Patent ID: 8635643
Filing Date: 2014-01-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining whether to supply alternate content to a terminal device associated with an interactive television service; responsive to determining to supply the alternate content to the terminal device, sending the alternate content to the terminal device; determining when a specified portion of the alternate content corresponding to a particular play time of the alternate content has been sent to the terminal device, wherein the specified portion is less than all of the alternate content; and inserting a hot key signal into content signals transmitted to the terminal device from a head-end transport component via a network after the specified portion of the alternate content has been sent to the terminal device; wherein the hot key signal causes the terminal device to present for display an on-screen image overlaid on a television program that is displayed responsive to the hot key signal being determined to be related to the television program, wherein the on-screen image indicates availability of the alternate content prior to displaying the alternate content, and wherein selection of the on-screen image results in the terminal device displaying the alternate content.