METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING EXPANDED DISPLAYABLE APPLICATIONS

• US 20090172746A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mani, Prabhakar, Roberts, Brian F., Kassam, Shafiq, Aldrey, Raul, Stallings, Heath, Patel, Laxmi, Fonseca, Enrique Ruiz Velasco
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, a widget. The widget includes content retrieved over a data network and augmented content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, via a set-top box, a widget,

wherein the widget includes con,tent retrieved over a data network and augmented content

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the augmented content includes advertisement targeted to a subscriber of the set-top box.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the augmented content includes a video channel.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the widget occupies a full-screen display.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the augmented content includes marketplace information.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the widget includes a selectable area to permit a user to launch a linked program.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the linked program includes a video-on-demand program.

8. A set-top box apparatus comprising:

a presentation module configured to present a widget,

wherein the widget includes content retrieved over a data network and augmented content.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the augmented content includes advertisement targeted to a subscriber of the set-top box.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the augmented content includes a video channel.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the widget occupies a full-screen display.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the augmented content includes marketplace information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the widget includes a selectable area to permit a user to launch a linked program.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the linked program includes a video-on-demand program.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting broadcast video to a set-top box,

wherein the set-top box is configured to present a widget that includes content retrieved over a data network and augmented content.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

selecting advertisement information targeted to a subscriber corresponding to the set-top box; and

transmitting the advertisement information to the set-top box, wherein the advertisement information is included in the widget.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the augmented content includes a video channel.

18. A method comprising:

transmitting content retrieved over a data network to a set-top box;

selecting augmented content correlated to the content;

transmitting the augmented content to the set-top box; and

presenting a widget, via the set-top box, to a user of the set-top box including the content and the augmented content.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein the step of selecting the augmented content comprises selecting advertisement information targeted to the user based on information corresponding to the user or a user defined policy for receiving the advertisement information.

20. A method of claim 19, further comprising:

authenticating a third-party to permit the third-party to select the advertisement information to transmit to the set-top box.

21. A method of claim 18, wherein the widget includes a selectable area to permit the user to modify the augmented content or launch a linked program.

22. A method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a request to modify the augmented content in response to user interaction with the selectable area;

transmitting modified augmented content to the set-top box,

wherein the widget is configured to update the presentation.

23. A method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a request to launch a linked program in response to user interaction with the selectable area,

wherein the linked program includes a video-on-demand program.

24. A method of claim 18, further comprising:

correlating the augmented content to information corresponding to the user,

wherein the correlation is performed at the set-top box or within a network of a service provider corresponding to the set-top box.

25. A method comprising:

transmitting content retrieved over a data network and augmented content to a set-top box associated with an Internet Protocol television service; and

presenting a widget, via the set-top box, to a subscriber of the service,

wherein the widget includes the content and the augmented content.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

selecting the augmented content based on the content; and

correlating the augmented content to information corresponding to the subscriber,

wherein the correlation is performed at the set-top box or within a network of the service provider.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

providing, at the set-top box, advertisement information targeted to the subscriber based on information corresponding to the subscriber,

wherein the widget includes the advertisement information in the widget.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the advertisement information is provided by the service provider or an authenticated third-party source.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the widget includes a selectable area to permit the subscriber to obtain additional augmented content, launch a linked program, or navigate to a website.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:

receiving a request for an on-demand program in response to the subscriber launching the linked program,

wherein the on-demand program corresponds to the content or the augmented content.