The invention relates generally to the field of interactive video, or hypervideo, and in particular to processing selections within interactive video.

Description of Related Art

Video has been shown to increase the effectiveness of online commerce and learning through helping people understand products and concepts. There have been many attempts to make video interactive in order to bring the benefits of a 'hyper' medium to a moving image format. Hypervideo, or hyperlinked video, is a displayed video stream that contains embedded, user clickable anchors, allowing navigation between video and other hypermedia elements.

Hypervideo is thus analogous to hypertext, which allows a reader to click on a word in one document and retrieve information from another document, or from another place in the same document. That is, hypervideo combines video with a non-linear information structure, allowing a user to make choices based on the content of the video and the user's interests.

A crucial difference between hypervideo and hypertext is the element of time. Text is normally static, while a video is necessarily dynamic; the content of the video changes with time. Consequently, hypervideo has different technical, aesthetic, and rhetorical requirements than a static hypertext page. For example, hypervideo might involve the creation of a link from an object in a video that is visible for only a predetermined duration. It is therefore necessary to segment the video appropriately and add metadata to link from frames or objects in a video to information in other media forms.

One example of a practical implementation of hypervideo is described in international patent publication WO 00/42768. Here, a placement zone and a corresponding trigger zone are created to overlay video content, so that when the trigger zone is selected, an action is carried out in relation to a product shown in the placement zone. The action is carried out via a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and includes a product purchase action, a promotion participation action, or an information request action each conveniently facilitated by the provision of HTML pages, XML pages, CGI scripts or the like.

However, the hypervideo system of WO 00/42768 provides a technically complicated solution which is relatively expensive to produce, and which provides a fractured viewing experience to the user. In the applicant's view, currently available hypervideo systems are not fulfilling commercial potential.

An aim of the invention is to provide an improved hypervideo system. In particular, the invention aims to provide one or more of a technically simpler solution, a relatively more cost- effective solution and a less fractured viewing experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention attempts to solve these problems by allowing interaction to take place while the video carries on playing. Rather than interrupt the video during playback to activate the content, the invention defers the activation of the content. This is achieved by creating a list of all the products or services that the user has expressed an interest in, and by displaying the list at the end of the video or when the user chooses to view the list. From the list, the user is able to activate the content via an action, such as by following a URL to a purchasing website.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a video reproducing apparatus for processing selections during playback of interactive video, the apparatus comprising: an input module arranged to receive user commands; an output module arranged to output video to a display screen; a video playback module arranged to receive interactive video and to output the interactive video in a form suitable for display by the output module, wherein the video comprises an item and a corresponding selectable area of the display screen relating to the item; a controller arranged to cause the video playback module to output the video to the output module in response to a playback command received from the input module; and a memory; wherein the controller is arranged, during playback of the interactive video, to populate a list stored in the memory with a list item in response to a selection command received from the input module in respect of the selectable area of the screen, and to display the list including the list item when the video is finished or in response to a list display command received by the user input module. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for processing selections during playback of an interactive video, the method comprising: receiving interactive video, wherein the video comprises an item and a corresponding selectable area relating to the item; outputting the video to a display screen in response to a playback command; and populating a list stored in computer memory, during playback of the interactive video, with a list item in response to a selection command in respect of the selectable area of the screen, and displaying the list including the list item when the video is finished or in response to a list display command. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a video generating apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a video editing module arranged to generate video including a predetermined first item and information regarding the location and function of a first selectable area corresponding to the first predetermined item, the first selectable area being arranged to appear during video playback; and a script generator arranged to generate a configuration file for execution during playback of the video, the configuration file specifying the start time and duration the first selectable area on the video, and specifying information regarding the first predetermined item; wherein the video is created so that during playback, when the first selectable area is selected, a list is populated with the information regarding the first predetermined item from the configuration file while the video continues to be played, and the list is displayed when the video is finished or in response to a list display command.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a video generating method, the method comprising: generating video including a predetermined first item and information regarding the location and function of a first selectable area corresponding to the first predetermined item, the first selectable area being arranged to appear during video playback; and generating a configuration file for execution during playback of the video, the configuration file specifying the start time and duration the first selectable area on the video, and specifying information regarding the first predetermined item; wherein the video is created so that during playback, when the first selectable area is selected, a list is populated with the information regarding the first predetermined item from the configuration file while the video continues to be played, and the list is displayed when the video is finished or in response to a list display command.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a video hosting server, the server comprising: a communications interface for receiving and transmitting data over a network; a processor arranged to receive and generate commands and to make a web page available having interactive video embedded therein, and a memory arranged to store the web page and video file; wherein the interactive video shows a predetermined first item and information regarding the location and function of a first selectable area corresponding to the first predetermined item, the first selectable area being arranged to appear during interactive video playback; and a configuration file for execution during playback of the interactive video, the configuration file specifying the start time and duration the first selectable area on the interactive video, and specifying information regarding the first predetermined item; wherein the processor is arranged to transmit the interactive video over the network via the communications interface in response to a playback command; and wherein upon receipt of a selection command in relation to the first selectable area, the interactive video is configured to populate a list with the information regarding the first predetermined item from the configuration file while the interactive video continues to be played, and to output the list when the interactive video is finished or in response to a list display command received over the network.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a video hosting method, the method comprising: making a web page available having interactive video embedded therein over a network; wherein the interactive video shows a predetermined first item and information regarding the location and function of a first selectable area corresponding to the first predetermined item, the first selectable area being arranged to appear during interactive video playback; transmitting the interactive video file over the network in response to a playback command; and populating a list in response to a selection command related to the first selectable area so that the list comprises information regarding the first predetermined item from a configuration file received as part of the interactive video while the interactive video continues to be played, and outputting the list when the interactive video is finished or in response to a list display command received over the network.

In this way, when a user makes a selection during the playback of hypervideo, useful information regarding an item communicated in the hypervideo is stored for later retrieval. Thus, the viewing experience is not interrupted, but the user is still able to find out more about the item, or take action such as purchasing the item or related items. The interactive video is elegantly configured using the configurative file.

Preferably, the video includes audio.

Preferably, the first predetermined item represents a product or service. Preferably, the first predetermined item is an image of a product or service. Alternatively, the first predetermined image is an audible mention of a product or service. In this way, a product is more likely to be understood, and hence sold, thereby increasing the monetisation of video promotions. Also, by using audible notices, a user may be more likely to select the selectable area corresponding to the product or service, and hence buy the product or service. Preferably, the first selectable area is an icon. Preferably, the icon is standardised and is accompanied by a specific label. In this way, a standard trigger mechanism is used, which is more easily recognisable, and hence usable. Alternatively, the first selectable area is a hotspot on the video. The first selectable area may be both an icon and a hotspot on the video. A hotspot is an area of selectable video, normally overlaying an object. Preferably, the first selectable area is overlayed on the video. In this way, the video is easier to produce.

Preferably, the information regarding the first predetermined item comprises a link to further information regarding the first predetermined item. Preferably, the link is a Uniform

Resource Identifier (URI). Preferably, the link is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

Preferably, the retrievable list comprises a product or service purchase command, which when invoked, causes the product or service to be placed into a virtual shopping basket.

Preferably, the video includes an email icon, and the retrievable list is sent to an email address upon selection of the email icon. Preferably, the email address is predetermined based on the user. Preferably, the email address is entered manually. Preferably, the list is stored as a cookie. Preferably, the video includes a second predetermined item and a second selectable area corresponding to the second predetermined item, which, when selected, generates a selection command corresponding to the second predetermined item; and causes the list to be populated with information about the second predetermined item when the second selectable area is selected. At least some of the exemplary embodiments may be constructed, partially or wholly, using dedicated special-purpose hardware. Terms such as 'component', 'module' or 'unit' used herein may include, but are not limited to, a hardware device, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks. Also, elements of the exemplary embodiments may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium and be configured to execute on one or more processors. That is, some of the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer- readable storage medium having recorded thereon instructions that are, in use, executed by a computer system. The medium may take any suitable form, but examples include solid-state memory devices (ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), optical discs (e.g. Compact Discs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and others), magnetic discs, magnetic tapes and magneto-optic storage devices. In some cases the medium is distributed over a plurality of separate computing devices that are coupled by a suitable communications network, such as a wired network or wireless network. Thus, functional elements of the invention may in some embodiments include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Further, although the exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the components, modules and units discussed below, such functional elements may be combined into fewer elements or separated into additional elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how exemplary embodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a system embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a timing diagram showing a timing example of a video being played back according to the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a first screenshot of an example video which serves to illustrate the timing diagram of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a second screenshot of an example video which serves to illustrate the timing diagram of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a third screenshot of an example video according to the timing diagram of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a flowchart outlining a video production method according to the invention; Figure 7 is a flowchart outlining a video publication method according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a flowchart outlining a process of displaying a retrievable list according to the invention; and

