System and method for supplying supplemental information for video programs

A method for providing supplemental information using a data processing apparatus including a CPU and a storage device operatively connected to the CPU and containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU for processing a request for the supplemental information related to a video program and providing the requested supplemental information, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for the supplemental information related to the video program;
• receiving synchronization information related to the video program;
• processing the request for the supplemental information by having the CPU in the data processing apparatus execute the program;
• synchronizing the requested supplemental information to the video program using the synchronization information;
• and
• transmitting the requested supplemental information.

Computer executable process steps, stored on a computer readable medium, for processing a request for supplemental information related to a video program, comprising:

• a step to receive a request for the supplemental information;
• a step to receive program identification information;
• a step to receive synchronization information;
• a step to process the program identification information;
• a step to retrieve the requested supplemental information in accordance with the program identification information;
• a step to synchronize the requested supplemental information to the video program in accordance with the synchronization information;
• and
• a step to output the synchronized requested supplemental information.

A method for receiving supplemental information related to a video program using a display device for displaying the video program and a data processing apparatus including a CPU and a storage device operatively connected to the CPU and containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU for requesting the supplemental information and for displaying the supplemental information, comprising the steps of:

• displaying the video program on the display device, where the video program includes an audio component, a visual component and synchronization information;
• initiating the program;
• requesting the supplemental information;
• transmitting information corresponding to the synchronization information from the video program;
• receiving the supplemental information synchronized to the video program;
• and
• displaying, via the data processing apparatus, the supplemental information.

A method for receiving supplemental information, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a video program including an audio component, a visual component and synchronization information;
• initiating a computer program adapted to process a request for supplemental information related to the action and events occurring within the video program;
• requesting the supplemental information;
• transmitting information corresponding to the synchronization information from the video program;
• receiving the supplemental information;
• and
• displaying the requested supplemental information, synchronized to the video program in accordance with synchronization information.

A method of receiving supplemental information related to a video program that includes an audio component and a visual component, comprising the steps of:

• viewing the video program;
• receiving program identification information and synchronization information related to the video program;
• requesting the supplemental information;
• providing the synchronization information and program identification information;
• receiving the supplemental information;
• and
• viewing supplemental information while the video program is in progress.

A system, comprising:

• a data processing apparatus including a CPU and a memory operatively connected to said CPU;
• said memory containing a first program, adapted to be executed by said CPU, for requesting supplemental information related to a video program, for transmitting synchronization information related to the video program, for receiving the requested supplemental information via a data communication network, and for displaying the supplemental information;
• a server including a controller and a storage device operatively connected to said controller;
• and
• said storage device contains a second program, adapted to be executed by the controller, for processing the request for supplemental information, for receiving synchronization information, for synchronizing the supplemental information to the video program, and for transmitting the synchronized supplemental information through the data communication network to said data processing system.

A method for providing supplemental information related to a video program using a data processing apparatus including a CPU and a memory operatively connected to the CPU and containing a first program adapted to be executed by the CPU for requesting the supplemental information, and a server including a controller and a storage device operatively connected to the controller containing a second program adapted to be executed by the controller for processing the request for the supplemental information, comprising the steps of:

• initiating the first program;
• requesting the supplemental information;
• transmitting synchronization information related to the video program to the server;
• processing the request for the supplemental information by having the controller in the server execute the second program;
• synchronizing the requested supplemental information to the video program using the synchronization information;
• receiving, by the data processing apparatus, the synchronized supplemental information;
• and
• displaying, by the data processing apparatus, the synchronized supplemental information.

A system, comprising:

• a display device configured to receive a video program, said video program including an audio component, a visual component and synchronization information;
• a server including a controller and a storage device operatively connected to said controller;
• said storage device contains a first program, adapted to be executed by said controller, for processing a request for supplemental information related to said video program, for receiving information corresponding to said synchronization information, for synchronizing the supplemental information to said video program, and for transmitting the synchronized supplemental information through a data communication network;
• a data processing apparatus including a CPU and a memory operatively connected to said CPU;
• and
• said memory containing a second program, adapted to be executed by said CPU, for requesting the supplemental information from said server, for transmitting information corresponding to said synchronization information to said server, for receiving the supplemental information via the data communication network, and for displaying the supplemental information synchronized to said video program.

A method for providing supplemental information related to a video program using a display device for displaying the video program, a data processing apparatus including a CPU and memory operatively connected to the CPU and containing a first program adapted to be executed by the CPU for requesting the supplemental information, and a server including a controller and a storage device operatively connected to the controller containing a second program adapted to be executed by the controller for processing the requests, comprising the steps of:

• displaying the video program on the display device, where the video program includes an audio component, a visual component and synchronization information;
• initiating the first program;
• requesting the supplemental information;
• transmitting information corresponding to the synchronization information from the video program to the server;
• processing the request for the supplemental information by having the controller in the server execute the second program;
• synchronizing the requested supplemental information to the video program using the information transmitted in said transmitting step;
• receiving, by the data processing apparatus, the synchronized supplemental information;
• and
• displaying, by the data processing apparatus, the synchronized supplemental information.

A signal containing information for requesting supplemental information relating to broadcast program information conveyed by the signal, comprising:

• a broadcast program including a visual component and an audio component for transmission to at least one display device;
• and
• program identification information and synchronization information included as part of said video component, said program identification information including a code for identifying said program, said synchronization information for synchronizing the supplemental information with the said program,
• wherein said synchronization information is representative of the amount of time elapsed from the start of said broadcast program.