subject;   means for decoding the vision-enabled content at the computing device;   means for receiving an image of a subject; and   means for combining the received image of the subject with the vision-enabled content.