Patent ID: 8549560

Claim:
A set top box, configured to: display, with a television in communication with the set top box, a program in a two-dimensional format on a first television channel to a user, in accordance with a subscription package to which the user subscribes; determine that the program will be available at a later time; display a message to the user indicating that the program will be available at the later time; receive, from a middleware server in an IPTV video services network in communication with the set top box, an indication that the program is available in a three-dimensional format; determine an availability of the television for the three-dimensional format; display a message to the user providing the option to convert the program to a the three-dimensional format on the first television channel; if the subscription package does not include three-dimensional programming, display a message to the user informing the user of a cost to convert the program to the three-dimensional format; receive a selection from the user to convert the program to the three-dimensional format on the first television channel; convert the program to the three-dimensional format on the first television channel in response to the user's selection, wherein converting includes providing, by a middleware server, additional picture elements to the set top box; provide an option to the user to de-select the programming in the three-dimensional format and return to the two-dimensional format; receive a de-selection from the user to convert the program to the two-dimensional format on the first television channel; and convert the program to the two-dimensional format on the first television channel in response to the user's de-selection.