Apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with media content

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with media content, including a receiver, wherein the receiver receives at least one of a transmission of media content and a broadcast of media content, wherein the media content includes at least one of broadcast media content and entertainment media content, and further wherein the receiver receives information regarding the media content, a processor for processing at least one of the received media content and the received information regarding the media content, a display device for visually displaying the information regarding the media content, and/or a speaker device for audibly announcing the information regarding the media content.

1 . A system comprising:
 a content player; and   a remote control device wirelessly coupled with the content player;   wherein the content player comprises:
 a receiver configured to receive content and information associated with the content; 
 a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the content and the information associated with the content; 
 memory coupled to the processor; and 
 playing device equipment coupled to the processor and configured to provide the content to a user of the system, the playing device equipment comprising a video player having a first display; and 
 wherein the remote control device comprises a second display, the remote control device being configured to receive commands directing operations of the content player, and to provide to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the content is at least one of transmitted with the content as a header file, encoded into at least a portion of the content, and transmitted during at least a portion of a transmission of the content, and wherein the processor is further configured to extract the information associated with the content. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to provide to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content during at least a portion of time when the content player provides the content to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the receiver is configured to receive the content as compressed digital content;   the processor is configured to process the compressed digital content to obtain processed content;   the playing device equipment is configured to provide the processed content to the user; and   the system is configured to provide to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content during at least a portion of time when the content player provides the processed content to the user.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the compressed digital content and the information associated with the content wirelessly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of to  claim 4 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the compressed digital content and the information associated with the content via the internet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the information associated with the content comprises information associated with at least one of a good associated with the content and a service associated with the content. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the content is received together with the content. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the memory is configured to store the content and information associated with the content. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content and the information associated with the content are included in a broadcast and the receiver is configured to receive the broadcast. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing content, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving content by a receiver of a content player;   receiving information associated with the content by the receiver;   processing the content and the information associated with the content by a processor of the content player, to obtain processed content;   providing the processed content to a user of the content player using playing device equipment of the content player, the playing device equipment comprising a video player having a first display;   receiving commands directing operations of the content player through a remote control device of the content player; and   providing to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content through a second display of the remote control device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the step of receiving the information associated with the content comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: receiving the information as a header file, receiving the information encoded into at least a portion of the content, and receiving the information during at least a portion of a transmission of the content; and   the step of processing comprises extracting the information associated with the content.   
     
     
         13 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein the step of providing to the user at least the portion of the information comprises providing the portion of the information during at least a portion of time while the step of providing the processed content is performed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the step of receiving the content comprises receiving the content as compressed digital content;   the step of processing comprises processing the compressed digital content to obtain the processed content; and   the step of providing to the user at least the portion of the information associated with the content is performed during at least a portion of time the step of providing the processed content to the user is performed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of providing content of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the compressed digital content and the information associated with the content are transmitted wirelessly; and   the steps of receiving the content as compressed digital content and receiving the information comprise wireless receiving of the compressed digital content and wireless receiving of the information.   
     
     
         16 . The method of providing content of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the step of receiving the content as compressed digital is performed through the internet; and   the step of receiving the information is performed through the internet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein the step of receiving the information associated with the content comprises receiving information associated with at least one of a good associated with the content and a service associated with the content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein the information associated with the content is received together with the content. 
     
     
         19 . The method of providing content of  claim 18 , further comprising storing the content and the information associated with the content in a memory of the content player. 
     
     
         20 . The method of providing content of  claim 11 , wherein the content and the information associated with the content are included in a broadcast and the steps of receiving the content and receiving the information associated with the content comprise receiving the broadcast. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising steps of:
 furnishing a content player comprising a receiver configured to receive content and information associated with the content, a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the content and the information associated with the content, a memory coupled to the processor, and playing device equipment coupled to the processor and configured to provide the content to a user of the content player, the playing device equipment comprising a video player having a first display; and   furnishing a remote control device configured to couple wirelessly with the content player, the remote control device having a second display and being configured to provide to the content player commands thereby providing remote control over operation of the content player, wherein the remote control device is configured to provide to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information associated with the content is at least one of transmitted with the content as a header file, encoded into at least a portion of the content, and transmitted during at least a portion of a transmission of the content, and wherein the processor is further configured to extract the information associated with the content. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the remote control device is further configured to provide to the user the portion of the information associated with the content during at least a portion of time when the playing device equipment provides the content to the user. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the receiver is further configured to receive the content as compressed digital content; and   the processor is further configured to process the repressed digital content to obtain processed content.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the compressed digital content and the information associated with the content wirelessly. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the compressed digital content and the information associated with the content via the internet. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the portion of the information associated with the content comprises information associated with at least one of a good associated with the content and a service associated with the content. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the information associated with the content together with the content. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the content player is configured to store the content and information associated with the content in a memory of the content player. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the content and the information associated with the content are included in a broadcast and the receiver is further configured to receive the broadcast. 
     
     
         31 . A system comprising:
 a content player comprising:   a receiver configured to receive content and information associated with the content,   a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the content and the information associated with the content,   memory coupled to the processor,   a first display coupled to the processor, and   a playing device coupled to the processor and configured to provide the content to a user of the content player, the playing device comprising a video player having a first display; and   a remote control wirelessly coupled with the content player, the remote control having a second display and configured to receive from the user commands directing operations of the content player, wherein the remote control is configured to provide to the user at least a portion of the information associated with the content;   wherein the information associated with the content is received by the receiver together with the content.   
     
     
         32 . A content player comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive content and information associated with the content;   a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the content and the information associated with the content;   memory coupled to the processor; and   playing device equipment coupled to the processor and configured to provide the content to a user of the content player, the playing device equipment comprising a video player;   wherein the content player is configured to receive operational commands from a wireless remote control device, the wireless remote control device comprising a remote control display and being configured to receive user commands directing operations of the content player, and wherein the content player is further configured to provide to the wireless remote control device at least a portion of the information associated with the content for display to the user.