Patent ID: 8806338
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: accessing, by a set-top box, an interactive help service by tuning to a specific media channel of an interactive television network responsive to receiving user input requesting the specific media channel; receiving, by the set-top box, a request for a list of interactive help applications of the interactive help service through the specific media channel; retrieving, by the set-top box, the list of interactive help applications from a server via the interactive television network; outputting, by the set-top box, the list of interactive help applications to a display; receiving, by the set-top box, a selection of a first interactive help application within the list of interactive help applications, wherein the first interactive help application is associated with operation of a selected function of the set-top box; retrieving, by the set-top box, the first interactive help application from the server; storing, by the set-top box, the first interactive help application in response to receiving the selection of the first interactive help application, resulting in a stored copy of the first interactive help application, wherein the first interactive help application is run locally using the stored copy of the first interactive help application, without the set-top box having to be in continuous communication with the server via the interactive television network; outputting, by the set-top box, to the display a first text associated with a first step in the first interactive help application and a multimedia program concurrently, wherein the multimedia program is unrelated to the first interactive help application, and wherein the first step relates to a first step in operating the selected function of the set-top box with respect to the multimedia program; receiving, by the set-top box, a first input for the first step; comparing, by the set-top box, the first input with a first correct input; outputting, by the set-top box, to the display a second text affirming that the first input matches the first correct input, wherein the second text is associated with a second step in the first interactive help application if the first input matches the first correct input, otherwise outputting to the display a third text associated with a wrong input received and the first text associated with the first step, wherein outputting one of the second text or the third text to the display occurs concurrently with the multimedia program; determining, by the set-top box, that the first interactive help application is successfully completed, wherein the operating of the selected function of the set-top box is successfully completed upon successful completion of the first interactive help application; ending, by the set-top box, the first interactive help application; and removing, by the set-top box, the stored copy of the first interactive help application, responsive to determining that the first interactive help application is completed.