(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0042920 A1
`Thomas et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`US 20020042920A1
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`SUPPLEMENTING ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`
`(75) Inventors: William L. Thomas, Bixby, OK (US);
`Michael D. Ellis, Boulder, CO (US);
`David M. Berezowski, Tulsa, OK (US);
`Kevin B. Easterbrook, Monument, CO
`(US); Joseph P. Baumgartner, Tulsa,
`OK (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`FISH & NEAVE
`1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
`50TH FLOOR
`NEW YORK, NY 10020-1105 (US)
`(73) Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/974,529
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 9, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional application No.
`60/239,521, filed on Oct. 11, 2000. Non-provisional
`of provisional application No. 60/252,171, filed on
`Nov. 20, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional appli
`cation No. 60/270,351, filed on Feb. 21, 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................ G06F 3/00; H04N 5/445;
`G06F 13/00; H04N 7/173
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................. 725/87; 725/40
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Systems and methods for providing Supplemental content
`with on-demand media in an interactive television applica
`tion are described.
`
`
`
`100
`
`110
`
`APPLICATION
`DATA SOURCE
`
`INTERACTIVE
`APPLICATION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`130
`
`LOCAL INFORMA
`SERVICE
`
`APPLICATION
`DATA SOURCE
`
`Page i
`
`AMAZON EX. 1003
`Amazon v. CustomPlay
`US Patent No. 9,380,282
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 1 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`100
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLICATION
`DATA SOURCE
`
`160
`
`APPLICATION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`SERVICE
`
`APPLICATION
`DATA SOURCE
`
`150
`
`160
`
`F.G. 1
`
`Page ii
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 2 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`Page iii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 3 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`Page iv
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 4 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION NEST
`SERVICE
`EQUIPMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`Page v
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 5 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`INTERNET
`SERVICE
`SYSTEM
`
`190
`
`USER TELEVISION
`ECUPMENT
`
`FIG. 2D
`
`Page vi
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 6 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920
`A1
`
`PERSONAL COMPUTER 240
`
`
`
`Page vii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Ap
`r. 11, 2002. Sheet 7 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`900
`
`VIDEO AND
`DATAN
`
`SET-TOPBOX
`
`350
`
`260
`
`340
`300
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL STORAGE
`DEVICE
`DEVICE
`
`310
`
`290
`
`CONTROL
`
`SECONDARY
`STORAGE DEVICE
`
`330
`
`TELEVISION
`
`280
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page viii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 8 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`200
`VIDEO AND DATA IN
`
`410
`
`
`
`USER INPUT
`
`360
`CONTROL CIRCUITRY
`390
`
`AUDIO
`DEVICE
`425
`
`420
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`400
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`380
`
`190
`
`DIGITALSTORAGE
`DEVICE
`
`370
`SECONDARY STORAGE
`DEVICE
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page ix
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 9 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`AWaSaMt.
`
`45
`
`so
`
`VIEWER
`CABLE
`PROGRAM
`LISTINGS SHOWCASE SERVICES
`s
`S.
`
`BYTIME CC VOD C PVR C
`(BY CHANNEC PPVTITLEDOMESSAGES)
`C MOVIES OPPVEVENTSC PARENTS
`CSPORTS DC PREMIUMDCFAVORITES)
`CCHILDRENDC MUSIC C SETUP
`C SEARCH DO ADULT DO EXIT D
`TONIGHT ON WGN: FELCITY AT NYU CLICK FORMORE
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page x
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 10 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`ºoayhos),
`
`CINWWEO NO OEC?IA ZIG
`
`ET:IV
`TV119||
`
`
`
`
`
`Page xi
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002
`
`Sheet 11 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`page xii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 12 of 28 US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`TV
`St.
`GUIDE
`6:30 PM (- V.
`
`ADVERTISEMENT
`
`FIG. C.
`
`Page xiii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002
`
`Sheet 13 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xiv
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 14 of 28
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`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xv
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 15 of 28
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`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xvi
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 16 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`too!
