(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2015/0256903 A1
`Walker
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 10, 2015
`
`US 20150256903A1
`
`(54) RETRIEVING SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT
`(71) Applicant: COMCAST CABLE
`COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
`Philadelphia, PA (US)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ..... H04N 2 1/8133 (2013.01); H04N 21/23614
`(2013.01); H04N21/.435 (2013.01); H04N
`21/4884 (2013.01); H04N 2 1/84 (2013.01);
`H04N 2 1/858 (2013.01)
`
`(72) Inventor: Severin Walker, Philadelphia, PA (US)
`(73) Assignee: COMCAST CABLE
`COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
`Philadelphia, PA (US)
`s
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/200,508
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 7, 2014
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H4N2L/8
`H4N2L/858
`H4N2L/488
`H4N2L/84
`H4N2L/236
`H4N2L/435
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system may provide Supplemental content to a viewer of a
`contentitem through use of an embedded identifier indicating
`an address of associated Supplemental content identifying
`data. The Supplemental content identifying data may identify
`one or more Supplemental content items associated with the
`content item and available to the viewer. An address or other
`identifier in the Supplemental content identifying data may be
`used to retrieve at least a portion of the available supplemental
`content items, and a display may be generated combining the
`content item with the Supplemental content. In some embodi
`ments, the identifier may be securely provided to a client and
`may be authenticated as part of retrieving Supplemental con
`tent associated with the content item. The identifier may
`comprise a trusted token or security token used to authenti
`cate the Supplemental content identifying data associated
`with the content item.
`
`103
`
`
`
`
`
`Push Server
`105
`
`Content Server
`106
`
`App Server
`107
`
`Display Device
`112
`
`
`
`Gateway
`111
`
`
`
`Landline Phone
`117
`
`Wireless Device
`116
`
`
`
`Set Top Box/DVR
`113
`
`Personal Computer
`114
`
`Laptop Computer
`115
`
`-1-
`
`Amazon v. Audio Pod
`US Patent 10,091,266
`Amazon EX-1023
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`External Network
`109
`
`
`
`103
`
`Push Server
`105
`
`Content Server
`106
`
`App Server
`107
`
`101
`
`ON/nY/nY/nY/nY/nY
`
`Di?t? (po?t-1
`UUUUUU
`
`102
`
`
`
`Display Device
`112
`
`12O
`
`102a
`
`71
`
`Landline Phone
`117
`
`Wireless Device
`116
`
`Gateway
`111
`
`Set Top Box/DVR
`113
`
`Personal Computer
`114
`
`Laptop Computer
`115
`
`Fig. 1
`
`-2-
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`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`
`
`
`
`External Network
`210
`
`NETWORK
`I/O
`209
`
`ROM
`2O2
`
`RAM
`2O3
`
`GPS
`211
`
`DEVICE
`CONTROLLER
`2
`
`REMOVABLE
`MEDIA
`204
`
`PROCESSOR
`2O1
`
`HARD DRIVE
`2O5
`
`
`
`INPUT DEVICE
`
`Fig. 2
`
`-3-
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`
`
`301
`
`301
`
`301
`
`302
`
`url:http://supp.content.tv/abc123/ZyX321
`
`View Supplemental Content?
`
`Real-time Chat
`Fun FactS
`D Director Commentary
`
`Did you know?
`This Scene was actually filmed indoors and the Sun is
`made out of paper on a lamp shade.
`Fig. 3C
`
`-4-
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
`
`Begin
`
`402
`
`
`
`Receive Primary Content
`
`404 —
`
`
`
`Detect identifier of
`Supplemental Content
`Identifying Data
`
`Does User Accept
`Supplemental Content?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`408
`
`410
`
`412
`
`
`
`Retrieve Supplemental Content
`Identifying Data associated with
`Identifier
`
`Receive Selection of Available
`Supplemental Content
`
`Access Supplemental Content
`
`414
`
`
`
`Generate or Output to Display
`Supplemental Content in conjunction
`with Primary Content
`
`
`
`Fig. 4
`
`-5-
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`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`500
`Content Creator /
`OWner 510
`
`Trusted Content
`Server 511
`
`Content Provider 520
`
`Viewer 53O
`
`Gateway 531
`
`Television 532
`
`Primary Content
`Source 512
`
`Television Content Processing
`Systems 522
`
`Fig. 5
`
`Content Creator
`or OWner 510
`
`
`
`Content Provider 520
`
`Gateway 531
`
`Trusted Connection Initiation
`Connection Confirmation
`Supplemental Content and
`Identifying Data Transfer
`
`608
`610
`
`612
`
`614
`
`Reduest for Identifying Data
`Provide Identifying Data
`
`Request for Supplemental
`Content Using URIs
`
`rovide Supplemental Conten
`
`Fig. 6
`
`-6-
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 10, 2015 Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`
`
`Default Content is
`Viewed
`
`N
`
`N
`
`
`
`Discover Token
`
`708
`
`\
`u-
`-
`ins
`.