Figure 9 is a flowchart outlining a process of selecting a function within a retrievable list according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Video Production

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a system 1 embodying the invention.

The system 1 comprises a video production apparatus 100, a content server 200 and a video reproduction apparatus 300, all of which are in communication via a computer network 10, which in this example, is the Internet.

The video production apparatus 100 comprises video editing equipment 110, implemented in software, as would be known to those in the art. The video editing equipment 110 allows video content to be created from digitised moving pictures captured by one or more digital video cameras. In this example, the video content is designed to demonstrate a variety of products online over the Internet. The video is intended to convey details about each product or each group of products, such as clothing or computer networking equipment, for example. The video includes detail of what the product looks like or how the product works, or both. In this example, the video editing equipment 110 uses Adobe (RTM) Flash software to create at least one video file 120 containing video, showing at least one product or service, for playback by a viewer. The encoded video is contained in a flash video file (FLV) or MP4 file (MPEG-4 Part 14), which can be played by generic video playing software. The video is compressed and encoded according to H.263, H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) or VP6 (a video codec developed by On2 Technologies), or other suitable compressing and encoding formats. Audio is compressed and encoded using AAC (MPEG-4 Part 3), or other suitable compressing and encoding formats.

During video production, a predetermined region is reserved so that clickable icons may be overlaid without interfering with the content of the video, so that one or more selectable areas are created on the video during playback. Also, the clickable icons are specified to appear at a particular place in the predetermined region. In this way, an interactive video, or hypervideo, is created in which viewer selections can be captured. The visual appearance of each clickable icon is based on a "skin" for user interface items. This includes a label and the option for a small thumbnail icon. The position of each clickable icon is configurable for each application but will usually appear overlaid on the right- hand side of the video. As new clickable icons appear to accompany one or more other clickable icons, the new clickable icons appear below the currently displayed icons, animating in from the right. When an icon is selected, the icon disappears from view and the remaining icons are optionally reordered, shifting up to fill any gap left behind.

The video production apparatus 100 also includes a script generator 130, which in this example is an XML (extensible Mark-up Language) generator. The XML generator 130 is arranged to create at least one configuration file 140 which is used to define the clickable icons.

An example clickable icon entry <itam> is shown below in the context of an example configuration file 140.

<data XEfilns : l="ciyk. lirtk">

<ρrctεi«ctroet>

httρ://wvιfw. clykclient . c«Mϋ/prodtJcts/cataIogtje ,php?item=</productroot> <item>

<id>begi.rsning</id>

<tyρβ>Vidβoϊtere!</type>

<I: item>

<I:id>Iaggings</l:id>

<l:type>clyklistiten5</l:type>

<I: start>βθ:80:G6</l: start>

<l:εnd>0Θ:0θ:20</l:end>

<l:section>fashion</l:section>

<l:dεscriptiort>A great pair of leggings !</l:dεscription> <1cecommerceIink>5544S13</I:ecommerceliπk>

</l:item>

</data>

Each clickable icon is identified by an <l:id> tag, normally unique within the video production, identifying the product or service to which the clickable icon relates. Each <l: id> tag is also reproduced with the corresponding clickable icon during playback of the video.

Each icon is arranged to appear on the video at a predetermined time, and for a predetermined duration, so that each icon appears only when a corresponding product is being shown in the video, or is being referenced. This is achieved by providing a start time <l:start> and an end time <l:ertd> for each clickable icon in the configuration file 140, relative to the playing time of the video.

