Granted Patent B2

US 7,551,888 · App. 10/511,771 · Granted Jun 23, 2009

Abstract

Claims (87)

1. A method, comprising:

presenting content associated with broadcast program in a user terminal of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:

broadcasting a media stream by a broadcast system;

generating a group of content items associated with the media stream;

attaching to the content items timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

delivering the group of content items with the timing information to the user terminal;

presenting the content items in the user terminal in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and

allowing transition from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the group of content items to correspond with one program or a segment of one program of the media stream;

storing the group of content items in the user terminal; and

retrieving, when the user terminal is in the first mode, a content item for presentation according to the timing information.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising authorizing the transition from the second mode to the first mode in response to an authorizing signal received from a telecommunication system.

4. A media system comprising:

a broadcast system, a telecommunication system, a content processing system, and a user terminal, wherein the broadcast system is configured to broadcast a media stream;

the content processing system is configured to generate a group of content items associated with the media stream;

the content processing system is configured to attach to the content items timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

the user terminal is configured to present the content items in the user terminal in a first mode, wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and

the user terminal is configured to transit from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the user terminal is configured to provide a presentation element as a slide in the terminal display; and to include in the presentation element a display element for activating a user action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to the second mode.

6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein

the content processing system is configured to generate the group of content items to correspond with one program or a segment of one program of the media stream;

the user terminal is configured to store the group of content items in the user terminal; and

the user terminal is configured to retrieve, when the user terminal is in the first mode, a content item for presenting according to the timing information.

7. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the content processing system is configured to generate a content item while broadcasting the associated program in the media stream; and

the content processing system is configured to indicate in the timing information that the content item is to be presented immediately at reception.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a user terminal configured to operate in a telecommunication system comprising;

a broadcast receiver, configured to receive a broadcast media stream from a media system;

an interaction engine configured to receive a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

a rendering engine configured to present the content items in the user terminal in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and

a content processor configured to allow transition from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the rendering engine is configured to provide a presentation element as a slide in the terminal display; and to include in the presentation element a display element for activating a user action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to the second mode.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the display element is an on-screen button in the user interface of the user terminal.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the interaction engine is configured to receive with the content item mode information to indicate whether displaying of the content item relates to a transition to the first mode of the user terminal or to the second mode of the user terminal; and

the content processor is configured to change the mode of the apparatus according to the mode information of the displayed content item.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the content processor is configured to enter the first mode from the second mode in response to authorization by a user action in the user terminal.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8 ,

further comprising a timer controller module configured to measure the duration of a user inactivity while the user terminal is in the second mode; and

the content processor is configured to allow entry to the first mode from the second mode in response to authorization by the duration of the user inactivity exceeding a pre-defined limit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the content processor is configured to allow entry to the first mode from the second mode in response to an authorizing signal received from a telecommunication system.

15. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the rendering engine is configured to display an indicator for indicating the current operating mode of the terminal.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a server for a media system comprising a broadcast system, a telecommunication system, a content creation tool, and a user terminal;

a content delivery engine configured to receive from the content creation tool a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

an interaction engine configured to receive from the user terminal a signal for indicating whether the user terminal is in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action;

the interaction engine is configured to transmit content items to the user terminal when the user terminal is in a first mode; and

the interaction engine is configured not to transmit content items when the user terminal is in a second mode.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the interaction engine is configured to send to the user terminal an authorizing signal for authorizing transition to the first mode from the second mode.

18. A module for an apparatus comprising a user terminal configured to operate in a telecommunication system and to receive a broadcast media stream from a media system, the module comprising:

an interaction engine configured to receive a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

a rendering engine configured to present the content items in the user terminal in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and a content processor configured to allow transition from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

19. A module according to claim 18 , wherein the interaction engine is configured to receive with the content item mode information to indicate whether displaying of the content item relates to a transition to the first mode of the user terminal or to the second mode of the user terminal; and

the content processor is configured to change the mode of the apparatus according to the mode information of the displayed content item.

20. A module according to claim 18 , wherein the content processor is configured to allow entry to the first mode from the second mode in response to an authorizing signal received from a telecommunication system.

21. A method, comprising:

operating as a user terminal in a telecommunication system;

receiving a broadcast media stream from a media system;

receiving a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

presenting the content items in the user terminal in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and

allowing transition from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

22. A method according to claim 21 , further comrpising:

providing a presentation element as a slide in a terminal display; and

including in the presentation element a display element for activating a user action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to the second mode.

23. A method according to claim 21 , further comprising:

receiving with the content item mode information to indicate whether displaying of the content item relates to a transition to the first mode of the user terminal or to the second mode of the user terminal; and

changing the mode of the user terminal according to the mode information of the displayed content item.

24. A method, comprising:

operating as a server for a media system comprising a broadcast system, a telecommunication system, a content creation tool, and a user terminal;

receiving from the content creation tool a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

receiving from the user terminal a signal for indicating whether the user terminal is in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action;

transmitting content items to the user terminal when the user terminal is in a first mode; and

not transmitting content items when the user terminal is in a second mode.

25. A method according to claim 24 , further comprising:

sending to the user terminal an authorizing signal for authorizing transition to the first mode from the second mode.

26. A computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

operating as a user terminal in a telecommunication system;

receiving a broadcast media stream from a media system;

receiving a group of content items associated with the media stream with timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a content item;

presenting the content items in the user terminal in a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action; and

allowing transition from the second mode to the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure.

27. A computer-readable memory according to claim 26 , the instructions further performing:

providing a presentation element as a slide in a terminal display; and

including in the presentation element a display element for activating a user action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to the second mode.

28. A computer-readable storage memory according to claim 26 , the instructions further performing:

receiving with the content item mode information to indicate whether displaying of the content item relates to a transition to the first mode of the user terminal or to the second mode of the user terminal; and

changing the mode of the user terminal according to the mode information of the displayed content item.

Assignments (10)