`
`Page xvii
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 17 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xviii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 18 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xix
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 19 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`:ºi taas ºº osw two yºmus Nag
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`Page xx
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 20 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xxi
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 21 of 28
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`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xxii
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002. Sheet 22 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xxiii
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 23 of 28
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`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`Page xxiv
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 24 of 28
`
`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`
`
`tal-I
`
`Page xxv
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 25 of 28 US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`Receiving A Request For
`On-Demand Media From User
`
`2105
`
`Retrieving Supplemental Content 2110
`Related To On-Demand
`Media (e.g., Fig. 22)
`
`Provide On-Demand Media
`in Response To Request
`(e.g., Fig. 23)
`
`2115
`
`Provide Supplemental Content
`To User For On-Demand Media
`(e.g., Fig. 24)
`
`2120
`
`FIG. 21
`
`Page xxvi
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 26 of 28 US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Retrieving Supplemental Content
`Related To On-Demand Media
`
`Retrieve Supplemental
`Content From Main Facility
`And Download Along With
`Application Data
`
`Download Supplemental
`Content Along With Selected
`On-Demand Media (e.g.,
`Synchronous Metadata)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Selected
`On-Demand
`Media For
`Viewing
`Later?
`
`
`
`YES
`
`Download Supplemental
`Content Prior To Viewing
`(e.g., Carousel Approach)
`
`Store Supplemental
`Content in User
`Equipment
`
`Locally Cache
`Supplemental Content
`With On-Demand Media
`
`FIG. 22
`
`Page xxvii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 27 of 28 US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Providing On-Demand Media
`In Response To Request
`
`
`
`
`
`Provide User With Options
`Relating To On-Demand Media
`
`2310
`
`Receive indications Of User
`Selected Options Relating To
`On-Demand Media
`
`
`
`2315
`
`Display On-Demand Media
`
`2320
`
`FIG. 23
`
`Page xxviii
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 28 of 28 US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Provide Supplemental Content
`To User Fgr On-Demand Media
`
`2410
`
`
`
`Provide User With
`Options Relating To
`Supplemental Content
`
`Receive indications
`of User-Selected
`Options Relating To
`Supplemental Content
`
`
`
`
`
`2420
`
`ls Metadata
`Embedded in
`On-Demand
`Media?
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`225 View Metadata Embedded
`in On-Demand Media
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Prior To
`Viewing
`On-Demand
`Media?
`
`2435
`
`Locally Cache
`Supplemental Content
`
`
`
`20 Display Supplemental
`Content
`
`FG. 24
`
`Page xxix
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`SUPPLEMENTING ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`0001. This application claims the benefit of U.S. provi
`sional patent application No. 60/239,521, filed Oct. 11,
`2000, No. 60/252,171, filed Nov. 20, 2000, and No. 60/270,
`351, filed Feb. 21, 2001.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002 This invention relates to systems and methods for
`providing on-demand media in interactive television appli
`cations, and, more particularly, to Systems and methods for
`Supplementing on-demand media in interactive television
`applications.
`0003 Currently, digital versatile discs (DVDs) are used
`to provide media users with various forms of media, typi
`cally videos. DVDs are also used to Store Supplementary
`material, Such as actor interviews and theatrical trailers.
`However, Such Supplementary material is limited by the
`amount of Space available on the disc. Furthermore, Supple
`mentary material stored on DVDs is not updatable.
`0004. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide large
`amounts of updatable media distribution Systems which
`provide Supplemental content for on-demand media.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0005. This and other objects of the invention are accom
`plished in accordance with the principles of the present
`invention by providing Systems and methods for Supple
`menting on-demand media. Illustrative features of Some
`embodiments of the present invention are described, for
`example, in U.S. provisional patent Application No. 60/239,
`521, filed Oct. 11, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by
`reference herein in its entirety. Illustrative Video-on-demand
`interface features for use in accordance with Some embodi
`ments of the present invention are described, for example, in
`U.S. provisional patent Application No. 60/252,171, filed
`Nov. 20, 2000 and No. 60/270,351, filed Feb. 21, 2001,
`which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their
`entireties.
`0006 On-demand media may include, for example,
`audio-on-demand media, Video-on-demand media, elec
`tronic publications (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, or
`any other Suitable electronic publications), electronic games,
`Software applications, or any other Suitable on-demand
`media. Supplemental content for Such on-demand media
`may be any Suitable passive or interactive text, graphics,
`animation, Video, audio, or Suitable combination thereof
`Such as, for example, actor interviews, theatrical trailers,
`top-ten Scenes in a movie, music videos, web sites, third
`party applications, additional passive or interactive infor
`mation associated with the on-demand media, or any other
`Suitable Supplemental content.
`0007 Some embodiments may display Supplemental
`content Separate from on-demand media in, for example,
`Separate displayS. Other embodiments may overlay Supple
`mental content onto a display. For example, Supplemental
`content may be overlaid over the on-demand media that the
`user is watching, an application display, or other Suitable
`display. In Some embodiments, Supplemental content may be
`displayed in response to user actions. For example, Supple
`mental content may be displayed when a user Selects a media
`
`listing from a guidance application, as the user browses
`through listings, or when a user Selects on-demand media. In
`Some embodiments, Supplemental content may be displayed
`for a predefined period of time when the user first accesses
`a segment of on-demand media (e.g., a scene in a movie),
`and then the Supplemental content may disappear (e.g., fade
`away). Some embodiments may provide Supplemental con
`tent only in response to the user's request (e.g., Selecting an
`on-screen button).
`0008 Supplementing on-demand media may be per
`formed by any Suitable Stand-alone, distributed, or client
`Server based application. For example, a Stand-alone inter
`active television application, Such as an interactive
`television program guide or other Suitable guidance appli
`cation, may receive Supplemental content and Supplement
`on-demand media.
`0009 Supplemental content may be distributed using any
`Suitable approach. Supplemental content, or links to Supple
`mental content, may be provided as, for example, Synchro
`nous metadata. Synchronous metadata is data that is sent
`logically at the same time as the on-demand media with
`which it is associated. The Synchronous metadata may be
`Supplied contemporaneously with the media, or prior to the
`media but with information associating it with the media
`(e.g., identifiers, links, or any other Suitable information).
`Metadata may be provided in-band with or separate from the
`media, out-of-band, using a carousel-based approach, using
`a client-Server based approach, using localized caching,
`using a combination of these approaches, or using any other
`Suitable approach. One or more of these approaches may
`require that a user's in-home equipment include multiple
`tuners. Local caching may be used to enhance the response
`time of the System.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0010. The above and other objects and advantages of the
`invention will be apparent upon consideration of the fol
`lowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
`refer to like parts throughout, in which:
`0011 FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illus
`trative interactive television System, in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0012 FIGS. 2A-2E show illustrative arrangements for
`the interactive television application equipment of FIG. 1, in
`accordance with various embodiments of the present inven
`tion.
`0013 FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic block diagram
`of user television equipment of FIGS. 2A-2E, in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0014 FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of
`portions of the illustrative user television equipment of FIG.
`3, in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`0015 FIG. 5 is an illustrative main menu display that
`may be displayed by an interactive television application, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0016 FIG. 6 is an illustrative video-on-demand menu
`display that may be displayed by an interactive television
`application, in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`Page 1
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`0017 FIG. 7 is an illustrative display that may be dis
`played by an interactive television application when a user
`browses through media listings, in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0.018
`FIG. 8 is an illustrative combined display that may
`be displayed by an interactive television application when a
`user browses through on-demand and non-on-demand media
`listings, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0019 FIG. 9 is an illustrative display that may be dis
`played by an interactive television application in response to
`a request to order on-demand media, in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0020 FIG. 10 is an illustrative setup display that may be
`displayed by an interactive television application, in accor
`dance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0021
`FIG. 11 is an illustrative display that may be
`displayed by an interactive television application for pro
`Viding a user with options along with the on-demand media,
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`0022 FIGS. 12 and 13 are illustrative displays that may
`be displayed by an interactive television application in
`response to a user indicating a desire to View actor-related
`information, in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0023 FIG. 14 is an illustrative display that may be
`displayed by an interactive television application in response
`to a user indicating a desire to view Supplemental content
`related to an actor that the user is currently watching, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0024 FIG. 15 is an illustrative display that may be
`displayed by an interactive television application in response
`to a user indicating a desire to view additional information
`related to an actor that the user is currently watching, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0025 FIGS. 16 and 17 are illustrative displays that may
`be displayed by an interactive television application in
`response to a user indicating a desire to receive interactive
`media related to on-demand media, in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0026 FIGS. 18 and 19 are illustrative displays that may
`be displayed by an interactive television application in
`response to a user indicating a desire to receive information
`related to the audio portion of on-demand media, in accor
`dance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0027 FIG. 20 is an illustrative display that may be
`displayed by an interactive television application in response
`to a user indicating a desire to receive linkS related to
`on-demand media, in accordance with one embodiment of
`the present invention.
