Automated input in an interactive television system

Abstract

A method and mechanism for automating user input in an interactive television system. An interactive application is conveyed concurrently with a broadcast programming stream in an interactive television system to a receiver. The interactive application is configured to provide added content to a television viewer upon a request by the viewer. In order to request the display of the available added content, a viewer may provide an indication that the use of a script is desired. Subsequently, a script corresponding to the interactive application is utilized to provide input to the interactive application in lieu of the viewer actively providing the input necessary to display the added content. In addition, a viewer may configure the receiver to indicate default preferences for the use of scripts. The receiver may then utilize a standardized script to provide input to interactive application having added content available for viewing. Further, a corresponding program, interactive application, added content, and script may be received and stored on a mass storage device. Subsequently, the stored material may be retrieved for display and execution.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a device, through an interface, input by a user, the input being to determine content to present in association with a media program;   executing, at the device, based on an indication stored in association with the user, one or more instructions to provide the input to an interactive application associated with the media program; and   providing, based on executing the interactive application and the provided input, the content to present with the media program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the device and from a media content system via a network, the media program, the media content system comprising a server, the media program comprising a video content item; and   receiving, at the device, the interactive application associated with the media program.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the device, from the media content system, the one or more instructions in a script.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the device, the media program and the interactive application along with the one or more instructions in the script.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the script is stored in the device prior to the receiving of the media program and the interactive application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions, upon execution, provide the input at a particular time at which the interactive application presents a user interface configured to receive the input. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions, upon execution, place the input in a message queue of the device, the message queue being configured to receive the input by the user, the interactive application being configured to retrieve the input from the message queue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 downloading, based on the executing of the interactive application, to the device, the content in response to the provided input.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input is first input, and wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, at the device, prior to the receiving of the media program, a second input to enable the one or more instructions; and   enabling, at the device, the one or more instructions in the device in response to the second input.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more instructions are in a default script configured to provide the input to a plurality of interactive applications comprising the interactive application. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the default script is incorporated within an operating system of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the provided input comprises a user preference for one of a plurality of attributes for additional content to be provided by the interactive application. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the device, prior to receiving the media program, a user preference input indicating the one of the plurality of attributes, the provided input being based on the user preference input; and   storing the received user preference input at the device as the indication stored in association with the user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the device and from a media content system via a network, the media program and the interactive application associated with the media program; and   recording, during the receiving of the media program, the media program and the content for presentation to the user after the recording of the media program and the content.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions is a group of instructions that includes a first instruction executed based on a first condition and a second instruction executed based on a second condition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions includes an instruction executed based on one or more conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content to present in association with the media program is selected from the group consisting of sports statistics, a stock ticker, news headlines, music, and a video game. 
     
     
         18 . A device, comprising:
 one or more hardware processors; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more hardware processors, causes the device to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining, through an interface, input by a user, the input being to determine content to present in association with a media program; 
 executing, based on an indication stored in association with the user, one or more instructions to provide the input to an interactive application associated with the media program; and 
 providing, based on executing the interactive application and the provided input, the content to present with the media program. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from a media content system via a network, the media program, the media content system comprising a server, the media program comprising a video content item; and   receiving the interactive application associated with the media program.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining, through an interface, input by a user, the input being to determine content to present in association with a media program;   executing, based on an indication stored in association with the user, one or more instructions to provide the input to an interactive application associated with the media program; and   providing, based on executing the interactive application and the provided input, the content to present with the media program.