NOTIFICATION FOR INTERACTIVE CONTENT

• US 20080244671A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamehancement LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moon, Hannah Y., Morley, D. Beau
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots

Abstract

A system may provide a video program or information associated with the video program on a video display device, and provide an interactive content icon on the video display device. The interactive content icon may indicate that interactive content is available for the video program.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a program or information associated with the program on a video display device; and

providing, by a set top box, an interactive content icon on the video display device, the interactive content icon indicating that interactive content is available for the program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving selection of an interactive content button on a remote control; and

providing the interactive content on the video display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the program or the information associated with the program includes providing one of a program guide, a program information page, or a program status bar.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the interactive content icon includes providing the interactive content icon on the program guide, the program information page, or the program status bar in connection with the program.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the interactive content icon includes overlaying the interactive content icon on the program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a tag that identifies the interactive content; and

determining the interactive content icon based on the received tag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive content corresponds to one type of a plurality of types of interactive content, the interactive content icon indicating that the one type of the interactive content is available for the program.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating one or more tags with each of a plurality of programs that are available, each of the one or more tags identifying a particular type of interactive content that is available for the associated program.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving one of the tags; and

determining the interactive content icon based on the received tag.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the program or the information associated with the program includes providing a program guide that presents a list of programs;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

filtering the list of programs based on whether interactive content is available for the programs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the program or the information associated with the program includes providing a program guide that presents a list of programs;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

filtering the list of programs based on whether a particular type of interactive content is available for the programs.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

permitting a user free access to a for-pay program when the user agrees to be presented with the interactive content.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a user'"'"'s desire for the interactive content; and

partitioning a screen of the video display device into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the program is provided within the first portion and the interactive content is provided within the second portion.

14. A system, comprising:

means for providing a program on a video display device; and

means for providing an interactive content icon overlaid on the program on the video display device, the interactive content icon indicating that interactive content is available for the program.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system includes a mobile device and the video display device includes a display of the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the system includes a computer device and the video display device includes a monitor associated with the computer device.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the system includes a set-top box and the video display device includes a television.

18. A system, comprising:

a memory to store data or instructions; and

a processor, connected to the memory, to;

receive a tag that identifies one type of a plurality of types of interactive content that is associated with a program,

determine an interactive content icon that corresponds to the one type of interactive content, and

present the interactive content icon in connection with the program on a video display device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive selection of an interactive content button on a remote control, and

provide the one type of interactive content on the video display device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein when presenting the interactive content icon, the processor is configured to provide the interactive content icon on a program guide, a program information page, or a program status bar.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein when presenting the interactive content icon, the processor is configured to overlay the interactive content icon on the program.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein when presenting the interactive content icon, the processor is configured to provide the interactive content icon on a program guide that presents a list of programs;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to filter the list of programs based on whether interactive content is available for the programs.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein when presenting the interactive content icon, the processor is configured to provide the interactive content icon on a program guide that presents a list of programs;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to filter the list of programs based on whether a particular type of interactive content is available for the programs.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an indication of a user'"'"'s desire for the one type of interactive content, and

partition a screen of the video display device into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the program is provided within the first portion and the one type of interactive content is provided within the second portion.