`u- is Token URI
`-
`Validated?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Retrieve Data indicating
`Supplemental Content URIs and
`Display Parameters
`
`712
`
`
`
`
`
`- is Supplementals
`
`ontent ACCepted
`
`Retrieve Supplemental Content
`Based on Supplemental Content
`Identifying Data
`
`
`
`
`
`716 —s
`
`Generate Display of Supplemental
`Content based on Display
`Specifications
`
`End
`
`Fig. 7
`
`-7-
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`

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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`Sep. 10, 2015
`
`RETREVING SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT
`
`BACKGROUND
`Viewers consume and experience content across a
`0001
`wide range of devices and content distribution systems. For
`example, viewers may watch a television program displayed
`on a television while looking up related Social networking
`content on the internet using a second device, such as a tablet.
`Some television content providers may provide an address of
`a website that users can visit on their personal computers or
`tablets to view additional content. However, having users
`copy or enter an address onto other devices detracts from a
`fully integrated user experience. These and other shortcom
`ings are addressed by the present disclosure.
`
`SUMMARY
`0002 The following summary is for illustrative purposes
`only, and is not intended to limit or constrain the detailed
`description.
`0003. Some of the features described herein may allow a
`content provider, a data services provider, a network operator,
`or the like, to provide supplemental content to a viewer of a
`content item through use of an embedded identifier. The
`embedded identifier may, in one embodiment, indicate or
`identify an address of Supplemental content identifying data.
`The Supplemental content identifying data may identify one
`or more Supplemental content items associated with the con
`tent item and available to the viewer. An address or other
`identifier in the Supplemental content identifying data may be
`used to retrieve at least a portion of the available one or more
`Supplemental content items, and a display may be generated
`combining the content item with the Supplemental content.
`0004. In some embodiments, the identifier may be
`securely provided to a client and may be authenticated as part
`of retrieving Supplemental content associated with the con
`tent item. The identifier may comprise a trusted token or
`security token used to authenticate the Supplemental content
`identifying data associated with the content item.
`0005 Through use of some of the various features
`described herein, only a small identifier may need to be trans
`mitted in order to enable a user to retrieve a significant amount
`of Supplemental content.
`0006. In some embodiments, a method of retrieving
`Supplemental content is provided. The method may comprise
`receiving an identifier of data, Such as Supplemental content
`identifying data or a metadata listing associated with a first
`content item. The identifier may be used to retrieve additional
`information Such as the Supplemental content identifying
`data. Supplemental content associated with the first content
`item may be accessed based on at least a portion of the
`Supplemental content identifying data. A presentation of the
`Supplemental content may be generated, for example, when
`requested by a user.
`0007. In some embodiments, the identifier may be a URI
`encoded within a transmission medium associated with the
`first content item. As an example, the transmission medium
`may be a content broadcast provided by a content provider, a
`data services provider, a network operator, and the like. As a
`further example, in Some embodiments the transmission
`medium may be a MPEG stream including the first content.
`Any other appropriate transmission medium may be used to
`provide the first content item and the identifier. The transmis
`sion medium may contain data corresponding to the first
`
`content item and data associated with the first content item,
`such as the supplemental content or the identifier. For
`example, where the transmission medium includes data cor
`responding to closed-captioning data associated with the first
`content item, the URI may be encoded in the closed-caption
`ing portion of the transmission medium associated with the
`first content item. In some embodiments, the identifier may be
`encoded in a program map associated with the first content
`item, or the identifier may be encoded in a program associa
`tion table.
`0008. In some embodiments the identifier may comprise a
`trusted token or may be at least partially encrypted. The
`identifier may be received by parsing a portion of the trans
`mission medium associated with the first content item to
`detect the identifier according to an expected syntax or for
`mat.
`0009. The supplemental content identifying data may be
`any type or form of data for identifying the available Supple
`mental content. In some embodiments, the Supplemental con
`tent identifying data may be a metadata listing including an
`address of one or more Supplemental content items and
`attributes of the Supplemental contentitems. In some embodi
`ments, the Supplemental content identifying data may com
`prise an address of the Supplemental content (e.g., an internet
`address), a content type associated with the Supplemental
`content, and one or more content attributes associated with
`the Supplemental content. In some embodiments, the Supple
`mental content identifying data may comprise a plurality of
`Supplemental content items and the supplemental content
`may be accessed by determining a desired Subset of the
`Supplemental content items, and then accessing the deter
`mined Subset.
`0010. In some embodiments, a request to retrieve the
`Supplemental content identifying data may include param
`eters identifying attributes of a client, a display device, and/or
`a gateway device. The parameters may identify display capa
`bilities of the display device or gateway device.
`0011. In some embodiments, a request to retrieve the
`Supplemental content may be based on an address included in
`the Supplemental content identifying data and may comprise
`parameters identifying attributes of a client, a display device,
`and/or a gateway device.
`0012. In some embodiments, other methods of retrieving
`Supplemental content may be provided. One method may
`comprise receiving an identifier of a Supplemental content
`identifying data associated with a first content item. The
`Supplemental content identifying data may be retrieved using
`the identifier. It may be determined that a user intends to
`access a Supplemental content item associated with the first
`content item. The Supplemental content item may be identi
`fied and/or accessed based on the Supplemental content iden
`tifying data.
`0013 The identifier may be received in response to access
`ing the first content item, Such as after a user has requested the
`retrieval of the first content item. In some embodiments, the
`Supplemental content identifying data may indicate a plural
`ity of Supplemental content items and a user may be prompted
`to select one or more of the plurality of Supplemental content
`items. A combined presentation of the one or more Supple
`mental content items and the first content item may be gen
`erated.
`0014. In some embodiments, an additional identifier asso
`ciated with additional Supplemental content identifying data
`may be received in response to a second content item being
`
`-8-
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`

`US 2015/0256903 A1
`
`Sep. 10, 2015
`
`accessed. The first content item may be related to the second
`content item. The additional Supplemental content identify
`ing data may be retrieved, and additional Supplemental con
`tent may be identified and/or accessed based on the additional
`Supplemental content identifying data.
`0015. In some embodiments, a system may be provided
`comprising a content processing device and a metadata server
`device. The content processing device and the metadata
`server device may be implemented by one or more computing
`devices. The content processing device may be configured to
`provide an identifier of Supplemental content identifying
`data, and the Supplemental content identifying data may indi
`cate (e.g., point to or provide an address of) Supplemental
`content associated with a first content item. The metadata
`server device may be configured to provide the Supplemental
`content identifying data in response to a request based on the
`provided identifier, and the Supplemental content identifying
`data may include an address configured to allow access to the
`Supplemental content. In some embodiments, the request may
`identify attributes of a client, a display device, and/or a gate
`way device and the metadata server may determine Suitable
`Supplemental content based on the attributes. In some
`embodiments, the content processing device may be config
`ured provide the identifier by inserting the identifier into a
`transmission medium associated with the first content item.
`0016. In some embodiments, other methods of retrieving
`Supplemental content may be provided. The method may
`comprise receiving a token identifying Supplemental content
`associated with a first content item. The token may be
`decoded to determine a URI associated with the supplemental
`content. The determined URI may be authenticated. Supple
`mental content display parameters may be retrieved accord
`ing to the authenticated URI. A presentation of the supple
`mental content may be generated according to the
`Supplemental content display parameters. In some embodi
`ments, the Supplemental content may be retrieved according
`to an address contained in the Supplemental content display
`parameters. In some embodiments the token may be at least
`partially encrypted. The authentication of the determined
`URI may be based on a security certificate or a trusted third
`party, in Some embodiments.
`0017. The summary here is not an exhaustive listing of the
`novel features described herein, and are not limiting of the
`claims. These and other features are described in greater
`detail below.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0018. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of
`the present disclosure will become better understood with
`regard to the following description, claims, and drawings.
`The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and
`not limited by, the accompanying drawings in which like
`numerals indicate similar elements.
`0019 FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication net
`work on which various features described herein may be
`implemented.
`0020 FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing device that
`can be used to implement any of the system, methods, servers,
`entities, and computing devices described herein.
`0021
`FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate example displays and/or
`user interfaces generated according to various features
`described herein.
`0022 FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for imple
`menting various features described herein.
`
`0023 FIG. 5 illustrates an example system for implement
`ing various features described herein.
`0024 FIG. 6 illustrates an example process flow for imple
`menting various features described herein.
`(0025 FIG. 7 illustrates another example method for
`implementing various features described herein.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`0026. In the following description of various illustrative
`embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying draw
`ings, which form a parthereof, and in which is shown, by way
`of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the
`disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other
`embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional
`modifications may be made, without departing from the scope
`of the present disclosure.
`0027 Various features of the methods and systems
`described herein allow for supplemental content to be pro
`vided to viewers of an associated primary content item
`through use of an identifier provided with the content item.
`Supplemental content as used herein may be any video, audio,
`image, or other content designed to enhance a viewer's expe
`rience of associated primary video content. Examples of
`Supplemental content include, but are not limited to, real-time
`commentary, user chat, Social networking content, still
`images, HTML content, secondary audio streams, secondary
`Video streams, alternate audio stream, alternate video
`streams, and the like. Supplemental content may also include
`accessibility features such as text and audio translations, dis
`play filters, contrast filters, color filters, and the like. Supple
`mental content may be associated with various applications
`provided by a gateway or display device. Such as an internet
`Video application, a social networking application, a news
`application, a game application, a music application, and the
`like. Supplemental content may be displayed on the same
`display device as the associated primary content, providing a
`combined display of the Supplemental and primary content,
`or it may be displayed on a separate device. Supplemental
`content may be displayed alongside of the associated primary
`content, or it may be incorporated within a display of the
`primary content. In some embodiments, supplemental con
`tent may replace portions of the associated primary content.
`Supplemental content may be stored and provided separately
`from the primary video content.
`0028. An identifier provided in association with the pri
`mary content item may indicate the availability of Supple
`mental content. The identifier may be inserted into a trans
`mission medium associated with the primary content item. As
`an example, the transmission medium may be a content
`broadcast provided by a content provider, a data services
`provider, a network operator, and the like. As a further
`example, in Some embodiments the transmission medium
`may be a MPEG stream including the first content. Any other
`appropriate transmission medium may be used to provide the
`first content itemand the identifier. The transmission medium
`may contain data corresponding to the first content item and
`data associated with the first content item, Such as the iden
`tifier. Inserting the identifier into the transmission medium
`may comprise encoding the identifier into a portion of the
`transmission medium. In some embodiments, the identifier
`may be used to retrieve Supplemental content identifying data
`including an address of the Supplemental content. The Supple
`mental content identifying data may indicate a plurality of
`available Supplemental content items associated with the pri
`
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
`
`Sep. 10, 2015
`
`mary content item. In some embodiments, the identifier may
`be securely provided to a client and may be authenticated as
`part of retrieving Supplemental content associated with the
`primary content item.
`0029. Various features of the methods and systems for
`retrieving supplemental content discussed above will be fur
`ther described below. However, first an exemplary operating
`environment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.
`0030 FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication net
`work 100 on which many of the various features described
`herein may be implemented. Network 100 may be any type of
`information distribution network, such as satellite, telephone,
`cellular, wireless, etc. One example may be an optical fiber
`network, a coaxial cable network, or a hybrid fiber/coax dis
`tribution network. Such networks 100 use a series of inter
`connected communication links 101 (e.g., coaxial cables,
`optical fibers, wireless, etc.) to connect multiple premises 102
`(e.g., businesses, homes, consumer dwellings, etc.) to a local
`office or headend 103. The local office 103 may transmit
`downstream information signals onto the linkS 101, and each
`premises 102 may have a receiver used to receive and process
`those signals.
`0031. There may be one link 101 originating from the
`local office 103, and it may be split a number of times to
`distribute the signal to various premises 102 in the vicinity
`(which may be many miles) of the local office 103. The links
`101 may include components not illustrated, such as splitters,
`filters, amplifiers, etc. to help convey the signal clearly, but in
`general each split introduces a bit of signal degradation. Por
`tions of the links 101 may also be implemented with fiber
`optic cable, while other portions may be implemented with
`coaxial cable, other lines, or wireless communication paths.
`By running fiber optic cable along some portions, for
`example, signal degradation may be significantly minimized,
`allowing a single local office 103 to reach even farther with its
`network of links 101 than before.
`0032. The local office 103 may include an interface, such
`as a termination system (TS) 104. More specifically, the inter
`face 104 may be a cable modem termination system (CMTS),
`which may be one or more computing devices configured to
`manage communications between devices on the network of
`links 101 and backend devices such as servers 105-107 (to be
`discussed further below). The interface 104 may be as speci
`fied in a standard, such as the Data Over Cable Service Inter
`face Specification (DOCSIS) standard, published by Cable
`Television Laboratories, Inc. (a.k.a. CableLabs), or it may be
`a similar or modified device instead. The interface 104 may be
`configured to place data on one or more downstream frequen
`cies to be received by modems at the various premises 102,
`and to receive upstream communications from those modems
`on one or more upstream frequencies.
`0033. The local office 103 may also include one or more
`network interfaces 108, which can permit the local office 103
`to communicate with various other external networks 109.
`These networks 109 may include, for example, networks of
`Internet devices, telephone networks, cellular telephone net
`works, fiber optic networks, local wireless networks (e.g.,
`WiMAX), satellite networks, and any other desired network,
`and the network interface 108 may include the corresponding
`circuitry needed to communicate on the external networks
`109, and to other devices on the network such as a cellular
`telephone network and its corresponding cell phones.
`0034. As noted above, the local office 103 may include a
`variety of servers 105-107 that may be configured to perform
`
`various functions. For example, the local office 103 may
`include a push notification server 105. The push notification
`server 105 may generate push notifications to deliver data
`and/or commands to the various premises 102 in the network
`(or more specifically, to the devices in the premises 102 that
`are configured to detect such notifications). The local office
`103 may also include a content server 106. The content server
`106 may be one or more computing devices that are config
`ured to provide content to users at their premises. This content
`may be, for example, video on demand movies, television
`programs, Songs, text listings, etc. The content server 106
`may include software to validate user identities and entitle
`ments, to locate and retrieve requested content, to encrypt the
`content, and to initiate delivery (e.g., streaming) of the con
`tent to the requesting user(s) and/or device(s).
`0035. The local office 103 may also include one or more
`application servers 107. An application server 107 may be
`one or more computing devices configured to offer any
`desired service, and may run various languages and operating
`systems (e.g., servlets and JSP pages running on Tomcat/
`MySQL, OSX, BSD, Ubuntu, Redhat, HTML5, JavaScript,
`AJAX and COMET). For example, an application server may
`be responsible for collecting television program listings
`information and generating a data download for electronic
`program guide listings. Another application server may be
`responsible for monitoring user viewing habits and collecting
`that information for use in selecting advertisements. Yet
`another application server may be responsible for formatting
`and inserting advertisements in a video stream being trans
`mitted to the premises 102. Although shown separately, one
`of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the push server
`105, content server 106, and application server 107 may be
`combined. Further, here the push server 105, content server
`106, and application server 107 are shown generally, and it
`will be understood that they may each contain memory Stor
`ing computer executable instructions to cause a processor to
`perform steps described herein and/or memory for storing
`data.
`0036 An example premises 102a, such as a home, may
`include an interface 120. The interface 120 can include any
`communication circuitry needed to allow a device to commu
`nicate on one or more links 101 with other devices in the
`network. For example, the interface 120 may include a
`modem 110, which may include transmitters and receivers
`used to communicate on the links 101 and with the local office
`103. The modem 110 may be, for example, a coaxial cable
`modem (for coaxial cable lines 101), a fiber interface node
`(for fiber optic lines 101), twisted-pair telephone modem,
`cellular telephone transceiver, satellite transceiver, local wi-fi
`router or access point, or any other desired modem device.
`Also, although only one modem is shown in FIG.1, a plurality
`of modems operating in parallel may be implemented within
`the interface 120. Further, the interface 120 may include a
`gateway interface device 111. The modem 110 may be con
`nected to, or be a part of the gateway interface device 111.
`The gateway interface device 111 may be one or more com
`puting devices that communicate with the modem(s) 110 to
`allow one or more other devices in the premises 102a, to
`communicate with the local office 103 and other devices
`beyond the local office 103. The gateway 111 may be a set-top
`box (STB), digital video recorder (DVR), computer server, or
`any other desired computing device. The gateway 111 may
`also include (not shown) local network interfaces to provide
`communication signals to requesting entities/devices in the
`
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`US 2015/0256903 A1
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`Sep. 10, 2015
`
`premises 102a, Such as display devices 112 (e.g., televisions),
`additional STBs or DVRs 113, personal computers 114, lap
`top computers 115, wireless devices 116 (e.g., wireless rout
`ers, wireless laptops, notebooks, tablets and netbooks, cord
`less phones (e.g., Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone—
`DECT phones), mobile phones, mobile televisions, personal
`digital assistants (PDA), etc.), landline phones 117 (e.g. Voice
`over Internet Protocol VoIP phones), and any other desired
`devices. Examples of the local network interfaces include
`Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA) interfaces, Ethernet
`interfaces, universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, wireless
`interfaces (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15), analog twisted
`pair interfaces, Bluetooth interfaces, and others.
`0037 Having described an example communication net
`work shown in FIG. 1 in which various features described
`herein may be implemented, an example computing device as
`shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
`0038 FIG. 2 illustrates general hardware elements that
`can be used to implement any of the various computing
`devices discussed herein. The computing device 200 may
`include one or more processors 201, which may execute
`instructions of a computer program to perform any of the
`features described herein. The instructions may be stored in
`any type of computer-readable medium or memory, to con
`figure the operation of the processor 201. For example,
`instructions may be stored in a read-only memory (ROM)
`202, random access memory (RAM) 203, removable media
`204, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, compact
`disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), floppy disk drive, or
`any other desired storage medium. Instructions may also be
`stored in an attached (or internal) hard drive 205. The com
`puting device 200 may include one or more output devices,
`Such as a display 206 (e.g., an external television), and may
`include one or more output device controllers 207, such as a
`Video processor. There may also be one or more user input
`devices 208, Such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse,
`touchscreen, microphone, camera input for usergestures, etc.
`The computing device 200 may also include one or more
`network interfaces, such as a network input/output (I/O) cir
`cuit 209 (e.g., a network card) to communicate with an exter
`nal network 210. The networkinput/output circuit 209 may be
`a wired interface, wireless interface, or a combination of the
`two. In some embodiments, the network input/output circuit
`209 may include a modem (e.g., a cable modem), and the
`external network 210 may include the communication links
`101 discussed above, the external network 109, an in-home
`network, a provider's wireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybrid fiber/
`coaxial distribution system (e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any
`other desired network. Additionally, the device may include a
`location-detecting device. Such as a global positioning system
`(GPS) microprocessor 211, which can be configured to
`receive and process global positioning signals and determine,
`with possible assistance from an external server and antenna,
`a geographic position of the device.
`0039. The FIG. 2 example is a hardware configuration,
`although the illustrated components may be wholly or par
`tially implemented as software as well. Modifications may be
`made to add, remove, combine, divide, etc. components of the
`computing device 200 as desired. Additionally, the compo
`nents illustrated may be implemented using basic computing
`devices and components, and the same components (e.g.,
`processor 201, ROM storage 202, display 206, etc.) may be
`used to implement any of the other computing devices and
`components described herein. For example, the various com
`
`ponents herein may be implemented using computing devices
`having components such as a processor executing computer
`executable instructions stored on a computer-readable
`medium, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Some or all of the entities
`described herein may be software based, and may co-exist in
`a common physical platform (e.g., a requesting entity can be
`a separate Software process and program from a dependent
`entity, both of which may be executed as software on a com
`mon computing device).
`0040. One or more aspects of the disclosure may be
`embodied in a computer-usable data and/or computer-execut
`able instructions, such as in one or more program modules,
`executed by one or more computers or other devices. Gener
`ally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,
`components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks
`or implement particular abstract data types when executed by
`a processorina computer or other data processing device. The
`computer executable instructions may be stored on one or
`more computer readable media Such as a hard disk, optical
`disk, removable storage media, Solid state memory, RAM,
`etc. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the
`functionality of the program modules may be combined or
`distributed as desired in various embodiments. In addition,
`the functionality may be embodied in whole or in part in
`firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits,
`field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particu
`lar data structures may be used to more effectively implement
`one or more aspects of the disclosure, and Such data structures
`are contemplated within the scope of computer executable
`instructions and computer-usable data described herein.
`0041 Having discussed an example network environment
`and computing device, discussion will now turn to illustrative
`displays and/or user interfaces generated according to the
`various techniques described herein, as shown in FIGS.
`3A-3C
`0042 FIG. 3A illustrates an example display or presenta
`tion 300 of video content, illustrated as primary content 301.
`Display 300 may be output by or provided to any suitable
`device for presenting video content to a user, such as a pro
`cessor and/or other computing device