Media processing system communicating activity information to support user interaction during media broadcasts
First Claim
1. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
- accepting from a first user information identifying at least a second user;
receiving from the first user at least one user-selected characteristic associated with media;
processing a media request from the first user via a communication network, the requested media having a pre-defined set of characteristics;
notifying the at least a second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one user-selected characteristic; and
refraining from notifying the at least a second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-defined characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods for communicating activity information to support user interaction during media broadcasts in a media exchange network are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a first user may associate a second user with particular media characteristics. Media characteristics may comprise, for example, subject and title keywords, a media channel type, a mode, a genre, an artist, a time period, and a language. The second user may be notified when the first user consumes media having pre-defined characteristics matching those associated with the second user. The second user may keep records of the consumption of media with particular media characteristics, and may provide services or incentives to the first user. A system in accordance with various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first and a second set top box, each having storage with an associated network address. A user of the second set top box may have at least one associated media characteristic, and the second user may be sent a notification when the first user requests media with pre-defined characteristics matching the media characteristic associated with the second user.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
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accepting from a first user information identifying at least a second user;
receiving from the first user at least one user-selected characteristic associated with media;
processing a media request from the first user via a communication network, the requested media having a pre-defined set of characteristics;
notifying the at least a second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one user-selected characteristic; and
refraining from notifying the at least a second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-defined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
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associating at least one media characteristic with a user;
processing a request for media, from the user, the media having a pre-defined set of characteristics;
sending a notification via a communication network if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one media characteristic; and
refraining from sending a notification if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one media characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system supporting the communication of activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the system comprising:
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a first storage, at a first location, having an associated first network address;
a first set top box circuitry at the first location, the first set top box circuitry communicatively coupled to the first storage to support consumption of media by a first user;
a second storage, at a second location, having an associated second network address;
a second set top box circuitry at the second location, the second set top box circuitry communicatively coupled to the second storage to support consumption of media by a second user;
at least one media characteristic associated with the second user; and
server software that receives a request that identifies at least the associated first network address and media having at least one pre-defined characteristic, and that notifies, via a communication network, the associated second network address if the at least one media characteristic matches the at least one pre-defined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification