INTERACTIVE SPECIAL EVENTS VIDEO SIGNAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, comprising:
- automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and
displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays current or future programming information superimposed over the normal programming displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer'"'"'s display screen. Identification signal data are accessed and generated by the computer for durations defined in the identification signal data either automatically or in response to the TV viewer remote. Information signal data are accessed and generated by the computer in response to the TV viewer remote. A signal combiner superimposes the identification signal or the information signal over the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner. The identification signal may include data defining an icon or textual matter alerting a viewer to the availability of information data. The information signal may include program descriptive data, schedule data, pricing data and/or payment authorization and recording prompt data and the like sequenced for interactive control of the computer by the viewer. The identification signal may be specially dedicated to a normal programming information channel so that the viewer can interact with respect to specific programs identified without changing from the programming information channel. Thus, the viewer is able to receive an automatic alert to availability of current and future programming and to elect to interactively exercise a variety of options with respect to such current and future programming without interruption of presently viewed programming.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, comprising:
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automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for recording a television event, comprising:
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automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television; displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, the system comprising:
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means for automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for recording a television event, the system comprising:
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means for automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television; means for displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon; means for receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and means for recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification