INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH LIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Abstract: A system is provided in which users may obtain live customer service when using an interactive television application. The system may distribute television programming to users through a television distribution facility such as a television cable system headend, a satellite system or a broadcast system. The television programming may be received at user equipment. The user equipment may be user television equipment based, for example, on a set-top box or digital video recorder. The user equipment may also be user computer equipment. The user may request help by pressing a remote control help key or by selecting an on-screen option. The help that is presented may relate to the type of interactive television application that was being used when help was requested. The user may communicate with a customer service representative using email, instant messaging or the like. The user may interact with the live customer service representative such that the user equipment is controlled remotely by the customer service representative. In addition, the user may purchase a product using the interactive television application with the help of the customer service representative.

Description: INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH LIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE This application claims the benefit of United States provisional application No. 60/162,355, filed October 29, 1999. Background of the Invention This invention relates to television systems, and more particularly, to interactive television systems that allow users to obtain live customer service . Interactive television systems can be complex. Such systems may present challenges for a typical user. For example, a user may not know how to use certain commands. In certain applications such as interactive television program guides, electronic help is available in the form of pop-up text help messages. It is an object of the present invention to provide improved arrangements for presenting help to users in interactive television applications. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, a system is provided in which users may obtain live customer service when using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may be an interactive television program guide application, a home shopping application, video-on- demand application, news service application, Internet service application, interactive wagering services (e.g., for wagering on horse races and the like), communications services (e.g., e-mail, chat, etc.), a nav shell (e.g., an application that presents a menu overlay or interface to assist the user in selecting from various available interactive television applications) , or any other suitable interactive applications . The system may distribute televison programming to users through a television distribution facility such as a television cable system headend, a satellite system or a broadcast system. The television programming may be received at user equipment. The user equipment may be user television equipment based, for example, on a set-top box or digital video recorder. The user equipment may also be user computer equipment. The user equipment may receive information using the same communications paths that are used to receive television programming. The user equipment may also receive information (text, graphics, audio, and videos) using separate data paths (e.g., Internet paths or other such communications paths) . The user may request help by pressing a remote control help key or by selecting an on-screen option. The on-screen option may be provided on any suitable screen provided by the interactive television application. For example, the on-screen option may be provided using a main menu screen, a program listings screen, a program guide information screen, a home shopping screen, etc. The help that is presented may relate to the type of interactive television application that was being used when help was requested. For example, if the television program guide was being viewed or run in the background or otherwise being used, pressing the help key or selecting the help on-screen option will cause the help menu for interactive television program guide to be displayed. The help information that is displayed may contain text, graphics, audio, and video. Text may be presented in the form of answers to a list of commonly asked questions. If desired, selecting an entry in the displayed list of questions may cause additional help information to be displayed. The additional information may include text, graphics, audio, and video . If desired, the user may contact a live customer service representative. When the user invokes help (e.g., using a remote control button or on-screen option) , a real-time communications link may be established between the user and a customer service representative. The user may receive information from the customer service representative in real time as video, graphics (e.g., diagrams), audio, or text. The user may respond using text, audio (e.g., using a microphone), and video (e.g., using a video camera). The user may also communicate with the customer service representative using e-mail, instant messaging or the like. The customer service representative may directly control the user' s equipment in real time to provide help for applications such as an interactive television program guide. In addition, the user may contact the live customer service representative for information or to purchase a product (e.g., an advertised product) . Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television system in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram of illustrative user television equipment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of additional illustrative user television equipment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative remote control in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram of illustrative user computer equipment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 6 is a generalized diagram of illustrative user equipment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an illustrative menu screen in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 8 shows an illustrative program guide screen in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 9 shows an illustrative help screen that may be displayed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 10 shows illustrative screens that may be provided to present users with answers to common questions in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 11 shows an illustrative screen that may be used to provide a user with an opportunity to send an e-mail message to customer service in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 12 shows an illustrative screen that may be used to allow a user to search for help information in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 13 is an illustrative screen that may be provided to the user that contains video and text help information in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing the user with customer service assistance and other help features in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 15 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing the user with customer service assistance using remote control access. FIG. 16 shows an illustrative screen that may be used to request help from a customer service representative when purchasing a product in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 17 shows illustrative screens that may be used when using an instant messaging application. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 7Λn illustrative interactive television system 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Television programming may be provided from programming sources 12 to television distribution facilities such as television distribution facility 14 using communications path 16. Programming sources 12 may be any suitable sources of television programming, such as television production studios, etc. Television distribution facility 14 may be a cable system headend, a satellite television distribution facility, a television broadcast facility, or any other suitable facility for distributing television programming. There are typically numerous television distribution facilities 14 in system 10, but only one is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawings . Communications path 16 may be a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, or any other suitable communications paths or combinations of such paths. Television distribution facility 14 may be connected to various user equipment devices 18. Such user equipment 18 may, for example, be located in the homes of users. User equipment 18 may include user television equipment 20 or user computer equipment 22. The user equipment may receive television programming and other information from television distribution facility 14 over communications paths such as communications paths 26, 27, and 28. The user equipment may also transmit signals to television distribution facility 14 over paths 26, 27, and 28. Paths 26, 27, and 28 may be cables, free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast signals), telephone links, satellite links, etc. Program listings source 30 may be used to provide the user with television program schedule information such as scheduled broadcast times, titles, channels, ratings information (e.g., parental ratings and critic's ratings), detailed title descriptions, information on actors and actresses, running times, etc. Program listings source 30 may provide program schedule information to television distribution facility 15 over communications path 32 for distribution to the associated user equipment over paths 26, 27, and 28. Communications path 32 may be any suitable communications path such as a satellite communications path, a fiber-optic or wired communications path, etc. User equipment devices such as user television equipment and personal computers may use the program schedule information to access program listings of interest to the user. 7Λn interactive television program guide application or other suitable application may be used to display program listings on the user's display. If desired, program listings source 30 may distribute program schedule information to user equipment 18, user television equipment 20, and user computer equipment 22 over communications path 38, communications network 34, and communications paths 42, 46, and 48. Communications network 34 may be any suitable communications network, such as the Internet, the public switched telephone network, a packet-based network, a paging network, etc. 7An on-line program guide may be provided by a server connected to communications network 34 such as server 36. Server 36 may receive program schedule information from program listings source 30 via communications path 38, communications network 34, and communications path 40. Paths 38 and 40 may be satellite paths, fiber-optic paths, wired paths, wireless paths, etc. User equipment 18 may access the on-line program guide via communications path 42, which may be any suitable communications path such as a wired path, a cable path, fiber-optic path, satellite path, a combination of such paths, or any other suitable path. User equipment 18 may also access the on-line program guide via communications path 26, television distribution facility 14, and communications path 44. For example, a cable modem or the like may be used by user equipment 18 to communicate with television distribution facility 14. Television distribution facility 14 may communicate with communications network 34 over any suitable path 44, such as a wired path, a cable path, fiber-optic path, satellite path, a wireless path, a combination of such paths, etc. User equipment such as user television equipment 20 and user computer equipment 22 may access the on-line program guide using similar arrangements. User television equipment 20 may access the on-line program guide using communications path 46 or using path 27, television distribution facility 14, and path 44. User computer equipment 22 may access the on-line program guide using communications path 38 or using path 28, television distribution facility 14, and path 44. Paths 46 and 48 may be any suitable paths, such as wired paths, cable paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, a wireless path, a combination of such paths, etc. Interactive television applications other than program guide applications may use service providers such as service provider 50. For example, a home shopping service may be supported by a service provider such as service provider 50 that has sales representatives, order fulfillment facilities, account maintenance facilities, and other equipment for supporting interactive home shopping features. A home shopping application that is implemented using the user equipment may be used to access the service provider to provide these features to the user. The user equipment may access service provider 50 via television distribution facility 14 and communications path 52 or via communications network 34 and communications path 54. Communications paths such as paths 52 and 54 may be any suitable paths, such as wired paths, cable paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, a combination of such paths, etc. Another example of an interactive television application is a home banking application. A home banking service may be supported using personnel at facilities such as service provider 50. An interactive home banking application that is implemented using the user equipment may access the home banking service via television distribution facility 14 and communications path 52 or via communications