Method and system for delivering enhanced TV content
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- delivering to a server, in advance of a broadcast time of a program to be broadcast over a distribution network and using Internet protocol (IP), an eTV application for the program, a corresponding playlist for the eTV application and a programming schedule for the distribution network, the playlist specifying a list of events to be loaded by an application engine resident on a client device when executing the eTV application, the events of the playlist including identifiers that enable the eTV application to synchronize application trigger events to program events associated with the program;
prior to and during broadcast of the program according to the programming schedule, distributing a playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist from the server to the client device independently from a broadcast stream including packets which make up the program; and
receiving the playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist at the client device and, so long as the client device is tuned to the broadcast of the program associated with the eTV application, processing, by the application engine, the events as specified in the playlist.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for delivering enhanced TV (eTV) content allows content producers to author eTV content and deliver the eTV content over an IP network to an eTV application server at a cable headend. A network server, for example, operated by a broadcast network, communicates broadcast program scheduling information to the eTV application server over an IP network. Prior to, and during, the broadcast of a particular program, the eTV application server makes the eTV application content available to a set-top-box via an out-of-band data carousel or via IP multicast. A client-side application engine, executing on the set-top-box, receives the scheduling information and the eTV application content from the data carousel or IP multicast, and launches the eTV application content, based on the scheduling information and the channel being viewed, or tuned, by the viewer.
95 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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delivering to a server, in advance of a broadcast time of a program to be broadcast over a distribution network and using Internet protocol (IP), an eTV application for the program, a corresponding playlist for the eTV application and a programming schedule for the distribution network, the playlist specifying a list of events to be loaded by an application engine resident on a client device when executing the eTV application, the events of the playlist including identifiers that enable the eTV application to synchronize application trigger events to program events associated with the program;
prior to and during broadcast of the program according to the programming schedule, distributing a playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist from the server to the client device independently from a broadcast stream including packets which make up the program; and
receiving the playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist at the client device and, so long as the client device is tuned to the broadcast of the program associated with the eTV application, processing, by the application engine, the events as specified in the playlist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An eTV application distribution system, comprising:
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a server communicatively coupled to receive, in advance of a broadcast time of a program to be broadcast over a distribution network and using Internet protocol (IP), an eTV application for the program, a corresponding playlist for the eTV application and a programming schedule for the distribution network, the playlist specifying a list of events associated with the eTV application, which events include identifiers that enable the eTV application to synchronize application trigger events to program events associated with the program;
an out-of band data carousel communicatively coupled to receive from the server, and prior to broadcast of the program according to the programming schedule, a playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist; and
a client device, communicatively coupled to receive, from the out-of-band data carousel and independently from a broadcast stream including packets which make up the program, the playlist directory, the eTV application and the playlist, the client device having an application engine configured to process the events specified in the playlist so long as the client device is tuned to the broadcast of the program associated with the eTV application. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An eTV application distribution system, comprising:
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a server communicatively coupled to receive, in advance of a broadcast time of a program to be broadcast over a distribution network and using Internet protocol (IP), an eTV application for the program, a corresponding playlist for the eTV application and a programming schedule for the distribution network, the playlist specifying a list of events associated with the eTV application, which events include identifiers that enable the eTV application to synchronize application trigger events to program events associated with the program;
a client device, communicatively coupled to receive from the server, via IP multicast, prior to broadcast of the program according to the programming schedule, and independently from a broadcast stream including packets which make up the program, a playlist directory, an eTV application and the playlist, the client device having an application engine configured to process the events specified in the playlist so long as the client device is tuned to the broadcast of the program associated with the eTV application. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification