Playback of interactive programs

摘要

A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
initiating playback of a media item containing one or more interactive applications from a storage device; launching and executing a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications based on a detecting of said first interactive application during said playback of said media item; initiating a special play mode of said media item based on a user command; receiving, from said first interactive application, a query to determine a current playback position of said media item; determining at least one event skipped during said initiated special play mode that would result in a change of a state of said first interactive application, the determining of the at least one skipped event comprising determining the current playback position of said media items; and conveying at least one notification signal of said at least one skipped event to said first interactive application to modify said state of said first interactive application based on said determining of said at least one skipped event, the conveying of the at least on notification signal comprising returning, to said first interactive application in response to the query, an indication of the current playback position of said media item, and at a time at which said special play mode is terminated, said modified state of said first interactive application corresponds to a position in said media item at which said special play mode is terminated.