Each clickable icon is associated with further information about the product which is being shown or referenced. Some of the further information is generated automatically from the <lxid> tag, such as a reference to a thumbnail image and a title for a list entry, although these could be specified separately. Some other information is specified explicitly in the

<item> such as section information <l: sectiαn> for categorising similar products in the retrievable list, a brief description of the product <l:das.cription> which can include hyperlinks or other HTML elements, and a hyperlink to further information about the product, or to an action relating to the product, such as a purchase action <l:ecommercelirik>.

The video production apparatus 100 also includes an output interface 150 which uploads the video file 120 and the configuration file 140 to the content server 200. In this example, the uploading takes place using a direct connection. However, a connection over the network 10 may also be used. In one example envisaged the video production apparatus 100 and content server 200 are both executed on the same computer.

The content server 200 comprises a controller 210 and a memory 220 arranged to store the video file 120 and the configuration file 140 when uploaded and a video compiler (SWF file). The content server 200 is arranged to host an HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) page on the Internet. A video compiler (SWF file) is embedded into the HTML page, and is arranged to load the configuration file 140 which specifies the video file 120 as well as the associated clickable icons. The content server 200 also comprises a communication interface 230 arranged to communicate over the network 10 with the video reproduction apparatus 300. When the HTML page is viewed, the content server 200 is arranged to transmit interactive video based on the video file 120 and configuration file 140 to the video reproduction apparatus 300 over the network 10.

Video Playback

The video reproduction apparatus 300 comprises a user input unit 310, a display screen 320, a video driver 330, a controller 340 and a memory 350. In this example, the user input unit 310 is a keyboard and mouse, but a remote controller is envisaged.

The display screen 320 is an LCD panel. The video driver 330 is a web browser having a Flash player installed as a plug-in application. The controller 340 is a computer arranged to control the other components in the video reproducing apparatus, and to access the memory 350, which includes read-only memory and random access memory, embodied as solid-state memory, one or more hard disks, or one or more removable optical media. The Flash player is arranged to receive and display the interactive video embedded in the HTML page via the video compiler (SWF file), including the clickable icons defined by the configuration file 140.

In this way, a user of the video reproduction apparatus 300 is able to watch the video. Due to the clickable icons, the video is interactive, and the user has the option of finding out more information on particular products and services shown during the video playback.

When the video reproduction apparatus 300 accesses the interactive video, a check is made by the Flash player to determine whether a retrievable list already exists in a Flash cookie or Shared Object (SO), locally stored in memory at the video reproduction apparatus

300 for the particular video presentation. If present, the retrievable list is loaded from the SO into memory. Otherwise an empty retrievable list is created.

If a clickable icon is selected during playback, information is optionally returned to the content server 200 to indicate the selection. Then, an item is created in the retrievable list by the Flash player, which is populated with the further information about the product corresponding to the selection, as specified in the configuration file 140. The retrievable list is stored in memory locally on the video reproduction apparatus 300, using the Shared Object (SO).

If another clickable icon is selected, a further item is created in the retrievable list, which is populated with the further information about the product corresponding to the selection, thus expanding the retrievable list. At the end of the video, the retrievable list is displayed by the video reproduction apparatus 300. The retrievable list, for each item, shows an image of each product, a title, and a textual description. Each item also has a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which enables further action to be taken when a corresponding button on the displayed retrievable list is selected. For example, the URL could link to a document, webpage server, a computer network, a media file, or a query string URL that sends a variable to a webpage to initiate an action. The action could be that the item from the retrievable list is added to a shopping basket in an ecommerce environment. Also, each item includes a delete button allowing that item to be deleted from the retrievable list. During video playback, a list icon is displayed with the video, so that a user is able to view the retrievable list during the playback of the video, at a time of the viewer's choice. The list icon is selectable via the user input unit 310, and results in the video being paused while the retrievable list is displayed. Pressing the list icon again removes the retrievable list from the display, and the video is restarted, either automatically, or by pressing a play icon.

In this way, when a user makes a selection during the playback of the video, useful information regarding an item communicated in the video is stored for later retrieval, either at the end of the video, or at a time of the viewer's choosing. Thus, the viewing experience is not interrupted, but the user is still able to find out more about the item, or take action such as purchasing the item or related items.

