System and method for providing television services

A device for allowing a viewer to switch a display device from a first program transmitted over a first channel to a second program transmitted over a second channel upon receiving a signal indicating the availability of the second program, the device coupled to a display means, comprising:

• a receiving set, having at least one receiver, for receiving a program on the first channel, and for receiving the signal indicating availability of the second program and capable of being adjusted from receiving the first program on the first channel to receiving the second program over the second channel;
• means for receiving a viewer request that the device switch to the second program;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the receiver, to the means for receiving a viewer request, and to the display means, and programmed to:
• process transmissions received by the receiving set to detect the signal indicating the availability of the second program;
• generate a message indicative of the availability of the second program and display the message on the display means;
• receive a viewer request that the device switch to the second program;
• and
• upon receipt of the viewer request, cause the receiving set to adjust to the second channel to receive the second program.

A device for switching from a first program transmitted over a first channel to an interactive program transmitted over a second channel upon receiving a signal indicating the availability of the interactive program and upon selection by a viewer, the device coupled to a display means and coupled to a network, the network in turn coupled to a video service provider capable of providing the interactive program over the second channel, the device comprising:

• a receiving set for receiving the first program and for receiving the signal indicating availability of the interactive program, the receiving set having at least one receiver and being coupled to the network, and capable of being adjusted from receiving the first program on the first channel to receiving the interactive program over the second channel;
• and
• a processor adapted to receive a selection signal originating with the viewer, coupled to the receiving set and coupled to the network, the processor being programmed to:
• process transmissions received by the receiving set to detect the signal indicating the availability of the interactive program;
• and
• cause the receiving set to adjust to the second channel to receive the interactive program for viewing on the television upon receiving a selection signal from the viewer.

A device for use with a display device to allow a viewer of a first program transmitted over a first channel to switch to a second channel to receive an interactive program on receipt of a signal indicative of at least the availability of an identifying code for the interactive program, the viewer being equipped with an input means for issuing the request, the device comprising:

• a receiving set adapted for receiving transmissions on the first channel, for being adjusted from receiving transmissions over the first channel to receiving an interactive program over the second channel and, further, for receiving the transmission carrying the signal indicative of the availability of an identifying code for the second transmission;
• means for receiving viewer input;
• means for generating a video signal carrying a desired image and for combining that signal with a signal being received by the receiver for viewing on the display device;
• processing means coupled to the receiving set, to the means for generating a video signal, and to the means for receiving viewer-input, and programmed to:
• detect the signal indicative of the availability of an identifying code for the interactive program;
• cause the means for generating a video signal to generate a signal indicative of the availability of the interactive program and combine that signal with the signal being received by the receiving set;
• detect a signal received by the means for receiving viewer input indicative of a viewer request to view the second transmission;
• and
• cause the receiving set to adjust to the second channel to receive the interactive program for viewing on the display device.

A method for allowing a viewer equipped with a television signal receiving device coupled to a display device to switch between a first television program on a first channel and a second television program on a second channel, wherein a signal transmitted in association with the first television program indicates that the second television program is available, wherein the viewer is equipped to receive the second television program upon request, and wherein the television signal receiving device is adapted for receiving viewer requests, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving the first television program;
• b. receiving the signal transmitted in association with the first television program indicating the availability of the second television program;
• c. generating an image, based on receipt of the signal indicating the availability of the second television program, for displaying on the display device to notify the television viewer of that availability;
• d. receiving a viewer request to switch to the second program;
• and
• e. switching to the second channel to receive the second program.

A method for switching between a television program and an interactive program, wherein the television program signal is accompanied by a signal carrying a message providing an identification code for an associated interactive program available on an interactive server on a network, and the viewer is equipped with a means for receiving the television signal, a means for receiving the message indicating that an interactive program is available, a display means, a means for generating and overlaying an image on the display means, an information storage means, a means coupled to the network for communicating with the interactive server, and an input means coupled to the means for communicating with the interactive server for requesting the interactive television program, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving the television program signal;
• b. receiving the signal carrying the message providing the interactive program identification code;
• c. generating an image for display on the television screen indicative of the availability of an interactive program;
• d. receiving a signal from the input means requesting the interactive program;
• e. storing the identity of the channel on which the television program is transmitted in a storage medium for later retrieval;
• f. establishing communication with the interactive server over the network using the identification code;
• g. receiving the interactive program over the network from the interactive server;
• h. terminating communication with the interactive server upon the earlier of the termination of the interactive program or a viewer request to terminate;
• i. retrieving the identity of the television program channel from the information storage means;
• and
• j. tuning the means for receiving television signals to the channel having the identity retrieved from the information storage means.

