Delivering Personalized Media Items to a User of Interactive Television by Using Scrolling Tickers in a Hierarchical Manner

• US 20120240165A1
• Filed: 06/02/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Application Number:
  US13/487,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20120240165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and method of delivering a personalized media item to a user of an interactive television is disclosed. The system comprises a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device. The computing device further comprises a set top box. The computing device may be connected to a server through a communication network. The system stores a personal profile for each of its users. The user'"'"'s identity is determined after a user switches on the television. Media items organized by media categories are stored in the computing device. A user may select a media item through a hierarchical user interface based upon scrolling tickers on the television terminal.

Claims

1. A method of rendering a media item to a user of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device, the method comprising:

a. storing a plurality of media items organized by media categories in a hierarchical manner in the computing device;

b. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media categories;

c. displaying on a predetermined position of the television terminal the selected media categories in a first hierarchical level by employing scrolling tickers;

d. selecting by the user through the remote control device at least one media item by navigating through a hierarchical user interface displayed in a form of the scrolling tickers; and

e. displaying a detailed content of the selected media item on the television terminal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said media items are transferred from a server in a communication network to the computing device through the communication network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said media items further comprise advertisements.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said media items further comprise stock symbols and prices.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said media items further comprise video programs.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected media item is delivered on the television terminal through a pop-up window or through a full display window that replaces a television program being broadcasted.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the scrolling tickers is selected by the user through actuating an input device of the remote control device.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said scrolling ticker is selected by associating an optical symbol to the scrolling ticker by the user through employing the remote control device.

9. A method of rendering a media item to a user of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device, the method comprising:

a. storing a plurality of media items organized by media categories in a hierarchical manner in the computing device;

b. determining the user'"'"'s identity by using the remote control device;

c. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media categories based upon a personal profile of the user;

d. displaying on a predetermined position of the television terminal media categories in a first hierarchical level by employing scrolling tickers;

e. selecting by the user through the remote control device at least one media item by navigating through a hierarchical user interface displayed in a form of the scrolling tickers; and

f. displaying a detailed content of the selected media item on the television terminal.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said media items are transferred from a server in a communication network to the computing device through the communication network.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said media items further comprise advertisements.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said media items further comprise stock symbols and prices.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said media items further comprise video programs.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein one of the scrolling tickers is selected by the user through actuating an input device of the remote control device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said scrolling ticker is selected by associating an optical symbol to the scrolling ticker by the user through employing the remote control device.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of determining the user'"'"'s identity further comprising:

a. displaying a plurality of icons, wherein each of icons is associated with an existing user; and

b. selecting one of the displayed icons by using the remote control device.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of determining the user'"'"'s identity further comprising:

a. displaying an icon for a new user;

b. selecting the displayed icon;

c. inputting the user'"'"'s personal profile; and

d. associating an icon with the user.

18. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprising a step of establishing or updating a user'"'"'s personal profile by using the computing device.

19. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said computing device comprising:

a. a set top box;

or

b. a set top box and a personal computer.

20. A method of rendering a media item to a user of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device, the method comprising:

a. storing a plurality of media items organized by media categories in a hierarchical manner in the computing device;

b. determining the user'"'"'s identity by one of or a combination of the following methods;

i. voice recognition through a voice recorder and a voice recognition software in the remote control device or in the computing device;

ii. biometric sensors installed in the remote control device; and

iii. image capturing device installed in the remote control device or in the television terminal;

c. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media categories based upon a personal profile of the user;

d. displaying on a predetermined position of the television terminal media categories in a first hierarchical level by employing scrolling tickers;

e. selecting by the user through the remote control device at least one media item by navigating through a hierarchical user interface displayed in a form of the scrolling tickers; and

f. displaying a detailed content of the selected media item on the television terminal.