System And Method In A Television System For Responding To User-Selection Of An Object In A Television Program Utilizing An Alternative Communication Network

Abstract

A system and method in a television system for responding to user-selection of an object in a television program utilizing an alternative communication network, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, in a display system, for responding to user selection of an object in a video stream communicated to the display system via a first communication network, the method comprising:
 in the display system, at least:
 determining an identity of a user-selected object in the video stream being presented to a user; 
 determining, based at least in part on an object identity of the user-selected object, a network address of a remote entity from the display system on a second communication network different from the first communication network; 
 notifying the remote entity of a selection and the object identity of the user-selected object; and 
 communicating to the remote entity at the network address to acquire information related to the user-selected object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said the acquiring information comprises determining one or more search terms associated with the user-selected object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said acquiring information comprises searching, based at least in part on the one or more search terms, one or more networked entities on the second communication network for information associated with the user-selected object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication network is a primarily a video communication network, and the second communication network is primarily a data communication network. 
     
     
         5 . A method, in a display system, for responding to user selection of an object in a video stream communicated to the display system via a first communication network, the method comprising:
 in the display system, at least:
 determining an identity of a user-selected object in the video stream being presented to a user; 
 determining, based at least in part on an object identity of the user-selected object, one or more interactions in which to engage with a remote entity from the display system via at least a second communication network different from the first communication network; and 
 performing the one or more interactions with the remote entity via the second communication network. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first communication network is a primarily a video communication network, and the second communication network is primarily a data communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more interactions comprises acquiring information associated with the user-selected object from the remote entity via said at least a second communication network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said acquiring information from the remote entity comprises determining a network address of the remote entity on the second communication network and communicating to the remote entity at the network address to acquire the information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more interactions comprises establishing a two-way communication session with the remote entity via said at least a second communication network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising:
 receiving data the user-selectable object in the video stream with one or more interactions in which to engage with the remote entity from the display system via said at least a second communication network; and   storing the data in memory of the display system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said storing the data in memory comprises storing the data in memory indexed by object identification. 
     
     
         12 . A display system for responding to user selection of an object in a video stream communicated to the display system via a first communication network, the display system comprising:
 at least one module operable to, at least:
 determine an identity of a user-selected object in the video stream being presented to a user; 
 determine, based at least in part on an object identity of the user-selected object, one or more interactions in which to engage with an entity remote from the display system via at least a second communication network different from the first communication network; and 
 perform the one or more interactions with the remote entity via the second communication network. 
   
     
     
         13 . The display system of  claim 12 , where the first communication network is a primarily a video communication network, and the second communication network is primarily a data communication network. 
     
     
         14 . The display system of  claim 12 , where the one or more interactions comprises acquiring information associated with the user-selected object from the remote entity via said at least a second communication network. 
     
     
         15 . The display system of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one module is operable to acquire information associated with the user-selected object from the remote entity by, at least in part, operating to determine a network address of the remote entity on the second communication network and communicate to the remote entity at the network address to acquire the information. 
     
     
         16 . The display system of  claim 12 , where the one or more interactions comprises notifying the remote entity of a selection of the user-selected object. 
     
     
         17 . The display system of  claim 12 , where the one or more interactions comprises establishing a two-way communication session with the remote entity via the at least a second communication network. 
     
     
         18 . The display system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one module is operable to:
 receive data associating the user-selectable object in the video stream with one or more interactions in which to engage with the remote entity from the display system via said at least a second communication network; and   store the data in memory of the display system.   
     
     
         19 . The display system of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one module is operable to store the data in memory by, at least in part, operating to store the data in memory indexed by object identification. 
     
     
         20 . The display system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one module operable to determine one or more interactions and operable to perform the one or more interactions is located in a set top box.