`0028 FIG. 21 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved
`in providing Supplemental content for on-demand media, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0029 FIG.22 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved
`in retrieving Supplemental content for on-demand media, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`0030 FIG.23 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved
`in providing the user with on-demand media, in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention.
`0031 FIG.24 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved
`in presenting the user with Supplemental content for Selected
`on-demand media, in accordance with one embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0032. An interactive television application for supple
`menting on-demand media may be based on any Suitable
`hardware platform or topology. Suitable hardware that may
`be used in implementing Such an interactive television
`application includes hardware Such as Satellite receivers,
`personal computer televisions (PC/TVS), personal comput
`ers (e.g., with television tuner cards), cable Set-top boxes, or
`any other Suitable hardware. In Some embodiments, the
`interactive television application may be an interactive tele
`Vision program guide. Illustrative interactive television pro
`gram guide Systems are described, for example, in Knee et
`al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,892 and Knudson et al. U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which
`are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entire
`ties. Client-server program guide Systems are described, for
`example, in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`09/374,043, filed Aug. 13, 1999, which is hereby incorpo
`rated by reference herein in its entirety. On-line program
`guide systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al.
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18,
`1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
`entirety.
`0033. An illustrative system 100 in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.
`Main facility 120 provides application data from application
`data source 160 to interactive application equipment 130 via
`communications link 110. There may be multiple applica
`tion data Sources but only one has been shown to avoid
`over-complicating the drawing. If desired, application data
`Sources may be located at facilities Separate from main
`facility 120, such as at local information service 150, and
`have their data provided to main facility 120 for localization
`and distribution. Application data Source 160 may be any
`Suitable computer or computer-based System for generating
`or obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, elec
`tronically via a computer network or other connection, or via
`Storage media) and putting the data into electronic form for
`distribution by main facility 120. Link 110 may be a satellite
`link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a
`microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of Such
`links, or any other Suitable communications link. Video
`signals may also be transmitted over link 110 if desired.
`0034. The application data distributed by main facility
`120 to interactive application equipment 130 may include
`any Suitable application data. The application data may
`include Video-on-demand information, audio-on-demand
`information, Supplemental content, or any other media-on
`demand-related information. In Some embodiments, the
`application data may include television programming data
`(e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and
`descriptions) and other data for Services other than television
`program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information,
`
`Page 2
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042920 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`weather information, Sports information, music channel
`information, associated Internet web links, associated Soft
`ware, etc.). There are preferably numerous pieces or instal
`lations of interactive application equipment 130, although
`only one is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating the
`drawing.
`0.035
`Application data may be transmitted by main facil
`ity 120 to interactive application equipment 130 using any
`Suitable approach. For example, main facility 120 may
`distribute application data periodically, continuously, or
`with any other frequency, as being files or as a stream. In
`Some approaches, data files may, for example, be encapsu
`lated as objects transmitted using a Suitable Internet based
`addressing Scheme and protocol Stack (e.g., a Stack which
`uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol
`(IP)). Systems in which data is transmitted from a main
`facility to television distribution facilities using Such an
`approach are described, for example, in Gollahon et al. U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999,
`which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
`entirety.
`0.036 Supplementing on-demand media may be per
`formed by any Suitable Stand-alone, distributed, or client
`Server based application. For example, a Stand-alone inter
`active television application, Such as an interactive
`television program guide or other Suitable guidance appli
`cation, may receive Supplemental content and Supplement
`on-demand media. Supplemental content for Such on-de
`mand media may be any Suitable passive or interactive text,
`graphics, animation, Video, audio, or Suitable combination
`thereof Such as, for example, actor interviews, theatrical
`trailers, top-ten Scenes in a movie, music videos, web sites,
`third-party applications, additional passive or interactive
`information associated with the on-demand media, or any
`other Suitable Supplemental content.
`0037. In some embodiments, supplemental content may
`be generated and transmitted at main facility 120 and
`accumulated at distribution facility 180 (e.g., a cable system
`headend). Supplemental content may be transmitted concur
`rently with application data and Stored in user television
`equipment 200. Alternately, Supplemental content may be
`transmitted with on-demand media. It is noted that distri
`bution facility 180 may distribute supplemental content
`periodically, continuously, or with any other frequency, as
`being files or as a stream.
`0.038. In some embodiments, supplemental content may
`be transmitted with on-demand media. The Supplemental
`content may be accumulated at distribution facility 180 and
`provided with on-demand media. In Some approaches, the
`Supplemental content may be downloaded to user television
`equipment 200 prior to the viewing of the selected on
`demand media. For example, when a user indicates a desire
`to view an on-demand media Selection at a predetermined
`time (e.g., two hours from the indication), the corresponding
`Supplemental content may be transmitted prior to viewing
`the Selected on-demand media.
`0039 Local information service 150 may be any facility
`Suitable for obtaining data particular to a localized region
`and providing the data to main facility 120 over communi
`cations link 140. Local information service 150 may be, for
`example, a local weather Station that measures weather data,
`a local newspaper that obtains local high School and college
`
`Sporting information, or any other Suitable provider of
`information. Local information server 150 may be a local
`business with a computer for providing main facility 120
`with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions,
`menus, etc., or any other Suitable provider of information.
`Link 140 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link,
`a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link,
`a combination of Such links, or any other Suitable commu
`nications link.
`0040. In some embodiments, local information service
`150 may be any suitable facility for providing Supplemen
`tary content particular to a localized region. Local informa
`tion service 150 may provide supplemental content to main
`facility 120 over communications link 140 for accumulation
`at distribution facility 180 (e.g., a cable system headend).
`Local information service 150 may be used to provide, for
`example, national and local advertisements relating to the
`Selected on-demand media.
`0041 An interactive television application may be imple
`mented on interactive application equipment 130. Five illus
`trative arrangements for interactive application equipment
`130 are shown in FIGS. 2A-2E. As shown, interactive
`application equipment 130 may include distribution facility
`180, distribution equipment 170 located at distribution facil
`ity 180, and user television equipment 200.
`0042. The interactive television application, such as an
`interactive television program guide or other guidance appli
`cation, web browser, or other Suitable interactive television
`application, may run totally on user television equipment
`200 using the arrangements of FIGS. 2A and 2C, or may
`run partially on user television equipment 200 and partially
`on interactive application equipment 130 using a Suitable
`client-Server or distributed processing arrangement Such as
`those shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D. Distribution facility 180
`may be any Suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable System
`headend, a broadcast distribution facility, or any other
`suitable type of distribution facility), and may have distri
`bution equipment 170.
`0043. Distribution equipment 170 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C,
`and 2D is equipment Suitable for providing application data
`to user television equipment 200 over communications path
`190. In FIG. 2E, distribution equipment 170 may provide
`application data, Such as program guide data, to Internet
`Service System 220 Via, for example, a Suitable computer
`network or Internet link.
`0044 Supplemental content, or links to content, may be
`distributed to user television equipment 200 by distribution
`equipment 170 as, for example, Synchronous metadata.
`Synchronous metadata is data that is Sent logically at the
`Same time as the media with which it is associated. The
`metadata may be provided in-band with or Separate from the
`media, out-of-band, using a carousel-based approach, using
`a client-Server based approach, using localized caching,
`using a combination of these approaches, or using any other
`Suitable approach. The Synchronous metadata may be Sup
`plied contemporaneously with the media, or prior to the
`media but with information associating it with media (e.g.,
`identifiers, links, or any other Suitable information). One or
`more of these approaches may require that a user's in-home
`equipment include multiple tuners. Localized caching may
`be used to enhance the response time of the System.