Figure 2 is a timing diagram showing a timing example of a video being played back according to the system of Figure 1.

Reference numerals relating to the content of the video, the clickable icons and the retrievable list are introduced. Also, it is useful to read Figure 2 in conjunction with Figures 3 to 5.

In more detail, the video is generated as discussed above using the XML configuration file 140 to define the clickable icons.

In this example, the XML configuration file 140 specifies two clickable icons to be displayed during playback. The first icon (Icon #1 ) 420 is displayed at time "B" shown in Figure 2, and for a predetermined time t _b . In this example, the first icon 420 represents a first item of clothing which is a "butterfly top" and the XML configuration file 140 specifies information associated with this product. The second icon (Icon #2) 430 is displayed also at time "B", and coincidently for the same predetermined time t _b . The second icon 430 represents a second item of clothing, which is a pair of "leggings", and again information is associated with the second item of clothing in the XML configuration file 140. In this example, the two items of clothing are being modelled on the same person, which is why each of the first and second icons are displayed at exactly the same time. Of course, a video may be created in which there is only one product or service and corresponding clickable icon, or many products and services, with corresponding clickable icons, displayed concurrently or overlapping in time. Figure 2 is merely an example.

The list icon 440 mentioned earlier is also displayed for the duration of the video, and this icon is configured when the video is created during reproduction, together with information outlining the actions to be taken when the list icon is selected. In Figure 2, at some point in time shortly after time "B", the user is shown to click the first icon 420 and an instruction is generated to populate the retrievable list with the information corresponding to the first item of clothing (the "butterfly top") represented by the first icon 420. Shortly afterwards, the user is shown to click the second icon 430 and an instruction is generated to populate the retrievable list with the information corresponding to the second item of clothing (the "leggings").

Before the video is finished, the user is shown to click on the list icon at time "C", and an instruction is generated to display the retrievable list. When the retrievable list is displayed, the video is paused. When the retrievable list is closed via the list icon, the video is resumed automatically, or by the user selecting a play button.

When the video is finished, the retrievable list is automatically displayed.

Figure 3 is a first screenshot of an example video which serves to illustrate the timing diagram of Figure 2.

The screenshot of Figure 3 shows what the user would see at time "A" in the timing diagram of Figure 2. In this case, what the user would see when the first icon 420 and second icon 430 are not being displayed. In this example, Figure 3 captures part of an introductory scene in which no products or services are being shown or referenced in the video.

As can be seen in Figure 3, a region 410 of a viewing area 400 towards the right-hand side of the viewing area has been deliberately left free. This is so that the clickable icons are able to be placed in the region to have no or minimal impact on the video content shown. The video driver 330 is also configured to read the configuration file 140, and place each clickable icon in a suitable placeholder, decided during video production.

At the bottom of the viewing area 400, there are several permanent operational buttons arranged horizontally across the viewing area, and spanning the width of the viewing area 400. The list icon 440 is the right-hand most operational button. Other operational buttons include, in order from left to right, a play button 450, a rewind button 452, a timing display 454, a volume button 456, a full screen toggle button 458 and a scroll bar 459 for moving backwards and forwards in the video. An email button 460 is provided adjacent the list icon 440 for sending the contents of the retrievable list to an email address which can be specified as either that of the user, or that of a friend of the user.

Figure 4 is a second screenshot of an example video which serves to illustrate the timing diagram of Figure 2.

The screenshot of Figure 4 shows what the user would see at time "B" in the timing diagram of Figure 2. In this case, what the user would see when the first icon 420 and second icon 430 are being displayed on the video. Here, the first icon 420 and second icon 430 are arranged in the region 410 mentioned above, toward the right-hand-side of the video image. When two or more icons are displayed simultaneously, they are arranged one on top of the other. The precise layout is determined during video production. Each of the first and second icons is accompanied by an appropriate label 420L, 430L to identify the respective item of clothing. The first icon 420 is accompanied by the text "Butterfly top" to identify the product to which the first icon 420 relates. The second icon 430 is accompanied by the text "Leggings" to identify the product to which the second icon 430 relates. In this example, the second item of clothing is not visible in the screenshot, but the second icon 430 is being displayed. This is because previous shots, and subsequent shots, clearly show the second item of clothing. Also, audio commentary is referring to the second item of clothing. The textual content of each label is provided in the configuration file 140 by the <i: id> parameter.

