System and method for providing interactive media content over a network

• US 20040268401A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gray, James, Matz, William, Brothers, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for informing a user of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site and redirecting the user to the Internet content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals. According to another aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for caching alternate content on a user'"'"'s terminal device and redirecting the user to the cached content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site;

responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content from an Internet web site, generating a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content; and

inserting the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from an interactive television service provider via a network with which the one or more users and the interactive television service provider are connected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site is based on information supplied by a content provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site is based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the available content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

60. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining whether to inform one or more subscribers of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site is based on information supplied by a content provider.

61. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining whether to inform one or more subscribers of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site is based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

62. The machine readable medium of claim 1, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

63. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the available content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more subscribers.

64. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

65. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

66. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

67. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

68. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

11. A method comprising:

determining whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service, the alternate content to be cached on a terminal device located at a premises of the one or more users;

responsive to determining to supply alternate content to one or more users to an interactive television service, sending the alternate content to the terminal device located at the premises of the one or more users;

generating a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content; and

inserting the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from an interactive television service provider via a network with which the one or more users and the interactive television service provider are connected.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service is based on information supplied by a content provider.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service is based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the alternate content is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more users.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

70. The machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service is based on information supplied by a content provider.

71. The machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service is based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

72. The machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

73. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the alternate content is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more users.

74. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

75. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

76. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

77. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

78. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of available content from an Internet web site;

determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user currently viewing content from an interactive television (TV) provider;

responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, displaying on a screen an indication that the hot key signal has been received; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, starting a web browser and rendering the available content from an Internet web site indicated by the hot key signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the available content is located.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user comprises determining whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user further comprises determining whether the available content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the user.

80. The machine readable medium of claim 21, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

81. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user comprises determining whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the user.

82. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user further comprises determining whether the alternate content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the user.

25. A method comprising:

caching alternate content on a terminal device of a user currently viewing content from an interactive television (TV) provider;

receiving a hot key signal indicating availability of alternate content cached on the user'"'"'s terminal device;

determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user;

responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, displaying on a screen an indication that the hot key signal has been received; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, retrieving and presenting the cached content to the user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating the availability of cached content.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user comprises determining whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the user.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the alternate content cached on the system of a user is related to the content currently being viewed by the user.

84. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating the availability of cached content.

85. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user comprises determining whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the user.

86. The machine readable medium of claim 25, wherein the alternate content cached on the system of a user is related to the content currently being viewed by the user.

29. A system comprising:

a content reception, distribution, and switching portion connected with one or more content providers to receive and redistribute interactive television (TV) content;

a head-end transport portion connected with the content reception, distribution, and switching portion to and encode, multiplex and transmitted content signals from the content reception, distribution, and switching portion over a network;

a hot key generation portion to determine whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site, responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content from an Internet web site, generate a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the head-end transport portion receives the hot key signal from the hot key generation portion, and multiplexes the hot key signal with the content signal.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the hot key generation portion determines whether to inform one or more users of an interactive TV service of available content from an Internet web site based on information supplied by a content provider.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the hot key generation portion determines whether to inform one or more users of an interactive TV service of available content from an Internet web site based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the available content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more users.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

40. A system comprising:

a content reception, distribution, and switching portion connected with one or more content providers to receive and redistribute interactive television (TV) content;

a head-end transport portion connected with the content reception, distribution, and switching portion to and encode, multiplex and transmitted content signals from the content reception, distribution, and switching portion over a network;

a hot key generation portion to determine whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service, the alternate content to be cached on a terminal device located at a premises of the one or more users, responsive to determining to supply alternate content to one or more users to an interactive television service, send the alternate content to the terminal device located at the premises of the one or more users, and generate a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the head-end transport portion receives the hot key signal from the hot key generation portion, multiplexes the hot key signal with the content signal.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the hot key generation portion determines whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service based on information supplied by a content provider.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the hot key generation portion determines whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service based on information generated by the interactive television service provider.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the alternate content is related to content currently being viewed by the one or more users.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the network comprises a cable network.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the network comprises a satellite network.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC) network.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the network comprises a Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network.

50. The system of claim 40, wherein the network comprises a Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network.

51. A system comprising:

a tuner, receiver, and demodulator portion and a demultiplexor portion to receive a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of alternate content from an Internet web site;

a processor to determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a subscriber currently viewing content from an interactive television (TV) provider, responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber, displaying on a screen via a graphics processor and an input/output portion connected with the processor an indication that the hot key signal has been received, and responsive to receiving an indication via the input output portion that the hot key is accepted, starting a web browser and rendering the alternate content from an Internet web site indicated by the hot key signal.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) where the alternate content is located.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber based on whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the subscriber.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the processor determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber based on whether the alternate content from an Internet web site is related to content currently being viewed by the subscriber.

55. A system comprising:

a tuner, receiver, and demodulator portion and a demultiplexor portion to receive content signals from a network;

a data storage device to cache content; and

a processor to receive a hot key signal indicating availability of alternate content cached on the data storage device, determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber, responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber, display on a screen an indication that the hot key signal has been received, and responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, retrieving and presenting the cached content to the subscriber.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating the availability of cached content.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the processor determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to the subscriber based on whether a destination address for the hot key signal is an address of the subscriber.

58. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether to inform one or more subscribers of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site;

responsive to determining to inform the one or more subscribers of the available content from an Internet web site, generate a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content; and

insert the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the one or more subscribers from an interactive television service provider via a network with which the one or more subscribers and the interactive television service provider are connected.

69. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether to supply alternate content to one or more users of an interactive television service, the alternate content to be cached on a terminal device located at a premises of the one or more users;

responsive to determining to supply alternate content to one or more users to an interactive television service, send the alternate content to the terminal device located at the premises of the one or more users;

generate a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content; and

insert the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from an interactive television service provider via a network with which the one or more users and the interactive television service provider are connected.

79. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of alternate content from an Internet web site;

determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user currently viewing content from an interactive television (TV) provider;

responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, display on a screen an indication that the hot key signal has been received; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, start a web browser and rendering the alternate content from an Internet web site indicated by the hot key signal.

83. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

cache alternate content on a terminal device of a user currently viewing content from an interactive television (TV) provider;

receive a hot key signal indicating availability of alternate content cached on the user'"'"'s terminal device;

determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user;

responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, display on a screen an indication that the hot key signal has been received; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, retrieve and present the cached content to the user.