`004.5 The metadata may include other types of data. The
`metadata may include, for example, commands that indicate
`
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`US 2002/0042920 A1
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`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`to the users in-home equipment (or client applications
`running on the equipment) that a particular action is to be
`performed (e.g., overlaying a visual indicator onto the
`on-demand media). The metadata may include, for example,
`a directory that indicates Segments of on-demand media, a
`directory of Supplemental content that is available for the
`on-demand media, or any other Suitable information. In
`Some approaches, the metadata may be used as markers
`within the on-demand media. For example, Supplemental
`content may include a number of Segments (e.g., actor
`interviews, trailers, top-ten Scenes in the movie, music
`Videos, or any other Suitable segment). The segments may be
`provided along with the actual movie or separately from the
`actual movie. The System may provide a menu that indicates
`the Segments and allows the user to jump directly to the
`Segment based on the metadata.
`0.046
`Distribution equipment 170 may include, for
`example, Suitable transmission hardware for distributing
`application data on a television channel Sideband, in the
`Vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an
`in-band digital Signal, using an out-of-band digital Signal, or
`by any other Suitable data transmission technique. Analog or
`digital signals for on-demand media (e.g., television pro
`grams, on-demand movies, on-demand music, etc.) may also
`be distributed by distribution equipment 170 to user televi
`sion equipment 200 over communications paths 190 on
`multiple television channels. Alternatively, on-demand
`media may be distributed to user television equipment 200
`from Some other Suitable distribution facility, Such as a cable
`System headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite
`television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of
`television distribution facility. In another Suitable approach,
`on-demand media may be distributed from an in-home
`Server. In yet another Suitable approach, the media may be
`a media Segment or program that the use has previously
`Selected to be recorded.
`0047 Communications paths 190 may be any communi
`cations paths Suitable for distributing application data. Com
`munications paths 190 may include, for example, a Satellite
`link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a
`microwave link, an Internet link, a data-Over-cable Service
`interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a radio frequency
`link, a combination of Such links, or any other Suitable
`communications link. Communications paths 190 preferably
`have sufficient bandwidth to allow distribution facility 180
`or another distribution facility to distribute television pro
`gramming to user television equipment 200. There are
`typically multiple pieces of user television equipment 200
`and multiple associated communications paths 190,
`although only one piece of user television equipment 200
`and communications path 190 are shown in FIGS. 2A-2D to
`avoid over-complicating the drawings. If desired, television
`programming, application data, Supplemental content, and
`on-demand media may be provided over Separate commu
`nications paths.
`0.048
`FIG. 2B shows an illustrative arrangement for
`interactive application equipment 130 in a client-server
`based or distributed interactive application System. AS
`shown in FIG. 2B, distribution equipment 170 may include
`server 210. Server 210 may use any suitable combination of
`hardware and Software to provide a client-Server based
`application. Server 210 may, for example, run a Suitable
`database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide
`
`application data and Supplemental content in response to
`queries generated by an application client implemented on
`user television equipment 200. If desired, server 210 may be
`located at main facility 120, or other location, Such as a cable
`System headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a Satellite
`television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of
`television distribution facility.
`0049. The application client may retrieve application data
`and Supplemental content from Server 210 using any Suitable
`client-Server based approach. The client may, for example,
`pass SQL requests as messages to Server 210. In another
`Suitable approach, the application client may invoke remote
`procedures that reside on Server 210 using one or more
`remote procedure calls. Server 210 may execute SQL state
`ments for Such invoked remote procedures. In Still another
`Suitable approach, client objects executed by the application
`may communicate with Server objects executed by Server
`210 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB).
`This may involve using, for example, Microsoft's Distrib
`uted Component Object Model (DCOM) approach. In
`another Suitable approach, the application client may also
`retrieve supplemental content from server 205 over com
`munications path 190.
`0050. The application client may communicate with
`server 210 over communications path 190 using any suitable
`network and transport layer protocols, if desired. They may
`communicate, for example, using a protocol Stack which
`includes Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet
`Exchange (SPX/IPX) layers, Transmission Control Proto
`col/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) layers, Appletalk Transaction
`Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP/DDP) layers