System And Method For Adding Auxiliary Data To Time-Shifted Data

• US 20120106920A1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Broadcasting Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Todd E Fitzsimmons
• Inventors: Fitzsimmons, Todd E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,929,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/230
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

A system and method is provided for adding auxiliary data to time-shifted data. In one embodiment, data is transmitted from a data source to a receiver via a data distribution means. The receiver, which may be configured to function as both a receiver and a DVR, is configured to add auxiliary data to time-shifted data. The receiving device is configured to acquire auxiliary data at the time the time-shifted data is being played, and to add the auxiliary data to the time-shifted data so that both the time-shifted data and the auxiliary data are displayed to a user on a display. By acquiring auxiliary data at (or around) the time the time-shifted data is being played, it is more likely that the auxiliary data has value to the user, thereby increasing the value of the time-shifted data to the content owner, the content provider and advertisers.

Claims

1. A method for adding auxiliary data to data that has been time shifted, comprising:

receiving said data by a receiving device at a first time, wherein said data is selected by a user and has a duration of a first time period;

storing said data in a memory device;

playing said data on a display at a second time in response to a corresponding command provided by said user, wherein said second time is after said first time;

receiving auxiliary data by said receiving device at a third time, wherein said third time is one of equal to or after said second time; and

playing said auxiliary data on said display at a fourth time, wherein said fourth time is after said third time and before a fifth time that is equal to a sum of said second time and said first time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of playing said auxiliary data on said display further comprises playing said auxiliary data on said display at a time at least a portion of said data is being played on said display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of playing said auxiliary data on said display further comprises superimposing said auxiliary data over said portion of said data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said auxiliary data is semi-transparent, allowing both said auxiliary data and said portion of said data to be seen by said user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said auxiliary data is played on a bottom portion of said display as a news ticker.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of buffering the superimposition of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data, allowing the user to pause, rewind and replay said superimposition of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data includes at least a first portion and a second portion, and said step of playing said auxiliary data further comprises playing said auxiliary data after said first portion and before said second portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said auxiliary data includes at least one advertisement.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising enabling pause, rewind, and fast-forward features for at least said first portion of said data, and disabling at least said fast-forward feature for said auxiliary data.

10. A system for adding auxiliary data to data that has been time shifted, comprising:

a receiver for receiving both said data and said auxiliary data, said data having a duration of a first time period;

a memory device for storing at least said data; and

a processor for playing both said data and said auxiliary data on a display;

wherein said receiver is configured to receive said data at a first time and receive said auxiliary data at a third time, and said processor is configured to play said data at a second time and play said auxiliary data at a fourth time;

wherein said second time is after said first time, said third time is one of equal to or after said second time, and said fourth time is after said third time and before a fifth time that is equal to a sum of said second time and said first time period.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor is further configured to play said auxiliary data on said display at a time that at least a portion of said data is being played on said display.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to superimpose said auxiliary data over said portion of said data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to play said auxiliary data on a bottom portion of said display as a news ticker.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to buffer said superimposition of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data, allowing a user to pause, rewind and replay said superimposition of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said data includes at least a first portion and a second portion, and said processor is further configured to play said auxiliary data after said first portion and before said second portion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said auxiliary data includes at least one advertisement.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to enable pause, rewind, and fast-forward features for at least said first portion, and disable at least said fast-forward feature for said auxiliary data.

18. A system for adding auxiliary data to data that has been time shifted, comprising:

a receiver for receiving both said data and said auxiliary data;

a memory device for storing at least said data; and

a processor for playing both said data and said auxiliary data on a display;

wherein said data is received at a first time and played at a second time, said auxiliary data is received at a third time and played at a fourth time, said second time is after said first time, said third time is one of equal to or after said second time, and said fourth time is after said third time;

wherein said processor is configured to play at least a portion of said auxiliary data on said display at a time that at least a portion of said data is being played on said display.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to superimpose said portion of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data, said portion of said auxiliary data being displayed as a semi-transparent advertisement.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to superimpose said portion of said auxiliary data over said portion of said data, and play said portion of said auxiliary data as a news ticker on said display.