System and method for providing television services
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are described for providing interactive television services and for switching between television programs, such as to an interactive program session from another program. An interactive server, capable of providing requested interactive video services to a set of subscribers in a given geographic area, is coupled to a network to which subscriber set top boxes are also coupled. Television programming, which may be furnished by any number of sources, is accompanied by a signal that indicates the availability of other programming, such as interactive television service related to the program being viewed, as well as information to be used in requesting such service. The user, when notified by this signal, may input to the set top box a request for a second program, such as an interactive program or application. The identity of the original program channel is stored, and a session with the video service provider is established over the network. When the session is terminated, the set top box re-tunes the television signal to the original program channel.
151 Citations
301 Claims
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1-56. -56. (canceled)
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57. A method for forwarding interactive content toward a viewer with which the viewer may interact, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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providing the predetermined video content for the viewer;
providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content;
causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the interactive content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A system for forwarding toward a viewer interactive content with which the viewer may interact, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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means for providing the predetermined video content for the viewer;
means for providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content; and
means for causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the interactive content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A method for forwarding interactive content for a viewer, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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providing the predetermined video content for the viewer;
providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content;
causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content;
wherein the interactive content is associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the video content and a characterization of the viewer;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the interactive content to the viewer is initiated; and
automatically providing the interactive content when the prompt is selected. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A system for forwarding for a viewer interactive content with which the viewer may interact, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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means for providing the predetermined video content to the viewer;
means for providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content; and
means for causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content; and
means for providing the interactive content;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the interactive content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A method for forwarding advertising content for a viewer, which advertising content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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providing the predetermined video content to the viewer;
providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the advertising content;
causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the advertising content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A system for forwarding for a viewer advertising content, which advertising content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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means for providing the predetermined video content for the viewer;
means for providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the advertising content; and
means for causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the advertising content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142)
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143. A method for forwarding polling content for a viewer, which polling content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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providing the predetermined video content to the viewer;
providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the polling content;
causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the polling content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152)
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153. A system for forwarding polling content available for a viewer, which polling content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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means for providing the predetermined video content to the viewer;
means for providing indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the polling content; and
means for causing a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to be presented for display to the viewer contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the polling content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166)
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167. A method for forwarding associated content for a viewer, which associated content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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associating the associated content with the predetermined video content, according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the predetermined video content and a characterization of the viewer;
providing the predetermined video content and related information, the related information relating to the associated content;
causing a prompt corresponding to the related information to be presented for display to the viewer, contemporaneously with display of at least a portion of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the associated content is different from the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the associated content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182)
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183. A system for providing video content and associated content to a viewer, which associated content is different from the video content, the system capable of at least receiving the video content from a video content provider, providing information related to the associated content, which related information is provided with the video content, facilitating display of a prompt to the viewer substantially contemporaneously with the video content, which prompt corresponds to the related information, and receiving a response to the prompt, which response indicates the viewer'"'"'s desire for reception of the associated content, comprising:
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an automated interface adapted to receive video content from the video content provider and information about the associated content from an associated content provider; and
a processor adapted to facilitate presentation of the related information and the video content to the viewer, whereby the prompt corresponding to the related information is presented for display to the viewer substantially contemporaneously with display of the video content to the viewer; and
to receive the response from the viewer to the prompt. - View Dependent Claims (184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200)
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201. A method for presenting interactive content for viewing, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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presenting for display the predetermined video content to a viewer;
receiving indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability interactive content; and
presenting for display a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to the viewer, wherein presenting the prompt for display to the viewer is performed contemporaneously with presenting for display of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be presented for display such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the interactive content is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216)
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217. A device for making interactive content available to a viewer, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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circuitry adapted to present for display the predetermined video content;
circuitry adapted to present for display a prompt corresponding to information indicative of availability of the interactive content; and
circuitry adapted to present for display the interactive content;
whereby the prompt is adapted, when selected by the viewer, to initiate automatic display of the interactive content to the viewer; and
whereby the interactive content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224)
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225. A method for presenting interactive content for viewing, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, the method comprising:
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receiving indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content;
displaying the predetermined video content to a viewer;
displaying a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to the viewer;
wherein displaying the prompt to the viewer is performed contemporaneously with display of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the interactive content is different from the predetermined video content; and
upon selection by the viewer of the prompt, automatically initiating display of the interactive content to the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234)
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235. A device for making interactive content available to a viewer, which interactive content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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circuitry adapted to present for display the predetermined video content;
circuitry adapted to present for display a prompt corresponding to indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the interactive content; and
circuitry adapted to present for display the interactive content;
whereby the prompt is adapted, when selected by the viewer, to initiate automatic display of the interactive content to the viewer; and
whereby the interactive content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242)
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243. A method for presenting advertising content for viewing, which advertising content is associated with predetermined video content, the method comprising:
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receiving the predetermined video content and indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of advertising content;
presenting for display the predetermined video content to a viewer;
presenting for display a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to the viewer;
wherein presenting for display the prompt to the viewer is performed contemporaneously with presenting for display of the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the advertising content to the viewer is initiated; and
wherein the advertising content has been associated to the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the predetermined video content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255)
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256. A device for making advertising content available to a viewer, which advertising content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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circuitry adapted to present for display the predetermined video content;
circuitry adapted to present for display a prompt corresponding to indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the advertising content; and
circuitry adapted to present for display the advertising content;
wherein the prompt is displayed to the viewer contemporaneously with display of the predetermined video content;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the advertising content to the viewer is initiated;
whereby the advertising content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262)
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263. A method for presenting polling content for viewing, which polling content is associated with predetermined video content, the method comprising:
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receiving the predetermined video content and indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the polling content;
presenting for display the predetermined video content to a viewer;
presenting for display a prompt corresponding to the indicative information to the viewer;
wherein presenting for display the prompt to the viewer is performed contemporaneously with presenting for display of the predetermined video content; and
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the polling content to the viewer is initiated; and
wherein the polling content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the predetermined video content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270)
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271. A device for making polling content available to a viewer, which polling content is associated with predetermined video content, comprising:
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circuitry adapted to present for display the predetermined video content;
circuitry adapted to present for display a prompt corresponding to indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the polling content; and
circuitry adapted to present for display the polling content;
wherein the prompt is displayed to the viewer contemporaneously with display of the predetermined video content;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the polling content to the viewer is initiated;
whereby the polling content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (272, 273, 274, 275, 276)
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277. A method for presenting associated content for viewing, which associated content is associated with predetermined video content, the method comprising:
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receiving predetermined video content and related information, the related information related to associated content;
presenting for display the predetermined video content to a viewer;
presenting for display a prompt corresponding to the related information to the viewer, wherein presenting for display the prompt to the viewer is performed contemporaneously with presenting for display of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the associated content is different from the predetermined video content;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the associated content to the viewer is initiated; and
wherein the associated content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292)
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293. A device for making associated content available to a viewer, which associated content is associated with predetermined video content, the device comprising:
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circuitry adapted to present for display predetermined video content;
circuitry adapted to present for display a prompt corresponding to indicative information, the indicative information indicative of availability of the associated content; and
circuitry adapted to present for display the associated content;
wherein the prompt is displayed to the viewer contemporaneously with display of the predetermined video content to the viewer;
wherein the associated content is different from the predetermined video content;
whereby the prompt is adapted to be displayed such that when the prompt is selected by the viewer, automatic display of the associated content to the viewer is initiated; and
wherein the associated content has been associated with the predetermined video content according to at least one of the following;
a subject matter of the content, and a characterization of the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301)
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Specification