Abstract:
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is used to enable interactive functions via network generated overlays. This invention enables network operators to launch interactive functionality without requiring changes to existing equipment that exists in the field on the client end.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Conventional broadcast television relies on a receiving television set being tuned to a desired channel. Content is broadcast on many channels, and a given television may simply tune to a selected channel. Currently, many television providers are offering streaming television. Streaming television is programming that is sent to a receiver set when requested, or on-demand. This is also known as video on demand or, VOD. One of the more well known forms of VOD is pay-per-view, where a user selects content from a list, and purchases this content to be viewed at that particular moment. Thus, only one channel of content is provided to that user, which considerably reduces bandwidth usage over conventional broadcast television. With VOD there is two-way communication between a receiver and content provider. Typically this capability is provided by a set-top device connected to a television. 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional VOD system  100 . VOD system  100  includes a server system  101  and a client system  111 , the two of which are connected by an access network  110 . Server system  101  provides VOD content through access network  110  to be consumed by client system  111 . 
         [0003]    Server system  101  includes a stream controller  102 , a VOD server  104 , a video processor  108  and a database  106 . Stream controller  102  coordinates the timing of a content package provided by server  101 . VOD server  104  receives requests for content and provides a content package, corresponding to the requested content, via video processor  108 . Video processor  108  receives data from VOD server  104  and prepares and sends the data through access network  110  following the proper protocols. Video processor  108  also receives requests through access network  110  and forwards these requests to VOD server  108 . Database  106  stores content and advertisements. 
         [0004]    Client system  111  includes a set-top unit  114 , an input device  112  and a television  116 . Set-top unit  114  receives input commands from input device  112  and sends the requests through access network  110  to server system  101 . Set-top unit  114  additionally converts data signals to audio/video content and outputs the data to television  116 . 
         [0005]    Upon receipt of instructions, such as changing to a new channel, set-top unit  114  sends them upstream through access network  110  to video processor  108 . Video processor  108  converts the instruction stream to a form VOD server  104  can interpret and sends the instructions to VOD server  104 . VOD server  104  interprets the request and pulls the requested content from database  106 . 
         [0006]    The content may be any video or audio, non-limiting examples of which include, movies, music, games, etc. Further, the content may be pre-assembled with advertisements disposed therein, or stream controller  102  might insert advertisements into requested content. The combination of content and advertisements, if included, is the content package. An advertisement may be any video or audio that is not the content, non-limiting examples of which include commercials. By whichever conventional method a content package is assembled, stream controller  102  maintains pointers to where advertisements are placed throughout a content package, as described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example content package  200 , which corresponds to a requested program that VOD server  104  might send through video processor  108 . Content package  200  includes program portions  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208  and advertisement portions  210 ,  212 ,  214  and  216 . The program would start at time  218  and would end at time  220 . The program is interrupted: at time  222  to play an advertisement corresponding to advertisement portion  210 ; at time  224  to play two advertisements corresponding to advertisement portions  212  and  214 ; and at time  226  to play an advertisement corresponding to advertisement portion  216 . Content package  200  may include pointers, not shown, that direct set-top unit  114  to times  204 ,  208 ,  210  and so forth. Stream controller  102  arranges content package  200  with timing information, such as pointers, for real time operations. 
         [0008]    Once a content package is properly assembled by stream controller  102 , VOD server  104  sends the content package to video processor  108 . Video processor  108  converts the content package to data packets that can be sent to client  111  through access network  110 . Set-top unit  114  receives the data packets and converts the same to audio and video signals for playback on television  116 . 
         [0009]    Set-top unit  114  may perform many functions on the audio and video signals including pausing, playing, rewinding and fast-forwarding. 
         [0010]    Conventionally, most advertising is accomplished by linearly inserting an advertisement within a program, i.e., a linear insertion. VOD and streaming broadcast content may incorporate different forms of overlays in addition to linearly inserted advertising. A graphically overlayed advertisement, or graphic overlay, is an advertisement that is disposed so as to cover at least a portion of the current program. 
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates display  116  having a current program  300  displayed thereon. The current program has an overlay  302  of other content. The overlay  302  “overlays” at least a portion of current program  300 . Some non-limiting examples of overlays include a poster advertisement, a document, or a video advertisement being played on top of the program. 
         [0012]    Another example of an overlay might include a squeezeback, wherein the advertisement would compress to a certain section of the screen, such as a corner or along the bottom.  FIG. 4  illustrates an example squeezeback. In the figure, an advertisement  404  and a program  402  are each “squeezed back” to separate portions of display  116  to enable a user to view each in its entirety. 
