Interactive Computer System for Providing Television Schedule Information
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 - 47 . (canceled)
48 . A set-top box apparatus comprising:
a first module configured to provide broadcast video to a display; and
a second module configured to provide additional content to the display, wherein the additional content is received from an Internet source, and wherein the additional content overlays the broadcast video.
49 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the second module is configured to track user program selections.
50 . The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the second module is configured to provide program suggestions based on the user program selections.
51 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content includes a link to a programmatic action for retrieving supplemental content from the Internet source.
52 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content includes one of news, weather, sports, scores, financial data, or local traffic.
53 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content relates to a local area of interest.
54 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content is related to the broadcast video.
55 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content includes an advertisement.
56 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content is displayed in response to a user action.
57 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the user action causes the additional content to be displayed in full-screen mode.
58 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the additional content includes television schedule information.
59 . The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the second module is configured to display an image, wherein the image includes a programmatic action for retrieving the additional content from the Internet source in response to a user action.
60 . A method for providing video entertainment, the method comprising:
transmitting broadcast video to a set-top box over a broadcast network; and
transmitting a program module to the set-top box, wherein the program module is configured to present a selectable item to a viewer, and wherein the selectable item includes a link to a programmatic action for retrieving additional content from an Internet source, and wherein the additional content overlays the broadcast video.
61 . The method of claim 60 wherein the program module is configured to format the additional content based on an instruction from the viewer.
62 . The method of claim 60 wherein the additional content is contextually linked to the broadcast video.
63 . The method of claim 60 wherein the selectable item overlays the broadcast video.
64 . A method for operating an interactive entertainment device comprising:
receiving a broadcast video;
receiving a viewer instruction to display additional content contextually related to the broadcast video;
receiving the additional content from an Internet source; and
displaying a selectable item that includes the additional content, wherein the selectable item overlays the broadcast video.
65 . An interactive entertainment system comprising:
a input module coupled to a broadcast network for receiving broadcast video;
a computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
monitor and track user program selections of the broadcast video;
retrieve from an Internet source additional content contextually related to the program selections; and
display the additional content in response to a user action, wherein the additional content overlays the broadcast video.