Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to broadcasting links to enhanced content for a media program. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, a broadcaster transmits television programs, Internet programs, radio programs and other media programs for viewers and consumers. Television programs, Internet programs, radio programs, media programs, and other broadcast content are examples of “media programs.” 
     In an example, a viewer of a television program views the television program on a television. The viewer may also use a mobile device to browse the Internet while watching television. To provide the viewer with additional content related to the television program, a broadcaster may host a website, a Facebook™ page, a Twitter™ page, and so forth that includes content related to the television program. Through the website, the Facebook™ page, the Twitter™ page, and so forth, viewers can email the broadcaster, post questions to forums sponsored by the broadcaster, participate in online discussions, view additional content related to the television program, and so forth. 
     In an example, the broadcaster may try to direct a viewer to a website by announcing the name of the website during a television program. For example, a broadcaster may visually display a Uniform Resource Location (“URL”) address, a broadcaster email address, a Twitter username, and so forth, during the television program. In another example, the broadcaster may have an announcer speak the URL address, the email address, the Twitter username, and so forth, during an airing of the television program. For example, a viewer may watch a cooking program. During the cooking program, the program&#39;s host may announce the URL address from which the viewer can download cooking recipes that are featured on the program. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a secondary computing device, a request for enhanced content for a media program, the request including information indicative of a communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on a primary computing device; receiving broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for a plurality of communication channels; extracting, from the broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the plurality of communication channels, broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on the primary computing device; obtaining, based on the extracted broadcast information, a link to enhanced content for the media program; and sending, to the secondary computing device, the link to enhanced content for the media program. 
     Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, obtaining includes extracting, from the information indicative of enhanced content, the link to enhanced content. In other implementations, obtaining includes generating, based on the information indicative of enhanced content, the link to enhanced content. 
     In still other implementations, the information indicative of enhanced content includes the link to enhanced content. In some implementations, the enhanced content includes one or more of (i) a link to websites that are related to the media program, (ii) email addresses that are related to the media program, (iii) images that are related to the media program, and (iv) text that is related to the media program. In other implementations, the broadcast information is included in one or more of a Service Information (“SI”) table and a Program Specific Information (“PSI”) table. 
     In another aspect of the disclosure, one or more machine-readable media are configured to store instructions that are executable by one or more processing devices to perform functions including receiving, from a secondary computing device, a request for enhanced content for a media program, the request including information indicative of a communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on a primary computing device; receiving broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for a plurality of communication channels; extracting, from the broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the plurality of communication channels, broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on the primary computing device; obtaining, based on the extracted broadcast information, a link to enhanced content for the media program; and sending, to the secondary computing device, the link to enhanced content for the media program. Implementations of, this aspect of the present disclosure can include one or more of the foregoing features. 
     In still another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic system includes one or more processing devices; and one or more machine-readable media configured to store instructions that are executable by the one or more processing devices to perform functions including: receiving, from a secondary computing device, a request for enhanced content for a media program, the request including information indicative of a communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on a primary computing device; receiving broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for a plurality of communication channels; extracting, from the broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the plurality of communication channels, broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on the primary computing device; obtaining, based on the extracted broadcast information, a link to enhanced content for the media program; and sending, to the secondary computing device, the link to enhanced content for the media program. Implementations of this aspect of the present disclosure can include one or more of the foregoing features. 
     In yet another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic system includes means for receiving, from a secondary computing device, a request for enhanced content for a media program, the request including information indicative of a communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on a primary computing device; means for receiving broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for a plurality of communication channels; means for extracting, from the broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the plurality of communication channels, broadcast information indicative of enhanced content for the communication channel through which the media program is being displayed on the primary computing device; means for obtaining, based on the extracted broadcast information, a link to enhanced content for the media program; and means for sending, to the secondary computing device, the link to enhanced content for the media program. Implementations of this aspect of the present disclosure can include one or more of the foregoing features. 
     In still another aspect of the disclosure a computer-implemented method includes receiving channel information, the channel information specifying a channel for a media program that is being displayed on a primary device; receiving, from a broadcasting device, broadcast information for one or more channels, the broadcast information including information indicative of enhanced content that is associated with the media program being displayed on the primary device; determining, based on the channel that is broadcasting the media program that is being displayed on the primary device, a portion of the broadcast information that pertains to the media program being displayed on the primary device; extracting, from the portion of the broadcast information, the information indicative of enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device; generating, based on the information indicative of enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device, a link to enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device; broadcasting, to a secondary device, the link to enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device; and causing the secondary device to: use the link to enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device to retrieve the enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device; and display a visual representation of enhanced content for the media program that is being displayed on the primary device. Implementations of this aspect of the present disclosure can include one or more of the foregoing features. 
     All or part of the foregoing may be implemented as a computer program product including instructions that are stored on one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media, and that are executable on one or more processing devices. All or part of the foregoing may be implemented as an apparatus, method, or electronic system that may include one or more processing devices and memory to store executable instructions to implement the stated functions. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram of a system for broadcasting links to enhanced content. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of components of the system for broadcasting links to enhanced content. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a process for broadcasting links to enhanced content. 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of changing links to enhanced content as the content of media programs is changed on a primary device. 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of a computer device and a mobile computer device that can be used to implement the techniques described herein. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein is a system that broadcasts data to “enhanced content” for media programs. Generally, the term “enhanced content” includes information that is related to media programs. For example, enhanced content may include links to websites that are related to a television program, email addresses that are related to the television program, images that are related to the television program, text that is related to the television program, and so forth. Accordingly, data to enhanced content includes links, text, Hyper-Text Mark-up Language (“HTML”) snippets, small images, and so forth, which are collectively referred to herein as “links to enhanced content” (without limitation and for purposes of convenience). 
     In an example, a viewer is watching a television program on a television. While the viewer watches the television program, the viewer also uses a mobile device. Through the mobile device, the viewer receives enhanced content for the television program. In this example, the television acts as a “primary device,” including, e.g., a device that displays the media program for which enhanced content is provided by a broadcaster. The mobile device acts as a “secondary device,” including, e.g., a device that displays the enhanced content for the media program. 
     In this example, the system determines the television channel on which the television program is broadcast. Based on the determined television channel, the system generates “links to enhanced content” for the television channel. “Links to enhanced content” include formatted segments of text that specify a location from which enhanced content may be accessed. In an example, a link to enhanced content may include a URL address of a website that includes enhanced content, including, information relevant to a media program being viewed by a viewer. 
     To generate the links to enhanced content, the system uses “broadcast information” that is transmitted by a broadcaster. Generally, broadcast information includes metadata related to media programs, including, e.g., information specifying related programs, links to television programs, links to whole series of television programs, information indicative of enhanced content, and so forth. 
     In an example, the information indicative of enhanced content may include links to enhanced content. In this example, the system extracts the links to enhanced content directly from the broadcast information and sends the links to enhanced content to a secondary device. In another example, rather than directly including the links to enhanced content, the information indicative of enhanced content includes information that may be used by the system to generate the links to enhanced content. In this example, the information indicative of enhanced content includes a name of a provider that hosts the enhanced content. The system uses the name of the provider to look-up (e.g., by accessing a Domain Name System (“DNS”) look-up table) a virtual address associated with the provider. Based on the virtual address, the system generates a link to enhanced content. 
     The system sends the link to enhanced content to the secondary device. In an example, the secondary device may use the link to enhanced content to access and to display the enhanced content, e.g., a website, while a viewer is viewing a media program. In another example, a user associated with the secondary device may use the link to enhanced content to access and to display the enhanced content. 
       FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram of system  100  for broadcasting links to enhanced content. System  100  includes server  102 , programming device  104 , client device  106 , and broadcasting device  108 . 
     Server  102  includes enhanced content manager  112 . Enhanced content manager  112  listens for and receives broadcast information  114  from broadcasting device  108 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , broadcast information  114  includes information for a number of channels, including, e.g., channels  4 ,  5  and  7 . Server  102  stores broadcast information  114  to access broadcast information  114  at a later time. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , a viewer (not shown) views a television program on programming device  104 . In this example, programming device  104  is a computer, which we refer to as a primary device. The viewer also browses the Internet on client device  106 , while watching the television program. To receive enhanced content, the viewer accesses an application (not shown) running on client device  106 . 
     The application allows the viewer to select the channel that is broadcasting the television program being viewed by the viewer. For example, the application may include a list of all possible channels that may be displayed on programming device  104 . In this example, programming device  104  is configured to display channels  1 - 150 . Accordingly, the application provides a corresponding list of channels  1 - 150  from which a viewer may select a channel. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the viewer watches a television program on channel  5 . The viewer accesses the application that is running on client device  106 . As previously described, the application displays a list of channels. In this example, the viewer selects channel  5  from the list of channels, because channel  5  is broadcasting the television program that the viewer is watching. The application generates channel information  110 , which includes information specifying the channel (e.g., channel  5 ) that is broadcasting the television program being viewed by the viewer. Client device  104  sends channel information  110  to server  102 . 
     In response to receiving channel information  110 , enhanced content manager  112  determines a link to enhanced content for channel  5 . In this example, enhanced content manager  112  retrieves broadcast information  114  from broadcasting device  108 . In another example, broadcasting device  108  transfers data and other broadcast information over the air (e.g., by embedding the data into the broadcaster&#39;s digital TV signal) to server  102 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , enhanced content manager  112  determines a portion of broadcast information  114  that pertains to channel  5 . The portion of broadcast information  114  that pertains to channel  5  includes link  116  to enhanced content for channel  5 . Enhanced content manager  112  extracts link  116  to enhanced content for channel  5  from broadcast information  114 . Enhanced content manager  112  sends link  116  to enhanced content to client device  106 . In response to receiving link  116  to enhanced content, client device  106  uses link  116  to enhanced content to access the enhanced content for channel  5 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , client device  106  displays visual representation  118  of enhanced content for channel  5 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of components of system  100  for broadcasting links to enhanced content (programming device  104  is not shown). Client device  106  and broadcasting device  108  can be any sort of computing devices capable of taking input from a user and communicating over a network (not shown) with server  102  and/or with other client devices. For example, client device  106  and broadcasting device  108  can be mobile devices, desktop computers, laptops, cell phones, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), servers, embedded computing systems, and so forth. Additionally, broadcasting device  108  could include a television source that is configured to broadcast television content for consumers and viewers. 
     Server  102  can be any of a variety of computing devices capable of receiving information, such as a server, a distributed computing system, a desktop computer, a laptop, a cell phone, a rack-mounted server, and so forth. Server  102  may be a single server or a group of servers that are at a same location or at different locations. 
     Server  102  can receive information from client device  106  and broadcasting device  108  via input/output (“I/O”) interface  200 . I/O interface  200  can be any type of interface capable of receiving information over a network, such as an Ethernet interface, a wireless networking interface, a fiber-optic networking interface, a modem, and so forth. Server  102  also includes a processing device  202  and memory  204 . A bus system  206 , including, for example, a data bus and a motherboard, can be used to establish and to control data communication between the components of server  102 . 
     Processing device  202  may include one or more microprocessors. Generally speaking, processing device  202  may include any appropriate processor and/or logic that is capable of receiving and storing data, and of communicating over a network (not shown). Memory  204  can include a hard drive and a random access memory storage device, such as a dynamic random access memory, or other types of non-transitory machine-readable storage devices. As shown in  FIG. 2 , memory  204  stores computer programs that are executable by processing device  202 . Among these computer programs are channel determination manager  210 , extractor  212 , and link generator  214 , each of which are described in further detail below. 
     In the example of  FIG. 2 , broadcasting device  108  sends broadcast information  114  to server  102 . Broadcasting device  108  may transmit broadcast information  114  (which may include links to enhanced content) as part of a television signal, for example, a Digital television signal, which also includes the audio/video data for a channel. 
     Broadcast information  114  may be carried in Service Information (“SI”) and Program Specific Information (“PSI”) tables, including those defined in the International Organization for Standardization/the International Electrotechnical Commission (“ISO/IEC”) 13818-1 (MPEG-2) specification, (see ISO/IEC 13818-1: Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information systems, which includes a description of transport streams and the data they may include), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (“ETSI”) EN 300-468 (Digital Video Broadcasting or “DVB”) specification (see ETSI EN 300 468: Specification for Service Information (SI) in DVB systems, which includes a description of PSI/SI tables in DVB systems including Event Information Tables (“EITs”), which may be accessed at http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300400 — 300499/300468/01.11.01 — 60/en — 300468 v011101p.pdf), and the A/65:2009 (Advanced Television Systems Committee or “ATSC”) specification (see A/65:2009: Program And System Information Protocol For Terrestrial Broadcast And Cable, which includes a description of PSI/SI tables in ATSC systems, which may be access at http://www.atsc.org/cros/standards/a — 65-2009.pdf). 
     Examples of tables which may include broadcast information include PMTs, EITs, and Related Content Tables (“RCTs”). A description of RCTs may be found in “ETSI TS 102 323: Carriage and signaling of TV-Anytime information in DVB transport streams,” which may be accessed at http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/102300 — 102399/102323/01.04.01 — 60/102,323v 010401p.pdf. Broadcast information  114  including links to enhanced content may also be broadcast as a “Private Data Stream” inside a MPEG-2 Transport Stream. 
     The content of the table changes dynamically as the content of media programs are changed by a broadcaster. That is, as the content of media programs change, broadcasters update broadcast information  114  to correspond to the changing media programs. In an example, broadcasting device  108  periodically transmits to server  102  a table including updated broadcast information. 
     Server  102  receives broadcast information  114  from broadcasting device  108 . I/O interface  200  provides broadcast information  114  to enhanced content manager  112 , which stores broadcast information  114  in data repository  208 . In an example, broadcast information  114  includes information for various broadcasting channels. In this example, enhanced content manager  112  stores broadcast information  114  in data repository  208  based on a channel associated with broadcast information  114 . 
     In an example, broadcast information  114  includes information for television channels  5 ,  7 , and  10 . In this example, enhanced content manager  112  parses broadcast information  114  to determine a portion of broadcast information  114  that is related to television channel  5 . Enhanced content manager  112  saves in data repository  208  the portion of broadcast information  114  that is related to television channel  5 . This portion of broadcast information  114  is saved in a table and/or other data structure that is associated with television channel  5 . 
     Enhanced content manager  112  also parses broadcast information  114  to determine portions of broadcast information  114  that are related to television channels  7  and  10 , respectively. Enhanced content manager  112  saves in data repository  208  the portions of broadcast information  114  that are related to television channels  7  and  10 . These portions of broadcast information  114  are saved in a table and/or other data structure that is associated with television channels  7  and  10 , respectively. 
     Enhanced content manager  112  includes channel determination manager  210 , extractor  212 , and link generator  214 . Channel determination manager  210  is configured to determine a channel and/or a media program that is being displayed on a primary device. Channel determination manager  210  determines a channel that is being displayed on a primary device in a number of ways, including, using information included in channel information, using “audio fingerprinting,” and querying a set-top box (“STB”) or set-top unit (“STU”), which may be connected to programming device  104 , for information specifying a channel that is being displayed on programming device  104 . 
     In an example, channel determination manager  210  uses channel information  110  to determine a channel that is being displayed on a primary device. As described above, channel information  110  includes information specifying that channel  5  is being displayed on programming device  104 . In this example, by parsing the contents of channel information  110 , channel determination manager  210  identifies the channel, namely channel  5 , that is being displayed on the primary device. 
     In another example, channel determination manager  210  uses “audio fingerprinting” to determine a channel that is being displayed on a primary device. An audio fingerprint is a condensed digital summary, generated from an audio signal that can be used to determine an audio file, such as a television program, a song, or an advertisement in an audio database. In this example, client device  104  is configured to generate and to transmit an audio fingerprint to server  102 . Channel determination manager  210  accesses an audio database (not shown) to determine an identifier of the audio file that is being transmitted from broadcasting device  108  to programming device  104 . 
     In this example, the audio database includes a mapping of channels to identifiers of audio files. Accordingly, once channel determination manager  210  determines the identifier of the audio file that is being transmitted to programming device  104 , channel determination manager  210  may also use the mapping to determine the channel that is being displayed on the primary device. 
     Once channel determination manager  210  has identified the channel that is being displayed on the primary device, channel determination manager  210  sends information specifying the identified channel to extractor  212 . Extractor  212  accesses data repository  208  and retrieves a portion of broadcast information  114  associated with the identified channel. In an example, broadcast information  114  includes broadcast information for channels  5 ,  7 , and  10 . In this example, channel  5  corresponds to the identified channel. Accordingly, extractor  212  retrieves the portion of broadcast information  114  that corresponds to channel  5 . 
     As described above, the portion of broadcast information  114  associated with the identified channel may include various types of metadata. Extractor  212  is configured to extract information indicative of enhanced content from the portion of broadcast information  114  that is associated with the identified channel. Extractor  212  sends the information indicative of enhanced content to link generator  214 . Link generator  214  is configured to generate link  116  to enhanced content, for example, by formatting the information indicative of enhanced content and/or by using a DNS look-up table to retrieve an address of the enhanced content. 
     In an example, information indicative of enhanced content includes link  116  to enhanced content. In this example, link generator  214  may not need to generate link  116  to enhanced content. Rather, extractor  212  may extract link  116  to enhanced content directly from the portion of broadcast information  114  associated with the identified channel. Extractor  212  directly sends link  116  to enhanced content to client device  106 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a process  300  for broadcasting links to enhanced content. In  FIG. 3 , process  300  is split into a left part  302 , which is performed on client device  106 , a center part  304 , which is performed on server  102 , and a right part  306 , which is performed on broadcasting device  108 . 
     Process  300  may be initiated from broadcasting device  108 . Specifically, broadcasting device  108  transmits ( 308 ) broadcast information  114  to server  102 . Server  102  receives ( 310 ) broadcast information  114 . Additionally, client device  106  sends ( 312 ) channel information  110  to server  102 , for example, using an Internet Protocol (“IP”) message or other data message format. Server  102  receives ( 314 ) channel information  110 . Channel determination manager  210  uses channel information  110  to determine ( 316 ) the channel that is being displayed on programming device  104  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Channel determination manager  210  passes (not shown) to extractor  212  information specifying the channel that is being displayed on programming device  104 . Extractor  212  retrieves (not shown) broadcast information  114  from data repository  208 . Extractor  212  determines (not shown) a portion of broadcast information  114  that is associated with the channel that is being displayed on programming device  104 . From the portion, extractor  212  extracts ( 318 ) information indicative of enhanced content for the channel that is being displayed on programming device  104 . 
     Extractor  212  sends (not shown) to link generator  214  the information indicative of enhanced content. Based on the information indicative of enhanced content, link generator  214  generates ( 320 ) link  116  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to enhanced content and sends ( 322 ) link  116  to enhanced content to client device  106 . Client device  106  receives ( 324 ) link  116  to enhanced content and retrieves ( 326 ) enhanced content using link  116  to enhanced content. 
     In a variation of process  300 , channel determination manager  210  receives channel information via an audio fingerprint, for example, sent from programming device  104 . In another variation of process  300 , the foregoing actions are based on the media program that is being displayed on programming device  104 , rather than the channel that is being displayed on programming device  104 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of changing links to enhanced content as the content of media programs is changed on a primary device. The media programs viewed by a viewer on a primary device may change over time, for example, as the viewer changes a television channel, as commercials are run, as the content in a single, television program changes as a progression of time, and so forth. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , at a first point in time (“T 1 ”), a broadcaster broadcasts television program  400  to programming device  104 . As a viewer watches television program  400 , the viewer is also engaged with client device  106 . Using the techniques described herein, enhanced content manager  112  generates link  116  to enhanced content associated with television program  400 . Client device  106  receives link  116  to enhanced content and uses link  116  to enhanced content to access enhanced content  402  for television program  400 . 
     At another point in time (“T 2 ”), the viewer watches another television program, namely, television program  404 . Using the techniques described herein, enhanced content manager  112  generates link  410  to enhanced content for television program  404 . Client device  106  receives link  410  and uses link  410  to access enhanced content  412  for television program  404 . 
     At yet another point in time (“T 3 ”), the viewer watches still another television program, namely, television program  414 . Using the techniques described herein, enhanced content manager  112  generates link  416  to enhanced content for television program  414 . Client device  106  receives link  416  to enhanced content and uses link  416  to access enhanced content  418  for television program  414 . 
     Television programs  400 ,  404 ,  414  may include content specifying commercials, content associated with different television programs broadcast on different television channels, and so forth. In an example, television programs  400 ,  404 ,  414  represent television programs broadcast on channels different from each other. In this example, at T 1 , the viewer watches television program  400 . At T 2 , the viewer switches television channels to watch television program  404 . At T 3 , the viewer additionally switches television channels to watch television program  414 . 
     In another example, television program  404  represents a commercial that is run during television programs  400 ,  414 . In yet another example, television programs  400 ,  404 ,  414  represent content associated with various segments of a single television program. In this example, television program  400  represents the first 10 minutes of a television program. Television program  404  represents the second 10 minutes of the same television program. Television program  414  represents the third 10 minutes of the same television program. 
     Using the techniques described herein, links to enhanced content are sent to secondary devices, for example, while a viewer watches media programs on a primary device. The viewer&#39;s secondary device uses the link to access the enhanced content. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a computer device  500  and a mobile computer device  550 , which may be used with the techniques described here. Computing device  500  is intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. Computing device  550  is intended to represent various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be examples only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the techniques described and/or claimed in this document. 
     Computing device  500  includes a processor  502 , memory  504 , a storage device  506 , a high-speed interface  508  connecting to memory  504  and high-speed expansion ports  510 , and a low speed interface  512  connecting to low speed bus  514  and storage device  506 . Each of the components  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 ,  510 , and  512 , are interconnected using various busses, and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. The processor  502  can process instructions for execution within the computing device  500 , including instructions stored in the memory  504  or on the storage device  506  to display graphical information for a GUI on an external input/output device, such as display  516  coupled to high speed interface  508 . In other implementations, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices  500  may be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). 
     The memory  504  stores information within the computing device  500 . In one implementation, the memory  504  is a volatile memory unit or units. In another implementation, the memory  504  is a non-volatile memory unit or units. The memory  504  may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic or optical disk. 
     The storage device  506  is capable of providing mass storage for the computing device  500 . In one implementation, the storage device  506  may be or contain a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory or other similar solid state memory device, or an array of devices, including devices in a storage area network or other configurations. A computer program product can be tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product may also contain instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory  504 , the storage device  506 , memory on processor  502 , or a propagated signal. 
     The high speed controller  508  manages bandwidth-intensive operations for the computing device  500 , while the low speed controller  512  manages lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions is an example only. In one implementation, the high-speed controller  508  is coupled to memory  504 , display  516  (e.g., through a graphics processor or accelerator), and to high-speed expansion ports  510 , which may accept various expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, low-speed controller  512  is coupled to storage device  506  and low-speed expansion port  514 . The low-speed expansion port, which may include various communication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet) may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device such as a switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter. 
     The computing device  500  may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a standard server  520 , or multiple times in a group of such servers. It may also be implemented as part of a rack server system  524 . In addition, it may be implemented in a personal computer such as a laptop computer  522 . Alternatively, components from computing device  500  may be combined with other components in a mobile device (not shown), such as device  550 . Each of such devices may contain one or more of computing device  500 ,  550 , and an entire system may be made up of multiple computing devices  500 ,  550  communicating with each other. 
     Computing device  550  includes a processor  552 , memory  564 , an input/output device such as a display  554 , a communication interface  566 , and a transceiver  568 , among other components. The device  550  may also be provided with a storage device, such as a microdrive or other device, to provide additional storage. Each of the components  550 ,  552 ,  564 ,  554 ,  566 , and  568 , are interconnected using various buses, and several of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. 
     The processor  552  can execute instructions within the computing device  550 , including instructions stored in the memory  564 . The processor may be implemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multiple analog and digital processors. The processor may provide, for example, for coordination of the other components of the device  550 , such as control of user interfaces, applications run by device  550 , and wireless communication by device  550 . 
     Processor  552  may communicate with a user through control interface  558  and display interface  556  coupled to a display  554 . The display  554  may be, for example, a TFT LCD (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or other appropriate display technology. The display interface  556  may comprise appropriate circuitry for driving the display  554  to present graphical and other information to a user. The control interface  558  may receive commands from a user and convert them for submission to the processor  552 . In addition, an external interface  562  may be provide in communication with processor  552 , so as to enable near area communication of device  550  with other devices. External interface  562  may provide, for example, for wired communication in some implementations, or for wireless communication in other implementations, and multiple interfaces may also be used. 
     The memory  564  stores information within the computing device  550 . The memory  564  can be implemented as one or more of a computer-readable medium or media, a volatile memory unit or units, or a non-volatile memory unit or units. Expansion memory  574  may also be provided and connected to device  550  through expansion interface  572 , which may include, for example, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) card interface. Such expansion memory  574  may provide extra storage space for device  550 , or may also store applications or other information for device  550 . Specifically, expansion memory  574  may include instructions to carry out or supplement the processes described above, and may include secure information also. Thus, for example, expansion memory  574  may be provide as a security module for device  550 , and may be programmed with instructions that permit secure use of device  550 . In addition, secure applications may be provided via the SIMM cards, along with additional information, such as placing identifying information on the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner. 
     The memory may include, for example, flash memory and/or NVRAM memory, as discussed below. In one implementation, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product contains instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory  564 , expansion memory  574 , memory on processor  552 , or a propagated signal that may be received, for example, over transceiver  568  or external interface  562 . 
     Device  550  may communicate wirelessly through communication interface  566 , which may include digital signal processing circuitry where necessary. Communication interface  566  may provide for communications under various modes or protocols, such as GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS, or MMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, or GPRS, among others. Such communication may occur, for example, through radio-frequency transceiver  568 . In addition, short-range communication may occur, such as using a Bluetooth, WiFi, or other such transceiver (not shown). In addition, GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver module  570  may provide additional navigation- and location-related wireless data to device  550 , which may be used as appropriate by applications running on device  550 . 
     Device  550  may also communicate audibly using audio codec  560 , which may receive spoken information from a user and convert it to usable digital information. Audio codec  560  may likewise generate audible sound for a user, such as through a speaker, e.g., in a handset of device  550 . Such sound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may include recorded sound (e.g., voice messages, music files, and so forth) and may also include sound generated by applications operating on device  550 . 
     The computing device  550  may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a cellular telephone  580 . It may also be implemented as part of a smartphone  582 , personal digital assistant, or other similar mobile device. 
     Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. 
     These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms “machine-readable medium” “computer-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions. 
     To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described here can be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. 
     The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that includes a front end component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the systems and techniques described here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and the Internet. 
     The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. 
     A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the processes and techniques described herein. For example, the processes described herein could be executed by STB or STU. A STB/STU is a device that connects to a television and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device. 
     In another example, using the techniques described herein, links to enhanced content may be generated for pre-recorded programs, in which the information indicative of enhanced content may be recorded into the data stream as broadcast information. That is, information indicative of enhanced content does not have to be inserted in real-time into the broadcast information by the broadcaster, and information indicative of enhanced content may be inserted into the broadcast information during the production stage. 
     In an example, during an editing stage of a first section of a pre-recorded cooking show, information indicative of enhanced content (e.g., extra-content-data) may be inserted into the program. The information indicative of enhanced content may point at a web page including a recipe for a first meal featured in the cooking show. Later on, when a second meal is being prepared, the information indicative of enhanced content may be updated to point at the recipe for the second meal. 
     In yet another example, information indicative of enhanced content for pre-recorded shows may be specified in at least the following, two ways. First, information indicative of enhanced content may be applicable to a current moment for a current channel. That is, the information indicative of enhanced content becomes “active” (or relevant) from the instant that it is broadcast. In this example, server  102  continuously monitors for broadcast information. 
     Second, information indicative of enhanced content may be broadcast as part of a program&#39;s details in advance. In this example, information indicative of enhanced content includes a “time-offset” (from the beginning of the program) that determines when the information indicative of enhanced content becomes “active”. 
     For example, for a pre-recorded cooking show, the broadcaster may indicate that a first meal is going to be prepared from time offset 3:03 until 10:05, and therefore it can indicate that the applicable information indicative of enhanced content for that time interval includes “brodcaster.com/cookingshow/meal1-recipe.html”. Another time interval for a second meals recipe may be broadcast as part of the program details (e.g. as part of DVB and/or ATSC EIT), which may not require constant monitoring of broadcast information as the “active” information indicative of enhanced content for each interval during the show will be known in advance by server  102 . 
     In yet another example, the links to enhanced content do not require specially-authored content. Rather, the links to enhanced content use complementary web content related to TV shows that has already been generated by broadcasters and others. That is, the links to enhanced content provide the missing link from the actual TV content to the web content. In still another example, the enhanced content is viewed on a primary device, for example using a web-enabled STB. 
     In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. 
     Accordingly, other embodiments not specifically described herein are also within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 5