System and method for recording and playing back interactive content during a broadcast event
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing a broadcast event for a plurality of remote viewers each having a client device including a local storage device and a personal interactivity recorder (PIR) for storing and playing back interactive content along with playback of the broadcast event, the method comprising:
- each local storage device receiving and storing the broadcast event in a first data store as the broadcast event is being broadcast via a broadcast event signal to the plurality of remote viewers during a first time period;
each PIR coupled to the local storage device receiving one or more trigger messages from a server system separately from the broadcast of the broadcast event and not embedded in the broadcast event signal, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, the interactive content being related to the broadcast event;
each PIR associating the trigger messages received from the server system to the broadcast event and storing the associated trigger messages in a second data store of the corresponding client device; and
during playback of the stored broadcast event by a particular one of the client devices during a second time period, retrieving the stored broadcast event from the first data store and the stored trigger messages from the second data store for providing to the user the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages at one or more times during the retrieved broadcast event when the interactive content would have been displayed when the broadcast event was being broadcast during the first time period, wherein the interactive content includes trivia questions, the PIR stores a correct answer, and responsive to an answer received from a user during playback, the PIR provides to the user an indication of a correct or incorrect answer.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for interactive events relating to broadcast content, whether provided over the television, internet, or other means, provides messages that can be transmitted to different types of user devices, including personal computers, set top boxes, net top boxes, and wireless clients. The system can be used with personal recorders by recording interactive content for display with the broadcast when the recorder is used to play back the broadcast.
96 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing a broadcast event for a plurality of remote viewers each having a client device including a local storage device and a personal interactivity recorder (PIR) for storing and playing back interactive content along with playback of the broadcast event, the method comprising:
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each local storage device receiving and storing the broadcast event in a first data store as the broadcast event is being broadcast via a broadcast event signal to the plurality of remote viewers during a first time period; each PIR coupled to the local storage device receiving one or more trigger messages from a server system separately from the broadcast of the broadcast event and not embedded in the broadcast event signal, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, the interactive content being related to the broadcast event; each PIR associating the trigger messages received from the server system to the broadcast event and storing the associated trigger messages in a second data store of the corresponding client device; and during playback of the stored broadcast event by a particular one of the client devices during a second time period, retrieving the stored broadcast event from the first data store and the stored trigger messages from the second data store for providing to the user the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages at one or more times during the retrieved broadcast event when the interactive content would have been displayed when the broadcast event was being broadcast during the first time period, wherein the interactive content includes trivia questions, the PIR stores a correct answer, and responsive to an answer received from a user during playback, the PIR provides to the user an indication of a correct or incorrect answer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for enhancing a broadcast event for a plurality of remote viewers each having a client device including a local storage device and a personal interactivity recorder (PIR) for storing and playing back interactive content along with playback of the broadcast event, the method comprising:
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each local storage device receiving and storing the broadcast event in a first data store as the broadcast event is being broadcast via a broadcast event signal to the plurality of remote viewers during a first time period; each PIR coupled to the local storage device receiving one or more trigger messages from a server system separately from the broadcast of the broadcast event and not embedded in the broadcast event signal, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, the interactive content being related to the broadcast event; each PIR associating the trigger messages received from the server system to the broadcast event and storing the associated trigger messages in a second data store of the corresponding client device; and during playback of the stored broadcast event by a particular one of the client devices during a second time period, retrieving the stored broadcast event from the first data store and the stored trigger messages from the second data store for providing to the user the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages at one or more times during the retrieved broadcast event when the interactive content would have been displayed when the broadcast event was being broadcast during the first time period, wherein the interactive content includes poll questions, the PIR stores poll results, and responsive to a response to one of the poll questions received from a user, the PIR provides the poll results after receiving the response to the poll question from the user.
