Scheduling trigger apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for embedding and associating triggers within a promotion or other similar content element with the event being promoted are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as a digital set-top box is used to interface between the user and an external network (such as an HFC cable network) and facilitate the user selecting and scheduling viewing or recording of a subsequent event (e.g., broadcast movie) via the promotion itself. The trigger(s) within the promotion allow the user to contemporaneously select the promoted event for viewing, recording, etc. without any further action. The trigger(s) then initiates tuning of the user's receiver to the scheduled event at the appropriate date and time. This approach obviates additional actions by the user (such as programming their DVR), and also permits the user to commit to viewing the event when their interest level is highest; i.e., contemporaneous with the promotion.

1 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method of scheduling viewing of a subsequently transmitted event via a network, the method comprising:
 delivering a video preview of a future event to an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled mobile device, the video preview comprising embedded data relating to the future event and at least one user selectable display element;   receiving, from the IP-enabled mobile device, at least portions of the embedded data in response to a selection of the at least one user selectable display element; and   utilizing the received portions of the embedded data to cause a client device to tune to the future event at a subsequent time.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the utilizing the received portions of the embedded data to cause the client device to tune to the event at the subsequent time comprises delivering the received portions of the embedded data to the client device to cause the client device to tune to the future event at the subsequent time. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the utilizing the received portions of the embedded data to cause the client device to tune to the event at the subsequent time comprises remotely invoking tuning of the client device to the future event at the subsequent time. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the received portions of the embedded data comprises at least information relating to a date, a start time, and a channel of the future event, and the selection of the at least one user selectable display element comprises selection of a displayed icon. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein utilizing the received portions of the embedded data to cause the client device to tune to the event at the subsequent time comprises causing the client device to utilize the received portions of the embedded data to tune to the channel upon occurrence of the data and start time. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the delivering the video preview of the future event comprises:
 receiving a request for web content from the IP-enabled mobile device;   identifying the future event as being logically related to the requested web content; and   providing the requested web content and the video preview of the future event to the IP-enabled mobile device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein delivering the video preview of the future event is initiated by a server associated with an Internet website. 
     
     
         43 . A method of scheduling recording of a subsequently transmitted event via a network, the method comprising:
 providing a promotion to an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled mobile device, the promotion being associated with at least one trigger element;   receiving, from the IP-enabled mobile device, a selection of the promotion; and   in response to receiving the selection of the promotion, utilizing the at least one trigger element to cause a network device remote from the IP-enabled mobile device to record an event at a subsequent time and to associate the recorded event with the IP-enabled mobile device.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein providing the promotion comprises providing at least promotional video and/or audio content over the network. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the utilizing the at least one trigger element comprises delivering the at least one trigger element to the network device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the utilizing the at least one trigger element comprises remotely invoking recording of the event at the network device at the subsequent time. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one trigger element is embedded within the promotion as metadata. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the providing the promotion comprises:
 receiving a request for web content from the IP-enabled mobile device;   identifying the promotion as being logically related to the requested web content; and   providing the requested web content and the promotion to the IP-enabled mobile device.   
     
     
         49 . Network server apparatus for provision of content in a content delivery network, the network server apparatus comprising:
 a digital processor apparatus; and   a storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, the computer program comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions which, when executed by the digital processor apparatus, are configured to:
 provide a promotion to an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled mobile device, the promotion being associated with at least one trigger element; 
 receive, from the IP-enabled mobile device, a selection of the promotion; and 
 in response to the receipt of the selection of the promotion, utilize the at least one trigger element to cause a network-connected device remote from the IP-enabled mobile device to perform a specified action relating to a future event. 
   
     
     
         50 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the promotion comprises at least promotional video and audio content. 
     
     
         51 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one trigger element is embedded within the promotion as metadata. 
     
     
         52 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the specified action relating to the future event comprises an action performed by the network-connected device to tune to the future event at a subsequent time. 
     
     
         53 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the specified action relating to the future event comprises an action performed by the network-connected device to record the future event at a subsequent time. 
     
     
         54 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the instructions that utilize the at least one trigger element to cause the network-connected device to perform the specified actions comprises instructions to remotely invoke performance of the specified actions at the network-connected device. 
     
     
         55 . The network server apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the instructions that utilize the at least one trigger element to cause the network-connected device to perform the specified actions comprises instructions to provide the trigger to the network-connected device to cause the network device to perform the specified action relating to the future event.