         [0013]    A problem with conventional advertisement methods is that a viewer may not want to waste time watching all of every advertisement. Some conventional technologies enable a view to skip advertisements in their entirety. However, with such technologies, a user may unknowingly skip an advertisement that the user would have otherwise wanted to view. 
         [0014]    What is needed is a system and method that may enable the user to enjoy content provided by a provider, wherein the content includes advertisements therein, and wherein the user is able to control the advertisements to which the user may otherwise be exposed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0015]    The present invention is operable to provide a system and method that may enable a user to enjoy content provided by a provider, wherein the content includes advertisements therein, and wherein the user is able to control the amount of some of the advertisements. One aspect of the present invention includes a system and method that enable a user to interact with content without requiring changes to existing set-top receivers and without requiring a specific application to be loaded to the set-top. 
         [0016]    The user would be enabled to respond to prompts in some or all advertisements to trigger the playout of a longer, more in depth ad, and/or to request more information. 
         [0017]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for use with a providing system including a stream controller, a source, a processor, a database, an access network and a unit. The providing system is operable to provide content to a user. The unit is operable to receive a content demand for requested content from the user and to provide a signal, based on the content demand, to the processor via the access network. The database has content data stored therein. The source is operable to retrieve a portion of the content data corresponding to the content demand. The stream controller is operable to arrange the portion of the content data. The source is further operable to provide the arranged portion of the content data to the processor. The processor is further operable to provide the arranged portion of the content data to the unit via the access network. The system comprises a playout controller operable to instruct the processor to add a request portion of data into the content data. Further, the request portion of data corresponds to a graphic overlay having instructions to prompt the user for action. 
         [0018]    Additional advantages and novel features of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional VOD system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example content package; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary overlay; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary squeezeback; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an example method of operation of the system depicted in  FIG. 5  to play back video data in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  illustrates an example initial content package in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7   b  illustrates an example content package in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wherein additional advertising content is added, as a linear insertion, to an original content package; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7   b  illustrates an example content package in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wherein a user has affirmatively responded to multiple request portions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    In accordance with an example aspect of the present invention, a network operator is capable of providing interactive functionality, a non-limiting example of which includes telescoping advertising, without requiring changes to existing set-top units in the field, and without requiring a specific application in a set-top unit. 
         [0030]    In an example embodiment of a system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, advertising for VOD and broadcast content may include a mix of linear insertions of conventional advertisements in addition to linear insertions, overlays or squeezebacks that offer user interaction to enable further linear insertions, overlays or squeezebacks. A user is enabled to respond to prompts in some or all of the advertisements to trigger the playout of a longer form of the advertisements and/or to request more information without the need for a specific application in the set-top. 
         [0031]    As will be described in greater detail below, in an example embodiment, when a user selects a VOD program, or broadcast content, a playout controller may establish a playout schedule for the content and advertising elements based on content rules, which may come from the network operator, the programmer or from programmer affiliates. The choice of advertising content may be dictated by the content rules or may come from an advertisement engine. The playout controller may then establish a playlist of the desired content including the sequencing of program content and advertisement content. 
         [0032]    As the content is played, the playout controller may trigger a video processor to create overlays or squeezebacks at appropriate times. The timing may be coordinated with data from a stream controller to properly account for user actions like pausing, rewinding or fast forwarding of the program. 
         [0033]    At any point, the playout controller can instruct the video processor to add a graphic overlay message with instructions to the user such as, “To learn more, press X”, where X is a defined sequence of keystrokes on the set-top controller, e.g., remote control, like pressing the pause button twice. The playout controller may also provide a timing message to the stream controller indicating the duration of the response time. The graphic overlay may be presented to the user as part of the video. If the user decides to act upon the contents of the overlay, and the appropriate keys are pressed, these keypresses may be sent back up (with the set-top address) to the stream controller. The stream controller may intercept the key sequence, if pressed within the specified response time. The stream controller may then pass a message to the playout controller while also pausing the content. Alternatively, for broadcast content, if the client set-top is a recording device, it may cause the recording device to pause the broadcast content. The playout controller may then identify the proper additional advertising content based on information from the advertisement engine and the content rules and instruct the stream controller to play that specific advertisement content. 
         [0034]    Alternatively, the same interaction mechanism may be used to trigger other actions including registering a vote, requesting information via email or mail and creating a bookmark for either VOD or online systems that the user may access later. 
         [0035]    In another example embodiment of a system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a Switched Digital Video (SDV) system is operable to capture interactive responses related to broadcast content. A video processor, via an overlay or squeezeback, may instruct a user to enter a specified channel number into a remote control. For example, “To vote for Jeff, enter 987 on your remote control now.” A SDV manager may then receive the channel change request and identify it as an interactive response based on the unique channel number. The reception of the unique channel number can be correlated with timing instructions from a playout controller. The response can be used to capture voting, request information, create a bookmark or other interactive functions. 
         [0036]    An example embodiment of a system in accordance with a VOD aspect of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 5-7C . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example system  500  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. System  500  includes a server system  501 , and a client system  511 , the two of which are connected by an access network  510 . Client system  511  requests content from server system  501 . Server system  501  provides content packages, which correspond to requested content, respectively, through access network  510  to client system  511 . 
         [0038]    Server system  501  includes a stream controller  502 , a VOD server  504 , a database  506 , a video processor  508 , a playout controller  518 , an advertisement engine  520  and a content rules portion  522 . Stream controller  502  coordinates the timing of content packages provided by server  501 . Video processor  508  receives requests through access network  510  and forwards these requests to VOD server  504 . VOD server  504  receives requests for content and provides corresponding content packages. Video processor  508  receives data from VOD server  504  and prepares and sends the data through access network  510  following the proper protocols. Database  506  stores content and advertisements. 
         [0039]    Playout controller  518  establishes a playlist of desired content by inserting additional advertisement content into an original content program compiled by VOD server  504 . Additional advertisement content might include linear insertions, overlays, squeeze backs, etc., as previously described. Insertion of the additional advertisement content is governed by content rules within content rules portion  522 . Content rules may be provided by a network operator, a programmer or from programmer affiliates. Advertisement engine  520  dictates, along with content rules, which advertising content is to be additionally inserted. 
         [0040]    Client system  511  includes a set-top unit  514 , an input device  512  and a television  516 . Set-top unit  514  receives input commands from input device  512  and sends the requests upstream through access network  510  to server system  501 . Set-top unit  514  additionally converts data signals to audio/video content and outputs the data on television  516 . Upon receipt of the instructions, such as changing to a new channel, set-top unit  514  sends them upstream through access network  510  to video processor  508 . Video processor  508  would convert the instruction stream to a form VOD server  504  can interpret and send the instruction to VOD server  504 . VOD server  504  interprets the request and pulls the requested content from database  506 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an example method of operation of system  500  to play video data in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
         [0042]    In operation, the method of operation starts (S 602 ) and a user requests content to be viewed (S 604 ), such as by selecting a VOD program via set-top  514 . The command is translated, by set-top  514 , and sent via access network  510  to video processor  508 , which receives the command and informs the VOD server  504  of the request. 
         [0043]    VOD server  504  retrieves the appropriate content from database  506 . In some embodiments, VOD server  504  may receive the content with conventional commercial advertisements pre-inserted. In other embodiments, VOD server  504  may assemble a playlist of program content and advertisement elements, such as request portions as discussed in more detail below, based on the system design. 
         [0044]    Playout controller  518  establishes a playout schedule for the requested content (and conventional commercial advertisements if included) and additional advertisement elements from advertisement engine  520 , based on content rules  522 . The playout schedule is provided to stream controller  502 . 
         [0045]    Stream controller  502  assembles the requested content (and conventional commercial advertisements if included) and additional advertisement elements as a content package. VOD server  504  sends the content package to video processor  508  to be transmitted via access network  510 . 
         [0046]    The content package is then sent to video processor  508  to be transmitted downstream to set-top  514  via access network  510 . Set-top  514  plays the content on TV  216  (step S 606 ). 
         [0047]    An example content package will now be described with reference to  FIG. 7A . 
         [0048]      FIG. 7A  illustrates an example initial content package  700  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Initial content package  700  corresponds to the requested content that VOD server  504  might send through video processor  508 . Initial content package  700  includes: program portions  702 ,  704 ,  706  and  708 ; an advertisement portion  710 ; and request portions  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718  and  720 . 
         [0049]    Set-top unit  514  would start playing content package  700  on television  516  at time  722 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  702  at time  724  to play request portion  712 , and play request portions  714  and  716  consecutively at times  726  and  728 , respectively. Set-top unit  514  would then start program portion  704  at time  730 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  704  at time  732  to play request portion  718 , and play request portion  720  at time  734 . Set-top unit  514  would then play program portion  706  at time  736 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  706  at time  738  to play advertisement portion  710  at time  738 . Set-top unit  514  would then stop advertisement portion  710  at time  740  to start program portion  708 . Set-top unit  514  would finally end program portion  708  at time  742 . 
         [0050]    Returning to  FIG. 6 , while set-top unit  514  is playing the requested content, it is determined whether a conventional commercial advertisement is to be played (S 608 ). If so, for example at time  738  to play advertisement portion  710 , then the advertisement is played (S 610 ). 
         [0051]    Further, it is determined whether an advertisement element, such as a request portions, is to be played (S 612 ). If so, for example at time  726  to play request portion  714 , then the request portion is played (S 614 ). 
         [0052]    When a request portion is played, as discussed above, it may include an overlay message with instructions to the user such as, “To learn more, press X”, where X is a defined sequence of keystrokes on input device  512 , like pressing the pause button twice. If the user decides to act upon the instructions, and the actions are taken (S 616 ), such as appropriate keys being pressed, these actions are sent back up to stream controller  502 . Stream controller  502  recognizes whether the appropriate key sequence is received within a predetermined response time. 
         [0053]    Stream controller  502  may then pass a message to playout controller  518  while instructing set-top unit  514  to pause the content. In other embodiments, for example those for broadcast content, if set-top unit  514  is a recording device, playout controller  518  may instruct set-top unit  514  to continue recording the broadcast content while pausing the playback of the recorded broadcast content. 
         [0054]    Playout controller  518  may then identify proper additional advertising content based on information from advertisement engine  520  and content rules  522  and instruct stream controller  502  to provide such additional advertising content to set-top unit  514 . 
         [0055]    Content package  700  would then be modified (S 618 ) in response to the user affirmation. Two example types of content package modification will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7B and 7C . 
         [0056]      FIG. 7B  illustrates an example content package  744  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wherein additional advertising content is added, as a linear insertion, to an original content package. Content package  744  corresponds to content package  700  of  FIG. 7A , wherein a user has affirmatively responded to request portion  714 , request portion  718  and request portion  720 . Content package  744  includes: program portions  702 ,  704 ,  706  and  708 ; an advertisement portion  710 ; request portions  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718  and  720 ; and requested advertisement portions  746 ,  748  and  750 . 
         [0057]    Set-top unit  514  would start playing content package  744  on television  516  at time  722 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  702  at time  724  to play request portion  712 . Presume, in this example, the user does not provide the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  712 . As such, set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  712  at time  726  to play request portion  714 . Presume, in this example, the user then provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  714 . As such, requested advertisement portion  746  is linearly inserted after request portion  714 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  714  at time  728  to play requested advertisement portion  746 . Set-top unit  514  would stop requested advertisement portion  746  at time  752  to play request portion  716 . 
         [0058]    Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  704  at time  756  to play request portion  718 . Presume, in this example, the user provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  718 . As such, requested advertisement portion  748  is inserted after request portion  718 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  718  at time  758  to play requested advertisement portion  748 . Set-top unit  514  would then stop requested advertisement portion  748  at time  760  to play request portion  720 . Presume, in this example, the user then provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  720 . As such, requested advertisement portion  750  is inserted after request portion  720 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  720  at time  762  to play requested advertisement portion  750 . Set-top unit  514  would stop requested advertisement portion  750  at time  764  to play program portion  706 . 
         [0059]    Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  706  at time  766  to play advertisement portion  710 . Set-top unit  514  would then stop advertisement portion  710  at time  768  to play program portion  708 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  708  at time  770 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 7C  illustrates an example content package  772  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Content package  772  corresponds to content package  700  of  FIG. 7A , wherein a user has affirmatively responded to request portion  714 , request portion  718  and request portion  720 . Content package  744  includes: program portions  702 ,  774 ,  776  and  708 ; an advertisement portion  710 ; and request portions  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718  and  720 . 
         [0061]    Set-top unit  514  would start playing content package  772  on television  516  at time  722 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  702  at time  724  to play request portion  712 . Presume, in this example, the user does not provide the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  712 . As such, set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  712  at time  726  to play request portion  714 . Presume, in this example, the user then provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  714 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  714  at time  728  to play requested portion  716 . Presume, in this example, the user does not provide the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  716 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  716  at time  730  to play program portion  774 . 
         [0062]    In this example, the user provided the correct input in response to request portion  714 . In contrast with the example of  FIG. 7B , wherein the additional advertising content is linearly inserted into the original content, in this embodiment, a requested advertisement is then overlayed onto a portion of the program, for example as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Therefore, program portion  704  of  FIG. 7A  is replaced with a new program portion  774 , having the requested advertisement corresponding to request portion  714 , overlayed therein. 
         [0063]    Set-top unit  514  would then stop program portion  774  at time  732  to play request portion  718 . Presume, in this example, the user provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  718 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  718  at time  734  to play request portion  720 . Presume, in this example, the user then provides the correct input in response to the request provided in request portion  720 . As such, requested advertisement portion  750  is inserted after request portion  720 . Set-top unit  514  would stop request portion  720  at time  736  to play program portion  776 . 
