Interactive video distribution systems – Program – message – or commercial insertion or substitution
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2004-06-22
Srivastava, Vivek (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Program, message, or commercial insertion or substitution
C709S204000, C709S206000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06754904
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to selecting a television channel.
BACKGROUND
The computer system illustrated in
FIG. 1
represents a typical hardware setup for executing software that allows a user to perform tasks such as communicating with other computer users, accessing various computer resources, and viewing, creating, or otherwise manipulating electronic content—that is, any combination of text, images, movies, music or other sounds, animations, 3D virtual worlds, and links to other objects. The system includes various input/output (I/O) devices (mouse
103
, keyboard
105
, display
107
) and a general purpose computer
100
having a central processor unit (CPU)
121
, an I/O unit
117
and a memory
109
that stores data and various programs such as an operating system
111
, and one or more application programs
113
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, a user of a computer system can access electronic content or other resources either stored locally at the user's own client system
202
(e.g., a personal or laptop computer) or remotely at one or more server systems
200
. An example of a server system is a host computer that provides subscribers with online computer services such as e-mail and Internet access. Users of a host computer's online services typically communicate with one or more central server systems
200
through client software executing on their respective client systems
202
.
In practice, a server system
200
typically will not be a single monolithic entity but rather will be a network of interconnected server computers, possibly physically dispersed from each other, each dedicated to its own set of duties and/or to a particular geographical region. In such a case, the individual servers are interconnected by a network of communication links, in known fashion. One such server system is “America Online 4.0” from America Online, Incorporated of Virginia.
FIG. 3
is a screen shot of a “browser” application
300
(Internet Explorer) displaying a typical HTML document, or web page
302
. A “browser” is an example of client software that enables users to access and view electronic content stored either locally or remotely, such as in a network environment (local area network (LAN), intranet, Internet). A browser typically is used for displaying documents described in Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML) and stored on servers connected to a network such as the Internet.
A user instructs a browser to access an HTML document, or web page, by specifying a network address—or Uniform Resource Locator (URL)—at which a desired document resides. In response, the browser contacts the corresponding server hosting the requested web page, retrieves the one or more files that make up the web page, and then displays the web page in a window on the user's computer screen.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, a single web page may be composed of several different files potentially of different data types
304
(e.g., text, images, virtual worlds, sounds, movies, etc.). In addition, a web page can includes links
306
, or pointers, to other resources (e.g., web pages or individual files) available on the network. Each link has an associated URL pointing to a location on the network. When a user clicks on, or otherwise selects a displayed link, the browser automatically will retrieve the web page corresponding to the link's associated URL and display it to the user.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, some server systems offer chat rooms that display user messages in real time. Client chat room software (e.g., America Online 4.0 and Internet Relay Chat) depicts a text window
402
that displays each message submitted by users visiting the chat room. The client software also provides controls for entering a message and submitting the entered messages to the server system. The server system broadcasts each submitted message to the other chat room users for display on their respective text windows
402
. Typically, chat rooms are named for discussion topics to help users to find chat rooms of interest.
FIG. 4
also shows a list of users
404
known as a “buddy list”. A user creates a buddy list by entering the names of other server system users (e.g., friends, family, or co-workers). The server can notify the user when the users in the buddy list log-on to the server system. The server can also provide other information such as which chat room the user is currently visiting.
Recently, a special purpose computer referred to as a “set-top box” has been developed and used in connection with standard television (TV) sets for viewing web pages on the Internet. The term set-top box derives from the usual placement of the device on top of a television. The term, however, should not be construed literally. That is, a set-top box may neither be a box nor be placed on top of a display. A set-top box essentially has the same basic components as the general purpose computer illustrated in
FIG. 1
, except that it also includes a TV tuner for receiving broadcast and/or cable TV signals. Users of such “web TV” systems can make dual usage of their TV sets—that is, either to watch TV or to view web pages and otherwise “surf” the Internet.
SUMMARY
Various implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of informing a first network user of activity by other network users. The method includes receiving information identifying television programming viewed by at least one other network user and displaying the information to the first network user on a user interface.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following. The information may be received via the Internet, for example, by a set-top box having an Internet connection. The user interface may also display television programming (e.g., a TV show). The method may further include transmitting a message requesting the information from a server. Displaying the information may include displaying a link that automatically tunes the set-top box to television programming identified by the link. The method may also include maintaining a list (e.g., a buddy list) of network users associated with the first user.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method of informing a first network user of activity by other network users. The method includes maintaining a list of network users associated with the first user, receiving information from one or more of the other users that corresponds to the television programming viewed by the other network user(s), and transmitting information describing the television programming viewed by the other network user(s) to the first network user.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The information may be received by an Internet service provider. The list may be received from a client.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, for informing a first network user of activity by other network users. The computer program includes instructions for causing a processor to receive information identifying television programming viewed by at least one other network user, and display the information on a user interface.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, for informing a first network user of activity by other network users. The program includes instructions for causing a processor to maintain a list of network users associated with the first user, receive information from one or more of the other users that corresponds to the television programming viewed by the other network user(s), and transmit information describing the television programming viewed by the other network user(s) to the first network user.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 558
Cooper Robert M.
Kirsh Laurence F.
Silva, Jr. Carlos A.
America Online Inc.
Chung Jason J.
Srivastava Vivek
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