Patent Application
20130007828
The present disclosure relates generally to the presentation of information on a user interface of an electronic device and, more particularly, to the presentation of user alerts with extraneous information and corresponding methods.
The digitization of information, increasing availability of broadband communications networks, and developments in digital rights management are driving the convergence and integration of services provided over data and communications networks. Many consumers now subscribe to scheduled programming (e.g., broadcast television), data communications (e.g., high speed Internet) and communications (e.g., VoIP) services over one or more such networks. For example, a cable or satellite service subscriber may receive programmed content via a set top box (STB) connected to a television or other video monitoring device. An STB may also include digital video recorder (DVR) functionality. Subscribers may receive data connectivity service, e.g., Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), over a data network via a modem connected to a computer or other digital computing device for uploading and downloading data. Networks capable of providing these and other services are ubiquitous and include but are not limited to cable, ISDN, satellite and cellular data networks and copper telephone systems, all of which are typically operated by multiple system operators. Content can also be streamed from content servers over data networks onto personal computers or other digital content consumption devices, usually on a subscription basis from third party providers. For example, NETFLIX and other content providers stream content over data networks to subscriber devices like computers and networked televisions. A television may be connected to a data network via a connection to a networked device, like a DVR, Blue Ray DVD player, set top box, etc. Some newer digital televisions include integrated network connectivity hardware and functionality, which permits a direct network connection.
Consumers can now subscribe to Voice over IP (VoIP) call service using a voice modem interconnecting a telephone system and communication network. In TCP/IP networks, the voice modem interconnects a telephony system and an Internet modem connected to a data network. VoIP communication services are now provided by many multi system operators, like COMCAST and TIME WARNER among others, bundled with a high speed data service and possibly a scheduled program service. VoIP and teleconferencing services are also available from independent providers, like VONAGE, for monthly or annual fees. VoIP calling/teleconferencing services are also available by executing an application on a networked personal computer. One such application by SKYPE permits VoIP calling/teleconferencing services.
The various aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description thereof with the accompanying drawings described below. The drawings may have been simplified for clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In
Networks capable of supporting communications and data services with and for electronic devices are ubiquitous and include local or wide area networks and combinations thereof. Such networks include but are not limited to Ethernet, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), any one of a variety of cellular network protocols among many other protocols. Such networks may be open or proprietary. The present disclosure is not limited to these or any other presently known or future networks or communication protocols. Such networks are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are not described further herein except to the extent necessary to enable the best mode of the disclosure. These and other contemplated networks are typically operated by a multiple system operator (MSO), but more generally the network may be operated by a private, institutional or governmental entity.
The exemplary electronic device is embodied as set top box (STB) combined with a video monitor or display device. In this embodiment, at least the STB or the monitor includes a tuner. In some embodiments both the STB and monitor include a tuner. The STB may be connected to a data network wirelessly or by a wire-line. The STB generally enables reception of downlink (DL) signals by the tuner or receiver of the STB, television or video monitor. For example, the STB may enable reception of digital signals, or perform descrambling of content, for example premium cable or satellite channels. Some set top boxes also perform signal conversion to enable reception of signals that would otherwise be outside a frequency band of the tuner. These and other functional features of set top boxes are known generally and thus the details thereof are not described further herein
In
Alternatively, without limitation, the electronic device may be embodied as a network enabled television, personal computer, gaming station, laptop or tablet, smart phone, consumer premise equipment (CPE) or any other residential or commercial communication or media consumption device having a user interface and a wired or wireless data network interface. The electronic device, of whatever form, is generally connected to the data network using a modem or transceiver. For example, a laptop computer or gaming device may be connected to a data network by a modem (e.g., TCP/IP cable modem), a wireless (e.g., WiFi) modem, a cellular (e.g., 3GPP LTE) modem, or some other wired or wireless data transceiver that communicates pursuant to an extant of future protocol modem. In general the electronic device is connected to a broadband network delivering content and/or services and the device is capable of bi-directional communications over the network. Communications from the electronic device to one or more external service platforms and to electronic devices may originate on-demand in an asynchronous matter, for instance driven by events associated with delivery of extraneous information or 3rd party services support.
In
In some embodiments, the electronic device is also configured with functionality to acquire preference information of the user or subscriber. The acquired preference information may be used to create a user profile. The preference information includes user usage patterns and behavior among other metrics from which a user profile may be created. In
Generally, the electronic device is associated with a particular user. For example, the electronic device may be associated with a user by virtue of the user logging-into the device or by virtue of a subscription for services possessed by the user or by a combination thereof. The service subscription could be associated with access to a data network or an access point or some other communications network. The service subscription may also be for access to content or for access to a service. Thus generally a particular user may have multiple subscriptions. In one embodiment, the user may have one subscription for access to a data network and another subscription for access to content, e.g., a NETFLIX account, received over the network. In another scenario, the user may have a subscription for access to a data network and another subscription for access to a service like a VoIP service provided over the data network. Generally, each service provider may acquire user preference information associated with the corresponding account possessed by the user. For example, the content provider may acquire the user preferences for content genre, viewing time and duration etc, whereas a VoIP provider may acquire preference information related to call destination, time and duration, etc. More generally, multiple users having separate accounts (e.g., accessible using unique passwords) may access a data network under a common subscription. In
In the particular architecture of
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If the cellular service provider and the STB content provider are the same, the common service provider could communicate the communication indicator directly to the STB for presentation on the monitor. In some embodiments, the communication service provider is different than the STB service provider. For example, the STB subscriber or user may obtain VoIP or cellular communication service from another provider. In these circumstances, some business cooperation is required for the communication service provider to forward the communication indication to the STB for presentation on the monitor.
Besides voice communications described above, the communication indicator could be indicative of a communication on a device other than a cell phone or a landline. Other communications include but are not limited to video calls, text messages, chat messages, instant messages and email among other messages or communications. These other communications could be received on other devices like a computer or smart phone among other devices specified herein. The communication indicator could also indicate that the user has received a call on the same device on which the visual image is presented.
In another embodiment, the electronic device is a networked television connected to the data network by a network modem or adapter. Some newer televisions have integrated networking functionality that permits connection to a data network by a wireless or wire-line interface. Alternatively, the television may be interconnected to the data network by a networked device like a Blu-ray player or some other intermediate network capable device. In another embodiment, the electronic device is a computing device having a network interface. In these alternative embodiments, the visual image, from whatever source, is presented on the electronic device.
In
In some embodiments, the information indicative of the communication for the user associated with the electronic device includes information identifying an originator of the communication. Such information may include a name of address or number of the originating caller. The foreground image presented on the display interface. The foreground image is generally presented after or in response to receipt of the communication indicating the receipt of the communication for the user. The image may be temporary or persistent. Thus the foreground information presented on the display interface of the electronic device provides a visual notification to the user of the existence of a voice call or other communication. For the case where the communication is a voice call or a video conference call, the foreground image may be presented while the communication is pending such that the user may accept the incoming call and carry on a voice or video conference. For these and other active communication sessions, the information indicative of the communication is received and the foreground image is received in relative real-time. Here, real-time means that there is sufficient time for a prompt user to engage in a call or other communication session before the call is terminated for lack of acceptance. Other communications are inactive, meaning that there is no active session in which the user can participate or accept. For example, an inactive communication notification may be indicative of a missed voice call, a received email, etc.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the foreground image includes information extraneous to the information indicative of the communication for the user associated with the electronic device. Generally, the extraneous information is unrelated to the information indicative of the communication sent to the user. In one embodiment, the extraneous information is an advertisement, for example, a banner. The banner could be static or it could be a dynamic video image. Alternatively, the extraneous information is some other information unrelated to the information indicative of the communication for the user. In embodiments where a visual image is presented on the display interface, the banner ad is superimposed on the visual image. In one implementation, a visual solicitation is presented simultaneously with information identifying the originator of the communication.
In one embodiment, the extraneous information is based on a preference of the user associated with the electronic device. The user preference may be in the form of a user profile. In the architecture of
In an alternative embodiment, electronic device identifies or selects extraneous information, for example, an advertisement, for the user based on user preference or profile information stored on the electronic device. According to this embodiment, the electronic device receives advertisements or other extraneous information from some other source, like an ad server. These ads are stored on the electronic device for later selection and display with the information indicative of the communication for the user associated with the electronic device. The ad server could perform preliminary filtering of the ads sent to the electronic device based on user preference or profile information provided to the ad server. Alternatively, the ad server could send ads to the STB without the use of user preference or profile information provided by the STB. For example, the ads could be based on general information about the user, like residential zip code information or based on some other information.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the user may manipulate the foreground image displayed on the user interface. This aspect requires that the electronic device enable interactive user input. In
According to a related aspect of the disclosure, in
While the present disclosure and the best modes thereof have been described in a manner establishing possession and enabling those of ordinary skill to make and use the same, it will be understood and appreciated that there are equivalents to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and that modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions, which are to be limited not by the exemplary embodiments but by the appended claims.
