Interactive television system and method for displaying web-like stills with hyperlinks

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system includes a subscriber television including a display screen, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of channels each comprising video content, wherein, for at least one of said channels, said receiving comprises receiving video content and interactive program data on said at least one of said channels;
• receiving at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen video content from one of said plurality of channels;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images, wherein said displaying on the screen said one or more selection options is performed in response to receiving interactive program data associated with said video content from said at least one of said channels;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options.

An interactive television system which displays still video images related to video content, the system comprising:

• a video delivery system for providing a plurality of channels each comprising video content and for providing at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the subscriber television receives said plurality of channels each comprising video content and displays video content from one of said plurality of channels, wherein said subscriber television also receives said at least one channel comprising said plurality of still video images;
• a set top box coupled to the subscriber television and coupled to the video delivery system;
• wherein the set top box is adapted to receive interactive program data associated with video content from one of said plurality of channels and display one or more selection options on the subscriber television in response to said interactive program data, wherein said one or more selection options are displayed during display of video content;
• wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to receive user input selecting one of said one or more selection options;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display a still video image corresponding to a user selection in response to receiving user input selecting one of said one or more selection options.

An interactive television system which displays still video images related to video content, the system comprising:

• a subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television receives a plurality of channels each comprising video content and displays video content from one of said plurality of channels, wherein said subscriber television also receives at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images, wherein the subscriber television receives interactive program data with one or more of said plurality of channels;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display one or more selection options during display of video content, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images, wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display said one or more selection options in response to receiving interactive program data associated with said video content from one of said plurality of channels;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to receive user input selecting one of said one or more selection options;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display a still video image corresponding to a user selection in response to receiving user input selecting one of said one or more selection options.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, the method comprising:

• the video delivery system providing one or more channels each comprising video content, wherein the video delivery system provides a first channel comprising first video content;
• the subscriber television receiving said one or more channels each comprising video content, wherein the subscriber television receives said first channel comprising said first video content;
• displaying on the screen said first video content on said first channel during a first period of time;
• the video delivery system providing at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images, wherein the video delivery system provides one or more first still video images on said at least one channel during at least a portion of said first period of time, wherein said one or more first still video images correspond to said first video content;
• the subscriber television receiving said at least one channel comprising said plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a still video image corresponding to said selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said selection of said one or more selection options.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the system further comprises a media server which stores a plurality of still images, the method comprising:

• the video delivery system providing one or more channels each comprising video content;
• the subscriber television receiving said one or more channels each comprising video content;
• the video delivery system providing at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• the subscriber television receiving said at least one channel comprising said plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen video content from one of said one or more channels each comprising video content;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options;
• receiving user input indicating a request to receive additional still video images related to a video content;
• the subscriber television providing said request to the media server;
• the media server receiving said request;
• the media server providing one or more additional still video images related to said video content on a third channel in response to receiving said request;
• and
• the subscriber television displaying on the screen said one or more additional still video images related to said video content.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, the method comprising:

• the video delivery system providing one or more channels each comprising video content;
• the subscriber television receiving said one or more channels each comprising video content;
• the video delivery system providing at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• the subscriber television receiving said at least one channel comprising said plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen video content from one of said one or more channels each comprising video content;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options, wherein said video content is displayed in an inset window during said displaying on the screen said first still video image.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system includes a subscriber television including a display screen, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of channels each comprising video content, wherein said receiving includes receiving a first channel comprising first video content;
• displaying on the screen said first video content during a first period of time on said first channel;
• receiving at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images, wherein one or more first still video images are received on said at least one channel during at least a portion of said first period of time, wherein said one or more first still video images correspond to said first video content;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system includes a subscriber television including a display screen, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of channels each comprising video content;
• receiving at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen video content from one of said plurality of channels;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options;
• receiving user input indicating a request to receive additional still video images related to a video content;
• providing said request to a media server;
• receiving one or more additional still video images related to said video content on a third channel in response to receiving said request;
• and
• displaying on the screen said one or more additional still video images related to said video content.

A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system includes a subscriber television including a display screen, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of channels each comprising video content;
• receiving at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• displaying on the screen video content from one of said plurality of channels;
• displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• receiving user input selecting a first selection of said one or more selection options;
• displaying on the screen a first still video image corresponding to said first selection in response to said receiving said user input selecting said first selection of said one or more selection options, wherein said video content is displayed in an inset window during said displaying on the screen said first still video image.

An interactive television system which displays still video images related to video content, the system comprising:

• a video delivery system for providing a plurality of channels each comprising video content and for providing at least one channel comprising a plurality of still video images;
• at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the subscriber television receives said plurality of channels each comprising video content and displays video content from one of said plurality of channels, wherein said subscriber television also receives said at least one channel comprising said plurality of still video images;
• a media server which stores a plurality of still images and which is adapted to provide still images in response to a request;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display one or more selection options during display of video content, wherein each of said one or more selection options corresponds to one of said still video images;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to receive user input selecting one of said one or more selection options;
• wherein said subscriber television is adapted to display a still video image corresponding to a user selection in response to receiving user input selecting one of said one or more selection options;
• wherein the subscriber television is adapted to receive user input indicating a request to receive additional still video images related to a video content and to provide said request to the media server;
• wherein the media server provides one or more additional still video images related to said video content on a channel in response to receiving said request;
• and
• wherein the subscriber television is adapted to display said one or more additional still video images related to said video content.