Method and system to provide interactivity using an interactive channel bug

• US 8,667,530 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Sahota, Ranjit, Carney, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Jason J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US13/618,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20130014192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14, 725/37, 725/40, 725/49, 725 51- 52, 725/139
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed to provide interactivity using an interactive channel bug. The interactive channel bug (e.g., an “interactive broadcast channel branding logo”) allows a television user to access a variety of interactive services. The interactive broadcast channel branding logo may be configured to launch a functionality determined by a broadcaster. This functionality may change over time. The form of the interactive broadcast channel branding logo may also change over time in which the availability of new interactive services is indicated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a content item;

receiving an interactive channel bug configured to function as a content identifier and to facilitate interactivity independent of a dedicated channel for interactive services;

inserting, at a processor, the interactive channel bug into the content item;

transmitting the content item with the interactive channel bug to a display system; and

launching interactive features associated with the interactive channel bug when triggered through an Internet Protocol (IP) pathway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the interactive channel bug as a graphical object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

launching, with the interactive channel bug, a functionality determined by at least one of a content transmitter or network operator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a form of the interactive channel bug to indicate availability of new interactive services.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

indicating availability of interactive services associated with a purchase of at least one of products or services when the interactive channel bug changes form.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

launching, with the interactive channel bug, a rollout menu of services chosen from the group consisting of;

news, weather, and sports.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the interactive channel bug as an animated channel bug that indicates interactivity associated with a current program.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing commands to launch the interactive channel bug.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating playing a game show with the interactive channel bug.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting the interactive channel bug into the content item at one or more trigger points within the content item.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the interactive channel bug that is configured to start flashing on the display system to indicate that interactivity is associated with the interactive channel bug.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating an on-line poll on the display system with the interactive channel bug.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating interactivity associated with a commercial with the interactive channel bug.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

replacing a non-interactive channel bug within the content item with the interactive channel bug to indicate the interactivity associated with the commercial.

15. A method comprising:

embedding a non-interactive content item bug into a content stream;

configuring a first interactive channel bug to be associated with a first content provider and a second interactive channel bug to be associated with a second content provider;

configuring the first interactive channel bug to replace the non-interactive content item bug within the content stream;

configuring the first interactive channel bug to be replaced with the second interactive channel bug during a change of displaying content from the first content provider to content from the second content provider;

configuring the first and second interactive channel bugs to launch interactive features when triggered through an Internet Protocol (IP) pathway;

transmitting the content stream; and

transmitting the first and second interactive channel bugs.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting the first and the second interactive channel bugs as channel branding logos.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

configuring the first interactive channel bug to facilitate at least one of voting for an option and playing a game show.

18. A method comprising:

configuring a first interactive channel bug to be associated with a first content provider and a second interactive channel bug to be associated with a second content provider;

configuring the first interactive channel bug and the second interactive channel bug to be inserted into a content item;

configuring the first and the second interactive channel bugs to be used to facilitate interactivity independent of a dedicated channel for interactive services;

configuring the first interactive channel bug to be replaceable by the second interactive channel bug during a change of displaying content from the first content provider to content from the second content provider;

configuring the first and the second interactive channel bugs to launch interactive features when triggered through an Internet Protocol (IP) pathway;

transmitting the content item; and

transmitting the first and second interactive channel bugs.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

configuring the first interactive channel bug to facilitate voting for an option.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

configuring the first interactive channel bug to facilitate playing a game show.