Patent ID: 8813152
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of a server for providing interactive services used with a time sensitive interactive application, comprising: receiving by the server a request for the interactive services that corresponds to a program from a set top box; determining by the server a program identification for the program, responsive to receiving from the set top box the request for the interactive services corresponding to the program; determining by the server an interactive software application, being stored in set top box memory on the set top box, that corresponds to the program currently displayed based on the program identification, the interactive software application stored in the set top box memory being configured with software to allow a user to interactively participate in the program currently displayed on a television to affect an outcome of the program currently displayed; wherein the interactive software application has a corresponding interactive application identification number; wherein the interactive software application corresponding to the program is one of a plurality of interactive software applications stored in the set top box memory on the set top box; wherein in a first case an internet web browser with a uniform resource locator is to launch the interactive software application; wherein in a second case the interactive software application stored in the set top box memory corresponds to a specific interactive software application based on the interactive application identification number, and the interactive application identification number is an identification to launch the specific interactive software application; wherein in the second case the interactive software application stored in the set top box memory is distinct and separate from the internet web browser with the uniform resource locator; wherein the interactive software application stored in the set top box memory is distinct and separate from an electronic programming guide; transmitting by the server to the set top box the interactive application identification number that corresponds to the interactive software application for the program requested, the interactive application identification number causing the interactive software application stored in the set top box memory corresponding to the program to launch from the set top box memory on the set top box out of the plurality of interactive software applications stored in the set top box memory on the set top box; wherein the interactive services of the interactive software application for the program are time sensitive such that when a series of music videos are displayed on the television, the interactive software application allows the user to vote for a desired one of the music videos.