An example of the corresponding items of the configuration file 140 relating to this portion of the video is shown below.

<l; item>

<l: id>buttεrfly top</I s id>

<l:type>clyklistitem</l :type>

<I: start >08s8β:Θ6</l : start >

<l: end>θθ:ΘS: 2θ</l :end>

<l: s6ction>Fashion & Accessoriβs</l : sβction>

<l:description>IrιfQrm3tiori about your product goes. here. </l :descriptioπ>

<l: ecoiJsnercelink>5544S12</l: εco!nfflercelirik>

</l: item>

<l: item>

<l : id>leggings</l: id>

<I:tyf>e>clyklistitenj</I xtyfse>

<1: start >eø:βθ:96</l : start >

<l: εrsd>βθ:0θ: 2β</l :end>

<l: section>Fashion & Accessories</l : section>

<I:dεscriρtion>ϊnformation about your product goes hεrε. </l :dεscriptiαn>

<1 : ecommercelink>->S44813</l : eco!ranercelink>

</ls itε!π>

As mentioned with reference to Figure 2, the retrievable list is populated with information relating to the corresponding product if a clickable icon is selected. In practice, the clickable icon animates into the list icon. In practice, the corresponding label rolls into the clickable button, and then the clickable button drops into the list icon.

Figure 5 is a third screenshot of an example video according to the timing diagram of Figure 2. The screenshot of Figure 5 shows what the user would see at time "C" in the timing diagram of Figure 2, and also what the user would see at the end of the video.

Here, the retrievable list 500 is displayed on the viewing area.

The retrievable list includes a first item 510 having a thumbnail image 512 of the first item of clothing, a title 514 of the first item of clothing which corresponds to the ID and label of the clickable icon, product description information 516 about the first item of clothing, an ecommerce link 517 for taking the user to an ecommerce server where the first item of clothing can be purchased, and a deletion icon 518 for removing the first item from the retrievable list.

The thumbnail image 512 resides on a server and is referenced from the retrievable list 500 by a thumbnail link, or thumbnail URL. The thumbnail URL is built by the Flash player from a predetermined root address together with the item ID of the product, in this case "leggings". The root address may be standardised and have the following form:

"http://www.server.cons/host/" + [seller id] + "/assets/i/" + [item id] ⁺ "jpg"-

So for a seller named "clyk" and an item with the id "leggings", the thumbnail URL would be: http : //www. server .ccsn/hostcofflpany/clyk/assets/i/leggings.jpg

In this way, a unique reference for each thumbnail can be quickly and easily built, and thumbnail representations of each product, or asset, for a particular seller, or business, can be placed in individual folders for efficient asset management.

The ecommerce link 517 is built in a similar way to the thumbnail link. Here, each item in the configuration file 140 has an <l:ecQsrenercelink> tag that specifies a link to an e-commerce website. One efficient way of achieving compact links is to use an URI identifying the product, and construct an URL using a common root and the URI. In one example, the common root could take the form: httρ://www.hostcoinpany.cotn/ρroducts/catalog5je.ρhρ/?it ε!π=: + [ecotnretεree URX] Which in this example would be: httρ : //wisiw. hostcofflpany . co!!3/products/catalogue . phρ/?ite!t!=5544812

When the ecommerce link button 517 is selected, the URL is opened in a new browser window. This means that a user can view the product and return to the interactive video without losing their place.

The retrievable list includes a second item 520 having a thumbnail image 522 of the second item of clothing, a title 524 of the second item of clothing which corresponds to the label 430L in this example, information 526 about the second item of clothing, a ecommerce link 517 for taking the user to an ecommerce server where the second item of clothing can be purchased, and a deletion icon 518 for removing the second item from the retrievable list.

