Enhanced content in an on-demand environment

• US 20060123451A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Showtime Networks Incorporated (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Showtime Networks Incorporated (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Inventors: Preisman, David
• Application Number:
  US11/004,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for providing enhanced interactive content about programming services in, e.g., a video on demand (VOD), subscription VOD, personal video recorder (PVR), or digital video recorder (DVR) environment is disclosed. The programming services may include movies, original series, sports and/or family programming. The interactive interface provides the ability to interact and/or access an extraordinary amount of content about a program being accessed. The interactive interface also provides an easy, entertaining viewing experience and/or provides viewers with choice, control and/or convenience that they desire.

Claims

1. A method for providing programming information, comprising:

receiving a request for interactive content related to on demand programming; and

providing an interactive interface including said interactive content relating to said on demand programming while a user is accessing said on demand programming.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request for interactive content relating to said on demand programming, said on demand programming comprising at least one of a video on demand (VOD), or subscription VOD on demand programming.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request for interactive content relating to said on demand programming, said on demand programming comprising programming accessed from a digital video recorder (DVR).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said programming accessed from said DVR comprises at least one of:

programming delivered to said DVR in a pre-cached video on demand (VOD) environment;

or

programming recorded to a DVR by a consumer.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request for interactive content relating to said on demand programming, wherein said on demand programming comprises programming facilitated by at least one of;

a client cache,

a media stream,

a digital video server,

a client stored, or

a digital video recorder (DVR).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

providing said interactive interface including said interactive content relating to said on demand programming, said interactive content being viewed in at least one of;

a full screen, or

an overlay.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

providing said interactive interface including said on demand programming wherein said programming is at least one of;

hidden,

fullscreen, or

in picture in picture (PIP).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

providing said interactive interface including said interactive content relating to said on demand programming while said on demand programming is at least one of being viewed, being experienced, being fast forwarded, being rewound, or being paused.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

providing said interactive interface including said interactive content comprising interactive content that comprises information at least one of synchronized or not synchronized with said on demand programming.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

providing said interactive interface including said interactive content comprising information relating to at least one of said on demand programming, a programming service, other on demand programming, a programming scene, or a point in time.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said providing said interactive content comprising said synchronized information comprises embedding a trigger in said on demand programming to access said interactive content.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said providing comprises embedding a trigger in a video file of said on demand programming that communicates at various points in said video with an external interactive television (ITV) application to initiate a certain action.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said providing said interactive content comprising said synchronized information comprises accessing said interactive content based on at least one of a time reference in a video file, or an elapsed time from program start.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said providing comprises providing an interactive application adapted to read at least one of said time reference in said video file, or said elapsed time from program start;

and adapted to read a playlist of a plurality of events; and

wherein said accessing comprises executing an event of said plurality of events associated with said time reference, or said elapsed time.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein said providing said interactive content comprising said synchronized information comprises embedding an application in a video signal of said on demand programming.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises providing enhanced information content comprising at least one of:

providing a biography of a person associated with said on demand programming;

providing a filmography of a person associated with said on demand programming;

providing a character description of a character of said on demand programming;

providing award information relating to said on demand programming;

providing a soundtrack of said on demand programming;

providing audio information relating to at least one of said on demand programming, service, or network;

providing video information relating to at least one of said on demand programming, service, or network;

providing information relating to subject matter of said on demand programming being accessed;

providing information relating to a network;

providing information relating to a package of networks;

providing information relating to a programming service;

providing information relating to a promotion;

providing promotional information for a nonsubscriber relating to said on demand programming;

or

offering programming to a nonsubscriber.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises:

providing promotional information targeted based on subscription status.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said providing promotional information comprises:

identifying a subscription status of a viewer;

allowing the viewer to access said interactive content in accordance with said subscription status;

presenting an offer to a nonsubscriber; and

receiving an order accepting said offer from said nonsubscriber.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises:

promoting at least one of other content, another program, an on demand service, a network, a package of networks, a feature, or a promotion, from said on demand programming.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises:

providing targeted interactive content to a viewer of said on demand programming.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing said on demand programming comprises at least one of:

viewing said on demand programming;

engaging in a viewing experience of said on demand programming;

fast forwarding said on demand programming;

rewinding said on demand programming;

pausing said on demand programming;

or

playing said on demand programming.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises providing interactive components comprising at least one of:

providing trivia relating to said on demand programming;

providing a quiz relating to said programming;

providing a postcard generator related to said on demand programming;

providing polling relating to said on demand programming;

or

providing gaming relating to said on demand programming.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises providing an enhanced audio video (A/V) experience comprising at least one of:

providing at least one of a video track or an alternate video track, said alternate video track comprising at least one of an alternate camera angle track, an alternate resolution track, an alternate video special effects track, a subtitle video track, or an alternate ratings video track for said on demand programming;

providing at least one of an audio track, or an alternate audio track, said alternate audio track comprising at least one of an alternate language audio track, an alternate audio special effect track, or an alternate audio format track, for said on demand programming;

providing a promotional audio/video track targeted based on subscription status of a viewer;

providing a commentary of a director relating to said on demand programming;

or

providing deleted scenes relating to said on demand programming.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a playlist to a client to enable a two-screen experience synchronizing information between said client or said programming.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said sending said playlist to said client comprises:

sending said playlist to at least one of;

a tablet, a personal computer (PC), a handheld, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a remote screen, a remote control, or a browser.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said sending a playlist comprises:

sending an updated playlist based on at least one of a state of play or pause of said on demand programming;

or a timecode in said on demand programming.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving a request comprises:

receiving a request from a user wherein said user comprises at least one of a subscriber or a nonsubscriber.

28. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive content comprises:

providing said interactive content targeted based on said on demand programming being accessed.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing said interactive interface comprises:

providing an interactive interface, for nonsubscribers comprising;

presenting a subscription offer; and

receiving a subscription order in response to said subscription offer.

30. A system for providing programming information, comprising:

an interactive interface adapted to receive a request for interactive content related to on demand programming; and

adapted to provide said interactive content relating to said on demand programming while a user is accessing said on demand programming.

31. A system for providing programming information, comprising:

means for receiving a request for interactive content related to on demand programming; and

means for providing an interactive interface including said interactive content relating to said on demand programming while a user is accessing said on demand programming.

32. A machine readable medium that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform, cause said computing platform to perform operations comprising a method of providing programming information, comprising:

receiving a request for interactive content related to on demand programming; and

providing an interactive interface including said interactive content relating to said on demand programming while a user is accessing said on demand programming.