network 34 and communications path 54. The interactive television program guide application, the home banking application, and the home shopping application are only a few illustrative examples of the types of interactive television applications that may be supported by system 10. Other suitable applications that may be supported include video-on-demand, news services, Internet services, interactive wagering services (e.g., for wagering on horse races and the like) , communications services (e.g., e-mail, chat, etc.), and any other suitable interactive applications. These applications may be implemented locally on the user equipment. The applications may also be implemented using a client-server architecture in which the user equipment serves as a client processor and a server such as server 56 at television distribution facility 14 or other suitable location acts as a server processor. Other distributed architectures may also be used if desired. Regardless of the particular arrangement used to implement interactive television features related to program guides, home shopping, home banking, video-on-demand, Internet, communications, etc., the software that supports these features may be referred to as an application. Illustrative user television equipment 20 that is based on a set-top box arrangement is shown in FIG. 2. Input/output 58 may be connected to communications paths such as paths 27 and 46. Television programming and other information may be received using input/output 58. Commands and requests and other information from the user may also be transmitted over input/output 58. Set-top box 60 may be any suitable analog or digital set-top box. Set-top box 60 may contain an analog tuner for tuning to a desired analog television channel. Set-top box 60 may also contain digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital television channels. Both analog and digital channels may be handled together if desired. Set-top box 60 may also contain a processor (e.g., a microcontroller or microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute software applications. Set-top box 60 may contain memory such as random-access memory for use when executing applications. Nonvolatile memory may also be used (e.g., to launch a boot-up routine and other instructions) . Hard disk storage may be used to back up data and to otherwise support larger databases than may be supported using random-access memory approaches. Set-top box 60 may have infrared (IR) or other communications circuitry for communicating with a remote control. Set-top box 60 may also have dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The front-panel display may, for example, be used to display the current channel to which the set-top box is tuned. Set-top box 60 may also have communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, etc. for communications with other equipment. Such communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths . An optional videocassette recorder 62 or other suitable recording device may be connected to set-top box 60. This allows videos from set-top box 60 to be recorded. For example, if set-top box 60 is tuned to a given television channel, the video signal for that television channel may be passed to videocassette recorder 62 for recording on a videocassette. If desired, videocassette recorder functions such as start, stop, record, etc. may be controlled by set-top box 60. For example, set-top box 60 may control videocassette recorder 62 using infrared commands directed toward the remote control inputs of videocassette recorder 62. The output of videocassette recorder 62 may be provided to television 64 for display to the user. If videocassette recorder 62 is not being used, the video signals from set-top box 58 may be provided directly to television 64. If desired, any suitable monitor may be used to display the video. Another illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 20 is shown in FIG. 3. In the example of FIG. 3, user television equipment 20 includes a digital video recorder 66 and a television 68. Input/output 70 may be connected to communications paths such as paths 27 and 46. Television programming and other information may be received using input/output 70. Commands and requests and other information from the user may be transmitted over input/output 70. Digital video recorder 66 may be similar to a standard set-top box, except that a hard disk or other suitable storage medium may be used for video storage in lieu of videocassettes . The hard disk may be internal to digital video recorder 66. Digital video recorder 66 may contain an analog tuner for tuning to a desired analog television channel. Digital video recorder 66 may also contain an encoder (e.g., an MPEG encoder) for converting analog television programming or the like into digital signals for storage. Digital video recorder 66 may contain digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital television channels. If desired, digital video recorder 66 may contain circuitry for handling both analog and digital channels. Digital video recorder 66 also contains a processor (e.g., a microcontroller or microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute software applications. Digital video recorder 66 may contain memory such as random-access memory for use when executing applications. Nonvolatile memory may also be used to store a boot-up routine or other instructions. The hard disk and other storage in digital video recorder 66 may be used to support databases (e.g., program guide databases or interactive television application databases) . Digital video recorder 66 may have IR communications circuitry or other suitable communications circuitry for communicating with a remote control. Digital video recorder 66 may also have dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The front-panel display may, for example, be used to display the current channel to which the digital video recorder is tuned. Digital video recorder 66 may also have communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, etc. for communications with other equipment. Such communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths. Television programming may be recorded on the hard disk of digital video recorder 66. Digital video recorder 66 may record new video while previously recorded video is being played back on television 68. This allows users to press a pause button during normal television viewing. When the pause button is pressed, the current television program is stored on the hard disk of digital video recorder 66. When the user presses play, the recorded video may be played back. This arrangement allows the user to seamlessly pause and resume television viewing. The set-top box arrangement of FIG. 2 and the digital video recorder set-top box arrangement of FIG. 3 are merely illustrative. Other arrangements may be used if desired. For example, user television equipment may be based on a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV) , or any other suitable television equipment arrangement. If desired, the functions of components such as set-top box 60, digital video recorder 66, a WebTV box, or PC/TV or the like may be integrated into a televison or personal computer or other suitable device. Other suitable devices may include arrangements not based on user television equipment. For example, user equipment may be based on a WAP enabled phone, a palm device (e.g., a palm pilot), or eBooks device or the like. An illustrative remote control 72 for operating user television equipment 20 is shown in FIG. 4. Remote control 72 may have keys 74 such as channel up and down keys, a power on/off key, numeric keys, a favorites key (e.g., for setting favorites in a program guide application or other interactive television application), an info key (for requesting that additional information on a selection be displayed) , etc. Arrow keys 76 may be used to position an onscreen cursor or highlight region on options of interest. Highlighted options may be selected using OK key 78. Menu key 80 may be used to direct an interactive television application (e.g., a program guide application, a nav shell application, or any other suitable application) to display a menu of available options. Help key 82 may be used to invoke help functions such as live customer service, access to a help database, etc. Illustrative user computer equipment 22 is shown in FIG. 5. In the arrangement of FIG. 5, personal computer 84 may be controlled by the user using keyboard 86 or other suitable user input device, such as a trackball, mouse, touch pad, touch screen, voice recognition system, etc. Television programming and interactive television application content may be displayed on monitor 88. Television programming and other information may be received from paths 28 and 48 (FIG. 1) using input/output 90. The user may also send commands and other information to remote services over input/output line 90. Personal computer unit 84 may contain a television tuner card for decoding analog and digital television channels. The television tuner card may contain an analog tuner for tuning to a given analog channel and digital decoding circuitry for filtering out a desired digital channel from a packetized digital data stream. The user computer equipment arrangement of FIG. 5 is merely illustrative. Any suitable computer equipment arrangement may be used if desired. Moreover, the user television equipment and user computer equipment arrangements described above are merely illustrative. A more generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment is shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, control circuitry 92 is connected to input/output 94. Input/output 94 may be connected to communications paths such as paths 26, 27, 28, 42, 46, and 48 of FIG. 1. Television programming may be received via input/output 94 (e.g., from programming sources 12 and television distribution facility 14). Program schedule information for an interactive television program guide may also be received via input/output 94. Input/output 94 may also be used to receive information for other interactive television applications. The user may use control circuitry 92 to send commands, requests, and other suitable information using input/output 94. Control circuitry 94 may be based on any suitable processor such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, etc. Memory or other suitable storage devices may be provided as part of control circuitry 94. Television programming and on-screen options and information may be displayed on display 100. Display 100 may be a monitor, a television, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. Speakers 102 may be provided as part of a television or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of videos displayed on display 100 may be played through speakers 102. A user may control the control circuitry using user input interface 96. The user input interface may be any suitable user interface, such as a mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, or any other suitable user input interface. A microphone 98 and video camera 104 may be used to supply audio and video information to control circuitry 92. A user of user equipment 18 (e.g., a user of user television equipment or a user of user computer equipment, or a user of any other suitable user equipment device) may invoke an interactive television menu by pressing menu button 80 (FIG. 4) . An illustrative interactive television menu 106 is shown in FIG. 7. Remote control 72 (FIG. 4) may be used to position highlight region 108 on top of options 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118. If the user selects option 110, a screen of program listings may be displayed. Option 112 may be used to invoke a home shopping application. Option 114 may be selected to display options related to video-on-demand services. If the user selects option 116, the user may be presented with an opportunity to access home banking functions. Selecting Internet option 118 may launch a web browser or the like. The user may navigate to help option 120 using arrow keys 76 (FIG. 4) . When help option 120 is selected, the user may be presented with on-line help, access to a help database, live help from customer service representatives, etc. An illustrative program guide screen 122 that may be displayed for the user is shown in FIG. 8. Program guide screen 122 may be displayed, for example, when the user selects program listings option 108 (FIG. 7) . Program guide screen 122 may contain a grid or list of program listings 124. Program listings 124 may include program titles, channel, scheduled broadcast times, and any other suitable program schedule information. Advertisements may be displayed if desired. A highlight region such as highlight region 126 may be used to select a desired program listing. If the user presses an OK key when a program listing for a current program is highlighted, the program guide may tune to the channel for that program. If the user presses an OK key when a program listing for a future program is highlighted, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder for that program. Other functions that the program guide may provide include the ability to set favorites (e.g., favorite programs, favorite channels, etc.), the - li ability to establish parental control settings, the ability to search for programming of interest, and the ability to view program descriptions, advertisements, text, graphics, audio, and video, etc. These are merely illustrative examples of program guide functions that may be provided by an interactive television program application. Any other suitable program guide functions may be provided if desired. The program guide may be invoked from an option such as option 110 of FIG. 7, by pressing a dedicated guide button on a remote control, by selecting any other suitable