Machine, method and medium for linear programming with interactive conversational interface
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising the steps of:
- (1) conveying, from a content source to the user, program information comprising one or more scenes,wherein at least one of said one or more scenes have associated control information;
(2) receiving, from the user, a signal indicating a request to receive additional or alternate program information corresponding to a current scene viewed by the user when said signal was initiated;
(3) obtaining, in response to said step (2), control information corresponding to said current scene;
(4) conveying to the user, based upon said control information of said step (3), additional program information corresponding to said current scene, when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information;
(5) conveying to the user, based upon said control information of said step (3), alternate program information when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information corresponding to said current scene; and
(6) conveying linear program information to the user where no request of said step (2) is made by the user after a period of time has elapsed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine, method and computer-readable medium for allowing program information to be conveyed to the user in a linear fashion, while also allowing the user to request additional program information relating to a particular "scene" that they are viewing. If a user is dissatisfied with the current scene they are viewing, they can request "alternate" program information. This is accomplished by dividing the program information conveyed to a user into scenes, any of which may have additional program information associated with it. When additional program information is requested, the appropriate scene associated with the current scene is conveyed to the user. Conversely, if a user requests alternate program information, then the requesting scene is conveyed to the user. If there is no requesting scene, then the next scene at the same level is conveyed to the user.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising the steps of:
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(1) conveying, from a content source to the user, program information comprising one or more scenes, wherein at least one of said one or more scenes have associated control information; (2) receiving, from the user, a signal indicating a request to receive additional or alternate program information corresponding to a current scene viewed by the user when said signal was initiated; (3) obtaining, in response to said step (2), control information corresponding to said current scene; (4) conveying to the user, based upon said control information of said step (3), additional program information corresponding to said current scene, when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information; (5) conveying to the user, based upon said control information of said step (3), alternate program information when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information corresponding to said current scene; and (6) conveying linear program information to the user where no request of said step (2) is made by the user after a period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-readable memory for use with a computer, for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising:
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means for receiving, from a content source, program information comprising one or more scenes, wherein at least one of said one or more scenes have associated control information; signal reception means for receiving, from the user, a signal indicating a request to receive additional or alternate program information corresponding to a current scene viewed by the user when said signal was initiated; control means for obtaining, in response to said signal reception means, control information corresponding to said current scene; first requesting means for requesting from said content source, based upon said control information, additional program information corresponding to said current scene, when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information; second requesting means for requesting from said content source, based upon said control information, alternate program information when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information corresponding to said current scene; and means for receiving, from said content source, linear program information where said signal is not received by said signal reception means after a period of time has elapsed.
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24. A machine for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising:
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a content source for storing program information, wherein said program information comprises one or more scenes; a viewing device for displaying selected program information from said content source; a user control device for generating a request for additional program information or alternate program information based upon a current scene being viewed by the user, wherein said current scene is one of said one or more scenes; and a transmission system for conveying said program information to said viewing device, and for conveying said request to said content source, wherein additional program information corresponding to said current scene is conveyed to said viewing device from said content source when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information; wherein alternate program information corresponding to said current scene is conveyed to said viewing device from said content source when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information, and wherein linear program information is conveyed to said viewing device from said content source where no request is made by the user after a period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer-readable medium for use with a computer, for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising:
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means for receiving, from a content source, program information comprising one or more scenes, wherein at least one of said one or more scenes have associated control information; signal reception means for receiving, from the user, a signal indicating a request to receive additional or alternate program information corresponding to a current scene viewed by the user when said signal was initiated; control means for obtaining, in response to said signal reception means, control information corresponding to said current scene; first requesting means for requesting from said content source, based upon said control information, additional program information corresponding to said current scene, when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information; second requesting means for requesting from said content source, based upon said control information, alternate program information when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information corresponding to said current scene; and means for receiving, from said content source, linear program information where said signal is not received by said signal reception means after a period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A machine for allowing a user to obtain additional or alternate program information corresponding to a scene being viewed by the user, comprising:
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transmission means for conveying, from a content source to the user, program information comprising one or more scenes, wherein at least one of said one or more scenes have associated control information; signal reception means for receiving, from the user, a signal indicating a request to receive additional or alternate program information corresponding to a current scene viewed by the user when said signal was initiated; control means for obtaining, in response to said signal reception means, control information corresponding to said current scene; first conveyance means for conveying to the user, based upon said control information, additional program information corresponding to said current scene, when said signal indicates a request to receive said additional program information; second conveyance means for conveying to the user, based upon said control information, alternate program information when said signal indicates a request to receive alternate program information corresponding to said current scene; and third conveyance means for conveying linear program information to the user where no request is made by the user after a period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification