Systems and methods for supplementing on-demand media

• US 20080209465A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Berezowski, David M., Thomas, William L., Easterbrook, Kevin B., Baumgartner, Joseph P.
• Application Number:
  US12/150,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing supplemental content with on-demand media in an interactive television application are described.

Claims

1. A method for providing on-demand media with supplemental content in an interactive application, the method comprising:

receiving a request for on-demand media from a user;

in response to the request, providing the on-demand media;

in response to the request, retrieving through an internet connection supplemental content related to the on-demand media; and

providing supplemental content to the user while the user is viewing the on-demand media.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive application is implemented on a consumer electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the consumer electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, and a computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the on-demand media from a distribution facility.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the on-demand media from a digital storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-demand media is audio-on-demand media, video-on-demand media, electronic publications, software applications, or third-party applications.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indicator of the availability of supplemental content, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental content is selected from the group consisting of an actor interview related to an actor the user is currently watching, information related to an actor the user is currently watching, and interactive media related to the on-demand media.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the interactive media is a survey or an interactive game.

10. A system for providing on-demand media with supplemental content in an interactive application, comprising:

a user input device;

a display device;

the interactive application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive a request for on-demand media from a user;

in response to the request, provide the on-demand media;

in response to the request, retrieve through an internet connection supplemental content related to the on-demand media; and

provide supplemental content to the user while the user is viewing the on-demand media.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interactive application is implemented on a consumer electronic device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the consumer electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, and a computer.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the interactive application is configured to retrieve the on-demand media from a distribution facility.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the interactive application is configured to retrieve the on-demand media from a digital storage device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the on-demand media is audio-on-demand media, video-on-demand media, electronic publications, software applications, or third-party applications.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising circuitry configured to provide an indicator of the availability of supplemental content, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the supplemental content is selected from the group consisting of an actor interview related to an actor the user is currently watching, information related to an actor the user is currently watching, and interactive media related to the on-demand media.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the interactive media is a survey or an interactive game.

19. A processor readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for providing on-demand media with supplemental content in an interactive application, the machine-readable instructions comprising:

receiving a request for on-demand media from a user;

in response to the request, providing the on-demand media;

in response to the request, retrieving through an internet connection supplemental content related to the on-demand media; and

providing supplemental content to the user while the user is viewing the on-demand media.

20. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the interactive application is implemented on a consumer electronic device.

21. The processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the consumer electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, and a computer.

22. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable instructions also retrieve the on-demand media from a distribution facility.

23. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable instructions also retrieve the on-demand media from a digital storage device.

24. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the on-demand media is audio-on-demand media, video-on-demand media, electronic publications, software applications, or third-party applications.

25. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable instructions also provide an indicator of the availability of supplemental content, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

26. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the supplemental content is selected from the group consisting of an actor interview related to an actor the user is currently watching, information related to an actor the user is currently watching, and interactive media related to the on-demand media.

27. The processor readable medium of claim 26, wherein the interactive media is a survey or an interactive game.