System and method for cable operator control over enhanced programming

• US 7,320,134 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stettner, Armando P., Behrens, Martin L., Tomsen, Mai-Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/858,201
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36, 725112-113, 725/110, 725/136, 725/51, 725/61, 725/109, 348/461, 348/468, 709207-219
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A system and method are described for allowing cable operators to actively block, pass through, modify, append, filter, or replace triggers corresponding to various forms of enhanced content being transmitted across a cable system. Accordingly, cable operators may offer enhanced content customized for their subscribers and earn additional fees for local advertising and other closely allied services.

Claims

1. A method for modifying enhanced programming for an interactive television system, the method comprising:

intercepting a first trigger at a cable operator facility, the first trigger being embedded in a television broadcast and comprising a first link and a prompt, the prompt calling for single action for displaying information associated with the first link;

creating a second trigger by adding a second link to the first trigger and changing the prompt associated with the first trigger to call for least two alternative actions including a first action for displaying information associated with the first link and a second action for displaying information associated with the second link; and

replacing the first trigger with the second trigger within the television broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link relates to enhanced content for a first geographic location and wherein the second link relates to enhanced content for a second geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link relates to content of national interest and the second link relates content of local interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link facilitates a purchase from a first vendor and wherein the second link facilitates a purchase from a second vendor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second links comprise uniform resource locators (URLs), such that a second trigger contains two distinct URLs.