Method and system for providing a broadcast program and associated web content

• US 20090031379A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Michel, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/880,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031379A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

There is provided a method for use by a processing device for providing a broadcast program and Web content associated with the broadcast program. According to one embodiment, the method includes selecting a broadcast channel and receiving a broadcast program on the broadcast channel. The broadcast program can be, for example, a movie or a television show. The method further includes determining a Web site associated with the broadcast channel. In one embodiment, the Web site can be a dynamic Web site hosted by a channel link server. The method further includes receiving Web content associated with the broadcast program from the Web site. In one embodiment, the Web content is synchronized with the broadcast program based on a program schedule. The method further includes providing the Web content and the broadcast program to an output display contemporaneously.

Claims

1. A method for use by a processing device for providing a broadcast program and Web content associated with said broadcast program for display, said method comprising:

selecting a broadcast channel;

receiving said broadcast program on said broadcast channel;

determining a Web site associated with said broadcast channel;

receiving said Web content associated with said broadcast program from said Web site; and

providing said Web content and said broadcast program to an output display contemporaneously.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web content is synchronized with said broadcast program based on a program schedule.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing device includes a channel link module, said channel link module including a network module and a user application.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said network module is one of an Ethernet adapter, a Wi-Fi module, a cable modem, or a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web site is hosted by at least one channel link server.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web content is provided to said Web site from a Web content server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web content is one of a text, an image, a sound, a video, or music.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing device is situated in one of a digital television, a satellite receiver, or a cable receiver.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said broadcast program is one of a movie, a television show, a sporting event, a documentary, an animation, a music video, or an advertisement.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said broadcast channel is one of an over-the-air (“

OTA”

) broadcast channel, a satellite broadcast channel, or a cable broadcast channel.

11. A system for providing a broadcast program and Web content associated with said broadcast program for display, said system comprising:

a processing device configured to select a broadcast channel to receive said broadcast program, said processing device being configured to determine a Web site associated with said broadcast channel;

at least one channel link server, said at least one channel link server being configured to host said Web site, said channel link server being configured to update said Web site with said Web content associated with said broadcast program;

wherein said processing device receives said Web content associated with said broadcast program and provides said broadcast program and said Web content to an output display contemporaneously.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said Web content is synchronized with said broadcast program based on a program schedule.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said processing device includes a channel link module, said channel link module including a network module and a user application.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said network module is one of an Ethernet adapter, a Wi-Fi module, a cable modem, or a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising a Web content server, wherein said Web site is configured to receive said Web content from said Web content server.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said at least one channel link server is coupled to said processing device through a network.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said Web content is one of a text, an image, a sound, a video, or music.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein said processing device is situated in one of a digital television, a satellite receiver, or a cable receiver.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein said Web site is a dynamic Web site.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein said broadcast program is one of a movie, a television show, a sporting event, a documentary, an animation, a music video, or an advertisement.