button or on-screen option, etc. The user may position highlight region 126 on help option 128 using remote control keys 76. If the user presses OK while help option 128 is highlighted, the user may be presented with help information such as interactive help information involving a live customer service representative, etc. Help options such as help option 128 may be provided on any suitable program guide screen. When the user selects a help option from a program guide screen or when the user presses a help button when the user is in the program guide application, the help that is provided may automatically be related to program guides. Selecting a help button or option when the user is using another interactive television application may cause help to be displayed that is related to that interactive television application. For example, if the user selects a help option when the user is using a home banking application, help related to the home banking service may be provided. The user may be provided with text, graphics, and video related to home banking and may be provided with an opportunity to interact with a live customer service representative at the service provider facility of the home banking service . Program guide applications and home banking applications are merely illustrative examples of suitable interactive television applications for which help may be provided. Other suitable applications include home shopping, video-on-demand, news services, Internet services, interactive wagering services (e.g., for wagering on horse races and the like) , communications services (e.g., e-mail, chat, etc.), etc. When the user invokes help when using an interactive television application (e.g., by selecting option 120, option 128, or button 82), a screen such as screen 130 of FIG. 9 may be displayed. Highlight region 132 may be positioned on top of an option such as option 134. Option 134 may provide the user with an opportunity to access answers to commonly asked questions. Option 136 may provide the user with an opportunity to invoke an e-mail application and send e- mail to a service provider associated with the interactive television application. Search index option 138 may be used to provide the user with an opportunity to search the help index of a help database for an item of interest. Option 140 may be used to connect the user to a customer service representative. If the user selects option 134 of FIG. 9, the user may be presented with a screen such as screen 142 of FIG. 10. As shown in the upper half of FIG. 10, screen 142 may initially include a title 144 (e.g., "answers to common questions") and a text region 146 in which the questions are displayed and in which the answers are displayed or links to the answers are displayed. Some of the text may be noninteractive text on common questions and their corresponding answers. If desired, some of the text may be selectable or may be placed adjacent to selectable icons or other such options 148. If the user makes a selection of an option 148, the user may be presented with answers in audio form or may be presented with a screen such as the screen shown in the lower portion of FIG. 10. Such as screen may include, for example, a video clip on a common problem that is displayed in video clip region 150. Such a screen may also include an information region such as information region 152, which may include help text, graphics, and video. The help information displayed in regions 150 and 152 and the help information text displayed in region 146 may be related to the interactive television application that was active or otherwise being used or selected by the user when the help function was invoked. An illustrative screen that may be presented to the user when the user selects "send e-mail to us" option 136 of FIG. 9, is shown in FIG. 11. Screen 154 may have an address line such as address line 156 that is preaddressed to the appropriate customer service e- mail address. Screen 154 may also have a subject line such as subject line 158 that the user may fill in to specify the subject of the message. The user may enter the body of the e-mail message in region 160. When the user has finished addressing and composing the desired e-mail message, the user may select send option 162 to send the e-mail to the appropriate service representative . Screens may be presented to the user that allow the user to create e-mail messages. Such screens may include a form to be filled in by the user. The form may include selectable options and regions into which the user may enter information. The interactive television application may automatically attach information to the e-mail messages. The attached information may include information regarding the user, the user's equipment, the interactive television application, the user's current environment, and relevant information from the interactive television application such as error messages, etc. Screens such as screen 11 that involve the entry of text by the user may be completed by the user using a personal computer or other computer equipment that has a keyboard. User television equipment with a wireless keyboard may also be used. If desired, user equipment may be used that does not have a separate keyboard. With such arrangements, text may be entered using an on-screen keyboard in which the user selects letters by highlighting each desired letter from a list of all of the letters of the alphabet and pressing the OK key. Text may also be entered using remote control keys such as remote control keys 76 to cycle through the letters of the alphabet one at a time. An arrangement such as this is shown in FIG. 12. Screen 164 of FIG. 12 may be displayed when, for example, the user selects option 138 of FIG. 9. Character cells 166 may be provided in which the user can select the desired letters for a search string. In the example of FIG. 12, the user has already selected the letter "B" in the first cell and is in the process of selecting the desired letter for the second cell. Arrows 168 indicate that the user may use up and down arrows to cycle through the letters of the alphabet to select a given letter. Arrows 168 also indicate the left remote control arrow key may be used to move back to the first cell and that the right remote control arrow key may be used to advance to the next cell. Audio may be presented to the user and text 170, graphics 172, and video 174 may be displayed in help information region 176 when an entry in a help database is located that matches the search string entered in cells 166. If desired, the user may first be presented with a list of matches from which the user may select a desired help topic before being presented with appropriate help information. The help database may be maintained locally (e.g., on user equipment 18) or may be maintained remotely (e.g., on server 56 or other suitable server that may be accessed by user equipment 18) . If desired, the information in help region 176 may be displayed immediately as each letter is entered. As each additional letter is added, the information in region 176 is updated to reflect the current string. Alternatively, the information in help region 176 may be updated when the user presses an OK key or the like after having entered a desired search string in cells 166. The audio that is presented may describe how a user may use particular features of the interactive television application. Text 170 may be a written description of how to use a given interactive television application feature. Graphics 172 may contain a diagram showing which buttons to push or what order certain buttons should be pushed in to perform the given feature. Video 174 may contain a video clip showing how to use the given feature. If the user selects option 140, the user may be presented with a screen such as screen 178 of FIG. 13. Screen 178 may contain a live video 180 of a customer service representative. The customer service representative may be located at service provider 50, television distribution facility 14, server 36, or any other suitable location. The video of the customer service representative may be provided to the user equipment in real time over the communications paths of FIG. 1. While the video 180 of the customer service representative is being displayed, the user may ask the customer service representative a question. For example, the user may speak into microphone 98 (FIG. 6) to ask the question. The user may also type a question into interactive text region (e.g., using a keyboard) . If desired, the customer service representative may respond by typing a message that is presented in region 182. Video camera 104 (FIG. 6) may be used to transmit a video of the user to the customer service representative. In this way, the user may use user equipment 18 to make a video call with the customer service representative. These features enhance the ability of a service provider to provide timely customer service to the user. If desired, any of these approaches for interacting with a live customer service representative may be used alone or in combination. As an example, the user may interact with the customer service representative using audio only, may interact with the customer service representative using audio and video and text, or may interact with the customer service representative using text only, etc. Moreover, the user may ask questions using one format (e.g., text only or audio) whereas the customer service representative may respond using another format (e.g., video, audio and video, or audio only) . Illustrative steps involved in providing help to the user are shown in FIG. 14. At step 184, the user may be provided with an opportunity to use a remote control or an on-screen option to request customer service or help. At step 186, after the user has requested assistance, the user may be provided with help. Help may be provided as text, graphics, audio, video, or any suitable combination of such media. Help may involve selecting from answers to commonly asked questions. Help may also involve interacting with a live customer service representative in real time. When the user requests help, the user equipment may automatically establish a live communications link with the customer service representative. The user may interact with the live customer service representative using audio, interactive text, or audio and video. A combination of these approaches may be used. Moreover, the user may use one approach (e.g., text) whereas the customer service representative may use another approach (e.g., video) . Any suitable protocols may be used to send the text, audio, and video between the user and the customer service representative. For example, text, graphics, audio, and video information may be sent over the Internet. Videoconferencing protocols may be used to handle video traffic and the like, etc. Illustrative steps involved in providing remote control help to the user are shown in FIG. 15. Remote control access to the user equipment may be provided when the user requests help 188 from the customer service representative when using an interactive television application. The user equipment may include television equipment, computer equipment, a personal computer or any other suitable user equipment device. At step 190, the user may request help using text, video, audio or any suitable combination of such media. The user input interface for requesting help may be any suitable user interface, such as a mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, etc. A microphone and video camera may be used to supply audio and video information. At step 192, the customer service representative may directly and remotely control the user equipment in real time to provide help for the interactive television application such as an interactive television program guide or any other suitable application. With remote control access, the customer service representative can access information quickly and easily by providing troubleshooting and help support anywhere from remote connections and operate as if the customer service representative is present at the user location. The customer service representative can remotely access data and control applications located at the user equipment, walk the user through a new application set-up and configuration, quickly synchronize applications between user equipment and customer service representative equipment or systems. The customer service representative can also identify and resolve user problems. This feature enhances the ability of the customer service representative to provide timely customer service because the customer service representative may monitor and change the status of the interactive television application while interacting with the customer using interactive text, graphics, audio or video over the communication paths of FIG. 1. In addition, the user may interact with the live customer service representative for product information or to purchase merchandise (e.g., an advertised product) when the user is using an interactive television application on the user equipment. An arrangement such as this is shown in FIG. 16. For example, a customer service representative such as a sales representative may help the user purchase products 194 and/or 196 using the home shopping application when the help option 198 is selected from a purchase form on the screen. The home shopping service may be supported by the service provider 50 that has a sales representative, order fulfillment facilities, account maintenance facilities and other equipment for supporting interactive home shopping features. The sales representative may obtain the method of payment information directly from the user using audio or audio and video. A video of the sales representative may be provided to the user equipment in real time over the communications paths of FIG. 1. The user may also have an account at the service