System and methods for real-time access to movie information
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a video signal to a set-top-box for display on a television to a viewer, the video signal conveying an advertisement to the viewer, the video signal further conveying an indication that supplemental information is available regarding the advertisement;
receiving a first request for the supplemental information at the set-top-box;
generating a second request for the supplemental information regarding the advertisement from the set-top-box to a processor wherein the second request for the supplemental information further comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier indicating a currently selected display channel;
accessing a first database by the processor using the set-top-box identifier included in the second request for the supplemental information to determine a geographical location associated with the set-top-box;
accessing a second database, remote from the set-top-box, by the processor using the channel identifier included in the second request for the supplemental information to retrieve, in response to the second request for supplemental information, data identifying the advertisement that is being displayed when the first request for the supplemental information is received at the set-top-box;
using, by the processor, the geographic location accessed from the first database and the data identifying the advertisement accessed from the second database to launch a third request for supplemental information to a third database;
receiving, by the processor, the supplemental information from the third database in response to the third request;
transmitting, from the processor to the set-top-box, at least a portion of the supplemental information received from the third database; and
generating a second video signal conveying the supplemental information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing real-time access to movie information to viewers in an interactive television viewing system. During select times when viewing a program on a television, the viewer is presented information, typically an advertisement, regarding a movie available for viewing in a movie theater. The viewer can opt to review supplemental information regarding the movie, including information directed to the actors, plot, rating, and where and when it is showing relative to the viewer'"'"'s location. The viewer can opt to purchase tickets as well. The system can be controlled in one embodiment by the user interacting with a set top box sending signaling information to a processor in the network headend that retrieves the appropriate information for display to the viewer. The information can be provided to the set-top-box and displayed to the user using an overlapping window, or other techniques.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a video signal to a set-top-box for display on a television to a viewer, the video signal conveying an advertisement to the viewer, the video signal further conveying an indication that supplemental information is available regarding the advertisement; receiving a first request for the supplemental information at the set-top-box; generating a second request for the supplemental information regarding the advertisement from the set-top-box to a processor wherein the second request for the supplemental information further comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier indicating a currently selected display channel; accessing a first database by the processor using the set-top-box identifier included in the second request for the supplemental information to determine a geographical location associated with the set-top-box; accessing a second database, remote from the set-top-box, by the processor using the channel identifier included in the second request for the supplemental information to retrieve, in response to the second request for supplemental information, data identifying the advertisement that is being displayed when the first request for the supplemental information is received at the set-top-box; using, by the processor, the geographic location accessed from the first database and the data identifying the advertisement accessed from the second database to launch a third request for supplemental information to a third database; receiving, by the processor, the supplemental information from the third database in response to the third request; transmitting, from the processor to the set-top-box, at least a portion of the supplemental information received from the third database; and generating a second video signal conveying the supplemental information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a set-top-box capable of generating and providing video signals associated with an advertisement for display of the advertisement, the set-top box further capable of receiving a first request for supplemental information regarding the displayed advertisement and generating, in response to the first request, a second request for supplemental information regarding the displayed advertisement, wherein the second request for the supplemental information regarding the displayed advertisement comprises a set-top-box identifier and a channel identifier associated with a selected display channel, the set-top-box further capable of receiving the supplemental information and generating a second video signal comprising a window displaying the supplemental information; a communication network capable of transmitting the second request for supplement information from the set-top-box; a first database, remote from the set top box, capable of receiving a request for an advertisement identifier based on in part the channel identifier included in the second request for the supplemental information, the first database retrieving, in response to the request for the advertisement identifier, the advertisement identifier associated with the displayed advertisement associated with the channel identifier; a second database capable of receiving a request for a geographical location identifier based on in part the channel identifier and responding with the geographical location identifier; a third database capable of receiving a third request for the supplemental information, the third request comprising the advertisement identifier; and a processor operatively connected to the communication network and configured to; receive the second request for the supplemental information, generate the request for the advertisement identifier from the first database and the request for the geographical identifier from the second database, launch the request for the advertisement identifier from the processor to the first database, receive, in response to the request for the advertisement identifier and from the first database, the advertisement identifier, launch the request for the geographical identifier from the processor the second database, receive, in response to the request for the geographical identifier and from the second database, the geographical identifier, use the advertisement identifier from the first database and the geographical identifier from the second database to generate the third request for the supplemental information to the third database, launch the third request for the supplemental information from the processor to the third database, receive the supplemental information from the third database in response to the third request, and transmit at least a portion of the supplemental information received from the third database to the set-top-box. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification