Patent Publication Number: US-2011072461-A1

Title: Notification for interactive content

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Television content is ever-changing. It seems like new channels or television programs, as well as numerous Video On Demand (VoD) titles, get introduced every day. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to wade through all of the content on television. 
     The amount of content available on television increases even more with the introduction of interactive content. Interactive television is still in its early stages and as a result, conventions for creating the best user experience for television viewers have not been established. It is often difficult for a viewer to determine when interactive content is available. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram that illustrates an overview of an implementation described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of a network in which systems and methods described herein may be implemented; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of components of a device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary diagram of a portion of the remote control of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for associating tags with video programs offering interactive content; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of a table that may include associations between tags and video programs offering interactive content; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for providing interactive content; 
         FIGS. 8-10  are exemplary diagrams of ways that an interactive content icon can be presented; 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary diagram of the filtering of video programs offering interactive content; and 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are exemplary diagrams that illustrate the presentation of interactive content. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
     Implementations described herein may provide a notification for interactive content so that television viewers know ahead of time (e.g., before having to click a button on a remote control) if there is interactive content available for a particular television program. If there are multiple types of interactive content, the notification may also identify which type of interactive content is available. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram that illustrates an overview of an implementation described herein. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a program status bar  110  may be presented in certain situations based on user activity. For example, program status bar  110  may be presented when the user turns on his/her television, when the user changes channels, or when the user pushes a particular button on his/her remote control. Program status bar  110  may include information  120  regarding the program currently provided on the television (e.g., a program name  122  and/or a short description  124  of the program). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , program status bar  110  may also include one or more icons: an icon  130  to identify that closed captioning is available for the program; an icon  140  to indicate that the program is available in high definition (HD); and an icon  150  to indicate that interactive content is available for the program. Interactive content icon  150  may not only indicate that interactive content is available, but it may also indicate what type of interactive content is available. As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, interactive content icon  150  may indicate that music interactive content is available. For example, a music track or clip may be available for playing or purchase. 
     In the description to follow, a notification for interactive content will be described in terms of interactive content relating to television programs. It should be understood, however, that the description equally applies to other types of interactive content, such as interactive content relating to music programs or on demand services (e.g., video, games, or music). As used herein, the term “program” is intended to be broadly interpreted to include any form of content for which interactive content may be provided. The term “icon,” as used herein, is intended to be broadly interpreted to include any visual object that may be presented via a display screen. 
     Other terms that are used herein include “program guide,” “program information page,” and “program status bar.” A “program guide” is intended to be broadly interpreted to include a listing and/or schedule of programs available for viewing. A “program information page” is intended to be broadly interpreted to include information regarding a particular program. A “program status bar” is intended to be broadly interpreted to include information regarding a particular program, which typically includes less information than the program information page. 
     In the context of interactive content for television programs, implementations described herein may provide notifications, possibly in the form of an interactive content icon, to television program viewers so that these viewers can determine (e.g., before having to click a button on a remote control) if there is interactive content available for particular television programs. If there are multiple types of interactive content available, the notification may also identify which type of interactive content is available. 
     Interactive content may include content that can be continuously provided or provided when requested. Examples of types of interactive content might include special promotions or discounts, interactive advertisements, sports statistics, or offers of audio or video information for playing or purchase. For example, a football program may include interactive content relating to fantasy football statistics, interactive content that offers an audio clip or track for playing or purchase relating to the halftime show entertainment, and/or interactive content that offers a video clip or file for playing or purchase relating to the football game or a team participating in the football game. 
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of a network  200  in which systems and methods described herein may be implemented. Network  200  may include content sources  205 - 1 ,  205 - 2 , . . . ,  205 -N (where N≧1) (collectively referred to as “content sources  205 ”), video content database  210 , content meta-data database  215 , advertising (ad) management (mgmt) system  220 , advertising content database  225 , advertising content meta-data database  227 , content server  230 , interactive content server  235 , interactive content database  240 , content delivery system  245 , on demand content database  250 , network  255 , video client  260 , video display device  265 , and remote control  270 . In practice, network  200  may include more, fewer, or different devices than are shown in  FIG. 2 . Also, two or more of these devices may be implemented within a single device, or a single device may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Further, while  FIG. 2  shows direct connections between the various devices, any of these connections can be indirectly made via a network, such as a local area network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a cellular network), or a combination of networks. 
