System and method for simultaneously displaying video programming and instant messaging

Abstract

Instant messaging (IM) and TV programming are displayed simultaneously on a TV screen. An instant messaging window on the screen displays posted messages and identifies the TV program (if any) being currently viewed by each user posting messages. An icon accompanying a message can be selected by a message recipient to permit a telephone call to be automatically dialed and completed to the message sender. Video files attached to sent messages include a key which may be compared to a key at the destination, so that the video file may be viewed by the recipient only if the there is a match. Data collected at a server managing the instant messaging may be used to monitor message, television and telephone activity, as well as demographic data associated with the IM users.

1 . A display system for use in a communications network, comprising: 
 a display device; and    plural display windows at the display device, the plural windows for simultaneously displaying multiple content, wherein a first display window displays video programming content and wherein a second display window displays content from an instant messaging (IM) application.    
   
   
       2 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the video programming content is a broadcast television program.  
   
   
       3 . The display system of  claim 2 , wherein the broadcast television program is provided over one of a plurality of selectable television channels, and wherein the display device is a television screen.  
   
   
       4 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the instant messaging content comprises: 
 a personal ID associated with a user of the IM application.    
   
   
       5 . The display system of  claim 4 , wherein the user is remote from the display system.  
   
   
       6 . The display system of  claim 5 , wherein the instant messaging content further comprises a program ID for identifying broadcast television program being viewed by the remote user.  
   
   
       7 . The display system of  claim 6 , wherein the instant messaging content further comprises a message sent from the remote user to a user at the display system.  
   
   
       8 . The display system of  claim 6 , wherein the communications network has multiple users each having a display device, wherein the communications network includes a server storing instant messaging content for display at each display device, and wherein the server may be used to aggregate instant messaging content from the multiple users, whereby video programming activity by multiple users can be tracked at the server.  
   
   
       9 . The display system of  claim 5 , wherein the instant messaging content further comprises a selectable telephone communications display element, and wherein a telephone communications line is established over the communications network between the user at the display system and the remote user, when the telephone communications display element is selected.  
   
   
       10 . The display system of  claim 9 , wherein the telephone communications line is connected at a telephone device separate from the display system, and such telephone communications line uses the public switched telephone network (PSTN).  
   
   
       11 . The display system of  claim 5 , wherein a user at the display system is a subscriber to video programming for display at the display system, wherein such user is assigned one or more security keys in order to receive the video programming over the communications network, wherein such user may send an attachment to the remote user, the attachment comprising a video data file representing the video programming, and a security key associated with the video programming, and wherein video programming represented by the video data file is displayed to the remote user only if the remote user has a security key matching the security key associated with the video programming.  
   
   
       12 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein a user at the display system is a subscriber to a VDSL service, and wherein the VDSL service provides telephone, video programming and internet access service to the subscriber over the communications network.  
   
   
       13 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the video programming content is provided to the display system by a satellite television service.  
   
   
       14 . The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the video programming content is provided to the display system by a cable television service.  
   
   
       15 . In a communications network having a plurality of users and a user interface device associated with each user, the user interface device comprising: 
 display means; and    means for simultaneously displaying multiple content to a viewer at the display means, including first window means for displaying video programming content at a first display window at said display means, and second window means for simultaneously displaying content from an instant messaging (IM) application at a second window at said display means.    
   
   
       16 . A method for displaying content to users in a communications network, comprising: 
 displaying content at a display device associated with each user; and    providing plural windows at the display device, with a first window displaying video programming content and a second window for simultaneously displaying instant messaging content.