PROVIDING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO AUDIO-VISUAL AND PERSONAL BI-DIRECTIONAL SERVICES

• US 20090193471A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for accessing services in a television system. In one embodiment, a DHCT presents a subscriber an EPG presentation containing a plurality of selectable bi-directional services that are purchasable for a period of time and rendered to a buying subscriber on an individualized basis as offered by the cable television system. The subscriber navigates an EPG menu presentation with an input device such as a remote control device and selects a purchasable service by choosing the visual representation that corresponds to the desired service. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selected command into an executable program call that queries service availability and, if the service is available, initiates the selected bi-directional audiovisual service on a personalized session.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a plurality of bi-directional services over a cable television network, comprising:

receiving in a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) a first information corresponding to plural bi-directional communication services, wherein the DHCT is coupled to a cable television network (CTN), wherein at least one of the plural bi-directional communication services corresponds to a bi-directional audiovisual service (BDAVS);

providing a visual presentation to a first subscriber, wherein the visual presentation includes at least a portion of the first information, wherein the visual presentation is provided by the DHCT;

responsive to providing the visual presentation;

receiving input from the first subscriber corresponding to a selection of a first BDAVS; and

requesting by the DHCT the first BDAVS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT is coupled to a camera

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual presentation includes information indicating if the first BDAVS is available.

4. The method of claim 3, where the input from the first subscriber corresponding to the selection of the first BDAVS is responsive to the first BDAVS being available.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting by the DHCT the first BDAVS is responsive to the first BDAVS being available.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first BDAVS corresponds to a diagnostic service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first BDAVS corresponds to a consulting service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first BDAVS corresponds to an educational service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first BDAVS corresponds to a shopping service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first BDAVS corresponds to a health or fitness services.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first BDAVS responsive to the request, and providing the first BDAVS.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the first BDAVS further comprises providing the first BDAVS in real-time, wherein a live, personalized session is established between a person at a remote destination and the first subscriber interacting with the DHCT.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the first BDAVS further comprises providing the first BDAVS at a fee that is dependent on duration of the BDVAS.

14. A method for accessing a plurality of bi-directional services over a cable television network, comprising:

receiving in a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) a first information corresponding to plural bi-directional communication services, wherein the DHCT is coupled to a cable television network (CTN), wherein at least one of the plural bi-directional communication services corresponds to a bi-directional personalized service (BDPS);

providing a visual presentation to a first subscriber, wherein the visual presentation includes at least a portion of the first information, wherein the visual presentation is provided by the DHCT;

responsive to providing the visual presentation;

receiving input from the first subscriber corresponding to a selection of a first BDPS; and

requesting by the DHCT the first BDPS.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the DHCT is coupled to a camera

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the visual presentation includes information indicating if the first BDPS is available.

17. The method of claim 16, where the input from the first subscriber corresponding to the selection of the first BDPS is responsive to the first BDPS being available.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the requesting by the DHCT the first BDPS is responsive to the first BDPS being available.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the first BDPS responsive to the request, and providing the first BDPS.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the first BDPS further comprises providing the first BDPS in real-time, wherein a live, personalized session is established between a person at a remote destination and the first subscriber interacting with the DHCT.