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17. A system for use with a local storage device at a remote viewer location for storing and playing back interactive content along with playback of a broadcast event, the system including:
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a data store; a personal interactivity recorder (PIR) at the remote viewer location, the PIR being configured to receive one or more trigger messages from a server separately from a broadcast of a broadcast event and not embedded in a broadcast signal broadcasting the broadcast event, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, the interactive content being related to the broadcast event, the PIR associating the received trigger messages to the broadcast event and storing the associated trigger message in the data store, wherein when the broadcast event is played back from storage, the PIR retrieves the stored trigger messages from the data store and provides the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages during times within the stored broadcast event when the interactive content would have been displayed when the broadcast event was broadcast, and wherein the interactive content includes poll questions, the PIR is configured to store poll results, and responsive to a response to one of the poll questions received from a user, the PIR is configured to provide the poll results after receiving the response to the poll question from the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An interactive television system for storing and playing back an enhanced video program, the system including:
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a broadcast device for broadcasting a video program during a first time period, the video program being associated with interactive data for displaying interactive content during the first time period; and a plurality of client devices at a plurality of end-user locations, each of the plurality of client devices coupled to the broadcast device over a data communications network and receiving the broadcast video program via a broadcast signal, the plurality of client devices further receiving one or more trigger messages from the server separately from the broadcast video program, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, each client device including a first recording device coupled to a first local storage medium for recording the broadcast video program and a second recording device coupled to a second local storage medium for recording the trigger messages, the first and second recording devices being respectively configured to retrieve the recorded video program from the first local storage medium and the stored trigger messages from the second local storage medium during a second time period in response to a user command, and play back the retrieved video program and the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages, wherein the playback of the interactive content is at one or more times during the retrieved video program when the interactive content would have been displayed when the video program was broadcast during the first time period, and wherein the PIR is configured to store a correct answer, and responsive to an answer received from a user during playback, the PIR is configured to provide to the user an indication of a correct or incorrect answer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for use with a local storage device at a remote viewer location for storing and playing back interactive content along with playback of a broadcast event, the system including:
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a data store; a personal interactivity recorder (PIR) at the remote viewer location, the PIR being configured to receive one or more trigger messages from a server separately from a broadcast of a broadcast event and not embedded in a broadcast signal broadcasting the broadcast event, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, the interactive content being related to the broadcast event, the PIR associating the received trigger messages to the broadcast event and storing the associated trigger message in the data store, wherein when the broadcast event is played back from storage, the PIR retrieves the stored trigger messages from the data store and provides the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages during times within the stored broadcast event when the interactive content would have been displayed when the broadcast event was broadcast, and wherein the interactive content includes trivia questions, the PIR is configured to store a correct answer, and responsive to an answer received from a user during playback, the PIR is configured to provide to the user an indication of a correct or incorrect answer.
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32. An interactive television system for storing and playing back an enhanced video program, the system including:
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a broadcast device for broadcasting a video program during a first time period, the video program being associated with interactive data for displaying interactive content during the first time period; and a plurality of client devices at a plurality of end-user locations, each of the plurality of client devices coupled to the broadcast device over a data communications network and receiving the broadcast video program via a broadcast signal, the plurality of client devices further receiving one or more trigger messages from the server separately from the broadcast video program, the trigger messages identifying interactive content for display by the client devices during a first time period in response to the one or more trigger messages, each client device including a first recording device coupled to a first local storage medium for recording the broadcast video program and a second recording device coupled to a second local storage medium for recording the trigger messages, the first and second recording devices being respectively configured to retrieve the recorded video program from the first local storage medium and the stored trigger messages from the second local storage medium during a second time period in response to a user command, and play back the retrieved video program and the interactive content identified by the retrieved trigger messages, wherein the playback of the interactive content is at one or more times during the retrieved video program when the interactive content would have been displayed when the video program was broadcast during the first time period, and wherein the interactive content includes poll questions, the PIR is configured to store poll results, and responsive to a response to one of the poll questions received from a user, the PIR is configured to provide the poll results after receiving the response to the poll question from the user.
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Specification