Systems and methods for providing television services using implicit content to indicate the availability of additional content

• US 20070136773A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Koch, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/302,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/4622 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for providing content includes a first receiver for receiving television content, the television content having associated therewith an implicit indicator that additional content is available, at least one processor for presenting for display the television content, and a second receiver for receiving a response to the implicit indicator, the response indicating a desire to obtain the additional content.

Claims

1. A system for providing content, comprising:

a first receiver for receiving television content, the television content having associated therewith an implicit indicator that additional content is available;

at least one processor for presenting for display the television content; and

a second receiver for receiving a response to the implicit indicator, the response indicating a desire to obtain the additional content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the implicit indicator is chosen from at least one image presented to a user in the television content, an image of a product or service that appears on all or part of a screen as part of programming delivered to a subscriber, a portion of the screen that functions as a clickable icon, a time period during which a subscriber can indicate interest in the additional content, and audible information that is transmitted to the subscriber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implicit indicator comprises the entire content presented in the television content

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional content comprises interactive television content.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional content comprises a link to a uniform resource locator (URL).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional content is delivered immediately to a user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional content is delivered to a user after a delay.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising an account established for the user, the account being associated with the URL, and in which the account further comprises information relating to the additional content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the account further comprises a location that stores information relating to the additional content requested by the user.

10. A method for providing content, comprising:

presenting for display original content, the original content including an implicit indication that additional content is available;

receiving a response to the implicit indication, the response indicating a desire to obtain the additional content; and

presenting for display the additional content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the implicit indication is chosen from at least one image presented to a user in the original content and an audio message in the original content.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the implicit indication comprises the entire original content.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional content comprises interactive television content.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional content comprises a link to a uniform resource locator (URL).

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising immediately delivering the additional content to a user.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering the additional content to a user after a delay.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing an account for a user, the account being associated with the URL, and in which the account further comprises information relating to the additional content.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the account further comprises a location that stores information relating to the additional content requested by the user.

19. A computer program product for providing content, comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the steps of:

presenting for display original content, the original content including an implicit indication that additional content is available;

receiving a response to the implicit indication, the response indicating a desire to obtain the additional content; and

presenting for display the additional content.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the implicit indication is chosen from at least one image presented to a user in the original content and an audio message in the original content.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the implicit indication comprises the entire original content.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the additional content comprises interactive television content.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the additional content comprises a link to a uniform resource locator (URL).

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising immediately delivering the additional content to a user.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising delivering the additional content to a user after a delay.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising establishing an account for a user, the account being associated with the URL, and in which the account further comprises information relating to the additional content.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the account further comprises a location that stores information relating to the additional content requested by the user.

28. A method for providing content, comprising:

forwarding for display television content, the television content including an implicit indication that additional content is available;

receiving in an interactive server processor a response to the implicit indication, the response indicating a desire to obtain the additional content; and

forwarding by the interactive server for display the additional content.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the implicit indication is chosen from at least one image presented to a user in the television content and an audio message in the television content.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the implicit indication comprises the entire content presented in the television content.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the additional content comprises interactive television content.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the additional content comprises a link to a uniform resource locator (URL).

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising immediately delivering the additional content to a user.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising delivering the additional content to a user after a delay.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising establishing an account for a user, the account being associated with the URL, and in which the account further comprises information relating to the additional content.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the account further comprises a location that stores information relating to the additional content requested by the user.