Patexia is looking for descriptions of a computer program or website where a playlist of audio and/or video files are automatically played, consecutively, and without additional user action once the playlist starts.

Submitted documents describing this system must be:

• filed or published before 09/03/1996
• not on the known references list

Additionally, the submission should include one or more of the following features:

• the user can search for content files in order to add to an existing or new playlist, and select categories to help narrow their search
• advertisements are shown as the playlist is automatically playing
• these advertisements can be shown at the start before any files are played (for example, play an advertisement that sponsors the entire playlist), can be shown as a file on the playlist, or can be always displayed so that it cannot be dismissed by the user
• while the current file is being played, the user can change the duration that it will be played (for example, skipping through the file or fast forwarding)
• the user can change the time delay before the next file starts playing
• while the current file is being played, one or more of the files next on the playlist can be accessed (for example, in order to cache the next file)
• as files are automatically started, the next file can be played before the current file is finished (for example, play the next file as the current file’s closing credits are playing)
• all the files in the playlist can be shown as icons that can be dragged and dropped to change the playlist order or create a new playlist

This contest is for a prior art search for US Patents 7,155,451, 8,606,819, 8,606,820, 8,738,655, and 8,965,932, with a focus on multiple claims and additional information provided by the contest sponsor, in the context of a web video player that allows user to auto-play a video playlist with advertisements.