Different overlays in an interactive television system for different television channels

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for customizing the display of interactive television overlays. A condition related to the display of an overlay on top of video for a television channel may be defined for each of a plurality of television channels. A default set of information types for an interactive television overlay (e.g., a FLIP overlay, a BROWSE overlay, etc.) may be defined for the plurality of television channels. When the overlay is displayed on top of video for a given television channel of the plurality of television channels, the overlay may include information of the default set of information types. One or more television channels of the plurality of television channels may be identified as channels for which the default set of information types does not apply (e.g., channels for which the overlay is not displayed or for which a custom set of information types is defined).

1 - 172 . (canceled) 
     
     
         173 . A method for generating for displaying a customized overlay on content from a content source based on subject matter of the content, the method comprising:
 defining a condition that identifies whether to include a given information type in the overlay, wherein the condition is related to content associated with a plurality of content sources;   generating for display content from a given content source;   retrieving, from memory, data that identifies subject matter of the content;   determining whether the condition is satisfied by the subject matter of the content;   in response to determining that the condition is satisfied by the subject matter of the content, generating an overlay that includes information associated with the given information type; and   generating for display the overlay, wherein the overlay comprises information about the content.   
     
     
         174 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the subject matter identified by the data comprises a category of the media asset. 
     
     
         175 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the information comprises details about a sporting event score associated with the media asset. 
     
     
         176 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the information type is one of the group comprising: news, stock quotes, and sporting event scores. 
     
     
         177 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the content from a given content source comprises a sporting event. 
     
     
         178 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the information includes a score of the sporting event. 
     
     
         179 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the information includes program information. 
     
     
         180 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the information corresponding to the content from a given content source includes a title. 
     
     
         181 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the given information type comprises interactive content. 
     
     
         182 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the given content source is a television channel. 
     
     
         183 . A system for generating for displaying a customized overlay on content from a content source based on subject matter of the content, the system comprising:
 a storage device configured to store content associated with a plurality of content sources;   a user input interface; and   control circuitry configured to:
 define a condition that identifies whether to include a given information type in the overlay, wherein the condition is related to content associated with the plurality of content sources; 
 generate for display content from a given content source; 
 retrieving, from memory, data that identifies subject matter of the content; 
 determine whether the condition is satisfied by the subject matter of the content; 
 in response to determining that the condition is satisfied by the subject matter of the content, generating an overlay that includes information associated with the given information type; and 
 generate for display the overlay, wherein the overlay comprises information about the content. 
   
     
     
         184 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the subject matter identified by the data comprises a category of the media asset. 
     
     
         185 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the information comprises details about a sporting event score associated with the media asset. 
     
     
         186 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the information type is one of the group comprising: news, stock quotes, and sporting event scores. 
     
     
         187 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the content from a given content source comprises a sporting event. 
     
     
         188 . The system of  claim 187 , wherein the information includes a score of the sporting event. 
     
     
         189 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the information includes program information. 
     
     
         190 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the information corresponding to the content from a given content source includes a title. 
     
     
         191 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the given information type comprises interactive content. 
     
     
         192 . The system of  claim 183 , wherein the given content source is a television channel.