Automated input in an interactive television system

• US 10,244,288 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Zdepski, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang, Annan Q
• Application Number:
  US15/174,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 725 68, 725131-142
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A method and system for employing automated user input for an interactive application associated with a media program is presented. In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a receiving device from a media content system via a network, a media program and an interactive application associated with the media program. Execution of the application is initiated during the receiving of the program. Based on the execution, a user interface configured to receive a user input to view added content via the application is presented. A script is executed to provide the user input to the application to provide the added content with the program. Based on the execution of the application and the user input, the added content is provided with the program. During the receiving of the program, the program and the added content are recorded for presentation to the user after the recording.

Claims

1. A method for providing added content via an interactive application associated with a media program, the method comprising:

initiating execution, using one or more hardware processors of a receiving device, of an interactive application while receiving the media program;

causing, based on the executing of the interactive application, presentation of a user interface configured to receive a user input to view added content via the interactive application;

accessing, by the one or more hardware processors of the receiving device, a database to identify a stored indication associated with a user;

executing, at the receiving device, based on the stored indication, a script to provide the user input to the interactive application to provide the added content with the media program, the script comprising a group of instructions; and

providing, based on the executing of the interactive application and the provided user input, the added content with the media program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the receiving device and from a media content system via a network, the media program and the interactive application associated with the media program, the media content system comprising a server, and the media program comprising a video content item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the receiving device from a media content system, the script along with the media program and the interactive application.

4. The method of claim 1, the script being stored in the receiving device prior to the receiving of the media program and the interactive application.

5. The method of claim 1, the script being configured to provide the user input at a particular time at which the interactive application presents the user interface configured to receive the user input.

6. The method of claim 1, the script being configured to place the user input in a message queue of the receiving device, the message queue being configured to receive the user input from the user, and the interactive application being configured to retrieve the user input from the message queue.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading, based on the executing of the interactive application, to the receiving device, the added content in response to the provided user input.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the receiving device, prior to the receiving of the media program, a second user input to enable use of the script; and

enabling, at the receiving device, use of the script in the receiving device in response to the second user input.

9. The method of claim 1, the script comprising a default script configured to provide the user input to a plurality of interactive applications comprising the interactive application.

10. The method of claim 9, the provided user input comprising a user preference for one of a plurality of detail levels of added content to be provided by the plurality of interactive applications.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the receiving device, prior to receiving the media program, a user preference input indicating the one of the plurality of detail levels, the provided user input being based on the user preference input; and

storing the received user preference input in the database as the stored indication.

12. The method of claim 9, the default script being incorporated within an operating system of the receiving device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the receiving device and from a media content system via a network, the media program and the interactive application associated with the media program; and

recording, during the receiving of the media program, the media program and the provided added content for presentation to the user after the recording of the media program and the provided added content.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instructions includes a first instruction executed based on a first condition and a second instruction executed based on a second condition.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of instructions includes an instruction executed based on one or more conditions.

16. A receiving device, comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more hardware processors, causes the receiving device to perform operations comprising;

initiating execution of an interactive application while receiving a media program;

causing, based on the executing of the interactive application, presentation of a user interface configured to receive a user input to view added content via the interactive application;

accessing a database to identify a stored indication;

executing, at the receiving device, based on the stored indication, a script to provide the user input to the interactive application to provide the added content with the media program, the script comprising a group of instructions; and

providing, based on the executing of the interactive application and the provided user input, the added content with the media program.

17. The receiving device of claim 16, wherein the receiving device is configured as a television set-top box.

18. The receiving device of claim 16, wherein the receiving device is configured as a television.

19. The receiving device of claim 16, wherein the receiving device is configured as a mobile communication device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a receiving device, cause the receiving device to perform operations comprising:

initiating execution of an interactive application while receiving a media program;

causing, based on the executing of the interactive application, presentation of a user interface configured to receive a user input to view added content via the interactive application;

accessing a database to identify a stored indication;

executing, at the receiving device, based on the accessed indication, a script to provide the user input to the interactive application to provide the added content with the media program, the script comprising a group of instructions; and

providing, based on the executing of the interactive application and the provided user input, the added content with the media program.