     Content sources  205  may include any type or form of content. For example, content sources  205  may include free television broadcasts (e.g., local broadcasts, such as NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox), for-pay television broadcasts (e.g., TNT, ESPN, HBO, Cinemax, CNN, etc.), and/or web-based content (e.g., streaming content from web sites). Video content database  210  may store video signals representing the video programs provided by various ones of content sources  205 . Content meta-data database  215  may store meta-data associated with the video programs provided by various ones of content sources  205 . The meta-data might include program descriptions, program line-ups and/or schedules, or other information associated with the video programs in video content database  210 . 
     Advertising management system  220  may control what advertising content is presented in connection with the video programs in video content database  210 . Advertising management system  220  may store advertising content in advertising content database  225 . The advertising content may include advertisements (e.g., commercials that are inserted within a program signal, long form advertisements that are not inserted within the program signal, text or graphics that are overlaid on a program or an advertisement, advertisements that are presented alongside the program signal, and/or interactive advertisements) and/or links to advertisements that may be served via a network, such as the Internet. Advertising content meta-data database  227  may store meta-data associated with the advertisements in advertising content database  225 . The meta-data might include scheduling information, rating information, category information, length of advertisement, classification information, expiration date of the advertisement, or other information that advertising management system  220  and/or content server  230  may find useful in serving and/or targeting the advertising content. 
     Content server  230  may include a device that is capable of controlling the serving of video programs from video content database  210 , the program meta-data from content meta-data database  215 , and/or the advertising content from advertising content database  225 . In one implementation, content server  230  may include a content mixing engine to select information, such as video programs, program meta-data, advertising content, and/or advertisement meta-data, and mix the information together. Content server  230  may optionally also perform transcoding of the mixed information. 
     Interactive content server  235  may include a device that is capable of managing the serving of interactive content in association with a video program. Interactive content server  235  may retrieve interactive content, as necessary, from interactive content database  240 . Interactive content database  240  may store the interactive content and may store an association between the interactive content and the video programs and/or advertisements with which the interactive content corresponds. Interactive content database  240  may also store interactive content icons, possibly associated with different types of interactive content, and an association between the interactive content icons and the video programs and/or advertisements with which the interactive content icons correspond. 
     Content delivery system  245  may include a device that is capable of delivering information to a customer&#39;s equipment (e.g., a customer&#39;s video client  260 ). Content delivery system  245  may include a service adaptor component and a media relay component. The service adaptor component may control what information (e.g., what video programs and/or advertisements) to provide to which customers based, for example, on customer subscriptions and/or profiles. The media relay component may control the transmission of the information to the customers. The media relay component may perform encoding and/or encryption functions. 
     Content delivery system  245  may also include one or more on demand components that may provide on demand services (e.g., music, video, and/or games on demand). On demand database  250  may store on demand content that may be provided by content delivery system  245 . 
     Network  255  may include a video signaling and distribution network to distribute the information from content delivery system  245 . Network  255  may take the form of a wide area network, a local area network, an intranet, a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network or a cellular network), or a combination of networks. 
     Video client  260  may include a device capable of receiving and processing the information from content delivery system  245  for display on video display device  265 . In one implementation, video client  260  may take the form of a set top box. In another implementation, video client  260  may include a computer device, a cable card, a stationary communication device (e.g., a telephone), a portable communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA)), or the like. Video client  260  may perform decoding and/or decryption functions on information received from content delivery system  245 . 
     Video display device  265  may include a device capable of receiving and reproducing video and audio signals. In one implementation, video display device  265  may take the form of a television. In another implementation, video display device  265  may include a computer monitor, a display of a stationary communication device (e.g., a telephone) or a portable communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or a PDA), or the like. 
     Remote control  270  may include a device capable of remotely controlling the operation of video client  260  and/or video display device  265 . Remote control  270  may transmit infrared signals, or another type of signals, to a reader associated with video client  260  and/or video display device  265 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of components of a device  300  that may correspond to advertising management system  220 , content server  230 , interactive content server  235 , content delivery system  245 , video client  260 , video display device  265 , and/or remote control  270 . In another implementation, device  300  may include more, fewer, or different components. 
     Device  300  may include a bus  310 , a processor  320 , a memory  330 , an input component  340 , an output component  350 , and a communication interface  360 . Bus  310  may include a path that permits communication among the components of device  300 . 
     Processor  320  may include a processor, microprocessor, or processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. Memory  330  may include any type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions for execution by processor  320 , and/or any type of non-volatile storage device that may store information for use by processor  320 . 
     Input component  340  may include a mechanism that permits an operator to input information to device  300 , such as a keyboard, a keypad, a button, a switch, etc. Output component  350  may include a mechanism that outputs information to the operator, such as a display, a speaker, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. Communication interface  360  may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables device  300  to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface  360  may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, or the like. 
     As will be described in detail below, device  300  may perform certain operations relating to interactive content. Device  300  may perform these operations in response to processor  320  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory  330 . A computer-readable medium may be defined as a physical or logical memory device and/or carrier wave. 
     The software instructions may be read into memory  330  from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface  360 . The software instructions contained in memory  330  may cause processor  320  to perform processes that will be described later. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary diagram of a portion of remote control  270 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , remote control  270  may include buttons  410 - 460  that may cause video client  260  and/or video display device  265  to perform various functions. For example, remote control  270  may include a power button  410 , device selection buttons  420 , program guide buttons  430 , volume button  440 , channel button  450 , and an interactive content button  460 . 
     Power button  410  may cause a controlled device (e.g., video client  260 , video display device  265 , or another device, such as a receiver, a VCR, or a DVD player) to power up or down. Device selection buttons  420  may identify a device to be controlled, such as video client  260 , video display device  265 , or another device, such as a receiver, a VCR, or a DVD player. 
     Program guide buttons  430  may include buttons for displaying and interacting with an on-screen program guide. The program guide may include information regarding available video programs, such as program descriptions, program listings, program schedules, etc. Volume button  440  may cause a controlled device to change its volume setting. Channel button  450  may cause a controlled device to change its channel setting. Interactive content button  460  may cause interactive content to be provided in association with a video program offering interactive content. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for associating tags with video programs offering interactive content. In one implementation, one or more of the process blocks of  FIG. 5  may be performed by one or more software and/or hardware components within interactive content server  235 . 
     The process may include associating tags with video programs and/or advertisements that offer interactive content (block  510 ). In one implementation, the association between tags and video programs and/or advertisements may be stored in a table. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of a table  600  that may include associations between tags and video programs and/or advertisements (also referred to as “program/advertisement” or “programs/advertisements”) offering interactive content. Table  600  may include a tag field  610  and a video program/advertisement field  620 . In another implementation, table  600  may include more or different fields. Also, while table  600  is sorted by the information in tag field  610 , table  600  may alternatively be sorted by the information in video program/advertisement field  620 . 
     Tag field  610  may include information (i.e., a “tag”) that identifies a particular type of interactive content and/or a particular type of interactive content icon. Video program/advertisement field  620  may include information that identifies a particular video program and/or advertisement. For each of the different types of interactive content, there may be a corresponding type of interactive content icon that identifies the particular type of interactive content. There may be different types of interactive content available for video programs/advertisements (e.g., tag  1 , tag  2 , . . . , tag M in table  600 ). There may also be multiple types of interactive content available for a particular video program/advertisement (e.g., tags  1  and  2  are associated with program/advertisement ABC in table  600 ). 