         [0064]    In this example, the user provided the correct input in response to request portion  718  and request portion  720 . Requested advertisements are then overlayed onto portion of the program, for example as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Therefore, program portion  706  of  FIG. 7A  is replaced with a new program portion  776 , having the requested advertisements corresponding to request portion  714  and request portion  718 , overlayed therein. In some embodiments, requested advertisements corresponding to request portion  714  and request portion  718  may be overlayed concurrently onto different portions of the display. In other embodiments, requested advertisements corresponding to request portion  714  and request portion  718  may be overlayed at different times during program portion  776  in the same portion of the display. In other embodiments, requested advertisements corresponding to request portion  714  and request portion  718  may be overlayed at different times during program portion  776  in different portions of the display. 
         [0065]    Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  776  at time  738  to play advertisement portion  710 . Set-top unit  514  would then stop advertisement portion  710  at time  740  to play program portion  708 . Set-top unit  514  would stop program portion  708  at time  742 . 
         [0066]    Returning back to  FIG. 6 , it should be noted that steps S 608  and S 610  may be switched with steps S 612  and S 614 , respectively. In some embodiments, it may be determined whether an advertisement is to be played before it is determined whether and advertisement element, such as a request, is to be played. In some embodiments, it may be determined whether an advertisement element, such as a request, is to be played before it is determined whether and advertisement is to be played. 
         [0067]    If it is determined that no advertisement is to be played, that no advertisement element is to be played (S 612 ) or there is no user affirmation to a request portion (S 616 ), then the requested content continues to play (S 618 ) until the requested content is over (S 620 ). 
         [0068]    By comparing an example conventional content package, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , with an example content package in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 7A , it is clear that a user may be required to endure less advertisement time without diminishing the ability to view a portion of each advertisement. 
         [0069]    For example, conventional advertisement portion  210  is much larger than request portion  712 . If a user were to view the beginning of the advertisement corresponding to advertisement portion  210  and then determine that they do not wish to view any more of the advertisement corresponding to advertisement portion  210 , such a determination would be irrelevant. Specifically, the user would be subjected to the remaining portion of the advertisement corresponding to advertisement portion  210  before resumption of the program corresponding to program portion  204 . 
         [0070]    Alternatively, if a user were to view request portion  712  and then determine that they do not wish to view any more of the advertisement corresponding to request portion  210 , such a determination would be very relevant. Specifically, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the user may not respond to the request and would not be subjected to additional advertisement. 
         [0071]    The above discussed embodiments with reference to  FIGS. 5-7C  are drawn to a VOD aspect of the present invention. Other embodiments in accordance with the present invention are drawn to a Switched Digital Video (SDV) aspect. In other words, a source of data, e.g., video data, may be a server in the case of a VOD aspect of the present invention or may be a broadcast source in the case of a SDV aspect of the present invention. In the case of SDV, the video would come from a broadcast source of some type, non-limiting examples of which include a local broadcast station and a satellite provided broadcast. A video processor from a broadcast source could overlay an interactivity prompt, e.g, “For more info press 11 on your remote control.” During a defined period of time, an SDV client in the set-top unit would intercept the remote control keystrokes and interpret “11” as a request for more information rather than a channel change request. The request for more information could trigger a variety of events—mail a catalog, view a long form commercial from VOD, etc. 
         [0072]    It is clear that in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a user may interactively control the amount of an advertisement he wishes to view. Further, a content provider may provide more advertisement requests in a program than conventional advertisements without increasing the total viewing time of a content package. 
         [0073]    The interactive aspect of the present invention need not be limited to advertisements. Alternatively, the same interactive mechanism as described by the present invention may also be used to trigger other actions including, but not limited to, registering a vote, requesting information via email and creating a bookmark for either VOD or online systems that the user might access later. 
         [0074]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mechanism to capture interactive responses related to broadcast content as previously exemplified, may be implemented on streaming content. In this exemplary mechanism, video processor  508  of  FIG. 5 , via overlay or squeezeback, might instruct the user to enter a specified channel number into their remote control. For example, a prompt might read “To vote for Contestant X, enter 123 on your remote control now.” As exemplified in the previous embodiment of  FIG. 5 , video processor  508  would receive the channel change request and identify it as an interactive response based on the unique channel number. The response can then be used, but not limited to, actions such as capturing votes, requesting information, creating a bookmark or other interactive functions. 
         [0075]    The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments, as described above, were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.