System and method for providing television services

Abstract

A method includes receiving video content and interactive callback data. The interactive callback data includes an interactive callback address that indicates a location of interactive content. The interactive callback data is associated with an on-screen image that is displayable with at least a portion of the video content, where the on-screen image indicates availability of the interactive content. The method also includes receiving a command to discontinue display of the on-screen image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
 sending video content and interactive callback data to a media device, wherein the interactive callback data includes an interactive callback address that indicates a location of interactive content, wherein the interactive callback data is associated with an on-screen image that is displayable with at least a portion of the video content, and wherein the on-screen image indicates availability of the interactive content; and 
 in response to expiration of a time period, sending a command to the media device to discontinue display of the on-screen image. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the on-screen image is displayed during communication of at least a portion of the video content to the media device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the on-screen image includes an on-screen button. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the interactive callback data indicates a type of the on-screen button, a characteristic of the on-screen button, a location at which the on-screen button is to be displayed, and text of the on-screen button. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive content is related to the video content. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is a client device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video content includes advertising content and the interactive content is related in subject matter to the advertising content. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video content includes a television program. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video content has an association with the interactive content, the association established prior to sending the video content to the media device and prior to sending the interactive callback data to the media device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise periodically sending particular interactive callback data to the media device to cause display of a particular on-screen image associated with the particular interactive callback data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending second interactive callback data associated with second interactive content to the media device;   receiving a first request from the media device in response to the second interactive callback data; and   initiating delivery of the second interactive content to the media device in response to the first request.   
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving video content and interactive callback data from a server, wherein the interactive callback data includes an interactive callback address that indicates a location of interactive content, wherein the interactive callback data is associated with an on-screen image that is displayable with at least a portion of the video content, and wherein the on-screen image indicates availability of the interactive content; and 
 receiving a command from the server to discontinue display of the on-screen image. 
   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein data indicating a time period for display of the on-screen image is included in the interactive callback data. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor and the memory are included in a set top box device. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the on-screen image to a display device for display. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a server, video content and interactive callback data at a media device that includes a processor, wherein the interactive callback data includes an interactive callback address that indicates a location of interactive content, wherein the interactive callback data is associated with an on-screen image that is displayable with at least a portion of the video content, and wherein the on-screen image indicates availability of the interactive content; and   receiving a command from the server to discontinue display of the on-screen image.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive callback address indicates a logical address that maps to a network address. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the interactive callback address includes an application identifier of an interactive application associated with the interactive content. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the command comprises a remove message to cause the media device to discontinue display of the on-screen image. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the command comprises second interactive callback data associated a second on-screen image, wherein display of the second on-screen image causes the media device to discontinue display of the on-screen image.