TV-Button™ Patent-Pending Technology

Pictured above is the TV-Button "Standard" player.

TV-Button is a unique approach to simplifying the rapidly evolving technology of streaming video. It is currently in its 4th software version since its inception three years ago. The purpose of the TV-Button is to "deliver the video stream in the easiest manner possible." There are three major streaming formats; Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and QuickTime. Consumers are split regarding which format they prefer. Hence, there is no common file format that is compatible with all users. Add to that the fact that users are connected to the Internet at different speeds (data rates), and that some are behind firewalls that try to restrict streaming video, the TV-Button becomes a valuable tool because it addresses all of these factors. Following are some of the features of the V-Button 4.0 technology:

• Multi Modem Speed Compatibility: 
  Multi-Modem Speed Compatibility: Many Internet users are still accessing the Internet with a "Dial-up" modem. This restricts the access data rate to a maximum of 40 kbps (40,000 bits per second). Many times a dial-up modem may only connect at speeds as low as 20 kbps because of a traffic jam at the Internet Service Provider (ISP), or hardware limitations. The TV-Button will function at data rates as low as 12 kbps. It reaches a maximum data rate of 125 kbps for users on DSL or Cable modems.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility: 
  Cross-Browser Compatibility: The TV-Button features are specifically designed to remain compatible with a broad range of browser software. Many interesting new features are "possible" with the latest browsers, but most consumers don't immediately upgrade to the "latest" versions. Hence, in order to ensure universal functionality, the TV-Button player's features remain backwardly compatible to at least 2 major revisions.

• Firewall Compatibility: 
  A significant number of users access the Internet from behind a firewall. Most of these are from within a business network where many computers share a single Internet connection. In order to conserve bandwidth, it is the policy of most network administrators to block normal streaming video ports. The TV-Button, within its "Firewall" option, redirects its program streams through another open port. In addition, it keeps the data rate to no more than 20 kbps in order to conserve bandwidth on the business network.

• Player Detection System: 
  Player Detection System: As part of the "Testing" process, the TV-Button player scans the user's installed software to determine, in advance, which players (Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and QuickTime) are already resident on the system. The scan can determine if the software is present, but not if it is installed properly, hence the player software still needs testing. The scanning process modifies the initial indicators to the user to state, "TEST" on the players that are present, and "NEED INSTALL" on the players that are not detected. The second stage of the player testing process checks to see if the reason an initial test fails is due to the fact that a firewall is present.

• Configuration Recall:  
  The preferences each user determines during the testing process are stored for each user. Once a user makes the selections, the Universal Player will present each subsequent program in that configuration (Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and QuickTime formats, and at Cable/DSL or Dial-up speeds). This is true of any TV-Button anywhere on the Internet. The settings are compatible on all TV-Button-enabled sites.

• Cross-Format User Interface:  
  One of the features of the TV-Button system is the common Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is presented no matter what the user's format preference. This common "look" enables the user to concentrate on the content rather than navigating functions that are not related to the content being presented. In addition, the TV-Button user interface does not provide for any third-party links away from the advertiser's own content.

• Small Foot-Print Launch Point: 
  The TV-Button Universal Player can be spawned from any conventional link. Its TV-Button icon is used in all links as part of the format branding. The most common TV-Button applications are streaming commercials (or presentations) for a business listing in online Yellow Page sites (such as Verizon's SuperPages, YellowPages.com, SBN.com, and hundreds of other regional directory sites).

• Streaming "Friendly" Video:
  The image quality of a streamed file is dramatically affected by the data rate used to deliver it. Another factor that significantly impacts image quality is the nature of the video footage being compressed. For example, shots that change very little from frame to frame are easy to compress because the compression algorithm only keeps track of the changes. Fewer changes mean less data to reproduce the video. The inverse is also true. Video shots that change dramatically from frame to frame (zooms and pans, for example) take much more data to reproduce. Hence, in order to fit the video into a fixed data rate, image details must be discarded. TV-Button programs are produced in a way that minimizes camera motion and rapidly changing pictures. This greatly improves the subjective image quality for end users.   

• Publisher Defined ID Banner: 
  On each TV-Button Universal Player an "ID" banner is presented across the lower half. This banner is designed to provide the publisher with a logo impression. The banner is dynamically changeable from site to site.  

• Publisher Defined Player Skin:
  A new feature of the TV-Button version 4.0 is its ability to appear in different "skins." This gives the publisher the ability to re-design the appearance of the Universal Player to blend in to the art direction of the publisher's website. WebcastingTV makes available over 100 pre-produced skin designs, but publishers are free to create their own custom presentation.   

• Page Embedding: 
  A feature introduced in version 3.0 is the Universal Player's ability to function while embedded within a publisher's existing web page. The typical implementation is in catalog sites, since most directories and web pages prefer to not modify the page layout when a video is initiated.

• Stream Accounting:  
  We keep a running total on the accumulated presentations of each video clip, despite the player media format or modem speed. Typical stream management contracts make provision for a minimum monthly rate, which provides for up to 3,000 monthly plays.

• Online Production Management System (PMS): 
  The process of creating a TV-Button program is a collaborative effort between the client and our production staff. It involves numerous stages and participants. The current status of a project is available through the Production Management System (PMS).

• Free Phone Support: 
  Worldwide New Media provides live technical support free to any user between 9 AM and 5 PM Pacific Time. Most technical support calls simply deal with the user's unfamiliarity with streaming video, or failure to read the online instructions.

• Online Player Installation Support and Troubleshooting: 
  Worldwide New Media maintains up-to-date troubleshooting and FAQ material in the HELP section of this support feature. In addition, our simplified instructions for installing player software helps users avoid being charged for unnecessary versions of the players.