Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments

Abstract

A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed on a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for presenting a programming signal and at least one corresponding related online information segment obtained from an online information source, the system comprising: 
 a first receiver which receives the programming signal;    a second receiver which receives an address identifying the online information source providing the online information segment related to the programming signal;    a processor, connected to the second receiver, which establishes a communications link with the online information source identified by the address and receives the online information segment associated with the programming signal;    a first display monitor, connected to the first receiver, for displaying the programming signal; and    a second display monitor, connected to the processor, for displaying the online information segment.    
     
     
         2 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal is received via a transmission medium selected from the group consisting of: the Internet, an intranet, radio frequency broadcast, a wireless connection, satellite broadcast, cable, telephone circuit, fiber optics, a public network, and a private network.  
     
     
         3 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal comprises at least one of a form selected from the group consisting of: a video signal, a combined audio and video signal, an audio signal, data, video stills, animations, text, graphics, multimedia, slow frame video, and a sequence of individual frames.  
     
     
         4 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes a news program and the online information segment contains additional information related to the news program.  
     
     
         5 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes an advertisement and the online information segment contains additional information related to the advertisement.  
     
     
         6 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes a sports program and the online information segment contains additional information related to the sports program.  
     
     
         7 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes an entertainment program and the online information segment contains additional information related to the entertainment program.  
     
     
         8 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes a music video and the online information segment contains additional information related to the music video.  
     
     
         9 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the second receiver are components of a device selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a television, a cable box, a satellite receiver, a hand-held computer, and a VCR.  
     
     
         10 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the second receiver are components of a wired device.  
     
     
         11 . A system as described in claim, wherein the processor and the second receiver are components of a wireless device.  
     
     
         12 . A system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a chat interface which facilitates interactive communications between a user and at least one selected from the group consisting of: the online information source and a second user.  
     
     
         13 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the address is received via a transmission medium selected from the group consisting of: the Internet, an intranet, radio frequency broadcast, telephone circuit, a wired connection, a wireless connection, satellite broadcast, cable, fiber optics, a public network, and a private network.  
     
     
         14 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the programming signal includes music and the online information segment contains additional information related to the music.  
     
     
         15 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a sports program.  
     
     
         16 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to an advertisement.  
     
     
         17 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a game show program.  
     
     
         18 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a motion picture program.  
     
     
         19 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a video program.  
     
     
         20 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a live program.  
     
     
         21 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to an audio program.  
     
     
         22 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a music video program.  
     
     
         23 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a pre-recorded program.  
     
     
         24 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a news program.  
     
     
         25 . A system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a data management storage device, wherein information about a user is stored in the data management storage device.  
     
     
         26 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the user information contains information on clicks made by the user on a user interface while using an online service source.  
     
     
         27 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein information on a plurality of users is stored in the data management storage device.  
     
     
         28 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the programming signal is selected, at least in part, based on the user information.  
     
     
         29 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the online information segment is selected, at least in part, based on user information.  
     
     
         30 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the address is selected, at least in part, based on user information.  
     
     
         31 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to at least one selected from the group consisting of: a sports program, an advertisement, a motion picture program, a game show program, a video program, a live program, an audio program, a music video program, a pre-recorded program, a sitcom program, a non-commercial program, and a news program.  
     
     
         32 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the online information segment relates to a polling question.  
     
     
         33 . A system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the address is a Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source.  
     
     
         34 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the user information contains information selected from the group consisting of: the geographic location of the user, clicks made by the user on a user interface while using an on line service source, user viewing habits, and demographics of the user.  
     
     
         35 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the data management storage device is located at a location selected from the group consisting of: a user station, a personal computer, a cable head-end, a cable box, a satellite receiver, an intranet site, a public network, a private network, and an Internet site.  
     
     
         36 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the programming signal contains a predetermined advertisement and wherein selection of the predetermined advertisement is based, at least in part, on the user information.  
     
     
         37 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein at least one online information segment contains an advertisement and wherein the advertisement is selected, at least in part, based on the user information.  
     
     
         38 . A system as described in  claim 25 , wherein the programming signal contains a graphics segment and wherein the graphics segment is selected, at least in part, based on the user information.  
     
     
         39 . A method for receiving online information related to a received programming signal comprising: 
 receiving an address identifying an online information source providing the online information related to the programming signal;    establishing automatically a communications link with the online information source;    communicating a request for the online information to the online information source; and    receiving the online information from the online information source.    
     
     
         40 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal is received from a source selected from the group consisting of: a cable head-end, an Internet content server, a broadcaster, a telephone circuit, a wireless service source, a public network, a private network, and a satellite broadcast operations center.  
     
     
         41 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the address is received via a transmission medium selected from the group consisting of: the Internet, an intranet, terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, a telephone circuit, cable, fiber optics, a wireless connection, a public network, and a private network.  
     
     
         42 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a presentation of a live event.  
     
     
         43 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a pre-recorded program.  
     
     
         44 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes an advertisement.  
     
     
         45 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes an audio program.  
     
     
         46 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a game show program.  
     
     
         47 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a sports program.  
     
     
         48 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a motion picture program.  
     
     
         49 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a music video program.  
     
     
         50 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the programming signal includes a news program.  
     
     
         51 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the online information relates to at least one selected from the group consisting of: a sports program, an advertisement, a motion picture program, a game show program, a video program, a live program, an audio program, a music video program, a pre-recorded program, a sitcom program, a non 5  commercial program, and a news program.  
     
     
         52 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the online information relates to a polling question.  
     
     
         53 . A method as described in  claim 39 , wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source.  
     
     
         54 . A method as described in  claim 39 , further comprising storing information about a user in a data management device.  
     
     
         55 . A method as described in  claim 54 , further comprising analyzing the user information.  
     
     
         56 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the user information contains user clicks made by the user on a user interface while using an online service source.  
     
     
         57 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the user information contains information selected from the group consisting of: the geographic location of the user, clicks made by the user on a user interface while using an on line service source, user viewing habits, and demographics of the user.  
     
     
         58 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the data management storage device is located at a location selected from the group consisting of: a user station, a personal computer, a cable box, a satellite receiver, cable head-end, an intranet site, a public network, a private network, and an Internet site.  
     
     
         59 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the programming signal is received, at least in part, based on a user profile.  
     
     
         60 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the online content is requested, at least in part, based on a user profile.  
     
     
         61 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the address is received, at least in part, based on a user profile.  
     
     
         62 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the programming signal contains a predetermined advertisement and wherein selection of the predetermined advertisement is based, at least in part, on the user information.  
     
     
         63 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the online information contains an advertisement and wherein the advertisement is selected, at least in part, based on the user profile.  
     
     
         64 . A method as described in  claim 54 , wherein the programming signal contains a graphics segment and wherein the graphics segment is selected, at least in part, based on the user information.