PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT SERVICE FOR COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communication network to provide a supplemental content service, the communication network operating in association with a content provider that is adapted to broadcast a primary content stream to a content receiving device of a user, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a user for supplemental content associated with the primary content stream provided by the content provider;
receiving the supplemental content from the content provider; and
transmitting the supplemental content to a communication device of the user;
wherein the supplemental content, when communicated to the user by the communication device, supplements the primary content stream when the primary content stream is communicated to the user by the content receiving device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communication networks and methods are disclosed that provide a supplemental content service. The supplemental content service provides synchronized supplemental content, such as media clips, to a user over a communication network (e.g., a mobile wireless network). A content provider offering a primary content stream (e.g., a television program) broadcasts the primary content stream to a content receiving device (e.g., a television) of the user. The content provider also generates supplemental content that is an enhancement to the primary content stream. If the user subscribes to the supplemental content service, then the communication network provides the supplemental content to the user through a communication device (e.g., a mobile phone) that is synchronized with the primary content stream. The user can then experience the supplemental content over the communication device at the same time as experiencing the primary content stream over the content receiving device.
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication network to provide a supplemental content service, the communication network operating in association with a content provider that is adapted to broadcast a primary content stream to a content receiving device of a user, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user for supplemental content associated with the primary content stream provided by the content provider; receiving the supplemental content from the content provider; and transmitting the supplemental content to a communication device of the user; wherein the supplemental content, when communicated to the user by the communication device, supplements the primary content stream when the primary content stream is communicated to the user by the content receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a communication network to provide a supplemental content service for television programs that are broadcast by a content provider, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user for supplemental content associated with a television program provided by the content provider; receiving at least one media clip from the content provider; and transmitting the at least one media clip to a communication device of the user that is adapted to communicate the at least one media clip to the user; wherein the at least one media clip, when communicated to the user through the communication device, is adapted to supplement the television program when viewed by the user through the television. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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generating a primary content stream; generating supplemental content, wherein the supplemental content enhances the primary content stream when the supplemental content and the primary content stream are provided to a user; broadcasting the primary content stream to a content receiving device of the user; and transmitting the supplemental content to a communication network, wherein the communication network is adapted to transmit the supplemental content to the user through a communication device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification