WO2001050753A9 - Television chat rooms - Google Patents
Television chat roomsInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001050753A9 WO2001050753A9 PCT/US2000/034368 US0034368W WO0150753A9 WO 2001050753 A9 WO2001050753 A9 WO 2001050753A9 US 0034368 W US0034368 W US 0034368W WO 0150753 A9 WO0150753 A9 WO 0150753A9
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- chat room
- user
- network
- television programming
- chat
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
- H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
- H04L12/1813—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms
- H04L12/1822—Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/21—Server components or server architectures
- H04N21/222—Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/231—Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
- H04N21/23106—Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion involving caching operations
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/251—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/252—Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4786—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application e-mailing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4788—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/485—End-user interface for client configuration
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/488—Data services, e.g. news ticker
- H04N21/4882—Data services, e.g. news ticker for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
- H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
- H04N21/8586—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot by using a URL
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
- H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
- H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
Definitions
- This invention relates to selecting a television channel.
- the computer system illustrated in Fig. 1 represents a typical hardware setup for executing software that allows a user to perform tasks such as communicating with other computer users, accessing various computer resources, and viewing, creating, or otherwise manipulating electronic content — that is, any combination of text, images, movies, music or other sounds, animations, 3D virtual worlds, and links to other objects.
- the system includes various input/output (I/O) devices (mouse 103, keyboard 105, display 107) and a general purpose computer 100 having a central processor unit (CPU) 121, an I/O unit 1 17 and a memory 109 that stores data and various programs such as an operating system 1 1 1 , and one or more application programs 113.
- I/O input/output
- a user of a computer system can access electronic content or other resources either stored locally at the user's own client system 202 (e.g., a personal or laptop computer) or remotely at one or more server systems 200.
- client system 202 e.g., a personal or laptop computer
- server system is a host computer that provides subscribers with online computer services such as e-mail and Internet access. Users of a host computer's online services typically communicate with one or more central server systems 200 through client software executing on their respective client systems 202.
- a server system 200 typically will not be a single monolithic entity but rather will be a network of interconnected server computers, possibly physically dispersed from each other, each dedicated to its own set of duties and/or to a particular geographical region.
- the individual servers are interconnected by a network of communication links, in known fashion.
- One such server system is "America Online 4.0" from America Online, Incorporated of Virginia.
- Fig. 3 is a screen shot of a "browser” application 300 (Internet Explorer) displaying a typical HTML document, or web page 302.
- a "browser” is an example of 5 client software that enables users to access and view electronic content stored either locally or remotely, such as in a network environment (local area network (LAN), intranet, Internet).
- a browser typically is used for displaying documents described in Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML) and stored on servers connected to a network such as the Internet.
- HTML Hyper-Text Markup Language
- a user instructs a browser to access an HTML document, or web page, by specifying a network address — or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) — at which a desired document resides.
- URL Uniform Resource Locator
- a single web page may be composed of several different files potentially of different data types 304 (e.g., text, images, virtual worlds, sounds, movies, etc.).
- a web page can includes links 306, or pointers, to other resources (e.g., web pages or individual files) available on the network. Each link has an associated URL pointing to a location on the network.
- chat rooms that display user messages in real time.
- Client chat room software e.g., America Online 4.0 and Internet Relay Chat
- the client software also provides controls for entering a message and submitting the entered messages to the server system.
- the server system broadcasts each submitted message to the other chat room users for display on their respective text windows 402.
- chat rooms are named for discussion topics to help users to find chat rooms of interest.
- Fig. 4 also shows a list of users 404 known as a "buddy list".
- a user creates a buddy list by entering the names of other server system users (e.g., friends, family, or co- workers).
- the server can notify the user when the users in the buddy list log-on to the server system.
- the server can also provide other information such as which chat room the user is currently visiting.
- set-top box a special purpose computer referred to as a "set-top box” has been developed and used in connection with standard television (TV) sets for viewing web pages on the Internet.
- the term set-top box derives from the usual placement of the device on top of a television. The term, however, should not be construed literally. That is, a set-top box may neither be a box nor be placed on top of a display.
- a set-top box essentially has the same basic components as the general purpose computer illustrated in Fig. 1 , except that it also includes a TV tuner for receiving broadcast and/or cable TV signals. Users of such * "web TV” systems can make dual usage of their TV sets — that is, either to watch TV or to view web pages and otherwise "surf the Internet.
- the present inventors recognized that it would be desirable to create a link that automatically changes the channel of a set-top box when selected.
- the invention features a method of assigning a user to a network chat room.
- the method includes determining television programming viewed by a network user at a networked device and assigning the network user to a chat room corresponding to the dete ⁇ nined television programming.
- the network device may be a set-top box that receives television programming.
- the network may be the Internet.
- the chat room may be for a particular television show and/or a particular network.
- the method may further include receiving a message from a network user assigned to the chat room and distributing the received message to other chat room members.
- the method may further include determining whether to assign a person to a chat room, for example, by determining how recently the user was last assigned to a chat room.
- the inventor features a method of assigning a user to a chat room.
- the method includes providing a user interface that displays television programming, transmitting identification of the television programming to a network server, and presenting a chat room that includes messages received by the network server by other users viewing the same television programming.
- Embodiments may include one or more of the following.
- the television programming identification may be a channel number, a television network identifier, " and/or an identifier of a particular television program.
- the transmitting may be in response to a change of channel and/or user interaction with a user interface element.
- the invention features a system for assigning a person to a chat room.
- the system includes server software resident on a network server and client software resident on a client.
- the server software includes instructions for distributing messages received by chat room members with other chat room members, instructions for providing chat rooms corresponding to different television programming, and instructions for determining the television programming tuned to by a networked device that receives television programming, and assigning a network user using the set-top box to a chat room based on the determined television programming.
- the client software includes instructions for transmitting identification of the television programming being displayed by the networked set-top box and instructions for displaying chat room messages submitted by other chat room members.
- the invention features a computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, for assigning a user to a network chat room.
- the program includes instructions for causing a processor to determine television programming viewed by a network user at a networked device and assign the network user to a chat room corresponding to the determined television programming.
- the invention features a computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, for assigning a user to a chat room.
- the program includes instructions for causing a processor to provide a user interface that displays television programming, transmit identification of the television programming to a network server, and present a chat room that includes messages received by the network server by other users viewing the same television programming.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system.
- Fig. 2 shows a typical network computing environment.
- Fig. 3 shows a screen shot of a browser displaying a webpage.
- Fig. 4 shows a screen shot of a chat room.
- Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a set-top box.
- Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating transmission of a message including links that select a television channel.
- Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a process for tuning a set-top box in response to user selection of a link.
- Fig. 8 shows a diagram of a screen display including a chat control.
- Fig. 9 shows a diagram of a screen display of chat room for a displayed TV show.
- Fig. 10 is a flow chart of a process for assigning a user to a chat room based on the set-top box tuner.
- Fig. 11 shows a s ;reen display of a buddy list showing TV shows that users are watching.
- Figs. 12A-12B are flow diagrams illustrating transmission of information to users on a buddy list.
- Fig. 13 is a flow chart of a process for receiving viewing information relating to users on a buddy list.
- Fig. 14 is a flow chart of a process for updating buddy list viewing information.
- Fig. 5 shows a set-top box 500.
- the set-top box 500 receives TV signals from a TV source 504 such as a cable, satellite, or conventional TV provider.
- the box 500 includes a tuner 510 to select a TV channel for viewing.
- the selected TV channel may be digital in the case of a satellite TV source or analog in the case of most cable TV sources.
- the box 500 can include an analog-to-digital converter 512 to permit digital processing of the TV images regardless of the TV source.
- the box 500 includes a network communication card 514 to communicate with a network server 506 such as an ISP (Internet Service Provider).
- the box 500 also includes browser client software 516 for communicating with the server, for example, by sending and receiving HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) messages.
- HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
- the box 500 includes communication protocol software (e.g., TCP/IP) and an operating system.
- the box 500 constructs a display that can include information received from the server 506 and/or from the TV source 504.
- the box 500 sends the constructed display to a TV 502 or monitor via an output port 517.
- the browser 516 e.g., Liberate's TV Navigator
- the browser 516 can display the TV data received from the TV source 504 in conjunction with information provided by the server 506. Alterations to the screen, such as adding user interface controls or moving and/or resizing the TV image also can be performed by altering instructions of a web-page displayed by the browser.
- the box 500 may store a default web-page that makes the received TV signal a full-screen background image 518 with overlayed user interface controls 520.
- the controls 520 can correspond to functions such as initiating a session with the server 506.
- Fig. 6 shows a set-top box 600a in Washington, D.C. sending a message 600 to a set-top box 600b in Boston via the server 506.
- the message 600 could be part of an e-mail message, a chat room entry, an instant message, etc.
- the message includes links 618 that can control the tuner of a set-top box.
- the link 618, 620 may by represented by one or more graphic images instead of simple text.
- the link 618, 620 may appear as a web banner, for example, advertising a TV show that is displayed when a user visits a URL.
- the links 618 in the message 600 can change the channel of the set-top box. This enables friends to exchange messages that include links to a particular network 618 or TV show 616.
- the browser tunes the set-top box to the channel corresponding to the network or show specified by a link.
- the link may, but need not, refer to a specific channel (e.g., "Jim, turn to channel 38"). In fact, referring to a specific channel may be undesirable as different geographic locations may offer a given TV network on different channels. For example, an NBC affiliate in Boston may be on channel "10" while the D.C. NBC affiliate broadcasts on channel "28".
- channel numbers may vary based on the TV source. That is, the D.C. NBC affiliate may broadcast in the frequency band for channel "28" but may be programmed and presented to viewers as channel "4" by a D.C. cable TV company.
- D.C. NBC affiliate may broadcast in the frequency band for channel "28" but may be programmed and presented to viewers as channel "4" by a D.C. cable TV company.
- providing a link that references a network instead of a particular channel increases the likelihood the link will appropriately change the channel when transmitted to users that receive TV signals from different sources.
- a network may also be undesirable because TV schedules typically vary from location to location. For example, an NBC TV network affiliate in Boston may broadcast a movie while the NBC TV network affiliate in Washington D.C. broadcasts a talk show. Further, the same show may be shown by different networks in different locations. That is, in some areas a show may appear on the ABC television network while in other locations the same show is broadcast by FOX networks. Finally, a given show may be broadcast at different times in different time zones. To account for these variations, set-top software (e.g., extensions to the browser) can determine a channel corresponding to a link based on a wide variety of channel features instead of the channel number or network name, for example, by using an electronic programming guide (EPG).
- EPG electronic programming guide
- an EPG is essentially an electronic version of a TV guide.
- Different EPGs can include different information.
- an EPG can include a show title 610, channel number 606, network 608, and start 612 and stop 614 times of different TV programs.
- the EPG also can include other data such as ratings (e.g., "R” and "PG-13") and/or a brief description of the show such as its type (e.g., "sitcom” or "drama”) and/or actors that appear in the show.
- broadcasters transmit EPG guides to set-top boxes using the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of traditional video signals.
- VBI vertical blanking interval
- the VBI provides a convenient buffer for unobtrusively transmitting information to set-top boxes 600 A, 600B.
- the set-top boxes 600A, 600B can receive an EPG from the server 506 based on the billing address of the set-top box user or a local server access phone number dialed by the set-top box.
- the EPG may be transmitted by satellite.
- a set-top box 500B can use the EPG information to select a channel corresponding to a particular link from the shows currently available from the TV source. For example, in Fig. 6, the set-top box 500B in Boston has received message including a link 616 referring to the TV show "Friends" from a user in D.C. Looking up the show "Friends" in the "program” column of the Boston set-top box's 600B EPG 602B yields a tuning channel of "10".
- the message also includes a link 618 referring to the FOX network. Selection of this link and the ensuing lookup of "FOX" in the "channel name” column of the EPG 602B tunes to the Boston set-top box 500B to channel "11".
- the links can refer to any information included in the EPG such as actors or actresses appearing in shows (e.g., "Meryl Streep is a very good actress").
- Software can examine each column of the EPG until a match (or a near match) is found and can change the channel correspondingly.
- the set-top box would search for a show starring Meryl Streep, and, if found, would tune the TV to channel for that show.
- Fig. 7 shows a process for tuning the set-top system based on a received link.
- user selection of a link 704 causes set-top box software to determine tuning information corresponding to the link 706, for example, by looking-up the information in an EPG.
- the software tunes 710 the set-top box to the determined tuning channel.
- the process may enforce parental controls 708 over the type of programming different family members can view.
- America Online enables a parent to create us- r names for family members and associate different privileges to each of the user names.
- a parent can configure the family member accounts such that a child has privilege only to see TV programs having a "G" (General) rating while a teenager has privileges to see TV programs having a "G" or "PG" (Parental Guidance suggested) rating.
- a given show will not be immediately available when a user selects a link.
- a user may select a TV show's link included an e-mail message written much earlier in the day. In this case, a lookup for the show in the current time period would fail.
- the set-top box can store the link and remind a user and/or automatically tune the set-top box when the linked TV show is scheduled for broadcast.
- the set-top box transmits 712 a message to the server whenever a user changes channels. This enables the server to track viewers and supports features such as TV buddy lists and TV chat rooms.
- the display shown in FIG. 9 illustrates how a display can simultaneously present a television program and a chat room.
- the television program and chat room may be independent. That is, a user could change TV shows with changing chat rooms and vice-versa.
- software may control the chat room the user is a member of so that it corresponds to the viewed television program.
- a display may include a region for displaying a received TV signal 800 (e.g., Gilligan's Island) and a "TV chat" control 802. Selecting the control automatically places a user in a chat room corresponding to the particular TV show.
- a received TV signal 800 e.g., Gilligan's Island
- the server places the user in a "Gilligan's Island” chat room 902 with other users viewing the show.
- the users can then share their comments on the show in real time by submitting messages to the server for display in the chat room window.
- the browser can configure the display such that the chat room text window 902 and the TV show display 900 can be viewed simultaneously
- Fig 10 shows a process for automatically assigning users to a chat room based on the TV show a viewer is currently watching
- the chat room assignment process can use information in the EPG 1000 to determine the television programming a user is viewing
- the process determines the currently tuned channel (e g , channel "38")
- the process uses the EPG to identify the show corresponding to this channel 1004
- the process can use an EPG to lookup the TV show being broadcast on channel "38" at the current time
- the set-top box can transmit a request to join a chat for the identified TV show 1006
- the message may include the name of the TV show, the channel number, the network or other information the server can use to determine which show the viewer is watching
- the server can then place the user in the chat room associated with that TV show As desc ⁇ bed, each time the user changes channels 1008, the set-top box can transmit a message to the server 1010, 1012 indicating the new
- Fig 11 shows a set-top box display that includes a TV program 1 102 and a TV-enhanced buddy list 1 1 10
- a user can define a list of server system user names
- the enhanced buddy-list shows the TV show or network 1 110 each listed buddy 1108 is watching.
- the TV show and/or network 1110 can be displayed as a link. By selecting the link, a user can watch the same show that a friend is watching.
- Figs. 12A and 12B shows server data 1204 used to provide the enhanced buddy list functions.
- the data 1204 includes a list 1206 of logged-in users and the TV show and/or network that each user is currently watching.
- the server also stores a buddy list 1208 for each user.
- the buddy list 1208 may be permanently stored on the server 1204 or transmitted to the server 1204 by a set-top box when a user logs-on.
- set-top box software transmits a message to the server including the name of the show and/or the network the user is presently viewing.
- the server 1204 updates the user list 1206 to reflect the new viewing information.
- the server also transmits a message 1212 to each logged-in user that included the channel-changing user in his or her list.
- Fig. 13 shows a process for providing buddy lists that display the show or network a user is viewing.
- the set-top box software After a user logs-on, the set-top box software transmits the user's buddy list 1300 to the server.
- the server responds by sending the set-top box TV viewing information for each member of the user's buddy list 1302, 1304.
- the transmitted information will quickly be outdated as members of the buddy list log-on and off, change channels, or turn on a "privacy" feature that stops the server from broadcasting the TV show they are watching.
- Fig. 14 shows a process for updating the buddy list information initially transmitted.
- the user's set-top box transmits a message to the server describing the change 1404.
- the server uses these messages to update its user list 1406.
- the server broadcasts 1410 the change to each logged-on user who included the channel changing user in their buddy list. Viewers can turn off this feature if they do not want others to see the name of the TV show they are watching.
- a network user may have more than one buddy list. For example, the user may specify other users for a general buddy list, a buddy list for a particular network, and/or a buddy list for a particular television show or sports team.
- the server may provide chat rooms for members of a user's buddy list.
- a user may click a "buddy chat” button on a graphical user interface and be assigned to a chat room for the buddies on the list.
- the graphical user interface may display different buddy lists for user selection based on the show being viewed. For example, when a user tunes to "I Love Lucy", the user's "I Love Lucy” buddies will appear with an option for a buddy chat for those users.
- EPGs for each TV source are stored centrally at the server instead of being distributed to each set-top box.
- the EPG lookup functions are handled by messages exchanged by the server and clients.
- tasks process may be distributed between client and server in a variety of ways.
- a system or other apparatus that uses one or more of the techniques and methods described here may be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer system to operate on input and/or generate output in a specific and predefined manner.
- a computer system may include one or more programmable processors that receive data and instructions from, and transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, and suitable input and output devices.
- Each computer program may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language.
- Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks.
- semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices
- magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks
- magneto-optical disks and CD-ROM disks.
- ASICs application-specific integrated circuits
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU22759/01A AU2275901A (en) | 1999-12-30 | 2000-12-19 | Television chat rooms |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US47539199A | 1999-12-30 | 1999-12-30 | |
US09/475,391 | 1999-12-30 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001050753A1 WO2001050753A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
WO2001050753A9 true WO2001050753A9 (en) | 2002-05-30 |
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PCT/US2000/034368 WO2001050753A1 (en) | 1999-12-30 | 2000-12-19 | Television chat rooms |
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AU (1) | AU2275901A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001050753A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8949899B2 (en) | 2005-03-04 | 2015-02-03 | Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. | Collaborative recommendation system |
Families Citing this family (15)
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SE0102577D0 (en) * | 2001-07-23 | 2001-07-23 | Boxer Tv Access Ab | A method and a system of chat group handling |
US7296055B2 (en) * | 2001-09-11 | 2007-11-13 | Sony Corporation | Information providing system, information providing apparatus, information providing method, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program |
US20030093806A1 (en) * | 2001-11-14 | 2003-05-15 | Vincent Dureau | Remote re-creation of data in a television system |
US20030196206A1 (en) | 2002-04-15 | 2003-10-16 | Shusman Chad W. | Method and apparatus for internet-based interactive programming |
US20040210947A1 (en) | 2003-04-15 | 2004-10-21 | Shusman Chad W. | Method and apparatus for interactive video on demand |
US20040032486A1 (en) | 2002-08-16 | 2004-02-19 | Shusman Chad W. | Method and apparatus for interactive programming using captioning |
EP1357754A1 (en) * | 2002-04-23 | 2003-10-29 | Canal + Technologies | Chat system for TV network |
GB0318290D0 (en) * | 2003-08-05 | 2003-09-10 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | Shared experience of media content |
US8196168B1 (en) | 2003-12-10 | 2012-06-05 | Time Warner, Inc. | Method and apparatus for exchanging preferences for replaying a program on a personal video recorder |
US7895625B1 (en) | 2003-12-24 | 2011-02-22 | Time Warner, Inc. | System and method for recommending programming to television viewing communities |
US9959383B1 (en) | 2004-04-30 | 2018-05-01 | Time Warner, Inc. | Apparatus, method and system for brokering and provision of intelligent advertisement |
US8024765B2 (en) | 2006-07-26 | 2011-09-20 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Method and system for communicating media program information |
CN100547964C (en) * | 2006-12-15 | 2009-10-07 | 腾讯科技(深圳)有限公司 | The instant communicating method of TV Network Based and network television system |
US9787486B2 (en) | 2011-05-10 | 2017-10-10 | Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. | Enabling chat sessions |
US10992719B2 (en) * | 2017-11-14 | 2021-04-27 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Systems and methods for establishing a voice link between users accessing media |
Family Cites Families (5)
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US5694163A (en) * | 1995-09-28 | 1997-12-02 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for viewing of on-line information service chat data incorporated in a broadcast television program |
US5793365A (en) * | 1996-01-02 | 1998-08-11 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | System and method providing a computer user interface enabling access to distributed workgroup members |
US5774664A (en) * | 1996-03-08 | 1998-06-30 | Actv, Inc. | Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments |
US5828839A (en) * | 1996-11-14 | 1998-10-27 | Interactive Broadcaster Services Corp. | Computer network chat room based on channel broadcast in real time |
US5920692A (en) * | 1997-03-24 | 1999-07-06 | International Business Machines Corp. | Method and system for a remote notification service for a multi-user server architecture |
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2000
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- 2000-12-19 WO PCT/US2000/034368 patent/WO2001050753A1/en active Application Filing
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8949899B2 (en) | 2005-03-04 | 2015-02-03 | Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. | Collaborative recommendation system |
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WO2001050753A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
AU2275901A (en) | 2001-07-16 |
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