     In another implementation, the association between tags and video programs and/or advertisements may be made in a different manner, such as by storing tag information in the meta-data associated with a video program or advertisement. In this case, the meta-data for a video program (“The Today Show”) may take the form of: 
                                &lt;Metadata&gt;                         &lt;Asset&gt;                         &lt;Title Value=“The Today Show” /&gt;           &lt;Rating Value=“TV-PG” /&gt;           &lt;Description Value=“Skater Kristi Yamaguchi; Mary J. Blige                         performs; actor Will Smith; holiday cooking and desserts;            gifts for travelers.” /&gt;                         &lt;ClosedCaptioning Value=“Yes” /&gt;           &lt;HD Value=“Yes” /&gt;           &lt;Station Value=“NBC” /&gt;           &lt;InteractiveContentIcon&gt;                         &lt;EnhancedTVIcon Value=“Yes” /&gt;           &lt;CommerceIcon Value=“Yes” /&gt;           &lt;MusicIcon Value=“Yes” /&gt;                         &lt;/InteractiveContentIcon&gt;                         &lt;/Asset&gt;                 &lt;/Metadata&gt;;                    
where “EnhancedTVIcon” may refer to whether special promotions or discounts are available, “CommerceIcon” may refer to whether there is an item or service for purchase, and “MusicIcon” may refer to whether a music track or clip is available for playing or purchase.
 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , the tags may be sent to a video client, such as video client  260  (block  520 ). In one implementation, the tags may be sent through an IP-based transfer protocol or via the same architecture used to send program guide data feeds. In another implementation, the tags may be combined or concurrently transmitted with the video program/advertisement feed or the program/advertisement meta-data feed. It may be beneficial to integrate a tag with a program guide, a program information page, a program status bar, a video program signal, and/or advertisement information prior to sending the tag to video client  260 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for providing interactive content. Similar blocks may be performed when providing interactive content relating to an advertisement. In one implementation, one or more of the process blocks of  FIG. 7  may be performed by one or more software and/or hardware components within video client  260 . 
     The process may include providing a video program or information associated with a video program (block  710 ). For example, if a user powers up video client  260  and/or video display device  265  by, for example, pressing power button  410  on remote control  270 , video client  260  may present a video program and/or information associated with the video program (e.g., a program status bar) corresponding to the currently tuned-to channel on video display device  265 . If the user activates a program information page or a program status bar by, for example, pressing an appropriate button on remote control  270 , video client  260  may present the program information page or the program status bar on video display device  265 . If the user activates a program guide by, for example, pressing one or more program guide buttons  430  on remote control  270 , video client  260  may present information associated with one or more video programs (e.g., via the program guide) on video display device  265 . If the user changes the channel by, for example, pressing channel button  450  on remote control  270 , video client  260  may present a video program and/or information associated with the video program (e.g., a program status bar) corresponding to the new channel on video display device  265 . In other implementations, other steps may be taken to cause a video program or information associated with the video program to be presented on display device  265 . 
     An interactive content icon may be presented in association with a video program offering interactive content (block  720 ). The interactive content icon may identify, to the user, that interactive content is available for the video program. The interactive content icon may also identify the type of interactive content that is available for the video program. The interactive content icon may be presented in a manner such that the user can quickly and easily identify (e.g., at a glance) that interactive content, or a specific type of interactive content, is available. 
     The particular interactive content icon that is presented may be determined based on a received tag that has previously been associated with the video program. For example, video client  265  may receive a tag from content delivery system  245  and may identify the appropriate interactive content icon based on the tag. Alternatively, video client  265  may receive the appropriate interactive content icon from content delivery system  245 . 
     The interactive content icon may be presented on a video program, a program status bar, a program information page, a program guide, or elsewhere in connection with a video program.  FIGS. 8-10  are exemplary diagrams of ways that an interactive content icon can be presented. As shown in  FIG. 8 , an interactive content icon  810  may be overlaid on a video program (e.g., a basketball game). Techniques exist for overlaying information on a video signal. Such a technique may be used to present interactive content icon  810  on the video program. Interactive content icon  810  may indicate that interactive content in the form of basketball statistics is available. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , an interactive content icon  910  may be presented on a program status bar overlaid on a video program (e.g., a football game). Interactive content icon  910  may be similarly presented on a program information page (not shown). Interactive content icon  910  may indicate that interactive content in the form of football statistics is available. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an interactive content icon  1010  or  1020  may be presented on a program guide. The program guide may include a listing and/or schedule of video programs. The video programs for which interactive content is available may include an interactive content icon, such as interactive content icons  1010  and  1020 . 
     The interactive content icons (or more appropriately the tags associated with the interactive content icons) may be used to filter the video programs listed in the program guide. For example, the program guide may offer a number of ways that the listed programs can be filtered. Examples of ways for filtering the programs listed in the program guide include filtering by high definition (e.g., show only the video programs that are available in high definition), interactive content (e.g., show only the video programs that offer interactive content), sports (e.g., show only the video programs that correspond to a sporting event), or movies (e.g., show only the video programs that correspond to movies). Filtering may also be performed for specific types of interactive content. For example, if a user wanted to identify only those video programs that offer interactive content relating to special promotions or discounts, the user may filter the program guide based on this specific type of interactive content. 
     Assume that the user selected to filter the program guide by interactive content.  FIG. 11  is an exemplary diagram of the filtering of video programs offering interactive content. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the program guide may show only those video programs for which interactive content is available. The video program “Regis and Kelly,” for example, offers two types of interactive content. The interactive content icon with the “E” may indicate that special promotions or discounts are available. The interactive content icon with the musical note may indicate that a music track or clip may be available for playing or purchase. 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , it may be determined whether the interactive content button  460  ( FIG. 4 ) has been pressed on remote control  270  (block  730 ). For example, the user, in response to seeing an interactive content icon on video display device  265 , may press interactive content button  460  to obtain access to the interactive content. Remote control  270  may send a corresponding signal to video client  260 . In one implementation, no interactive content is provided to the user until it is determined that the user has pressed interactive content button  460  (block  730 —NO). 
     If it is determined that the user has pressed interactive content button  460  (block  730 —YES), then the interactive content may be presented (block  740 ). The interactive content may be presented in one or more of a number of different ways, which may depend on the type of interactive content available.  FIGS. 12 and 13  are exemplary diagrams that illustrate the presentation of interactive content. As shown in  FIG. 12 , interactive content  1210  may be presented as an overlay on the video program currently being presented on video display device  265 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , interactive content  1310  may be presented in a dedicated portion of the screen of video display device  265 . For example, the screen of video display device  265  may be partitioned to include a portion for a scaled-down version of the video program and a portion for interactive content  1310 . This type of arrangement may be beneficial for certain types of interactive content, such as interactive advertisements, or for all types of interactive content. This type of arrangement may also be beneficial when multiple types of interactive content are available for a particular video program. The interactive content itself, or links to the interactive content, may be presented within the interactive content portion of the screen. 
     Implementations described herein may provide an interactive content icon on a screen of a video display device. The interactive content icon may inform a user of the availability of interactive content in connection with a video program available via the video display device. The interactive content icon may also inform the user of the type of interactive content that is available. 
     Interactive content has various uses, such as to provide the user with a richer television experience or to offer products or services for sale that may be of interest to the user. In one implementation, a provider of interactive content (hereinafter “service provider”) may offer the user free access to “for-pay” content if the user agrees to be presented with the interactive content. For example, the service provider may permit the user to freely watch pay-per-view movies, play games, obtain video programs via video-on-demand, etc. if the user agrees to be presented with interactive advertisements. The interactive advertisements may be presented to the user via a dedicated portion of the screen of video display device  265 , such as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. 
     For example, while series of blocks have been described with regard to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the order of the blocks may be modified in other implementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel. 
     It will be apparent that systems and methods, as described above, may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these systems and methods is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the systems and methods based on the description herein. 
     No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.