The retrievable list includes an email icon 530 which, when activated, causes the retrievable list to be sent to an email address. The email address is specified by the user, either in advance or at the time of the request. Items in the list are grouped together under a banner heading 540 determined by the <l: s.ection> tag of each item in the configuration file 140. For example, butterfly top and leggings might be grouped together under the heading "Fashion & Accessories", while saucepans and spoons might be under the heading "Kitchenware".

Figure 6 is a flowchart outlining a video production method according to the invention. In step 600, a video file 120 containing video showing one or more products or services is created using video cameras, or computer generated images. A region of the output is optionally left clear so that icons can populate the region without interfering with the content of the video. The clickable icons are specified in terms of position, shape, colour and pattern, and the associated labels are fully specified in terms of their output form, except for the textual descriptions, and associated information.

In step 610, an XML configuration file 140 is created to define one or more clickable icons which are to appear in the video during playback. The XML configuration file 140 includes information regarding each icon as discussed above, so that an appropriate label can be including with each clickable icon, the timing information is specified and information regarding an associated product is specified.

Figure 7 is a flowchart outlining a video publication method according to the invention.

In step 700, the video file 120 and configuration file 140 are uploaded to a content server 200. This step may be optional if the files were created on the content server 200. The files are made available over the Internet for publication via an HTML webpage, as described above.

In step 710, the video reproduction apparatus 300, running a web browser, downloads the HTML webpage containing the SWF file. The SWF file causes the webpage to launch the Adobe Flash plug-in and to create a Flash application on the video reproduction apparatus 300.

In step 720, the flash application interrogates the computer system on which the video reproduction apparatus 300 is running, to determine whether a retrievable list, embodied by a Shared Object (SO) exists. If yes, then the existing retrievable list is used by uploading the information from the Shared Object (SO) to memory in the video reproduction apparatus 300.

If no, then a new retrievable list is created in the memory of the video reproduction apparatus 300 at step 730, as a shared object (SO).

Following on, at step S740, the configuration file 140 and video file 120 are transmitted to the video reproduction apparatus 300 for playback. In step 750, a selection of a clickable icon is noted, and a selection command is generated. The clickable icon animates off the screen as discussed above.

In step 760, the retrievable list is populated with the information specified in the corresponding entry in the configuration file 140.

Figure 8 is a flowchart outlining a process of displaying a retrievable list according to the invention.

In step 810, the local Flash application running on the video reproduction apparatus 300 monitors the viewing area for user selections.

If the list icon is selected, then the video is paused by the Flash application at step S810. Also, the Flash application sends an instruction back to the content server 200 to pause transmission of the video.

Then, the retrievable list is displayed at step S820. To achieve this, the Flash application accesses the retrievable list from memory, which is then generated and rendered on the viewing area.

While the retrievable list is being displayed, the Flash application monitors whether either the play button or the list icon is selected at step S830. If yes, the retrievable list is removed from the display and the video is restarted at step S840. In the case of the play button being selected, the video is restarted automatically. In the case of the list icon being selected, the video is restarted only when the play button is selected. Now, if the list icon was not selected at step S800, the process rejoins here, at step

S850 where a check is made to determine whether the video has finished. If no, the process repeats from step S800. If yes, the retrievable list is displayed at step S860 until the list icon is selected, when the retrievable list is removed from view.

Figure 9 is a flowchart outlining a process of selecting a function within a retrievable list according to the invention.

In step S900, the retrievable list is displayed, either as a result of a user selection of the list icon, or as a result of the video finishing, as discussed above.

In step S910, the Flash application monitors to see whether a function within the retrievable list is selected. If no, then step S910 is repeated. If yes, then a check is made to see whether the function is an exit list function, caused by a selection of the play button or the item icon, at step S920. If no, then the function is performed, such as following a hyperlink to a website for further information or to an ecommerce situation, at step S930, and step S910 is repeated.

If yes, then the retrievable list is not displayed, at step S940. The described embodiment discusses transmitting interactive video over the network 10.

It is envisaged that one or more of known streaming methods, progressive download methods, or pseudo-streaming methods are employed. Pseudo-streaming is where a client device progressively downloads the hyper video from a specified start point rather than from the beginning of the video. Alternatively, the interactive video could be supplied on a removable storage medium, such as an optimal disk or removable memory.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.