Notifying Users of Interactive Functions

• US 20100175087A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Kamen, Yakov
• Application Number:
  US12/725,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A method and apparatus for notifying a user of an interactive event using a remote control device. In one embodiment, a remote control device contains either a display or a bright light, or both, which can create a visual alert to let a user know that an interactive function is available. The nature of the function may be displayed on a screen attached to the remote control device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive a signal from a control unit indicating a beginning of an interactive application during display of a selected video content program on a display separate from the apparatus; and

in response to the received signal, provide a visual indication of an availability of the interactive application through the display device,

receive user input corresponding to a request to deactivate visual indications on the display separate from the apparatus; and

selectively deactivate the visual indications on the display separate from the apparatus independently of whether the visual indications are displayed on the display device of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes displaying an indicator on the display device of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes changing one or more background colors of the display device of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes flashing at least one button of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mobile handheld device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mobile handheld device is a web phone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to provide an additional indication of the availability of the interactive application including a sound generated by the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes illuminating a portion of the apparatus other than the display device of the apparatus.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device, a signal from a control unit indicating a beginning of an interactive application during display of a selected video content program on a display separate from the mobile device; and

in response to the received signal, providing a visual indication of an availability of the interactive application through a display of the mobile device;

receiving user input corresponding to a request to deactivate visual indications on the display separate from the mobile device; and

selectively deactivating the visual indications on the display separate from the mobile device independently of whether visual indications are displayed on the display of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving user interaction at the mobile device, the interaction including user comments.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is received after a start of the selected video content program.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the interactive application is not available prior to a beginning of the selected video content program.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a remote control associated with the separate display.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least one input device;

a display;

a processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive user input through the at least one input device, the user input corresponding to a request to deactivate visual indications on a display separate from the apparatus, wherein the visual indications indicate an availability of an interactive application during display of a video content program; and

selectively deactivate the visual indications on the display separate from the apparatus independently of whether the visual indications are displayed on the display of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes displaying an indicator on the display of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes changing one or more background colors of the display of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein providing the visual indication of the availability of the interactive application includes flashing at least one button of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user input is received after a start of the video content program.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interactive application is not available prior to a beginning of the video content program.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a mobile device.