Enhanced television services
AssigneeicueTV, Inc.
InventorMichael L. Huegel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system to permit TV viewers to interact with program content broadcast over a subscriber network, such as cable, satellite, internet, or cellular telephone. The details of the ability for the viewer to interact is embedded as data in the program signal. The subscription provider broadcasts a visual indicator as a small icon during programming that informs the viewer that interaction is permitted. The viewer then uses a remote control to purchase products, vote on events, respond to polls, download files, request information, and request callback actions. The TV viewer uses the remote control to send information to a set-top box front-end application, and to iteratively create transactions that are batched and then sent to a back-end core application and database which then handles fulfillment.
Claims75
A method for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals to a set-top box, said method comprising:
- a) incorporating event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control;
- b) broadcasting and displaying an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer;
- c) accepting input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer;
- d) broadcasting and displaying said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer;
- e) accepting and capturing data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information;
- f) using said captured data to incrementally form a query;
- g) if the query is not complete, iteratively accepting and capturing data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer, and concatenating said iteratively captured data to the query until the query is complete;
- and
- h) creating a transaction from the query.
A system for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals to a set-top box, said system comprising:
- a) a component that incorporates event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control;
- b) a component that broadcasts and displays an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer;
- c) a component that accepts input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer;
- d) a component that broadcasts and displays said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer;
- e) a component that accepts and captures data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information;
- e) a component that uses said captured data to incrementally form a query;
- g) a component that iteratively accepts and captures data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer if the query is not complete, and concatenates said iteratively captured data to the query until the query is complete;
- and
- h) a component that creates a transaction from the query.
The system of 22, 29, or 30 wherein event information is displayed to the TV viewer, and wherein the TV viewer can cast a vote by activating one or more electronic switches on the remote control.
A system for a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast by a service provider over a subscriber television network wherein the TV viewer uses a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, and wherein the remote control transmits signals to a set-top box, said system comprising:
- a) a means for incorporating event identification data into the content, wherein said event identification data associates the content with an ability for the TV viewer to perform interactive tasks associated with the event by using the remote control;
- b) a means for broadcasting and displaying an indicator visible to the TV viewer, wherein said indicator indicates to the TV viewer that the TV viewer is able to perform said interactive tasks using the remote control and that the provider is ready to receive input from the TV viewer;
- c) a means for accepting input data from the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates an electronic switch on the remote control, said data indicating that the TV viewer desires detailed information, wherein said input data is accepted only during the period that the indicator is displayed to the TV viewer;
- d) a means for broadcasting and displaying said detailed information so as to be visible to the TV viewer;
- e) a means for accepting and capturing data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer when the TV viewer activates at least one electronic switch on the remote control in response to said detailed information;
- f) a means for using said captured data to incrementally form a query;
- g) if the query is not complete, a means for iteratively accepting and capturing data from the set-top box that is generated by the TV viewer, and a means for concatenating said iteratively captured data to the query until the query is complete;
- and
- h) a means for creating a transaction from the query.
A system to enable a TV viewer to interact with content broadcast onto a television set by a service provider over a subscriber television network allowing the TV viewer to use a remote control to interact with the content, the remote control comprising electronic switches, wherein the remote control transmits signals to a set-top box, said system comprising:
- a) at least one multiple cable television system network comprising hardware and software components,
- b) a back-end hardware and software component that resides with the service provider and which interacts with the at least one multiple cable television system network;
- said back-end software component further comprising:
- i) web portal components;
- ii) a business application engine component;
- iii) a common business services component;
- and
- iv) a component that allows third party integration;
- and,
- c) said system further comprising a central data base,
- wherein the at least one multiple cable television system network functions at the service provider;
- and
- wherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises:
- at least one front-end hardware and software component that handles TV user interaction with the subscriber television network, and
- wherein each of the at least one multiple cable television system network further comprises:
- i) a component that permits the TV viewer to purchase products;
- ii) a component that permits the TV viewer to download software or data;
- iii) a component that permits the TV viewer to vote or be polled;
- iv) a component that permits the TV viewer to request information;
- v) a component that permits the TV viewer to initiate a call to action control, wherein said call to action is a request for a return communication with detailed information regarding an event or product;
- and
- vi) a component that permits authentication of TV viewers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.