System and Method for Enhanced Hot Key Delivery

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a computing device of a content provider, content to be provided to a media device of a customer of the content provider. The method includes sending an indicator from the computing device over a first network to the media device. The indicator provides to the media device an indication of an availability of alternate content based on the content. The method further includes, in response to receiving a signal indicating selection of the indicator at the media device, sending the alternate content to the media device. The alternate content is sent at a different time than the content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device of a content provider, content to be provided to a media device of a customer of the content provider;   sending an indicator from the computing device over a first network to the media device, wherein the indicator provides to the media device an indication of an availability of alternate content based on the content; and   in response to receiving a signal indicating selection of the indicator at the media device, sending the alternate content to the media device, wherein the alternate content is sent at a different time than the content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes information that enables the media device to determine a relevance of the alternate content to the customer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indicator further includes information that enables the media device to determine whether to present a selectable option that enables access by the customer to the alternate content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is sent over the first network to the media device and the content is concurrently sent with the indicator, and wherein the content is sent over a second network to the media device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the alternate content is sent to the media device over the second network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternate content is hosted on a web site accessible to the computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after sending the alternate content, determining whether the media device has finished consuming the alternate content based on a user input received at the media device; and   in response to a determination that the media device has finished consuming the alternate content, sending the content to the media device.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor in a computing device of a content provider that supports a media device of a customer of the content provider; and   a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving content; 
 sending an indicator from the computing device over a first network to the media device, wherein the indicator provides to the media device an indication of an availability of alternate content based on the content; and 
 in response to receiving a signal indicating selection of the indicator at the media device, sending the alternate content to the media device, wherein the alternate content is sent at a different time than the content. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator includes information that enables the media device to determine a relevance of the alternate content to the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the indicator includes information identifying a genre of the alternate content, and wherein the relevance of the alternate content is determined by comparing the genre to a second genre selected by the customer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is sent over the first network to the media device and the content is concurrently sent with the indicator, and wherein the content is sent over a second network to the media device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first network includes a digital subscriber line connection and wherein the second network includes a cable network. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first network comprises a telephony and data network and wherein the second network comprises a media distribution network. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the content from the computing device over a second network to the media device, the second network distinct from the first network. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage device storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving content;   sending an indicator from a computing device of a content provider over a first network to a media device of a customer of the content provider, wherein the indicator provides to the media device an indication of an availability of alternate content based on the content; and   in response to receiving a signal indicating selection of the indicator at the media device, sending the alternate content to the media device, wherein the alternate content is sent at a different time than the content.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the indicator includes information that enables the media device to determine a relevance of the alternate content to the customer. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the media device determines whether to present a selectable option based on the relevance of the alternate content to the customer, wherein the selectable option enables access by the customer to the alternate content. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the indicator is sent over the first network to the media device and the content is concurrently sent with the indicator, and wherein the content is sent over a second network to the media device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 creating the indicator based on the content; and   sending the content over a second network to the subscriber device, the second network distinct from the first network.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the alternate content includes pay-per-view content.