System and Method For Presenting During A Programming Event An Invitation To Follow Content On A Social Media Site

• US 20160029104A1
• Filed: 10/07/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: KRETH, William Eric, MILLER, Scott, PATEL, Vipul
• Granted Patent: US 10,375,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for linking the account of a subscriber of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) network to an account of the subscriber on a social networking site and to receive invitations to follow a page or join a group hosted on a social networking site that is relevant to the video content being displayed on the subscriber'"'"'s television.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A headend operated by a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), comprising:

a headend processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

sending, to a video termination device, first content in a video stream;

identifying second content available on a social networking site, wherein the second content is related to the first content; and

sending, to the video termination device, a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to link a subscriber account of the MVPD and a subscriber account on the social networking site such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content.

22. The headend of claim 21, wherein the headend processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the click-to-follow application determines whether to send linking information to a click-to-follow server based on received input, wherein the linking information enables the linking of the subscriber account of the MVPD and the subscriber account on the social networking site.

23. The headend of claim 21, wherein the headend processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the click-to-follow application modifies the subscriber account on the social networking to receive the second content.

24. A video termination device, comprising:

a video termination device processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, in a video stream of first content from a headend device of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to receive, on a social networking site, second content related to the first content; and

sending linking information to a click-to-follow server, to link a subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content, in response to determining that the invitation is accepted.

25. The video termination device of claim 24, wherein the video termination device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the linking information to link the subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD comprises information enabling the account on the social networking site to be modified to receive the second content.

26. The video termination device of claim 24, wherein the video termination device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving, from the click-to-follow server, an indication that the subscriber account on the social networking site and the subscriber account of the MVPD are linked; and

sending, to the click-to-follow server, a confirmation to modify the account on the linked social networking site to receive the second content.

27. A click-to-follow server, comprising:

a click-to-follow server processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a click-to-follow application on a video termination device, linking information to link a subscriber account on a social networking site to a subscriber account of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) that provides first content to the video termination device; and

linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives second content that is related to the first content.

28. The click-to-follow server of claim 27, wherein the click-to-follow server processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the linking information is validated; and

linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD in response to determining that the linking information is validated.

29. The click-to-follow server of claim 27, wherein the click-to-follow server processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD comprises modifying the subscriber account on the social networking site to receive the second content.

30. A method for providing program-related content via a social networking site, comprising:

sending, from a headend operated by a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) to a video termination device, first content in a video stream;

identifying, by the headend, second content available on a social networking site, wherein the second content is related to the first content; and

sending, from the headend to the video termination device, a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to link a subscriber account of the MVPD and a subscriber account on the social networking site such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the click-to-follow application determines whether to send linking information to a click-to-follow server based on received input, wherein the linking information enables the linking of the subscriber account of the MVPD and the subscriber account on the social networking site.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the click-to-follow application modifies the subscriber account on the social networking to receive the second content.

33. A method for providing program-related content via a social networking site, comprising:

receiving, at a video termination device, in a video stream of first content from a headend device of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to receive, on a social networking site, second content related to the first content; and

sending, from the video termination device, linking information to a click-to-follow server, to link a subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content, in response to determining that the invitation is accepted.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the linking information to link the subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD comprises information enabling the account on the social networking site to be modified to receive the second content.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving, at the video termination device from the click-to-follow server, an indication that the subscriber account on the social networking site and the subscriber account of the MVPD are linked; and

sending, from the video termination device to the click-to-follow server, a confirmation to modify the account on the linked social networking site to receive the second content.

36. A method for providing program-related content via a social networking site, comprising:

receiving, at a click-to-follow server from a click-to-follow application on a video termination device, linking information to link a subscriber account on a social networking site to a subscriber account of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) that provides first content to the video termination device; and

linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives second content that is related to the first content.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

determining, at the click-to-follow server, whether the linking information is validated; and

linking, by the click-to-follow server, the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD in response to determining that the linking information is validated.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD comprises modifying the subscriber account on the social networking site to receive the second content.

39. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

sending, from a headend operated by a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) to a video termination device, first content in a video stream;

identifying second content available on a social networking site, wherein the second content is related to the first content; and

sending, from the headend to the video termination device, a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to link a subscriber account of the MVPD and a subscriber account on the social networking site such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content.

40. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the click-to-follow application determines whether to send linking information to a click-to-follow server based on received input, wherein the linking information enables the linking of the subscriber account of the MVPD and the subscriber account on the social networking site.

41. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the click-to-follow application modifies the subscriber account on the social networking to receive the second content.

42. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a video termination device, in a video stream of first content from a headend device of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to receive, on a social networking site, second content related to the first content; and

sending linking information to a click-to-follow server, to link a subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content, in response to determining that the invitation is accepted.

43. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that the linking information to link the subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD comprises information enabling the account on the social networking site to be modified to receive the second content.

44. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving, at the video termination device from the click-to-follow server, an indication that the subscriber account on the social networking site and the subscriber account of the MVPD are linked; and

sending, from the video termination device to the click-to-follow server, a confirmation to modify the account on the linked social networking site to receive the second content.

45. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a click-to-follow server from a click-to-follow application on a video termination device, linking information to link a subscriber account on a social networking site to a subscriber account of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) that provides first content to the video termination device; and

linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives second content that is related to the first content.

46. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the linking information is validated; and

linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD in response to determining that the linking information is validated.

47. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD comprises modifying the subscriber account on the social networking site to receive the second content.

48. A headend operated by a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), comprising:

means for sending, to a video termination device, first content in a video stream;

means for identifying second content available on a social networking site, wherein the second content is related to the first content; and

means for sending, to the video termination device, a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to link a subscriber account of the MVPD and a subscriber account on the social networking site such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content.

49. The headend of claim 48, wherein the click-to-follow application determines whether to send linking information to a click-to-follow server based on received input, wherein the linking information enables the linking of the subscriber account of the MVPD and the subscriber account on the social networking site.

50. The headend of claim 48, wherein the click-to-follow application modifies the subscriber account on the social networking to receive the second content.

51. A video termination device, comprising:

means for receiving, in a video stream of first content from a headend device of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD), a click-to-follow application comprising an invitation to receive, on a social networking site, second content related to the first content; and

means for sending linking information to a click-to-follow server, to link a subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives the second content, in response to determining that the invitation is accepted.

52. The video termination device of claim 51, wherein the linking information to link the subscriber account on the social networking site to a subscriber account of the MVPD comprises information enabling the account on the social networking site to be modified to receive the second content.

53. The video termination device of claim 51, further comprising:

means for receiving, from the click-to-follow server, an indication that the subscriber account on the social networking site and the subscriber account of the MVPD are linked; and

means for sending, to the click-to-follow server, a confirmation to modify the account on the linked social networking site to receive the second content.

54. A click-to-follow server, comprising:

means for receiving, from a click-to-follow application on a video termination device, linking information to link a subscriber account on a social networking site to a subscriber account of a multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) that provides first content to the video termination device; and

means for linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD such that the subscriber account on the social networking site receives second content that is related to the first content.

55. The click-to-follow server of claim 54, further comprising:

means for determining whether the linking information is validated; and

means for linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD in response to determining that the linking information is validated.

56. The click-to-follow server of claim 54, wherein means for linking the subscriber account on the social networking site to the subscriber account of the MVPD comprises means for modifying the subscriber account on the social networking site to receive the second content.