Steven Hatch

Disclosed are systems and techniques for extracting user body shape (e.g., a representation of the three-dimensional body surface) from user behavioral data. The behavioral data may not be explicitly body-shape-related, and can include shopping history, social media likes, or other recorded behaviors of the user within (or outside of) a networked content delivery environment. The determined body shape can be used, for example, to generate a virtual fitting room user interface.

This patent relates to enabling a user to select a portion of a larger piece of content as a sample to share with another user, while enforcing a content provider’s limits on the amount of content that can be shared. For example, a user may select a portion of audio or video content from a larger work in order to share the selected portion with another user. A system that enables the sharing may determine whether a content provider or other entity permits sharing of the selected portion based… Show more

This patent relates to enabling a user to select a portion of a larger piece of content as a sample to share with another user, while enforcing a content provider’s limits on the amount of content that can be shared. For example, a user may select a portion of audio or video content from a larger work in order to share the selected portion with another user. A system that enables the sharing may determine whether a content provider or other entity permits sharing of the selected portion based on the length of the portion or other aspects of the content, then may provide access to the selected sample portion to another user. Show less

This patent relates to preventing a member of an electronic book club from being exposed to spoiler commentary by another member of the book club. An interface for viewing comments from other book club members compares the user’s current reading position in the e-book to another member’s current reading position and to the position of an important plot development. When the important plot development falls between the current reading positions of the user and the other member, the interface… Show more

This patent relates to preventing a member of an electronic book club from being exposed to spoiler commentary by another member of the book club. An interface for viewing comments from other book club members compares the user’s current reading position in the e-book to another member’s current reading position and to the position of an important plot development. When the important plot development falls between the current reading positions of the user and the other member, the interface displays only the portion of the commentary that excludes reference to the important plot development. Show less

This patent relates to protecting members of online book clubs from viewing spoilers while participating in club activities. A member of an online book club may read ahead or fall behind other members of the club who are reading the same book. Determining whether a member is ahead or behind may be based on a reading schedule created by a moderator, or may be determined by obtaining the current reading positions of the members. If a member has fallen behind the rest of the club, the member may… Show more

This patent relates to protecting members of online book clubs from viewing spoilers while participating in club activities. A member of an online book club may read ahead or fall behind other members of the club who are reading the same book. Determining whether a member is ahead or behind may be based on a reading schedule created by a moderator, or may be determined by obtaining the current reading positions of the members. If a member has fallen behind the rest of the club, the member may be temporarily blocked from participating in club activities. Similarly, if a member has read ahead, they may be blocked from participating in club activities until the other members have caught up. Show less

Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of… Show more

Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.
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This patent relates to moderating an online book club whose members use e-readers. A moderator of the book club can create policies that allow or prevent participation in club activities, such as an online discussion of a particular chapter of the e-book, based on a current reading position of each individual club member. The moderator may prevent club members who have fallen behind the scheduled reading from receiving commentary about parts of the book they haven’t read yet, or may prevent… Show more

This patent relates to moderating an online book club whose members use e-readers. A moderator of the book club can create policies that allow or prevent participation in club activities, such as an online discussion of a particular chapter of the e-book, based on a current reading position of each individual club member. The moderator may prevent club members who have fallen behind the scheduled reading from receiving commentary about parts of the book they haven’t read yet, or may prevent other club members from seeing recent comments by a member who’s read ahead. The moderator may defer presentation of commentary until the member’s reading position falls within the policy-defined range. Show less

This patent relates to switching between different versions of a book, movie, or other content without losing one’s place. For example, a reader may switch from an unabridged full-length novel to an abridged version that omits certain sub-plots or characters, or may switch to a summary that provides only general details, and then switch back to a more detailed version and rejoin the narrative at an appropriate place. To permit this, the system maintains synchronization information that… Show more

This patent relates to switching between different versions of a book, movie, or other content without losing one’s place. For example, a reader may switch from an unabridged full-length novel to an abridged version that omits certain sub-plots or characters, or may switch to a summary that provides only general details, and then switch back to a more detailed version and rejoin the narrative at an appropriate place. To permit this, the system maintains synchronization information that identifies corresponding positions (such as pages or timestamps) between the different content versions, including positions that are not identical between content versions (e.g., due to the content omissions). Show less

This patent relates to tracking digital content (e.g., a movie, video, or audio book) consumption by a user and billing the user based on the amount of content actually consumed. For example, the user may be billed different amounts depending on what portions of movie the user actually watches or what portions of an audio book the user actually listens to. Accordingly, if a user fast-forwards through a movie or audio book, the user will not be billed for those portions the user skipped, but… Show more

This patent relates to tracking digital content (e.g., a movie, video, or audio book) consumption by a user and billing the user based on the amount of content actually consumed. For example, the user may be billed different amounts depending on what portions of movie the user actually watches or what portions of an audio book the user actually listens to. Accordingly, if a user fast-forwards through a movie or audio book, the user will not be billed for those portions the user skipped, but only for the portions that the user chooses to play at a normal speed. Show less

This patent relates to a system that enables a narrator to record an audiobook by speaking words from a displayed transcript. Once the narrator has recorded at least some of the displayed transcript, her recorded narration may be automatically aligned word-by-word with the text of the transcript. The narrator may then visually select individual words or portions of the transcript in order to re-record new audio for the selected portions.

Systems and methods for customized content delivery are provided. Customized and individualized electronic content over a network are included. The content delivered through content feeds may be specifically tailored to a specific user based numerous criteria including, but not limited to, attributes of a user, usage characteristics, subject matter of previous downloads, subscription details, and targeted advertising. The content provider may track and monitor the download characteristics of… Show more

Systems and methods for customized content delivery are provided. Customized and individualized electronic content over a network are included. The content delivered through content feeds may be specifically tailored to a specific user based numerous criteria including, but not limited to, attributes of a user, usage characteristics, subject matter of previous downloads, subscription details, and targeted advertising. The content provider may track and monitor the download characteristics of individual users and adapt the content delivered in the feeds.
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This is basically www.ACX.com. We connect audio rights holders (usually an author or publisher) with an audio producer (usually an actor with a home studio) to create audiobooks. Creates infinitely scalable growth of audiobook production.