Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content
First Claim
1. A method of providing supplemental content in a video-on-demand system, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a set-top box from a server, a transmission of video content of a selected video-on-demand offering for display on a display device coupled to the set-top box;
sending, to the display device from the set-top box, a selectable menu of supplemental content titles associated with the selected video-on-demand offering in response to receipt of a notification from the server of discontinuation of the transmission of the video content to the set-top box;
receiving, at the set-top box, a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from the supplemental content titles of the selectable menu;
retrieving encrypted supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title at the set-top box;
decrypting, via the set-top box, the encrypted supplemental content to produce first supplemental content;
receiving, at the set-top box, a selection of a second display device other than the display device for display of the first supplemental content; and
sending the first supplemental content from the set-top box to the second display device,wherein a subscriber'"'"'s profile is checked to determine if the supplemental content selected is to be provided without charge or is to be accompanied by a charge, based at least in part on the subscriber'"'"'s particular subscription plan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content are presented. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing supplemental content in a Video-On-Demand (VOD) system is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu, where each of the plurality of supplemental content titles is associated with a particular VOD offering. The selectable menu provided is to be displayed upon detection of discontinued transmission of the particular VOD offering. The method also includes providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title. The first supplemental content is accessible by a subscriber when the particular VOD offering is not being presented and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible by the subscriber when the particular VOD offering is being presented.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of providing supplemental content in a video-on-demand system, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a set-top box from a server, a transmission of video content of a selected video-on-demand offering for display on a display device coupled to the set-top box; sending, to the display device from the set-top box, a selectable menu of supplemental content titles associated with the selected video-on-demand offering in response to receipt of a notification from the server of discontinuation of the transmission of the video content to the set-top box; receiving, at the set-top box, a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from the supplemental content titles of the selectable menu; retrieving encrypted supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title at the set-top box; decrypting, via the set-top box, the encrypted supplemental content to produce first supplemental content; receiving, at the set-top box, a selection of a second display device other than the display device for display of the first supplemental content; and sending the first supplemental content from the set-top box to the second display device, wherein a subscriber'"'"'s profile is checked to determine if the supplemental content selected is to be provided without charge or is to be accompanied by a charge, based at least in part on the subscriber'"'"'s particular subscription plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A set-top box to provide supplemental content in a video-on-demand system, the set-top box comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including; receiving a transmission of video content of a selected video-on-demand offering; sending a selectable menu comprising a plurality of selectable supplemental content titles that are associated with the selected video-on-demand offering in response to receipt of a notification from a server of discontinuation of the transmission of the video content; receiving a subscriber selection of a first supplemental content title selected from the selectable menu; and retrieving retrieve first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title, wherein the first supplemental content is accessible via the set-top box when the selected video-on-demand offering is not being presented via the set-top box and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible via the set-top box when the selected video-on-demand offering is being presented via the set-top box, wherein a subscriber'"'"'s profile is checked to determine if the supplemental content selected is to be provided without charge or is to be accompanied by a charge, based at least in part on the subscriber'"'"'s particular subscription plan. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A video distribution network server comprising:
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a processor to execute instructions to perform operations including; receiving selection of a particular video-on-demand offering from a set-top box; transmitting video content of the particular video-on-demand offering to the set-top box; detecting discontinuation of transmission of the video content to the set-top box; sending a notification to the set-top box that the video distribution network server discontinued transmission of the video content to the set-top box; receiving input indicating a selection of a first supplemental content title associated with the particular video-on-demand offering, wherein the first supplemental content title is selected from a menu sent to a display device by the set-top box in response to the notification, wherein the menu comprises a plurality of selectable supplemental content titles associated with the particular video-on-demand offering; retrieving first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title; and providing the first supplemental content via a network, wherein the first supplemental content is accessible via the set-top box when the particular video-on-demand offering is not being presented via the set-top box, and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible via the set-top box when the particular video-on-demand offering is being presented via the set-top box, and wherein a subscriber'"'"'s profile is checked to determine if the supplemental content selected is to be provided without charge or is to be accompanied by a charge, based at least in part on the subscriber'"'"'s particular subscription plan. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-readable storage device comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
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transmitting video content of a selected video-on-demand offering to a set-top box; detecting discontinuation of transmission of the video content to the set-top box; sending a notification to the set-top box of discontinuation of the transmission to the set-top box; receiving a subscriber selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu sent to a display device by the set-top box in response to the notification; and providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title, wherein the first supplemental content is accessible via the set-top box when the selected video-on-demand offering is not being presented via the set-top box, and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible when the selected video-on-demand offering is being presented via the set-top box, wherein a subscriber'"'"'s profile is checked to determine if the supplemental content selected is to be provided without charge or is to be accompanied by a charge, based at least in part on the subscriber'"'"'s particular subscription plan. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification