Displaying complementary content sources

• US 20050021609A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Escobar, George D., Cooper, Robert M., Houghton, William, Kirsh, Laurence, Silva, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a first URL address corresponding to a first web page, accessing content and serving the first web page based on the first URL address, receiving specification of a second URL address corresponding to a second web page, changing from the first web page to the second web page based on the received specification of the second URL address, motivating an automatic change in television channel from a first television channel to a second television channel based upon a change from the first web page to the second web page, and displaying the second television channel.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first URL address corresponding to a first web page;

accessing content and serving the first web page based on the first URL address;

receiving specification of a second URL address corresponding to a second web page;

changing from the first web page to the second web page based on the received specification of the second URL address;

motivating an automatic change in television channel from a first television channel to a second television channel based upon a change from the first web page to the second web page; and

displaying the second television channel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

browsing the Internet based on the second URL address to identify second content relevant to the second URL address; and

displaying the second content.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving the identified content from a source other than a broadcast signal.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

browsing the Internet based on the first URL address to identify first content relevant to the first URL address;

displaying the first content;

determining the first television channel based on the first URL address; and

displaying the first television channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein motivating an automatic change further comprises:

determining the second television channel based upon the second URL address; and

changing the television channel from the first television channel to the second television channel in response to receipt of the second URL address.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

browsing the Internet based on the second URL address to identify second content relevant to the second URL address; and

displaying the second content; and

wherein determining the second television channel comprises determining the second television channel including television content relevant to but different from the second content.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having television content different from and unrelated to the second television channel; and

displaying the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently displaying the second content relevant to the second URL address.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the second television channel comprises:

performing a channel availability scan to create a list of channels available from the television provider;

performing a subscription status scan on the listed channels available to create a subset list of subscribed channels;

identifying a primary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determining whether the primary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels;

if so, selecting, for display, the primary related television channel;

if not, identifying a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determining whether the secondary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels; and

if so, selecting, for display, the secondary related television channel.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein determining the second television channel comprises:

comparing the second URL address to a list of television channels comprising at least a primary related television channel; and

selecting, for display, the primary related television channel.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the second television channel further comprises:

determining whether the primary related television channel is available; and

if not, identifying a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determining whether the secondary related television channel is available; and

if so, selecting, for display, the secondary related television channel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, if the secondary related television channel is not available, calling a third URL address.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising, if the secondary related television channel is not available, executing a Java script function.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting, for display, a text/graphics template based on the second television channel.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting, for execution, an HTML code based on the second television channel.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting, for execution, a Java script code based on the second television channel.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting, for display, an advertisement hot spot based on the second television channel.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting, for display, a text/graphics template if neither the primary related television channel nor the secondary related television channel are available.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting, for execution, an HTML code based on the text/graphics template selected.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting, for execution, a Java script code based on the text/graphics template selected.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting, for display, an advertisement based on the text/graphics template selected.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the user input specifying the second URL address further comprises executing a Java script function to specify the second URL address.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein specifying the second URL address comprises specifying the second URL address based on input received from a user.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having content different from the second television channel; and

displaying the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently displaying second content relevant to the second URL address.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving a user input specifying the second URL address and displaying the second television channel.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising selecting, for display on the video display, an object relating to the second television channel.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein selecting the object for display comprises comparing the second television channel with a mapping of objects and selecting a primary related object corresponding to the second television channel.

27. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer system to:

receive a first URL address corresponding to a first web page;

access content and serve the first web page based on the first URL address;

receive specification of a second URL address corresponding to a second web page;

change from the first web page to the second web page based on the received specification of the second URL address;

motivate an automatic change in television channel from a first television channel to a second television channel based upon a change from the first web page to the second web page; and

display the second television channel.

28. The computer program of claim 27 further comprising instructions for causing a computer system to receive the identified content from a source other than a broadcast signal.

29. The computer program of claim 27 wherein instructions for causing a computer system to motivate an automatic change further comprises instructions for causing a computer system to:

determine the second television channel based upon the second URL address; and

change the television channel from the first television channel to the second television channel in response to receipt of the second URL address.

