Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced or interactive features

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced or interactive features over a network. In one embodiment, the exemplary apparatus and methods leverage extant high-bandwidth capabilities of a managed network, and enable a user to create a playlist of content, clips, advertisements, from among currently broadcast content, stored content, user generated content, web or other network content. The user can upload user-generated or other content to the network such as for selection into a playlist at higher rates using a network operator-provided wireless (e.g., WMAN) dongle. Additional interactive features include, among other, enhancements which enable user participation individually or with other subscribers in live or recorded content-based group activities (such as e.g., cooking, exercising, group viewing, dating, and learning/teaching). Further interactive gaming and couponing options are also provided. Still further, the present apparatus and methods may be used to provide general public use wireless access from existing private user devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling user interaction with content over a managed content delivery network, said method comprising:
 providing a first user access to first content via said managed content delivery network;   providing access to one or more applications which enable said first user to generate second content, said second content comprising a manipulation of one or more aspects of said first content; and   enabling said user to make said second content accessible to one or more second users.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first user, and the one or more second users, are each subscribers of the managed content delivery network; and   the first content is content that is restricted in access to subscribers of the managed content delivery network.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation of said one or more aspects of said first content comprises a manipulation of a date and/or time for playback thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said accessibility of said second content to said one or more second users comprises publication of a playlist of said second content, said playlist being selectable for playback by said one or more second users. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation of said one or more aspects of said first content comprises identifying a particular segment of said first content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation of said one or more aspects of said first content comprises an addition of third content to said first content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said third content comprises ad hoc user-generated content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said accessibility of said second content to said one or more second users comprises enabling said first user to upload said second content to a social media site. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first user, and the one or more second users, are each subscribers of the managed content delivery network; and   said one or more second users comprise previously identified ones of a plurality of users having one or more associations to said first user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more associations comprise the first user identifying the one or more second users as at least one of friends and/or family. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling said one or more second users to rate said second content and/or said first user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the rating by said one or more second users to at least in part determine a ranking of said second content in a presentation user interface (UI) presented to said one or more second users. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation of said one or more aspects of said first content comprises obtaining metadata therefrom for incorporation into a list of metadata for use in generation of said second content. 
     
     
         14 . A method of enabling a plurality of users to actively participate with content delivered over a content delivery network, said method comprising:
 notifying said plurality of users of an event, said event being enabled for participation and relating to particular content;   scheduling a date and time for delivery of said particular content associated with said event;   delivering said particular content associated with said event to said plurality of users; and   enabling said plurality of users to interactively participate in said event, said interaction comprising at least one of interaction of individual ones of said plurality of users independent of other ones of said plurality, or interaction of individual ones of said plurality of users simultaneously with one another.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing materials needed for participation in said event to at least one of said plurality of users in advance of said delivery of said content associated with said event. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said event comprises a group cooking lesson, and said materials comprise cooking materials and/or ingredients, said materials being provided by a third party provider selected based at least in part on an ability to provide said materials in sufficient time in advance of said event so as to be useful to said at least one of said plurality of users. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said content delivery network comprises a managed content delivery network, and said participation comprises enabling real-time video, audio, and/or text messaging during said delivery of said content associated with said event, said real-time video, audio, and/or text messaging being provided at least in part over said managed content delivery network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said event comprises at least one of educational instruction or exercise instruction, and said participation comprises said real-time video, audio, and/or text messaging during said delivery of said content associated with said event occurring between an instructor and students. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising randomly pairing two of said users, and wherein said participation comprises said real-time video, audio, and/or text messaging during said delivery of said content associated with said event occurring between said two of said users. 
     
     
         20 . A method for interaction of a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery network with a content element delivered over said network, said method comprising:
 determining a threshold number of subscribers required for participation in an event, said event being associated with said content element;   notifying said plurality of subscribers of said event associated with said content element;   enabling individual ones of said plurality of subscribers to designate an interest in participation in said event; and   when a number of interested ones of said plurality of subscribers meets said threshold number, causing said event to occur for only said interested ones of said plurality of subscribers.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said event comprises a coupon relating to good or services, and said threshold number is determined by a provider of said goods and/or services. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said event comprises a video-on-demand purchase, and said threshold number is determined by an operator of said content delivery network. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said event comprises a gaming event, and said method further comprises:
 providing said interested ones of said plurality of subscribers a list of items to be identified within playback of identified content; and   enabling said interested ones of said plurality of subscribers to identify or demarcate said items from said list within said playback of said identified content.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said event comprises a for-profit or not-for-profit gambling event, and said method further comprises enabling said interested ones of said plurality of subscribers to engage in said event by placing wagers on one or more aspects of said identified content. 
     
     
         25 . A network server configured to provide a plurality of enhanced interactive features to a plurality of subscribers in said network, said server comprising:
 a storage entity;   at least one network interface; and   a digital processor in data communication with the storage entity and the at least one interface, the processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed:
 perform one or more decision-making tasks associated with said enhanced interactive features relating to particular content; 
 randomize at least a portion of data stored at said storage entity; 
 enable said plurality of subscribers to modify said particular content; 
 generate one or more reports relating to interactivity of said plurality of subscribers with said particular content; and 
 enable publication of at least one of said modified particular content and said one or more reports relating to interactivity. 
   
     
     
         26 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more decision-making tasks comprise one or more tasks necessary for a determination of a plurality of contacts to present to a particular subscriber. 
     
     
         27 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more decision-making tasks comprise one or more tasks necessary for a determination of whether a particular answer submitted by a subscriber participating in a game is correct. 
     
     
         28 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said one or more decision-making tasks comprise one or more tasks necessary for a determination of a match between two subscribers based at least in part on a compatibility algorithm. 
     
     
         29 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said randomization comprises randomizing at least one of: (i) said plurality of subscribers to generate random subscriber matches, (ii) a plurality of programming content for randomly selecting said particular content, and/or (iii) a plurality of question or item lists. 
     
     
         30 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said modification of said particular content comprises segmentation of at least a portion thereof based at least in part on one or more user-positioned flags within said particular content. 
     
     
         31 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said modification of said particular content comprises utilization of a user-created overlay of video, audio, and/or text. 
     
     
         32 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein said reports relating to said interactivity of said plurality of subscribers with said particular content comprise statistics regarding one or more of: (i) program and/or advertisement viewing, (ii) gaming winners, (iii) game updates, and (iv) offer or coupon participation updates. 
     
     
         33 . A method of enabling user interaction with content over a managed content delivery network, said method comprising:
 delivering a first plurality of content channels to a subscriber;   collecting a plurality of data relating to one or more interactions of said subscriber with individual ones of said first plurality of content channels;   identifying, based at least in part on said plurality of data, one or more of said individual ones of said first plurality of content channels for removal from said delivery; and   identifying, based at least in part on said plurality of data, one or more of a second plurality of content channels for said delivery in place of said individual ones of said first plurality of content channels.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said act of identifying one or more of said individual ones of said first plurality of content channels for removal from said delivery is based at least in part on said plurality of data indicating a prescribed interaction of said subscriber with said individual ones of said first plurality of content channels. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said act of identifying one or more of a second plurality of content channels for said delivery is based at least in part on said plurality of data indicating a given level of interaction of said subscriber with second individual ones of said first plurality of content channels, and wherein said second ones of said plurality of content channels are selected as being related to a context of one or more of said second individual ones of said first plurality of content channels. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising removing, after a predetermined length of time, said one or more of a second plurality of content channels from said delivery, and again delivering said one or more of said individual ones of said first plurality of content channels.