Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing interactive content

• US 20070168884A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weeks, Phillip, Ruckart, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/847
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a system for providing interactive content including: an input for receiving a hot key signal related to interactive content, the hot key signal indicative of an availability and a location of an alternate content; and a processor which indicates that the hot key signal has been received, and responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, redirects a user to the alternate content, wherein the alternate content is an interactive user interface related to the interactive content.

Claims

1. A system for providing interactive content comprising:

an input for receiving a hot key signal related to interactive content, the hot key signal indicative of an availability and a location of an alternate content; and

a processor which indicates that the hot key signal has been received, and responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, redirects a user to the alternate content, wherein the alternate content is an interactive user interface related to the interactive content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive content is an advertisement.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, the IP data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating a location for the alternate content.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user based on whether the alternate content is related to content currently being viewed by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive user interface is a website that the user may use to make a purchase related to the advertisement.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the interactive user interface is a phone call with a customer service representative for placing an order related to the advertisement.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital video recorder operable for recording a primary content while the user is using the interactive user interface.

8. A method for providing interactive content comprising:

transmitting a primary content;

transmitting a hot key signal related to the primary content, the hot key signal indicative of an availability and a location of an alternate content;

receiving a request for the alternate content; and

transmitting the alternate content, wherein the alternate content is an interactive user interface related to the primary content.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the primary content is an advertisement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the alternative content is a website that the user may use to make a purchase related to the advertisement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive user interface is a phone call with a customer service representative for placing an order related to the advertisement.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving an order for a product related to the advertisement.

13. A computer program product providing interactive content, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

transmitting a primary content;

transmitting a hot key signal related to the primary content, the hot key signal indicative of an availability and a location of an alternate content;

receiving a request for the alternate content; and

transmitting the alternate content, wherein the alternate content is an interactive user interface related to the primary content.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the primary content is an advertisement.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the alternative content is a website that the user may use to make a purchase related to the advertisement.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the interactive user interface is a phone call with a customer service representative for placing an order related to the advertisement.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising receiving an order for a product related to the advertisement.