Video systems and methods of using the same

Abstract

A television content provider can reserve and use a television channel can be used to provide interactive content to a user device. Unlike conventional broadcast channels, a user at the user device may view content to an extent (length, depth, or both) that the user desires. The user can pick and choose content to view, may drill down to whatever level of detail that the user desires, contact an originating source of the content, interact with the content in another manner, or the like. Unlike the Internet, the content can be customized for transmission over a television channel, which may allow higher quality and potentially a larger array of content than may otherwise be provided over the Internet. The transmission may be performed over a private network, so that security concerns are reduced.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 includes a general diagram of an Internet Protocol television system that may be used to provide video content.

FIG. 2 includes a block diagram illustrating modules and their interaction between a data processing system and content sources and user devices.

FIG. 3 includes a flow diagram of an exemplary method of receiving content at a user device.

FIG. 4 includes a flow diagram of an exemplary method of receiving content from content providers and providing content to user devices.

FIG. 5 includes a flow diagram of an exemplary method involving subscription video newsletters.

FIG. 6 includes a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system.

Claims

1. A method of using a video system, the method comprising: receiving broadcast content via data packets over a first television channel; andreceiving interactive content via data packets over a second television channel that is different from the first television channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting the second television channel before receiving the interactive content; andprocessing the interactive content using a television tuner after receiving the interactive content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a request for the interactive content, wherein: the request includes a search string, and the interactive content includes information associated with the search string;the request includes a request for a video segment associated with a product or service, and the interactive content includes the video segment;the request includes information associated with a product configuration, and the interactive content includes a video image associated with a product having the product configuration;the request includes a request to schedule a test of a product or service, and the interactive content includes a confirmation associated with the test; orany combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the broadcast content, sending the request, and receiving the interactive content is performed using a private network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a communication associated with opting into a subscription video newsletter, wherein receiving the interactive content comprises automatically receiving a video newsletter associated with the subscription.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the interactive content comprises receiving a video-on-demand unicast stream over the second television channel, wherein the video-on-demand unicast stream is associated with the video newsletter.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising recording the interactive content on a digital video recorder.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying a message that the interactive content has been recorded.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein: the broadcast content is broadcast substantially in real time at a predetermined time; andthe interactive content is substantially promotional content associated with a product or a service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive content comprises a user-selectable element that is embedded within the interactive content, wherein the user-selectable element is associated with a request to modify the interactive content or obtain new or different content from a television content service provider while remaining at a television channel.

11. A data processing system readable medium having data embodied within the data processing system readable medium, the data comprising: an instruction to send broadcast content via data packets over a first television channel to a user device; andan instruction to send the interactive content via data packets over a second television channel to the user device, wherein the second television channel is different from the first television channel.

12. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instruction to send is executed in response to receiving a request from the user device for the interactive content, wherein: the request includes a search string, and the interactive content includes information associated with the search string;the request includes a request for a video segment associated with a product or service, and the interactive content includes the video segment;the request includes information associated with a product configuration, and the interactive content includes a video image associated with a product having the product configuration;the request includes a request to schedule a test of a product or service, and the interactive content includes a confirmation associated with the test; orany combination thereof.

13. The data processing system readable medium of claim 12, wherein: the instruction to send the broadcast content comprises an instruction to send the broadcast content over a private network;the request is received from the private network; andthe instruction to send the interactive content comprises an instruction to send the interactive content over the private network.

14. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data further comprises an instruction to schedule a video newsletter to be sent to the user device, wherein: the instruction to schedule is executed in response to receiving a communication from the user device, wherein the communication is associated with opting into a subscription video newsletter;the video newsletter is associated with the subscription; andthe instruction to send the interactive content comprises an instruction to send a video-on-demand unicast stream to the user device over the second television channel, wherein the video-on-demand unicast stream is associated with the subscription video newsletter.

15. The data processing system readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instruction to send comprises an instruction to send the interactive content over a private network.

16. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein: the broadcast content is broadcast substantially in real time at a predetermined time; andthe interactive content is substantially promotional content associated with a product or a service.

17. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data further comprises an instruction to modify content received from an interactive content source to form the interactive content.

18. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the interactive content includes a user-selectable element that is embedded within the interactive content, wherein the user-selectable element is associated with a request to modify the interactive content or obtain new or different content from a television content service provider while remaining at a television channel.

19. A data processing system comprising: a request receiving module;an interactive content transmission module adapted to transmit interactive content over a television channel to a user device, wherein the interactive content includes data packets; anda video-on-demand server coupled to the interactive content transmission module, wherein the video-on-demand server is configured to retrieve and send the interactive content to the interactive content transmission module, and wherein the interactive content is associated with the request.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, further comprising a content modification module to modify content received from an interactive content source to generate the interactive content, wherein the interactive content has a different data format, a different transmission quality, a different display quality, or any combination thereof, as compared to the content received from the interactive content source.

21. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the interactive content transmission module is configured to retrieve a subscription list and to transmit the interactive content to an address within the subscription list.

22. The data processing system of claim 19, further comprising a broadcast content transmission module to transmit broadcast content including data packets, wherein the broadcast content transmission module can transmit independently from the interactive content transmission module.

23. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein each of the interactive content transmission module and the broadcast module is configured to transmit the interactive content and the broadcast content, respectively, using Internet Protocol.

24. The data processing system of claim 19, further comprising a storage device, wherein the interactive content is organized into different hierarchical levels of information within the storage device.

25. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the interactive content transmission module is configured to transmit the interactive content that can include a user-selectable element that is embedded therein.