Interactive data stream

Abstract

The present invention is geared generally towards the transmission of data, such as images, audio, video, or text, as a continuous stream via a network to recipients. In particular, the present invention relates to enabling the transmission of data to recipients and enabling the recipients to interact and influence the content of the transmission.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a device configured to receive a data stream including content data from a data server, the data server being configured to provide the same data stream to one or more other devices for presentation of the same content data by the respective one or more other devices,   wherein the device is configured to present the content data of the data stream to a user, the content data including a plurality of visual elements, the device being configured to present the content data including being configured to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on a screen,   wherein the device is configured to receive an indication of a user action, or an indication of user interaction with the content data of the data stream,   wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the user action or user interaction, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user action or user interaction, the adjusted content data including different visual elements or the same visual elements arranged in a different position, and   wherein the device being configured to receive a data stream includes being configured to receive the data stream further including the adjusted content data, and being configured to present the content data includes being configured to further present the adjusted content data, the data server being configured to provide the same data stream to the one or more other devices for further presentation of the same adjusted content data by the respective one or more other devices.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is one of a computer or a mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content data includes one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including input regarding one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including a request for further information regarding one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of a visual element different from the visual elements of the of the content data, the selected visual element including one or more of image data or video data,
 wherein the device is configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction, including being configured to upload the selected visual element, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the device being configured to receive the indication of user interaction includes being configured to further receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user,
 wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to upload the selected visual element and location identifier or contact information, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the selected, uploaded visual element and location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element and location identifier or contact information.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device being configured to receive the indication of user action or user interaction includes being configured to receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact the information for the user,
 wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit the location identifier or contact information, the data server being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content data of the data stream includes information for a plurality of goods or services available for purchase,
 wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of one of the goods or services, and   wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit the selection, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data to add a second data stream to include the selected good or service and any other of the goods or services for which the data server receives selection from a predetermined number of the device and the one or more other devices, the second data stream thereby including goods or services designated as being popular goods or services.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the visual elements of the content data include empty advertising space interspersed with other visual elements,
 wherein the device is configured to receive the indication of user interaction, the indication including selection of the empty advertising space,   wherein the device being configured to transmit data associated with the user interaction includes being configured to transmit an indication of selection of the empty advertising space, the data server thereby being configured to cause the device to present a prompt to permit the user to input advertising data, and   wherein the device is configured to receive further user interaction including being configured to receive the advertising data, the device being configured to transmit further data associated with the user interaction including being configured to transmit the advertising data, the data server thereby being configured to adjust the content data of the data stream to add the advertising data to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added advertising data.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a data server configured to provide a data stream including content data to a plurality of devices for presentation of the content data of the data stream to users of the respective devices, the content data including a plurality of visual elements, the data server being configured to provide the data stream for the respective devices to scroll or slide the visual elements arranged in a position on respective screens,   wherein data server is configured to receive, data associated with a user action, or data associated with a user interaction with the content data of the data stream at the respective one of the devices,   wherein the data server is configured to adjust the content data of the data stream per the user action or user interaction, the adjusted content data including different visual elements or the same visual elements arranged in a different position, and   wherein the data server being configured to provide a data stream further includes being configured to provide the data stream further including the adjusted content data to the plurality of devices for further presentation of the adjusted content of the data stream to the users of the respective devices.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the content data includes one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including one or more of image data, textual data, video data or audio data. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction includes being configured to receive, the data including input regarding one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including a request for further information regarding one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including a request to purchase a good or service associated with one or more elements of the content data. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein data server is configured to receive the data associated with user interaction, the data including an uploaded visual element different from the visual elements of the of the content data, the uploaded visual element including one or more of image data or video data,
 wherein the data server being configured to adjust the content data includes being configured to add the uploaded visual element to the content data, the adjusted content data including the uploaded, added visual element.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the data server being configured to receive data associated with user action or user interaction includes being configured to receive a location identifier reflecting a geographic location or contact information for the user, and
 wherein the data server being configured to adjust the content data includes being configured to add the location identifier or contact information to the content data, the adjusted content data including the added location identifier or contact information.