Patent ID: 8296800
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for providing access to interactive features of electronic program guides (EPGs) from within promotional programming, comprising: receiving, from a headend, a transport stream comprising program listings in an electronic program guide merged with audio and video data for promotional programming for display in a video window at a subscriber, the electronic program guide including promotional metadata associated with the promotional programming, wherein the promotional metadata includes an electronic program guide action tag for each piece of promotional programming, wherein the electronic program guide action tag corresponds to a plurality of supplemental electronic program guide functions; storing the program listing including the promotional metadata along with the promotional programming at the subscriber; presenting the promotional programming in a display window; parsing the stored promotional metadata associated with the promotional programming being presented in the display window; determining, from the parsing of the promotional metadata associated with the promotional programming, the supplemental electronic program guide functions available for use with the promotional programming being presented in the display window; presenting the supplemental electronic program guide functions determined to be available for use with the promotional programming being presented in the display window; selecting, for execution, a supplemental function from the presented supplemental electronic program guide functions available for use with the promotional programming being presented in the display window; and executing the supplemental function selected from the presented supplemental electronic program guide functions available for use with the promotional programming being presented in the display window.