On-demand content promotion over broadcast content

• US 20050097600A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Heer, David de
• Application Number:
  US10/700,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097600A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that facilitate the rendering on a video display device of a user interface (UI) including information promoting on-demand content and mechanisms by which a viewer of the video display device may select the on-demand content for access.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a content server configured to transmit broadcast content to a set-top-box for presentation on a video display device operably connected to the set-top-box; and

a user interface (UI) object server configured to transmit a UI object to the set-top-box, the UI object comprising instructions for causing the set-top-box to render a UI on the video display device simultaneously with the presentation of the broadcast content, the rendered UI including information related to on-demand content.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server and the UI object server are contained in a single headend device.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a UI timing controller configured to control the timing of the rendering of the UI on the video display device.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a UI timing controller operably connected to a UI application in the set-top-box, the UI timing controller being configured to cause the UI application to render the UI on the video device.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data carousel configured to transmit the UI object to the set-top-box.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an in-band transmitter configured to transmit the content to the set-top-box and an out-of-band transmitter configured to transmit the UI object to the set-top-box.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content is transmitted from the content server to the set-top-box by an out-of-band transmitter and the UI object is transmitted from the UI object server to the set-top-box by an out-of-band transmitter.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the content server comprises a broadcast content server configured to transmit broadcast content to the set-top-box and wherein the system further comprises an on-demand content server configured to transmit on-demand content to the set-top-box.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rendered UI includes information advertising the on-demand content.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the UI object comprises instructions for causing the set-top-box to render a UI on the video device that presents viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and placing a reference to the on-demand content in a future access list.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the content server comprises a broadcast content server configured to transmit the broadcast content to the set-top-box;

the system further comprises an on-demand content server configured to transmit the on-demand content to the set-top-box; and

the UI object comprises instructions for causing the set-top-box to render a UI on the video device that presents viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the content server comprises a broadcast content server configured to transmit the broadcast content to the set-top-box;

the system further comprises an on-demand content server configured to transmit the on-demand content to the set-top-box; and

the UI object comprises instructions for causing the set-top-box to render a UI on the video device that presents viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the content server comprises a broadcast content server configured to transmit the broadcast content to the set-top-box;

the system further comprises an on-demand content server configured to transmit the on-demand content to the set-top-box;

the system further comprises an in-band transmitter configured to transmit the on-demand content and the broadcast content to the set-top-box; and

the system further comprises an out-of-band transmitter configured to transmit UI objects to the set-top-box.

16. A system comprising:

a user interface (UI) authoring environment service configured to present a UI authoring environment for creating a UI object, the UI object comprising instructions for causing a set-top-box to render a UI on a video display device operably connected to the set-top-box;

a programming guide including information indicating at least one time at which content is scheduled for transmission from a headend device to the set-top-box; and

a UI object scheduling module configured to produce scheduling information associated with the UI object.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the timing information indicates a time at which the UI object is to be sent from the system to the headend device.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the timing information indicates multiple times at which the UI object is to be sent from the headend device to the set-top-box.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the timing information indicates a time at which the at least one UI object is to be used to render the UI on the video display device.

20. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one UI object comprises instructions for causing the set-top-box to render a UI on the video display device that presents viewer selectable options for accessing on-demand content.

21. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the UI authoring environment service comprises a web service.

22. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a UI object validation module configured to determine the validity of the UI object.

23. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a UI object validation module configured to determine the validity of the UI object based on a UI object rule set.

24. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a UI object server configured to store the UI object.

25. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a user interface (UI) application executed on the processor, the UI application configured to render a UI including information related to on-demand content over broadcast content displayed on a video display device operably connected to the system, the UI application rendering the UI based on information contained in a UI object.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the rendered UI includes information advertising the on-demand content.

27. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the rendered UI presents viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

28. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the rendered UI presents viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

29. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the rendered UI presents viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and placing a reference to the on-demand content in a future access list.

30. A system as recited in claim 25, further comprising a future access list, and wherein the rendered UI presents viewer selectable options for placing a reference to the on-demand content in the future access list.

31. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the UI application is configured to receive timing signals indicating a time at which the UI application is to render the UI.

32. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the UI application is configured to receive timing signals encoded in the broadcast content, the timing signals indicating a time at which the UI application is to render the UI.

33. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the UI application is configured to receive timing signals from a headend device and to render the UI at a time indicated by the timing signals.

34. A method comprising:

transmitting broadcast content to a set-top-box for presentation on a video display device operably connected to the set-top-box; and

transmitting a UI object to the set-top-box, the UI object comprising instructions that cause the set-top-box to render a UI including information related to on-demand content on the video device simultaneously with the presentation of the broadcast content.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

transmitting a timing signal to the set-top-box for use in determining a time at which the UI is rendered on the video device.

36. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using a data carousel.

37. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using an out-of-band transmitter.

38. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using an out-of-band transmitter and the act of transmitting broadcast content to a set-top-box comprises transmitting the content to the set-top-box using an in-band transmitter.

39. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the rendered UI includes information advertising the on-demand content.

40. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

41. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

42. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the rendered UI object includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and placing a reference to the on-demand content in a future access list.

43. One or more computer-readable media containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform acts of:

transmitting broadcast content to a set-top-box for presentation on a video display device operably connected to the set-top-box; and

transmitting a UI object to the set-top-box, the UI object comprising instructions that cause the set-top-box to render a UI on the video device simultaneously with the presentation of the broadcast content, the UI displaying information related to on-demand content.

44. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, further containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the computer, further perform an act of:

transmitting a timing signal to the set-top-box for use in determining a time at which the UI is rendered on the video device.

45. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using a data carousel.

46. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using an out-of-band transmitter.

47. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the act of transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box further comprises transmitting the UI object to the set-top-box using an out-of-band transmitter and the act of transmitting broadcast content to a set-top-box comprises transmitting the content to the set-top-box using an in-band transmitter.

48. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the rendered UI includes information advertising the on-demand content.

49. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

50. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, wherein the rendered UI includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

51. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 43, and wherein the rendered UI object includes viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and placing a reference to the on-demand content in a future access list.

52. On or more computer-readable media containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform acts of:

using information contained in a user interface (UI) object to render a graphical user interface (GUI) on a video display device in conjunction with broadcast content displayed on the video display device, the GUI displaying information related to on-demand content.

53. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the rendered GUI includes information related to on-demand content that is immediately accessible to the system.

54. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the rendered GUI presents viewer selectable options for accessing the on-demand content.

55. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the GUI is superimposed on the displayed broadcast content.

56. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the rendered GUI presents viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and accessing the on-demand content at a later time.

57. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the rendered GUI presents viewer selectable options for one of immediately accessing the on-demand content and placing a reference to the on-demand content in a future access list.

58. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein the GUI is rendered on the on a video display device in accordance with timing instructions.

59. A method comprising:

transmitting broadcast content to a content distribution system for distribution to a plurality of audio/video display systems; and

transmitting a user interface (UI) object and scheduling information to a UI object processing system, the UI object including directions for rendering a UI including information related to on-demand content on an audio/video display system, the scheduling information including information for determining a time at which the UI is to be displayed on the audio/video display system over broadcast content.

60. A method as recited in claim 59, further comprising:

authoring the UI object using an authoring environment provided by the UI object processing system.

61. A method as recited in claim 59, further comprising:

authoring the UI object using an authoring environment web service provided by the UI object processing system.

62. A method as recited in claim 59, wherein the UI object includes directions for displaying a graphical user interface on the audio/video display systems.

63. A method as recited in claim 59, wherein the UI object comprises a binary resource file.

64. A method comprising:

receiving a user interface (UI) object and scheduling information, the UI object including directions for rendering a UI including information related to on-demand content on an audio/video display system; and

using the scheduling information to produce timing information, the timing information indicating a time at which the UI is to be displayed on the audio/video display system over broadcast content.

65. A method as recited in claim 64, further comprising transmitting the UI object and the timing information to a content distribution system.

66. A method as recited in claim 64, further comprising transmitting the UI object and the timing information to a cable television head-end.

67. A method as recited in claim 64, wherein the act of using the scheduling information to produce timing information further comprises accessing a program guide to determine the timing information.

68. A method as recited in claim 64, wherein the timing information includes information indicating a time at which the UI object is to be transmitted from content distribution system to the audio/video display system.

69. A method as recited in claim 64, wherein the timing information includes information indicating a time at which the UI object is to be transmitted from content distribution system to the audio/video display system.