30. The computer program of claim 29 further comprising instructions for causing a computer system to:

browse the Internet based on the second URL address to identify second content relevant to the second URL address; and

display the second content; and

wherein instructions for causing a computer system to determine the second television channel comprises instructions for causing a computer system to determine the second television channel including television content relevant to but different from the second content.

31. The computer program of claim 29 further comprising instructions for causing a computer system to:

receive a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having television content different from and unrelated to the second television channel; and

display the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently display the second content relevant to the second URL address.

32. The computer program of claim 29 wherein instructions for causing a computer system to determine the second television channel comprises instructions for causing a computer system to:

perform a channel availability scan to create a list of channels available from the television provider;

perform a subscription status scan on the listed channels available to create a subset list of subscribed channels;

identify a primary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determine whether the primary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels;

if so, select, for display, the primary related television channel;

if not, identify a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determine whether the secondary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels; and

if so, select, for display, the secondary related television channel.

33. The computer program of claim 29 wherein instructions for causing a computer system to determine the second television channel comprises instructions for causing a computer system to:

compare the second URL address to a list of television channels comprising at least a primary related television channel; and

select, for display, the primary related television channel.

34. The computer program of claim 33 wherein instructions for causing a computer system to determine the second television channel further comprises instructions for causing a computer system to:

determine whether the primary related television channel is available; and

if not, identify a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

determine whether the secondary related television channel is available; and

if so, select, for display, the secondary related television channel.

35. The computer program of claim 27 further comprising instructions for causing a computer system to:

receive a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having content different from the second television channel; and

display the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently display second content relevant to the second URL address.

36. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising:

means for receiving a first URL address corresponding to a first web page;

means for accessing content and serve the first web page based on the first URL address;

means for receiving specification of a second URL address corresponding to a second web page;

means for changing from the first web page to the second web page based on the received specification of the second URL address;

means for motivating an automatic change in television channel from a first television channel to a second television channel based upon a change from the first web page to the second web page; and

means for displaying the second television channel.

37. The computer program of claim 36 further comprising means for receiving the identified content from a source other than a broadcast signal.

38. The computer program of claim 36 wherein means for motivating an automatic change further comprises:

means for determining the second television channel based upon the second URL address; and

means for changing the television channel from the first television channel to the second television channel in response to receipt of the second URL address.

39. The computer program of claim 38 further comprising:

means for browsing the Internet based on the second URL address to identify second content relevant to the second URL address; and

means for displaying the second content; and

wherein means for determining the second television channel comprises means for determining the second television channel including television content relevant to but different from the second content.

40. The computer program of claim 38 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having television content different from and unrelated to the second television channel; and

means for displaying the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently displaying the second content relevant to the second URL address.

41. The computer program of claim 38 wherein means for determining the second television channel comprises:

means for performing a channel availability scan to create a list of channels available from the television provider;

means for performing a subscription status scan on the listed channels available to create a subset list of subscribed channels;

means for identifying a primary related television channel based on the second URL address;

means for determining whether the primary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels;

if so, means for selecting, for display, the primary related television channel;

if not, means for identifying a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

means for determining whether the secondary related television channel is one of the listed subscriber channels; and

if so, means for selecting, for display, the secondary related television channel.

42. The computer program of claim 38 wherein means for determining the second television channel comprises:

means for comparing the second URL address to a list of television channels comprising at least a primary related television channel; and

means for selecting, for display, the primary related television channel.

43. The computer program of claim 42 wherein means for determining the second television channel further comprises:

means for determining whether the primary related television channel is available; and

if not, means for identifying a secondary related television channel based on the second URL address;

means for determining whether the secondary related television channel is available; and

if so, means for selecting, for display, the secondary related television channel.

44. The computer program of claim 36 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input specifying a user-selected television channel having content different from the second television channel; and

means for displaying the user-selected television channel in place of the second television channel and concurrently displaying second content relevant to the second URL address.