provider 50 or the television distribution facility which is debited by selecting payment option 200 on the screen or the user may enter credit card information in boxes 202 and 204 designated for the credit card number and expiration date, respectively. The sales representative may also remotely fill in the on-screen purchase form using the method described with respect to FIG. 15. Other applications where the user may be provided with interactive help from a customer service representative include home banking, video-on-demand, Internet services, interactive wagering services, and any other suitable interactive applications. The user and the customer service representative may interact with each other using audio, video, text, graphics or any other suitable media. The user input interface for requesting help may be any suitable user interface, such as a mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, etc. A microphone and video camera may be used to supply audio and video information. The user equipment may include television equipment, computer equipment, a personal computer or any other suitable user equipment device. If desired, the customer and the customer service representative may interact using e-mail. The user may, for example, use an e-mail application that is implemented on the user's equipment to communicate with the e-mail application of the customer service representative at the customer service representative's location. If desired, the e-mail application used by the user may be hidden from the user. With this approach, the user need only select from on-screen options or the like in the interactive television application to communicate with the customer service representative. E-mail messages or other messages from the customer service representative may contain attachments such as video clips, audio, text, or graphics. Some attachments may be sent directly to the interactive television application without alerting the user. Such attachments may include code patches, configuration file updates, etc. The user may use user equipment 18 to transmit questions to a customer service representative at service provider 50 using communications path 42, communications network 34, and path 54. The user may also transmit questions to a customer service representative at service provider 50 using path 26, television distribution facility 14, and path 52. Information from the customer service representative at service provider 50 may be provided to the user equipment using the same paths. If the customer service representative is located at server 36 or server 56, the user equipment may communicate with the customer service representative using the paths in FIG. 1 that link those entities. The user and the customer service representative may also interact using an instant messaging application which is implemented on the user equipment. The user equipment may include television equipment, computer equipment, a personal computer or any other suitable user equipment device. With this approach, the customer may view the online status of the customer service representative and communicate instantly when an instant message in the form of pop-up text appears on the user equipment. Unlike email, the instant message may appear as soon as the user or the customer service representative sends the instant message . An illustrative screen that may be presented to the user to correspond with the customer service representative when the instant messaging application is activated is shown in FIG. 17. A screen may be presented to the user which includes an address line 206 that is pre-addressed to the appropriate customer service representative. The screen may have a subject line 208 that the user may fill in to specify the subject of the message. Such screen may include interactive text regions to enter information regarding the help being requested from the customer service representative, as shown in region 210. The interactive television application may automatically attach relevant information regarding the user, the user equipment, the interactive television application or an error message. A single screen may also be presented to the user to correspond with the customer service representative when using the instant messaging application. The single screen may include a message from the user to the customer service representative and a message from the customer service representative to the user. The screen format may include two text boxes on one screen, or a single text box with the messages from the user and the customer service representative intermixed. A second interactive text region 212 may appear instantly on the user screen when the customer service representative is responding to a request for help. The region may not remain on the screen but only pops up when the customer service representative responds (i.e., for example, the region may appear on a program guide screen 214 being viewed by the user) . Communication between the user and customer service representative during real time is more efficient and effective because the user may know when the customer service representative is in the process of responding to the help assistance requested by the customer. The instant messaging application may also designate special sounds to alert the user when the customer service representative is responding. With this feature, the user can try to avoid missing an opportunity to interact with the customer service representative . Instant messages from the customer service representative may contain attachments such as video clips, audio, text, and graphics. The user input interface for requesting help may be any suitable user interface, such as a mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, etc. A microphone and video camera may be used to supply audio and video information. The user may use other suitable devices which include arrangements not based on user television equipment to contact the customer service representative. Using other devices may be desired when the user television equipment is not operating and the user is unable to access interactive television applications. For example, user equipment may be based on a WAP enabled phone, a palm device (i.e., a palm pilot), or eBooks device or the like. If the user is using a WAP enabled phone, palm device or eBooks device the user may have an opportunity to contact the customer service representative for help. Also, the user may access an interactive television application such as the interactive television program guide application. Other suitable interactive television applications such as home banking application, the home shopping application, the news services, the Internet, etc. may also be accessed using the user equipment. The user equipment may be portable which allows the user to request help from the customer service representative from any location. The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims: What is Claimed is: 1. A method for providing a user at user equipment with customer service for an interactive television application comprising: allowing the user to use the user equipment to access an interactive television application; allowing the user to use the user equipment to invoke help; using the user equipment to establish a live communications link between the user at the user equipment and a customer service representative; and allowing the customer service representative to remotely control the user equipment to provide help. 2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment is user television equipment. 