Contextual display of information with an interactive user interface for television

• US 9,197,938 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Chane, Lena, Moreau, Samuel, Haber, Darrell, Marenghi, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US14/167,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 725/43, 725/42, 725/51, 725/61, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

responsive to receiving an indication of a user selection of an identifier of a channel or program from a displayed menu;

populating, by a computing device, a portion of a content guide with interactive content that is related to the channel or program and is configured to collect data based on user input, and

causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with video of the channel or program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with the video of the channel or program comprises causing display of the portion of the content guide as an overlay over full-screen programming for the channel or program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with the video of the channel or program comprises causing the portion of the content guide to be displayed in combination with embedded programming for the channel or program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video of the channel or program comprises at least one of broadcast programming or on-demand programming.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive content is based on business rules comprising one or more of the following:

time of day, channel, current broadcast content, current on-demand content, preferred placement of content, viewer demographic information, viewer behavior, navigation context, or current content category.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content guide comprises a grouping of tiles configured to display options within a library of available content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tiles are placed and comprise content based on business rules comprising one or more of the following:

time of day, channel, current broadcast content, current on-demand content, preferred placement of content, viewer demographic information, viewer behavior, navigation context, or current content category.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the content of the grouping of tiles comprises one or more of channel logos, related program logos or brands.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to populating the portion of the content guide with the interactive content and causing the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with video of the channel or program, receiving an indication from a server that the interactive content is available for the channel or program;

receiving, at the computing device, a selection of a second channel or program; and

responsive to receiving the selection of the second channel or program, determining that interactive content related to the second channel or program is not available for the second channel or program and populating the portion of the content guide with a non-interactive textual description of the second channel or program.

10. A method, comprising:

responsive to selection of a first program;

determining, by a computing device, that interactive content related to the first program is available for the first program,

populating a portion of a content guide with the interactive content related to the first program, the interactive content related to the first program being configured to collect data based on user input, and

causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content related to the first program to be displayed with video of the first program; and

responsive to selection of a second program, determining that interactive content related to the second program is not available for the second program and populating the portion of the content guide with a non-interactive textual description of the second program.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the video of the first program comprises at least one of broadcast programming or on-demand programming.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive content related to the first program comprises an interactive poll.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content related to the first program to be displayed with the video of the first program comprises causing display of the portion of the content guide as an overlay over full-screen programming for the first program.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content related to the first program to be displayed with the video of the first program comprises causing the portion of the content guide to be displayed in combination with embedded programming for the first program.

15. A method, comprising:

responsive to selection of a program;

determining, by a computing device, that interactive content is available for the program,

populating a portion of a content guide with the interactive content, the interactive content being related to the program and comprising an interactive poll, and

causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with video of the program.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the video of the program comprises at least one of broadcast programming or on-demand programming.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein causing the portion of the content guide populated with the interactive content to be displayed with the video of the program comprises causing display of the portion of the content guide as an overlay over full-screen programming for the program.