Media processing system communicating activity information to support user interaction during media broadcasts
First Claim
1. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
- accepting from a first user information identifying a second user;
receiving from the first user at least one user-selected characteristic associated with media;
receiving a media request from the first user via a communication network, wherein the media request relates to media to be sent directly via the communication network from of the second user to the first user;
processing the media request from the first user via the communication network, the requested media having a pre-defined set of characteristics;
notifying the second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one user-selected characteristic; and
refraining from notifying the second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-selected characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment of the present invention, a first user may associate a second user with particular media characteristics. The second user may be notified when the first user consumes media having pre-defined characteristics matching those associated with the second user. The second user may keep records of the consumption of media with particular media characteristics, and may provide services or incentives to the first user. A system in accordance with various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first and a second set top box, each having storage with an associated network address. A user of the second set top box may have at least one associated media characteristic, and the second user may be sent a notification when the first user requests media with pre-defined characteristics matching the media characteristic associated with the second user.
8 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
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accepting from a first user information identifying a second user; receiving from the first user at least one user-selected characteristic associated with media; receiving a media request from the first user via a communication network, wherein the media request relates to media to be sent directly via the communication network from of the second user to the first user; processing the media request from the first user via the communication network, the requested media having a pre-defined set of characteristics; notifying the second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one user-selected characteristic; and refraining from notifying the second user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the first user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-selected characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
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associating at least one media characteristic with a user; processing a direct request for media of another user, from the user, the media having a pre-defined set of characteristics; sending a notification via a communication network if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches the at least one media characteristic; and refraining from sending a notification if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one media characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of communicating activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the method comprising:
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notifying a first user, via a communication network, of consumption of requested media of the first user directly requested by a second user, if a pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media matches at least one user-selected media characteristic; and refraining from notifying the first user, via the communication network, of the consumption of the requested media by the second user, if the pre-defined set of characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-selected media characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system supporting the communication of activity information to support user interaction in a communication network, the system comprising:
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a first set top box circuitry at a first location configured to support consumption of media by a first user; and software that notifies a second user at a second location, via a communication network, of the consumption of media of the second user directly requested and consumed by the first user if a pre-defined set of media characteristics for requested media match at least one user-selected media characteristic associated with the first user, and that refrains from notifying the second user at the second location, via the communication network, of the consumption of media of the second user by the first user of the pre-defined set of media characteristics for the requested media does not match the at least one user-selected media characteristic associated with the first user. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification