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 channel, the device coupled to a display means, comprising:

• a receiving set, having at least one receiver, for receiving a first program on the first channel, and for receiving the signal indicating availability of the second channel 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;
• wherein the processor is coupled to a network, the network is coupled to a video service provider capable of sending a signal indicating the identity of a second channel and of sending a program over the network on the second channel in response to a request, and wherein the signal indicating the availability of the second channel includes an address, wherein the processor is further programmed to:
• derive the address from the signal indicating the availability of the second channel;
• assert a request containing the address to the video service provider over the network;
• and
• receive the identity of the second channel from the video service provider over the network.

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 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;
• wherein the video service provider is capable of sending over the network to the device a signal indicating the identity of a second channel and the interactive program over the second channel in response to a request from the device, the signal indicating the availability of the interactive program channel including an identifying code, the processor being further programmed to:
• send over the network to the video service provider a request for the interactive program, the request including the identifying code;
• receive a channel identity from the video service provider over the network;
• and
• cause the receiving set to adjust to the second channel for receiving 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 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;
• wherein the video service provider is capable of being accessed by a first message sent by the device including a first identifying code and of sending over the network to the device a second message including a second identifying code indicative of the location of the interactive program, and wherein the video service provider is also capable, upon receiving from the device a third message including the second identifying code of sending to the device a fourth message including the identity of a second channel and transmitting an interactive program associated with the first and second identifying codes over the network to the device, wherein the processor is further programmed to:
• send over the network to the video service provider the first message including the first identifying code;
• receive over the network from the video service provider the second message including the second identifying code, indicative of the location of the interactive program;
• send over the network to the video service provider the third message including the identifying code, for requesting the interactive program;
• receive over the network from the service provider the fourth message including the identity of the second channel;
• and
• adjust the receiving set to the second channel to receive the interactive program transmitted over the network by the video service provider.

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 a 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 an 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, the interactive server comprising a processor programmed to:
• receive a request for an identifying code corresponding to an interactive program;
• assign a common identifying code to an interactive program provided by an interactive program provider;
• and
• transmit the common identifying code to the interactive program provider over a first transmission medium;
• wherein the interactive server further comprises a video storage device for storing interactive programs, and a data storage device for storing identifying codes and data associating video storage device locations for the interactive programs with the corresponding identifying codes, and wherein the processor is further programmed to:
• associate in the data storage device the common identifying code with a program-specific identifying code callable by the viewer;
• receive an interactive program from the program provider;
• store the interactive program in one of the video storage device at a known location;
• associate the program-specific identifying code with the location of the interactive program in the video storage device;
• receive over the distribution system from a viewer a first message including a common identifying code indicative of the location in the data storage device of the program-specific identifying code and also including the identity of the channel to which the viewer is tuned;
• retrieve with the common identifying code the program-specific identifying code and send over the distribution system to the viewer a second message indicative of the program-specific identifying code;
• send over the network to the viewer a third message including the program-specific identifying code;
• send over the distribution system to the viewer a fourth message indicative of a channel on which the program will be transmitted to the viewer over the network;
• and
• transmit the program to the viewer over the distribution on 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, a 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:

• 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.