System and method for simultaneously displaying video programming and instant messaging
First Claim
1. A communications network connecting multiple users and permitting the multiple users to provide programming content to each other, comprising:
- a communications channel for carrying communications between the multiple users over the internet; and
a gateway providing an interface between each user and the network, wherein the gateway includes;
an instant messaging (IM) application for permitting one user to communicate via IM messages transmitted over the internet to other users connected to the network, wherein such messages may include attachments; and
a decryption function for decrypting programming content in response to the presence of a security key at the gateway, wherein the security key is associated with the programming content and originates with a provider of the programming content that is not one of the users, and wherein the security key is made available to the one user in order for that user to access the programming content and to in turn provide the same security key to other users who access the associated programming content as part of an IM message sent from the one user;
wherein the gateway may attach a file to an IM message sent from the one user as a sending user to at least one of the other users as a receiving user on the network in order for the receiving user to access the attached file, the attached file including at least a portion of the programming content and the security key associated with the programming content, and wherein the gateway for the receiving user compares the security key received with the sent IM message with one or more security keys held by the receiving user and that originate with the programming content provider, so that the receiving user receiving the message and attached file may access the programming content in the attached file only if the receiving user has a security key from the programming content provider corresponding to the security key in the attached file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Instant messaging (IM) and TV programming are displayed simultaneously on a TV screen. An instant messaging window on the screen displays posted messages and identifies the TV program (if any) being currently viewed by each user posting messages. An icon accompanying a message can be selected by a message recipient to permit a telephone call to be automatically dialed and completed to the message sender. Video files attached to sent messages include a key which may be compared to a key at the destination, so that the video file may be viewed by the recipient only if the there is a match. Data collected at a server managing the instant messaging may be used to monitor message, television and telephone activity, as well as demographic data associated with the IM users.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A communications network connecting multiple users and permitting the multiple users to provide programming content to each other, comprising:
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a communications channel for carrying communications between the multiple users over the internet; and a gateway providing an interface between each user and the network, wherein the gateway includes; an instant messaging (IM) application for permitting one user to communicate via IM messages transmitted over the internet to other users connected to the network, wherein such messages may include attachments; and a decryption function for decrypting programming content in response to the presence of a security key at the gateway, wherein the security key is associated with the programming content and originates with a provider of the programming content that is not one of the users, and wherein the security key is made available to the one user in order for that user to access the programming content and to in turn provide the same security key to other users who access the associated programming content as part of an IM message sent from the one user; wherein the gateway may attach a file to an IM message sent from the one user as a sending user to at least one of the other users as a receiving user on the network in order for the receiving user to access the attached file, the attached file including at least a portion of the programming content and the security key associated with the programming content, and wherein the gateway for the receiving user compares the security key received with the sent IM message with one or more security keys held by the receiving user and that originate with the programming content provider, so that the receiving user receiving the message and attached file may access the programming content in the attached file only if the receiving user has a security key from the programming content provider corresponding to the security key in the attached file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A display system for use in a communications network connecting multiple instant messaging (IM) users in order to provide video programming content to each other, comprising:
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a display device; and plural display windows at the display device, comprising a first display window for displaying video programming content and a second display window for displaying content from an instant messaging (IM) application; wherein a user at the display system is a subscriber to video programming content for display at the display system, and such user is assigned one or more associated security keys by a video programming provider in order to access the video programming content; wherein the video programming provider is not one of the IM users; wherein such user is provided with access to the security key in order for such user to provide the security key to a remote user who may want to access the video programming content to which such user is a subscriber; and wherein such user may send an attachment to the remote user using the IM application, the attachment comprising a video data file comprising the video programming content and the security key associated with the video programming content, wherein the remote user has a security key from the video programming provider if authorized to view the programming content, the remote user'"'"'s key for comparison to the security key associated with video programming content in the sent attachment, so that video programming content in the video data file is displayed to the remote user only if the remote user has a security key matching the security key associated with the video programming content. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a communications network having a plurality of instant messaging (IM) users sharing video programming content with each other and a user interface associated with each user, the user interface comprising:
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display means; and gateway means for simultaneously displaying multiple content to the user at the display means, including first window means for displaying video programming content at a first display window at said display means, and second window means for simultaneously displaying content from an instant messaging (IM) application at a second window at said display means; wherein the gateway means stores a security code associated with the video programming content and used to provide access to the video programming content; wherein the user is provided with access to the security code by a video provider in order for the user to provide the security code to a remote user; wherein the video provider is not one of the IM users; wherein the IM application permits an IM message having an attached file to be sent by the user at the user interface to a remote user, with the attached file comprising the video programming content and the security code; and wherein the security key received as part of the IM message by the remote user may be compared at the gateway means with one or more security keys held by the remote user and received from the video provider, so that the remote user may access the video programming content in the attached file if the remote user has a security code corresponding the security code in the attached file.
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Specification