US2010115546A1PendingUtilityA1

Interactive special events video signal navigation system

58
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Nov 20, 1995Filed: Aug 31, 2009Published: May 6, 2010
Est. expiryNov 20, 2015(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael HanafeeConnie T. MarshallTimothy S. Emmert
H04N 21/4438H04N 21/4312H04N 21/4334H04N 7/163H04N 21/472H04N 21/8126H04N 21/47214H04N 21/4383H04N 21/84H04N 21/4758H04N 21/4753H04N 21/42204H04N 21/475H04N 21/435H04N 21/482H04N 7/17345H04N 21/47211H04N 21/8153H04N 21/4314H04N 21/235H04N 7/17363H04N 7/162H04N 7/165H04N 21/4882H04N 5/445H04N 7/173H04N 7/16
58
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays current or future programming information superimposed over the normal programming displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer's display screen. Identification signal data are accessed and generated by the computer for durations defined in the identification signal data either automatically or in response to the TV viewer remote. Information signal data are accessed and generated by the computer in response to the TV viewer remote. A signal combiner superimposes the identification signal or the information signal over the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner. The identification signal may include data defining an icon or textual matter alerting a viewer to the availability of information data. The information signal may include program descriptive data, schedule data, pricing data and/or payment authorization and recording prompt data and the like sequenced for interactive control of the computer by the viewer. The identification signal may be specially dedicated to a normal programming information channel so that the viewer can interact with respect to specific programs identified without changing from the programming information channel. Thus, the viewer is able to receive an automatic alert to availability of current and future programming and to elect to interactively exercise a variety of options with respect to such current and future programming without interruption of presently viewed programming.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, comprising:
 automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and   displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon.   
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising enabling the television viewer to place the order. 
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order comprises displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place an order that requires authorization 
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 3  further comprising enabling the user to enter a personal identification number to provide authorization. 
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein displaying the icon further comprises displaying the icon over the television program for a specified duration. 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein displaying the icon comprises displaying a football-shaped icon. 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein displaying the information comprises displaying order price information. 
     
     
         8 . A method for recording a television event, comprising:
 automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television;   displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon   receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and   recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user input comprises pressing a key on a remote control device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the icon is automatically removed from display after a given period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user response comprises a first type and a second type, wherein the icon is removed from display in response to receipt of the first type of user response and the record option prompt is displayed in response to receipt of the second type of user response. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the icon indicates a genre of television event to which the television event belongs. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the television event is related to the television programming currently displayed on the television. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the television event is a future television event. 
     
     
         15 . A system for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, the system comprising:
 means for automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and   means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon.   
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 15  further comprising means for enabling the television viewer to place the order. 
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 16  wherein the means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order comprises means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place an order that requires authorization 
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 17  further comprising means for enabling the user to enter a personal identification number to provide authorization. 
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 15  wherein the means for displaying the icon further comprises means for displaying the icon over the television program for a specified duration. 
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 15  wherein means for displaying the icon comprises means for displaying a football-shaped icon. 
     
     
         21 . The system defined in  claim 15  wherein means for displaying the information comprises means for displaying order price information. 
     
     
         22 . A system for recording a television event, the system comprising:
 means for automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television;   means for displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon;   means for receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and   means for recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the user input comprises pressing a key on a remote control device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the icon is automatically removed from display after a given period of time. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the user response comprises first type and a second type, wherein the icon is removed from display in response to receipt of the first type of user response and the record option prompt is displayed in response to receipt of the second type of user response. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the icon indicates a genre of television event to which the television event belongs. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the television event is related to the television programming currently displayed on the television. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the television event is a future television event.

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