System and methods for real-time access to movie information
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a video signal to a set-top-box for display on a television to a viewer, the video signal conveying an advertisement to the viewer, the video signal further conveying an indication that supplemental information is available regarding the advertisement;
receiving a first request for the supplement information at the set-top-box;
generating a second request for the supplemental information from the set-top-box to a processor wherein the second request further comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier indicating a currently selected channel;
accessing a first database by the processor using the set-top-box identifier to determine a geographical location associated with the set-top-box;
accessing a second database by the processor using the channel identifier to identify the advertisement;
determining an address of a third database to launch a third request for the supplemental information;
launching the third request for supplemental information to the third database, the third request including an indication associated with the advertisement;
receiving the supplemental information at the processor from the third database;
transmitting the supplemental information from the processor to the set-top-box; and
generating a second video signal conveying the supplemental information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing real-time access to movie information to viewers in an interactive television viewing system. During select times when viewing a program on a television, the viewer is presented information, typically an advertisement, regarding a movie available for viewing in a movie theater. The viewer can opt to review supplemental information regarding the movie, including information directed to the actors, plot, rating, and where and when it is showing relative to the viewer'"'"'s location. The viewer can opt to purchase tickets as well. The system can be controlled in one embodiment by the user interacting with a set top box sending signaling information to a processor in the network headend that retrieves the appropriate information for display to the viewer. The information can be provided to the set-top-box and displayed to the user using an overlapping window, or other techniques.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a video signal to a set-top-box for display on a television to a viewer, the video signal conveying an advertisement to the viewer, the video signal further conveying an indication that supplemental information is available regarding the advertisement; receiving a first request for the supplement information at the set-top-box; generating a second request for the supplemental information from the set-top-box to a processor wherein the second request further comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier indicating a currently selected channel; accessing a first database by the processor using the set-top-box identifier to determine a geographical location associated with the set-top-box; accessing a second database by the processor using the channel identifier to identify the advertisement; determining an address of a third database to launch a third request for the supplemental information; launching the third request for supplemental information to the third database, the third request including an indication associated with the advertisement; receiving the supplemental information at the processor from the third database; transmitting the supplemental information from the processor to the set-top-box; and generating a second video signal conveying the supplemental information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a set-top-box capable of generating video signals associated with an advertisement, the set-top box further capable of receiving a first request for supplemental information and generating in response a second request for supplemental information, wherein the second request comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier associated with a selected channel, the set-top-box further capable receiving the supplemental information and generating a second video signal comprising a window displaying the supplemental information; a communication network capable of transmitting the second request for supplement information from the set-top-box; a first database capable of receiving a request for an advertisement identifier based on in part a channel identifier, the first database capable of responding with the advertisement identifier associated with the advertisement associated with the channel identifier; a second database capable of receiving a request for a geographical location identifier based on in part the channel identifier and responding with the geographical location identifier; a third database capable of receiving a third request for supplemental information, the third request comprising the advertisement identifier and responding with the supplemental information; and a processor operatively connected to the communication network capable of receiving the second request for supplemental information, the processor capable of generating the request for the advertisement identifier and the request for the geographical identifier, the processor capable of generating the third request for supplemental information to the third database, the processor capable of receiving the supplemental information and transmitting the supplement information to the set-top-box. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification