System and method in a television system for responding to user-selection of an object in a television program utilizing an alternative communication network

• US 9,110,518 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Primary Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US12/880,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/40, 725 60- 61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/438 : Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 : involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 : involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 : using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 : for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47805 : Electronic banking banking in general G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/845 : Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method in a television system for responding to user-selection of an object in a television program utilizing an alternative communication network, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims

1. A method, in a user'"'"'s local television system, for responding to user selection of an object in a television program communicated to the user'"'"'s local television system via a first communication network, the method comprising:

in the user'"'"'s local television system, at least;

determining an identity of a user-selected object in the television program being presented via a television;

requesting, via the first communication network, from a remote entity, based at least in part on the determined object identity, information of the user-selected object, the information comprising one or more interactions associated with the user-selected object;

receiving, via a second communication network different from the first communication network, the information of the user-selected object;

storing, in a memory, the information of the user-selected object for user-access; and

performing, the one or more interactions included in the information, wherein the one or more interactions are performed off-line by accessing the stored information of the user-selected object after presentation of the television program via a user-account and by communicating via the second communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said requesting information from the remote entity comprises determining a network address of the remote entity on the second communication network and communicating to the remote entity at the determined network address to acquire the information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined one or more interactions comprises notifying the remote entity of a selection of the identified user-selected object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined one or more interactions comprises establishing a two-way communication session with the remote entity via said at least the second communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the received information is stored in memory of the user'"'"'s local television system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said storing the received information in memory comprises storing the received information in memory indexed by object identification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said requesting information comprises determining one or more search terms associated with the identified user-selected object and searching, based at least in part on the determined one or more search terms, one or more networked entities on said second communication network for information associated with the identified user-selected object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is transmitted by the television.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is transmitted by a set top box.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving data associating the user-selectable object in the television program with one or more interactions in which to engage with an entity remote from the user'"'"'s local television system via said second communication network; and

storing the received data in memory of the user'"'"'s local television system indexed by a scene of the television program in which the user-selectable object exists.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying the user-selectable object using a data structure that includes at least one code field from among a country field, a company ID field, an enterprise ID field, a product type field, a product model field, a date field, a time field, a language field, and a personal identifier field.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a television controller controls operation of a television in the local television system via a third communication network.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying the information of the selected user-selectable object on a display screen of the television controller, separate, and in parallel to contents being displayed on the television.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the request for the information of the user-selected object is transmitted via a television network, and, in response, the information of the user-selected object is received via an email via a data communication network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored information of the user-selected object received in response to the request via a television controller is accessible after presentation of the television program by logging in to the user-account.

16. A user'"'"'s local television system for responding to user selection of an object in a television program communicated to the user'"'"'s local television system via a first communication network, the user'"'"'s local television system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

determine an identity of a user-selected object in the television program, wherein the user-selected object is selected during the television program;

request via the first communication network, from a remote entity, based at least in part on the determined object identity, information associated with the user-selected object, wherein the information comprises one or more interactions with an entity remote from the user'"'"'s local television system;

receive the information via a second communication network different from the first communication network in response to the request for the information via the first communication network;

perform the one or more interactions with the remote entity via the second communication network;

receive, in response to the one or more interactions, information related to the user-selected object;

display the received information on a display on a television controller; and

store the received information associated with the user-selected object in a memory for off-line user-access after the television program, wherein the stored information associated with the user-selected object is accessible by logging into a corresponding user-account via the second communication network.

17. The television system of claim 16, where the first communication network is a television communication network, and the second communication network is a data communication network.

18. The television system of claim 16, where the second communication network comprises the Internet.

19. The television system of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to request information associated with the identified user-selected object from the remote entity by, at least in part, operating to determine a network address of the remote entity on the second communication network and communicate to the remote entity at the determined network address to request the information.

20. The television system of claim 16, where the remote entity is a first remote entity, and where the determined one or more interactions comprises notifying a second remote entity of a selection of the identified user-selected object via a third communication network different from the first and the second communication networks.

21. The television system of claim 16, where the determined one or more interactions comprises establishing a two-way communication session with the remote entity via said second communication network.

22. The television system of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to store the received information in memory by, at least in part, operating to store the received information in memory indexed by object identification.

23. The television system of claim 16, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive information associated with the identified user-selected object from the remote entity by, at least in part, operating to determine one or more search terms associated with the identified user-selected object, and operating to search, based at least in part on the determined one or more search terms, one or more networked entities on said second communication network for information associated with the identified user-selected object.

24. The television system of claim 16, wherein said at least one module operable to determine one or more interactions is located in a television and a module operable to perform the determined one or more interactions is located in the television controller.

25. The television system of claim 16, wherein said at least one module operable to determine one or more interactions is located in a set top box and a module operable to perform the determined one or more interactions is located in the television controller.

26. The television system of claim 16, wherein,

the television program being presented is displayed on a television;

the television controller is configured to control the television program by transmission of control signals to the television via a third network; and

the television controller configured to select the user-selected object.

27. The television of claim 26, wherein

the identity of and the received information related to the selected user-selectable object is stored in a memory of the television controller.

28. A television system for responding to user selection of an object in a television program communicated to the television system via a first communication network, the television system comprising circuitry configured to:

determine an identity of a user-selected object in the television program, wherein the user-selected object is selected during the television program;

request, via the first communication network, from a remote entity, based at least in part on the determined object identity, information of one or more interactions associated with the user-selected object;

receive the information from the remote entity via a second communication network different from the first communication network in response to the request for the information via the first communication network;

perform the one or more interactions via the second communication network;

receive, in response to the one or more interactions, information associated to the user-selected object;

display the received information related to the user-selected object on a display; and

store the received information associated with the user-selected object in a memory for off-line user-access after the television program, wherein the stored information associated with the user-selected object is accessible by logging into a corresponding user-account via the second communication network.

29. The television system of claim 28, wherein the television system comprises at least a display screen and a television controller, and wherein the received information is stored in the memory, which is in the television controller.