System and method for providing enhanced hot key control
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content during an advertisement;
responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content during an advertisement, 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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to various aspects of the present invention, methods and systems are provided for informing users of an interactive television service of available content during an advertisement or via an electronic program guide. A hot key signal is inserted 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. If the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed on the screen. If the user accepts the hot key, the user is redirected to the alternate content or is provided additional information regarding the available content.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content during an advertisement;
responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content during an advertisement, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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determining whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content via an electronic program guide;
responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content via an electronic program guide, 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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receiving a hot key signal related to an advertisement and indicating availability and a location of alternate content;
determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of an interactive television (TV) provider currently viewing the advertisement;
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, redirecting the user to the alternate content. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving a hot key signal from an interactive television service provider'"'"'s network, the hot key signal related to an electronic program guide, indicating availability and a location of alternate content and containing information providing details regarding the alternate content;
determining whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of the interactive television service provider; and
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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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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 transmit 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 during an advertisement, responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content during an advertisement, and generate a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
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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 transmit content signals from the content reception, distribution, and switching portion over a network;
a hot key generation portion determine whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content via an electronic program guide, responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content via an electronic program guide, and generate a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system comprising:
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a tuner, receiver, and demodulator portion and a demultiplexor portion to receive a hot key signal related to an advertisement and indicating availability and a location of alternate content;
a processor to determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of an interactive television (TV) provider currently viewing the advertisement, 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, redirect the user to the alternate content. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A system comprising:
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a tuner, receiver, and demodulator portion and a demultiplexor portion to receive a hot key signal from an interactive television service provider'"'"'s network, the hot key signal related to an electronic program guide, indicating availability and a location of alternate content and containing information providing details regarding the alternate content; and
a processor to determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of the interactive television service provider, and 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. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instruction, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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determine whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content during an advertisement;
responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content during an advertisement, 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instruction, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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determine whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content via an electronic program guide;
responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content via an electronic program guide, 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instruction, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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receive a hot key signal related to an advertisement and indicating availability and a location of alternate content;
determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of an interactive television (TV) provider currently viewing the advertisement;
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, redirect the user to the alternate content. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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58. A machine readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instruction, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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receive a hot key signal from an interactive television service provider'"'"'s network, the hot key signal related to an electronic program guide, indicating availability and a location of alternate content and containing information providing details regarding the alternate content;
determine whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user of the interactive television service provider; and
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. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification