Interactive content with enhanced network operator control
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- determining at a data center whether to inform a user of an interactive television service of alternate content, wherein a user device of the user is connected with the data center via a network;
responsive to determining to inform the user of the alternate content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content; and
inserting the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the user device from the data center via the network;
wherein the determining is independent of any request by the user for the alternate content, but based at least in part on a search for alternate content having subject matter that is related to subject matter of content being viewed by the user when the search is conducted.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are described that provide enhanced network operator control. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method comprises determining at a head-end and data center whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content, the one or more users connected with head-end and data center via a network. Responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content. The hot key signal is inserted into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from the head-end and data center via the network.
124 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining at a data center whether to inform a user of an interactive television service of alternate content, wherein a user device of the user is connected with the data center via a network; responsive to determining to inform the user of the alternate content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content; and inserting the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the user device from the data center via the network; wherein the determining is independent of any request by the user for the alternate content, but based at least in part on a search for alternate content having subject matter that is related to subject matter of content being viewed by the user when the search is conducted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A data center comprising:
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a hot key generation portion to determine whether to inform a user of an interactive television service of alternate content, wherein a user device of the user is connected with the data center via a network, and to generate a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content responsive to determining to inform the user of the alternate content; a multiplexor system to insert the hot key signal into a content signal; and a transport system to transmit the content signal and the hot key signal to the user device from the data center via the network; wherein the hot key generation portion determines whether to inform the user of the alternate content independent of any request by the user for the alternate content, but based at least in part on a search for alternate content having subject matter that is related to subject matter of content being viewed by the user when the search is conducted. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A machine-readable storage device having stored thereon a series of instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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determine at a data center whether to inform a user of an interactive television service of alternate content, wherein a user device of the user is connected with the data center via a network; responsive to determining to inform the user of the alternate content, generate a hot key signal indicating availability of the alternate content; and insert the hot key signal into a content signal transmitted to the user device from the data center via the network, wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine whether to inform the user of the alternate content independent of any request by the user for the alternate content, but based at least in part on a search for alternate content having subject matter related to subject matter of content being viewed by the user when the search is conducted. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification