Apparatus and method to facilitate the customization of television content with supplemental data
First Claim
1. An apparatus for customizing television content operable to run on a computing platform electrically coupled to a receiver which is electrically coupled to a display device, the apparatus operable to receive supplemental data from a supplemental data database maintained by a television service provider, the apparatus comprising:
- a television tuner/decoder operable to receive television signals from the television service provider and decode the received television signal;
an input device operable with said television tuner/decoder enabling a viewer to select for viewing one television signal received by said television tuner/decoder;
a supplemental data extractor operable to receive supplemental data from the television service provider;
a profile database operable to store a viewer profile;
a filter module electrically coupled to said profile database and to the supplemental data extractor, said filter module operable to access the viewer profile and the supplement data and, in response, to select a preferred display component according to the one television signal selected by the viewer via said input device, the viewer profile and the supplemental data, the preferred display component consisting of supplemental data selected by said filter module according to the viewer profile from among plural supplemental data corresponding to the one television signal selected by the viewer operable to target a particular viewer relative to other viewers by supplementing television content; and
an overlay disposed proximate to the display device and remote from the television service provider, said overlay coupled to said television tuner/decoder and to said filter module to substantially simultaneously receive the decoded television signal and the preferred display component, said overlay operable to integrate said decoded television signal and said preferred display component for combined display via a display device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for customizing television content uses an application (70) operating on a computing platform (12) associated with a display device (40). The platform (12) accesses a display component database (48) containing display components (6). The application (70) includes a profile database (80) that stores a viewer profile (84) and a filter module (76) that is coupled to the profile database (80). The filter module (76) accesses the viewer profile (84) and display components (6) and, in response, selects a preferred display component (6′) according to the viewer profile (84) and the display components (6). The preferred display component (6′) facilitates the targeting of viewers based on demographic information.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for customizing television content operable to run on a computing platform electrically coupled to a receiver which is electrically coupled to a display device, the apparatus operable to receive supplemental data from a supplemental data database maintained by a television service provider, the apparatus comprising:
-
a television tuner/decoder operable to receive television signals from the television service provider and decode the received television signal; an input device operable with said television tuner/decoder enabling a viewer to select for viewing one television signal received by said television tuner/decoder; a supplemental data extractor operable to receive supplemental data from the television service provider; a profile database operable to store a viewer profile; a filter module electrically coupled to said profile database and to the supplemental data extractor, said filter module operable to access the viewer profile and the supplement data and, in response, to select a preferred display component according to the one television signal selected by the viewer via said input device, the viewer profile and the supplemental data, the preferred display component consisting of supplemental data selected by said filter module according to the viewer profile from among plural supplemental data corresponding to the one television signal selected by the viewer operable to target a particular viewer relative to other viewers by supplementing television content; and an overlay disposed proximate to the display device and remote from the television service provider, said overlay coupled to said television tuner/decoder and to said filter module to substantially simultaneously receive the decoded television signal and the preferred display component, said overlay operable to integrate said decoded television signal and said preferred display component for combined display via a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method performed on a computing platform that is associated with a display device and a receiver for providing functionality associated with an apparatus for customizing television content, the method comprising:
-
storing a viewer profile in a profile database; receiving a plurality of television signals from a television signal provider; receiving a viewer selection of one of the plurality of television signals; receiving supplemental data from a display component database; accessing the viewer profile in the profile database and the supplemental data; selecting a preferred display component in accordance with the one television signal selected by the viewer, the viewer profile and supplemental data, the preferred display component consisting of supplemental data selected by said filter module according to the viewer profile from among plural supplemental data corresponding to the one television signal selected by the viewer operable to target a particular viewer relative to other viewers; and integrating at a location proximate to the display device and remote from the television service provider the one television signal and the preferred display component for combined display to a viewer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification