Correlation of tuned channel information with internet web addresses
First Claim
1. In a communications system including a set-top box (STB) in communication with a television and an auxiliary display device, a method of changing program channels viewed on the television and presenting, on a display of the auxiliary display device, a web page associated with a current tuned channel number viewed on the television, the method comprising:
- (a) the STB transmitting the current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device;
(b) the auxiliary display device determining a particular uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the current tuned channel number utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB by using a VCM when changing program channels viewed on the television, wherein the VCM includes uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; and
(c) the auxiliary display device presenting web content associated with the URL associated with the current tuned channel number on the display of the auxiliary display device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary display device, capable of remotely controlling a set-top box (STB) and/or television to select a program channel, is used to navigate a web browser in the auxiliary display device to a web site associated with the selected channel. A web page associated with the selected channel is presented on a display of the auxiliary display device. When the channel is selected, current tuned channel information is transmitted by the set-top box (STB) and/or television to the auxiliary display device, irrespective of whether the auxiliary display device was used to select the channel. In an alternate embodiment, the STB and/or television forward channel information to the auxiliary display device via a cable head-end.
17 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a communications system including a set-top box (STB) in communication with a television and an auxiliary display device, a method of changing program channels viewed on the television and presenting, on a display of the auxiliary display device, a web page associated with a current tuned channel number viewed on the television, the method comprising:
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(a) the STB transmitting the current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device; (b) the auxiliary display device determining a particular uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the current tuned channel number utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB by using a VCM when changing program channels viewed on the television, wherein the VCM includes uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; and (c) the auxiliary display device presenting web content associated with the URL associated with the current tuned channel number on the display of the auxiliary display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a communications system including a set-top box (STB) in communication with a remote server, a television and an auxiliary display device, a method of changing program channels viewed on the television and presenting, on a display of the auxiliary display device, a web page associated with a current tuned channel number viewed on the television, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving, at the STB, a virtual channel map (VCM) from the remote server, the VCM including uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; (b) the STB transmitting the VCM to the auxiliary display device; (c) storing the VCM in the auxiliary display device; (d) the STB transmitting current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device; (e) the auxiliary display device correlating the current tuned channel number to a particular URL contained in the VCM utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB when changing program channels viewed on the television; and (f) the auxiliary display device presenting web content associated with the particular URL associated with the current tuned channel number on the display of the auxiliary display device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communications system for changing program channels viewed on a television and presenting a web page associated with a current tuned channel, the system comprising:
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(a) a set-top box (STB) in communication with the television; and (b) an auxiliary display device which includes a display that presents a web page associated with a current tuned channel number viewed on the television, wherein; (i) the STB transmits current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device; (ii) the auxiliary display device determines a particular uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the current tuned channel number utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB, by using a VCM when changing program channels viewed on the television, wherein the VCM includes uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; and (iii) the auxiliary display device presents web content associated with the particular URL associated with the current tuned channel number on the display of the auxiliary display device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A communications system for changing program channels viewed on a television and presenting a web page associated with a current tuned channel number, the system comprising:
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(a) a remote server; (b) a set-top box (STB) in communication with the remote server and the television, the STB including a virtual channel map (VCM), including uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; and (c) an auxiliary display device which includes a display that presents a web page associated with the current tuned channel number viewed on the television, wherein the STB transmits the current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device via the remote server and the auxiliary device determines the web page to be displayed utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB when changing program channels viewed on the television. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification