Television integrated chat and presence systems and methods

• US 20070198738A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Boni, Piotr, Angiolillo, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An enhanced television system which enables users to communicate using a television, both via messaging and telephone. Users or the system may create a buddy list. Users may send and receive program information to and from each other, and change programs based on received information. The system may maintain information regarding a user'"'"'s presence on the system, availability for messaging, and television viewing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first video transmission at a network terminal of a first user;

displaying the first video transmission;

receiving a request at the network terminal to send a communication;

displaying, with the first video transmission, an interface including information identifying a second user and a status of the second user;

receiving the communication and a destination of the communication, the destination including an identification of the second user;

sending a first message, the first message including the identification of the second user, the communication and data identifying the first video transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface further includes information identifying a second video transmission being provided to the second user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of the second user is a presence status.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in status of the first user;

sending a notification including the change in status.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the change in status is at least one of a change in video transmission and a change in presence status.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting the change in status of the first user includes at least one of:

detecting when the first user has not used the network terminal for a specified period of time;

detecting when the first user receives a third video transmission different from the first video transmission; and

detecting when a commercial break is in progress in the first video transmission.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification including a change of status of the second user;

storing the change of status of the second user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the status of the second user includes at least one of a change in video transmission and a change in presence status.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video transmission is a broadcast television program.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface includes information identifying a third user and a status of the third user, the third user different than the first user and second user, wherein the destination includes an identification of the third user, and wherein the first message further includes an identifier of the third user.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second message, the second message including information identifying a third video transmission;

displaying, with the first video transmission, the information identifying the third video transmission;

receiving a selection of the information identifying the third video transmission;

receiving the third video transmission; and

displaying the third video transmission.

12. A method, comprising:

transmitting a first video transmission to a first user of a plurality of users and a second video transmission to a second user of the plurality of users;

receiving a first notification including an indication of a change in status of the first user;

storing the change of status of the first user in a record associated with the first user;

transmitting a second notification to the second user including the change of status of the first user;

wherein the change of status of the first user includes information identifying the first video transmission.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a message, the message including an identifier of the second user, a communication to the second user and information identifying the first video transmission;

transmitting the message to the second user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the change in status includes a presence status, including one of “

online,”

“

away,” and

“

offline.”

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first video transmission and second video transmission is a broadcast television program.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a subset of the plurality of users based on at least one attribute common to each user of the subset; and

sending a list of the subset of users to each of the users in the subset.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a change in status of the second user;

storing the change of status of the second user in a record associated with the second user;

transmitting a third notification to the first user including the change of status of the second user;

wherein detecting the change in status of the second user includes at least one of;

detecting whether the second user is using a telephone;

detecting whether the second user receives a third video transmission different from the second video transmission; and

detecting whether a commercial break is in progress in the second video transmission.

18. A communication system, comprising:

a server adapted to enable a first user to communicate with a second user via a television, and transmit a television broadcast;

a television control processor adapted to present, with the television broadcast, upon command from the first user, a list including information identifying the second user; and

a transmitter adapted to send, using the information from the list, a message to the second user including data regarding the television broadcast.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the television control processor is further adapted to present at least one of information regarding a television program being watched by the second user and a presence status of the second user

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is adapted to modify the list after the second user changes to a different television program.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is further adapted to modify the presence status based on at least one of:

detecting whether a commercial break is in progress on a television broadcast being watched by the second user;

detecting whether the second user is idle;

detecting whether the second user is using a telephone.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a second television control processor adapted to set a television channel on a television of the second user based on the data regarding the television broadcast in the sent message.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further adapted to enable the first user to invite the second user to watch the television broadcast using the message.