METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTING WITH A SET-TOP BOX USING WIDGETS

• US 20120185886A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Charania, Rahim, Sureka, Ashutosh, Naggar, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/2
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

An approach is provided for enabling direct user interaction with specific items of content as presented by a content delivery system. Content is presented via a set-top box concurrently with a widget, indicating one or more items specified in content. User input relating to selection of one of the items is received. An interactive platform, in response to the input, generates a request specifying the selected item for purchase.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting content, via a set-top box, concurrently with a widget, via the set-top box, indicating one or more items specified in the content;

receiving user input relating to selection of one of the items; and

generating, in response to the user input, a request specifying the selected item for purchase.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the request to an interactive platform configured to execute a transaction for the purchase of the selected item.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface providing a split-screen including the content and an image of the selected item, wherein the content includes video.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

initiating storage of the selected item as part of a historical log of items of interest for a particular user, wherein the historical log is maintained by the interactive platform.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, via the set-top box, a virtual environment including an image of the selected item, wherein the image within the virtual environment is controlled in response to another user input via the set-top box.

6. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

present content, via a set-top box, concurrently with a widget, via the set-top box, indicating one or more items specified in the content,

receive user input relating to selection of one of the items, and

generate, in response to the user input, a request specifying the selected item for purchase.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

transmit the request to an interactive platform configured to execute a transaction for the purchase of the selected item.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

present a graphical user interface providing a split-screen including the content and an image of the selected item, wherein the content includes video.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate storage of the selected item as part of a historical log of items of interest for a particular user, wherein the historical log is maintained by the interactive platform.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

present, via the set-top box, a virtual environment including an image of the selected item, wherein the image within the virtual environment is controlled in response to another user input via the set-top box.

11. A method comprising:

processing content to output a plurality of items specified in the content;

determining whether anyone of the items is absent from a database;

updating the database based on the determined one or more of the absent items; and

receiving a request, from a set-top box, specifying one of the items during presentation of the content via the set-top box.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

retrieving item information about the one item in response to the request; and

initiating transmission of the item information to the set-top box.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the item information relates to purchase of the one item, the method further comprising:

initiating a transaction for the purchase of the one item in response to input from a user via the set-top box.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

storing the one item as part of a historical log of items of interest for a particular user.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a virtual environment for presentation of the one item, wherein the presentation is controlled in response to input from a user via the set-top box.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the request is generated from a widget presented by the set-top box, and the content includes video.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

process content to output a plurality of items specified in the content,

determine whether anyone of the items is absent from a database,

update the database based on the determined one or more of the absent items, and

receive a request, from a set-top box, specifying one of the items during presentation of the content via the set-top box.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

retrieve item information about the one item in response to the request; and

initiate transmission of the item information to the set-top box.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the item information relates to purchase of the one item, the apparatus further comprising:

initiating a transaction for the purchase of the one item in response to input from a user via the set-top box.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

store the one item as part of a historical log of items of interest for a particular user.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a virtual environment for presentation of the one item, wherein the presentation is controlled in response to input from a user via the set-top box.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the request is generated from a widget presented by the set-top box, and the content includes video.