SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING MESSAGING USING A SET TOP BOX
First Claim
1. A method of supporting messaging about a video program using a set top box, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the set top box, video information related to the video program;
converting, at the set top box, the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device;
displaying the video program on the display device;
receiving a request to display a menu of messaging functions, the request being entered by the first user;
displaying the menu of messaging functions, wherein the menu of messaging functions comprises;
a first messaging function to send program information of the video program to another user;
a second messaging function to join a group chat session;
a third messaging function to host a group chat session;
a fourth messaging function to initiate an instant messaging session; and
a fifth messaging function to call in to the video program;
receiving a selection from the menu of messaging functions, the selection being entered by the first user by pressing a portion of a remote control, wherein the selection is the third messaging function to host a group chat session;
receiving, at a group chat server and from the set top box, an initiating request to initiate the group chat session;
publishing, at the group chat server, a list of group chat sessions for each video program, the list of group chat sessions comprising the group chat session;
displaying a first version of a group chat interface, the first version of the group chat interface comprising other than an input field for allowing the first user to enter message information;
resizing a size of the video program such that both the video program and a second version of the group chat interface appear simultaneously on the display device, the second version of the group chat interface comprising the input field to allow the first user to enter message information;
creating, at the set top box and in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program;
generating, at the set top box, a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; and
transmitting the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tools are provided for supporting messaging about a video program using a set top box. Video information related to the video program is received and converted at the set top box and a display device is caused to display the video program. A message to be sent from a first user to a second user is created in accordance with input from the first user. The message is related to the video program. A set of at least one Internet Protocol (“IP”) packets comprising the message is generated. The set of at least one IP packets is transmitted from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device that is separate from the set top box.
202 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of supporting messaging about a video program using a set top box, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the set top box, video information related to the video program; converting, at the set top box, the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device; displaying the video program on the display device; receiving a request to display a menu of messaging functions, the request being entered by the first user; displaying the menu of messaging functions, wherein the menu of messaging functions comprises; a first messaging function to send program information of the video program to another user; a second messaging function to join a group chat session; a third messaging function to host a group chat session; a fourth messaging function to initiate an instant messaging session; and a fifth messaging function to call in to the video program; receiving a selection from the menu of messaging functions, the selection being entered by the first user by pressing a portion of a remote control, wherein the selection is the third messaging function to host a group chat session; receiving, at a group chat server and from the set top box, an initiating request to initiate the group chat session; publishing, at the group chat server, a list of group chat sessions for each video program, the list of group chat sessions comprising the group chat session; displaying a first version of a group chat interface, the first version of the group chat interface comprising other than an input field for allowing the first user to enter message information; resizing a size of the video program such that both the video program and a second version of the group chat interface appear simultaneously on the display device, the second version of the group chat interface comprising the input field to allow the first user to enter message information; creating, at the set top box and in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program; generating, at the set top box, a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; andtransmitting the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box.
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2. A method of supporting messaging about a video program using a set top box, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the set top box, video information related to the video program; converting, at the set top box, the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device; causing a display device to display the video program; creating, at the set top box and in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program; generating, at the set top box, a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; andtransmitting the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for supporting messaging about a video program, the device comprising:
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a processor; and a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions by the device to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising; instructions for receiving video information related to the video program; instructions for converting the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device; instructions for causing the display device to display the video program; instructions for creating, in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program; instructions for generating a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; andinstructions for transmitting the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box.
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25. A system for supporting messaging about a video program, the system comprising:
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a server; an input device; a display device; and a set top box configured to; receive video information related to the video program; convert the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device; cause the display device to display the video program; create, in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program; generate a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; andtransmit the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box.
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26. A computer readable medium having encoded thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions that are executable by a computer system to perform one or more operations to support messaging about a video program using a set top box, the set of instructions comprising:
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instructions for receiving video information related to the video program; instructions for converting the video information to allow for display of the video program on a display device; instructions for causing the display device to display the video program; instructions for creating, in accordance with input from a first user, a message to be sent from the first user to a second user, wherein the message is related to the video program; instructions for generating a set of at least one Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) packets comprising the message; andinstructions for transmitting the set of at least one IP packets from the set top box through an IP network to be received by an external device, the external device being separate from the set top box.
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Specification