3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a set-top box. 4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a personal computer. 5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes user computer equipment. 6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide, the method further comprising allowing the user to use the user equipment to invoke help on the interactive television program guide. 7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes a video camera, the method further comprising: sending real-time video images of the customer service representative to the user equipment over the live communications link; and allowing the user to use the video camera to send the customer service representative video questions in real time. 8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a keyboard for sending the customer service representative text questions in real time . 9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a microphone, the method further comprising: sending real-time audio of the customer service representative to the user equipment over the live communications link; and allowing the user to use the microphone to ask the customer service representative questions in real time. 10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the user equipment includes a video camera for sending real-time video images. 11. A method for providing a user at user equipment with customer service for an interactive television application comprising: allowing the user to use the user equipment to access an interactive television application; allowing the user to use the user equipment to invoke help; using the user equipment to establish a live communications link between the user at the user equipment and a customer service representative; and allowing the user and the customer service representative to communicate using an instant messaging application. 12. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising displaying a screen on the user equipment that provides the user with an opportunity to send a message to the customer service representative. 13. The method defined in claim 12 wherein the customer service representative responds to the request for help by sending an instant message back to the user. 14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the customer service representative responds to the request for help in a form of pop-up text on the user equipment . 15. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes a keyboard, the method further comprising: allowing the user to use the keyboard to ask the customer service representative questions in real time; and displaying real-time text from the customer service representative to the user on the user equipment in response to the questions. 16. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment is user computer equipment. 17. The system defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment is user television equipment. 18. The system defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes a set-top box. 19. The system defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes a personal computer. 20. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising displaying a screen on the user equipment that provides the user with an opportunity to continue accessing the interactive television application while the user waits for the customer service representative to respond to a request for help. 21. A method for providing a user at user equipment with customer service for an interactive television application comprising: allowing the user to use the user equipment to access an interactive television application; allowing the user to use the user equipment to invoke help; using the user equipment to establish a live communications link between the user at the user equipment and a customer service representative; and allowing the customer service representative to help the user purchase a product using the interactive television application. 22. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment is user television equipment. 23. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment is user television equipment based on a set-top box. 24. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment is user television equipment based on a digital video recorder. 25. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment is user computer equipment. 26. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a personal computer. 27. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a keyboard for sending the customer service representative text questions in real time . 28. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a microphone, the method further comprising: sending real-time audio of the customer service representative to the user equipment over the live communications link; and allowing the user to use the microphone to ask the customer service representative questions in real time. 29. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a video camera for sending real-time video images. 30. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the customer service representative remotely fills in a purchase form on the screen. 31. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a WAP enabled phone. 32. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes a WAP enabled phone. 33. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a WAP enabled phone. 34. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes a palm device. 35. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes a palm device. 36. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes a palm device. 37. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment includes an eBooks device. 38. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the user equipment includes an eBooks device. 39. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the user equipment includes an eBooks device.

Inventors: ELLIS MICHAEL D, HEDGES L JOE, THOMAS WILLIAM L, TREYZ G VICTOR, WALKER TODD A, ELLIS, MICHAEL, D., HEDGES, L., JOE, THOMAS, WILLIAM, L., TREYZ, G., VICTOR, WALKER, TODD, A.
Applicants: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INC, UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04N7
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N7, H04N9