A system for providing video services to a set of viewers, including receiving program content from at least one Content Provider over at least one transmission path, receiving requests for services from viewers over a distribution system to which the system and the viewers are coupled, and providing program content to viewers who have requested such program content over the distribution system, comprising:

• a switch for receiving and routing program transmissions from at least one Content Provider over the transmission media, and for receiving and routing viewer requests;
• distribution system interface equipment coupled to the switch for allowing the switch to route program content to and receive requests from viewers over the distribution system;
• and
• a server coupled to the switch for managing program content received from Content Providers and for processing viewer requests for content.

A system for providing programs and interactive programs to a set of viewers to which the system is coupled by a distribution system, including receiving programs from at least one program provider via a first transmission path, receiving interactive programs from at least one interactive program provider via a second transmission path, receiving over a distribution system to which the system and the viewer communications means are coupled viewer requests for interactive programs, and providing over the distribution system interactive programs to viewers who have requested such content, comprising:

• a switch for receiving and routing program and interactive program transmissions from the at least one program provider over the transmission media, and for receiving and routing viewer requests;
• distribution system interface equipment coupled to the switch for allowing the switch to route programs to and receive requests from viewers over the distribution system;
• and
• an interactive server coupled to the switch for receiving and managing interactive programs received from interactive program providers and for responding to viewer requests for the interactive programs.

A method for identifying to viewers, during transmission of a first television program, that an interactive program associated with the first television program is available to viewers that are subscribers of a video service provider, including the steps of:

• transmitting to the video service provider the interactive program;
• receiving from the video service provider an identifying code associated with the interactive program;
• generating a signal including the identifying code associated with the interactive program for use in accessing the interactive program;
• and
• transmitting the signal including the identifying code in coordination with the first television program during at least one portion of the first television program when the interactive television program is available for viewing.

A method of operating a video service system for delivering a program over a network to a subscriber upon request, the video service system including an information storage device, comprising the steps of:

• receiving over a network from a subscriber a first message including a first identifying code indicative of the location in the information storage device of a program;
• sending over the network to the subscriber a second message indicative of a channel on which the program will be transmitted to the subscriber over the network;
• and
• transmitting the program to the subscriber over the indicated channel.

A method of operating a video service system for delivering a program over a network to a subscriber upon request, the video service system including an information storage device, comprising-the steps of:

• receiving over a network from a subscriber a first message including a first identifying code indicative of the location in an information storage device of a second address;
• retrieving from the information storage device, at the location indicated by the first identifying code, the second identifying code;
• sending over the network to the subscriber a second message including the second identifying code;
• receiving from the subscriber a third message including the second identifying code;
• transmitting to the subscriber a message indicating the identity of a channel on which the program will be delivered;
• and
• transmitting to the subscriber the program over the indicated channel.

A method of operating a video service system for delivering a program originating with a Content Provider over a network to a subscriber upon request, the video service system including at least one information storage device, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for an identifying code from a Content Provider;
• providing an identifying code, associated with a location in the information storage device, to the Content Provider;
• receiving a program from the Content Provider;
• storing the program in an information storage device at a known location;
• associating the identifying code with the location of the program in an information storage device;
• receiving over a network from a subscriber a first message including an identifying code indicative of the location in the information storage device of a program;
• sending over the network to the subscriber a second message indicative of a channel on which the program will be transmitted to the subscriber over the network;
• and
• transmitting the program to the subscriber over the indicated channel.

A method of operating a video service system for delivering a program originating with a Content Provider over a network to a subscriber upon request, the video service system including at least one information storage device, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a request for an identifying code from a Content Provider;
• b. providing a common identifying code, associated with a location in one of the at least one information storage devices, to the Content Provider in response to the request;
• c. associating in one of the at least one information storage devices in a video service system the common identifying code with a program-specific identifying code callable by the subscriber;
• d. receiving the program from the Content Provider;
• e. storing the program in one of the at least one information storage devices at a known location;
• f. associating the program-specific identifying code with the location of the program in one of the at least one information storage devices;
• g. receiving over the network from a subscriber a first message including a common identifying code indicative of the location in the appropriate information storage device of the program-specific identifying code;
• h. sending over the network to the subscriber a second message indicative of the program-specific identifying code;
• i. receiving over the network from the subscriber a third message including the program-specific identifying code;
• j. sending over the network to the subscriber a fourth message indicative of a channel on which the program will be transmitted to the subscriber over the network;
• and
• k. transmitting the program to the subscriber over the indicated channel.