Systems and methods for accessing interactive content via synthetic channels
First Claim
1. A method of accessing interactive content as part of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
- assigning a synthetic channel to correspond to at least one interactive content element available as interactive programming content via the interactive television system;
communicating the interactive programming content, including the interactive content element and the corresponding synthetic channel, to a viewer via an electronic programming guide; and
providing selection of the synthetic channel corresponding to the interactive content element from the electronic programming guide via a user-actuateable device to access the interactive content element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for delivering interactive content to viewers via the utilization of synthetic channels mimicking traditional television “broadcast” cable channels. Interactive television viewers may access and interact with the variety of interactive content provided by selecting a synthetic channel that displays, on the screen of the viewer'"'"'s television set or other display device, the start or home page of a particular application, Internet site, or other content page with which the user may interact. The synthetic channels may be administered by a cable provider, and communicated to the viewer via an electronic programming guide, which may also contain a traditional cable “channel lineup.” The synthetic channels may be selected from the electronic programming guide in the same manner as if the viewer was selecting a broadcast cable channel.
50 Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method of accessing interactive content as part of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
-
assigning a synthetic channel to correspond to at least one interactive content element available as interactive programming content via the interactive television system;
communicating the interactive programming content, including the interactive content element and the corresponding synthetic channel, to a viewer via an electronic programming guide; and
providing selection of the synthetic channel corresponding to the interactive content element from the electronic programming guide via a user-actuateable device to access the interactive content element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of accessing interactive content as part of an interactive television viewing environment, the method comprising:
-
displaying an electronic programming guide including accessible broadcast channels and accessible synthetic channels on a video display device for the interactive television viewing environment;
receiving a viewer'"'"'s selection of a synthetic channel by way of the displayed electronic programming guide;
correlating the selected synthetic channel to an interactive content element available by way of the interactive television viewing environment;
retrieving the interactive content element from at least one remote location; and
displaying the interactive content element on the video display device for the interactive television viewing environment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An interactive television network environment, comprising:
-
a television set;
a client terminal having a network interface configured to transmit and receive encoded communication signals, the client terminal being capable of being connected to the television set; and
a broadcast center, the broadcast center capable of communication with the client terminal; and
wherein the broadcast center is configured to transmit an electronic programming guide to the client terminal, the electronic programming guide including;
a listing of channels, the channels comprising cable channels and synthetic channels; and
identification of programming content corresponding to each channel; and
wherein the client terminal is further configured;
to receive a command from a viewer to select a channel from the electronic programming guide, wherein the selected channel comprises a synthetic channel;
to transmit an uplink signal to the broadcast center requesting the programming content corresponding to the selected synthetic channel;
to receive a downlink signal from the broadcast center, the downlink signal comprising the programming content; and
to transmit the programming content to the television set for display. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39)
-
-
28. An electronic programming guide, comprising:
-
a channel field, the channel field including a listing of available cable channels and available synthetic channels; and
a content field, the content field including a current programming schedule corresponding to each available cable channel, and an interactive content element corresponding to each available synthetic channel.
-
-
35. An article of manufacture, comprising:
-
a computer-readable medium containing a set of instructions to;
transmit an electronic programming guide from a broadcast center to a client terminal, the electronic programming guide comprising;
a channel field, the channel field including a list of available cable channels and available synthetic channels; and
a content field, the content field including a current programming schedule corresponding to each available cable channel, and an interactive content element corresponding to each available synthetic channel;
receive an uplink signal from the client terminal, the signal comprising a request for an interactive content element;
retrieve the interactive content element from a memory storage device; and
transmit a downlink signal to the client terminal, the downlink signal comprising the interactive content element.
-
-
38. A method of accessing interactive content as part of an interactive television viewing environment, the method comprising:
-
receiving a first interactive command from a remote control device to activate an electronic programming guide;
displaying the electronic programming guide including accessible broadcast channels and accessible synthetic channels on a video display device for the interactive television viewing environment;
receiving a second interactive command from the remote control device to select a synthetic channel by way of the displayed electronic programming guide;
correlating the selected synthetic channel to a first interactive content element available by way of the interactive television viewing environment;
retrieving the first interactive content element from at least one remote location;
displaying the first interactive content element on the video display device for the interactive television viewing environment;
providing for interaction with the interactive content element by way of commands received from the remote control device;
receiving a third interactive command from the remote control device to link to a second interactive content element, the second interactive content element linked to the first interactive content element;
retrieving the second interactive content element from at least one remote location;
displaying the second interactive content element on the video display device for the interactive television viewing environment;
receiving a fourth interactive command from the remote control device to link to a third interactive content element, the third interactive content element linked to the second interactive content element;
retrieving the third interactive content element from at least one remote location; and
displaying the third interactive content element on the video display device for the interactive television viewing environment.
-
Specification