Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
View Patent ↗The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or listing information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
1. A method for transmitting video clips over the Internet, implemented on a system including a data port, comprising:
receiving a request for a web page via the data port; and
generating the web page, wherein the web page includes a first interactive media asset identifier for linking a viewer of the web page to a first remote server and a second interactive media asset identifier for linking the viewer to a second remote server, and wherein, in response to a user selection of the first media asset identifier, the first remote server:
transmits a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier over a data network for immediate viewing, and
generates for display information that is contextually related to the video clip, wherein the information is caused to be displayed simultaneously with the video clip.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating step and the transmitting step are performed by a server module.
10. A system for transmitting video clips over the Internet, the system comprising a web server, the web server comprising a processor configured to:
receive a request for a web page; and
generate the web page, wherein the web page includes interactive media asset identifiers, wherein a first interactive media asset identifier includes a first programmatic action for linking a viewer interface to a first remote server, and wherein a second interactive media asset identifier includes a second programmatic action for linking the viewer interface to a second remote server, and wherein, in response to a user selection of the first interactive media asset identifier, the first programmatic action causes the first remote server to:
transmit a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier to the viewer interface over a data network for immediate viewing, and
generate for display information that is contextually related to the video clip, wherein the information is caused to be displayed simultaneously with the video clip.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer interface.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.
18. A method for transmitting video clips over the Internet, implemented on a system including a data port, comprising:
receiving a request for a web page via the data port; and
generating the web page, wherein the web page includes a first interactive media asset identifier for linking a viewer of the web page to a first remote server and a second interactive media asset identifier for linking the viewer to a second remote server, and wherein, in response to a user selection of the first interactive media asset identifier, the first remote server:
transmits a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier over a data network, and
generates for display a selectable option during the transmission of the video clip, wherein a selection of the selectable option causes a function to be invoked in relation to the video clip.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be recorded.
27. The method of claim 18 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be played.
28. The method of claim 18 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes metadata of a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be marked.
29. The method of claim 18 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a reminder associated with a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be set.
30. The method of claim 18 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes access to a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be restricted.
31. The method of claim 18 , wherein the video clip is transmitted to the viewer for immediate viewing.
32. A system for transmitting video clips over the Internet, the system comprising a web server, the web server comprising a processor configured to:
receive a request for a web page; and
generate the web page, wherein the web page includes a first interactive media asset identifier for linking a viewer to a first remote server and a second interactive media asset identifier for linking the viewer to a second remote server, and wherein, in response to a user selection of the first media asset identifier, the first remote server:
transmits a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier to the viewer over a data network, and
generates for display a selectable option during the transmission of the video clip, wherein a selection of the selectable option causes a function to be invoked in relation to the video clip.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
35. The system of claim 32 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer interface.
36. The system of claim 32 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
37. The system of claim 32 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
38. The system of claim 32 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
39. The system of claim 32 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.
40. The system of claim 32 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be recorded.
41. The system of claim 32 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be played.
42. The system of claim 32 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes metadata of a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be marked.
43. The system of claim 32 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes a reminder associated with a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be set.
44. The system of claim 32 , wherein the function, when invoked, causes access to a media asset corresponding to the video clip to be restricted.
45. The system of claim 32 , wherein the video clip is transmitted to the viewer for immediate viewing.
46. A method for transmitting video clips over the Internet, implemented on a system including a data port, comprising:
receiving a request for a web page via the data port; and
generating the web page, wherein the web page includes a first interactive media asset identifier for linking a viewer of the web page to a first remote server and a second interactive media asset identifier for linking the viewer to a second remote server, and wherein the first media asset identifier is configured to, when selected, cause (i) a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier and (ii) information that is contextually related to the video clip to be transmitted for simultaneous display.
47. The method of claim 46 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
48. The method of claim 47 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
49. The method of claim 46 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer.
50. The method of claim 46 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
51. The method of claim 46 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
52. The method of claim 46 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
53. The method of claim 46 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.
54. A system for transmitting video clips over the Internet, the system comprising a web server, the web server comprising a processor configured to:
receive a request for a web page; and
generate the web page, wherein the web page includes interactive media asset identifiers, wherein a first interactive media asset identifier includes a first programmatic action for linking a viewer interface to a first remote server, wherein a second interactive media asset identifier includes a second programmatic action for linking the viewer interface to a second remote server, and wherein the first media asset identifier is configured to, when selected, cause (i) a video clip corresponding to the first interactive media asset identifier and (ii) information that is contextually related to the video clip to be transmitted for simultaneous display.
55. The system of claim 54 , wherein the web page includes descriptive information related to the video clip.
56. The system of claim 55 , wherein the descriptive information is an editorial comment.
57. The system of claim 54 , wherein the video clip is transmitted exclusively to the viewer interface.
58. The system of claim 54 , wherein the video clip is interactive.
59. The system of claim 54 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier corresponds to a recommended video clip.
60. The system of claim 54 , wherein the first interactive media asset identifier is presented within a media guide.
61. The system of claim 54 , wherein the web page includes a field for searching the data network for information contextually related to the video clip.