Systems and Methods for Delivering Additional Content Utilizing a Virtual Channel
First Claim
1. A method for delivering additional content to a viewer, comprising:
- associating, at a network operator system comprising one or more computers, at least one virtual channel with additional content, wherein the additional content comprises one of;
one or more on-demand assets or an on-demand portal designating one or more on-demand assets;
delivering, by the network operator system over a distribution network to a viewer system, initial content;
providing advertisement content including instructions for accessing the at least one virtual channel;
receiving, at the network operator system from the viewer system, an upstream command indicating a virtual channel; and
halting delivery of the initial content to the viewer system and delivering, by the network operator system, the additional content associated with the virtual channel indicated to the viewer system responsive to the receipt of the upstream command, wherein viewing the additional content does not incur an additional fee to the viewer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for delivering additional content utilizing a virtual channel. According to one embodiment, a method for delivering additional content to a viewer is provided. The method may include: associating at least one virtual channel with additional content, wherein the additional content comprises one of: one or more on-demand assets or an on-demand portal designating one or more on-demand assets. The method may further include: delivering initial content to a viewer and providing advertisement content including instructions for accessing the virtual channel or channels. The method may then include: receiving an upstream command from a viewer indicating a virtual channel and halting delivery of the initial content and delivering the additional content associated with the virtual channel indicated to the viewer system responsive to the receipt of the upstream command.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for delivering additional content to a viewer, comprising:
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associating, at a network operator system comprising one or more computers, at least one virtual channel with additional content, wherein the additional content comprises one of;
one or more on-demand assets or an on-demand portal designating one or more on-demand assets;delivering, by the network operator system over a distribution network to a viewer system, initial content; providing advertisement content including instructions for accessing the at least one virtual channel; receiving, at the network operator system from the viewer system, an upstream command indicating a virtual channel; and halting delivery of the initial content to the viewer system and delivering, by the network operator system, the additional content associated with the virtual channel indicated to the viewer system responsive to the receipt of the upstream command, wherein viewing the additional content does not incur an additional fee to the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for delivering additional content to a viewer, comprising:
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a network operator system comprising at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions and at least one processor operable to execute the computer-executable instructions, the network operator system in communication with a viewer system associated with a viewer over a distribution network; wherein the processor is operable to execute the computer-executable instructions to; receive initial content and additional content, wherein the initial content comprises linear broadcast content or on-demand content, and wherein the additional content comprises one of;
one or more on-demand assets or an on-demand portal designating one or more on-demand assets;store an association in the at least one memory between the additional content and one or more virtual channels; deliver the initial content to the viewer system over the distribution network; receive an upstream command over the broadcast network from the viewer system indicating one of the one or more virtual channels; and halt delivery of the initial content to the viewer system and deliver the additional content associated with the virtual channel indicated to the viewer system responsive to the receipt of the upstream command, wherein viewing the additional content does not incur an additional fee to the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for delivering additional content to a viewer, comprising:
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a network operator system comprising at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions and at least one processor operable to execute the computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions providing;
a campaign management and mapping module, an on-demand module, and a broadcast module;the on-demand module operable to;
store one or more on-demand assets or one or more on-demand portals; and
cause delivery of one or more on-demand assets or one or more on-demand portals over a distribution network to a viewer system;the campaign management and mapping module operable to create an association between advertisement content, additional content, and one or more virtual channels, wherein the additional content comprises one or more of the one or more on-demand assets or one or more on-demand portals stored by the on-demand module; the broadcast module operable to;
cause delivery of initial content over the distribution network to the viewer system;
combine the advertisement content with virtual channel information; and
cause delivery of the advertisement content combined with virtual channel information over the distribution network to the viewer device;wherein, responsive to receipt of an upstream command indicating one of the one or more virtual channels over the distribution network from the viewer device, the on-demand module is operable to;
perform a look-up by the virtual channel to identify the additional content associated with the virtual channel based on an association therebetween;
halt delivery of the initial content over the distribution network to the viewer system; and
deliver the additional content associated with the virtual channel over the viewer network to the viewer system, wherein viewing the additional content does not incur an additional fee to the viewer.
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Specification