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Set top to internet device communication and useRelated Patent Categories: Registers, Systems Controlled By Data Bearing RecordsSet top to internet device communication and use description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070138254, Set top to internet device communication and use. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to the electronic transfer of information over a network of communicatively coupled devices. More specifically, the present invention pertains to the distribution of targeted Web-based information that is relevant to a program being viewed on a television. BACKGROUND ART [0002] In many instances today, broadcasters and advertisers attempt to tie television programming and commercials to related sites on the World Wide Web ("Web"). It is becoming quite common to see, superimposed somewhere on the television screen, a banner or label identifying the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a Web site that can provide information supplementing the program information being displayed on the screen. It is also increasingly common for advertisers to display the URL for their Web site in their commercial. The broadcasters and advertisers hope to attract viewers to their Web sites for marketing purposes as well as to provide viewers with information more detailed than that provided during a television program or commercial. [0003] A disadvantage to banners and the like is that they can be somewhat disruptive to viewers, blocking aspects of the program being viewed and diverting the user's attention from the program itself. In addition, banners and the like are of limited effectiveness because they place the burden of accessing the Web site on the viewer. The viewer must first make note of the URL being displayed, and then must manually enter the URL into an Internet-connected device (e.g., a computer system) in order to reach the Web site. Because of this inconvenience, many viewers will not follow through and access the promoted Web site, reducing the size of the audience that broadcasters and advertisers had hoped to reach via the Internet. The audience is further reduced by the number of viewers who are not comfortable with accessing and navigating the Internet, and who will probably not attempt to access the Web site because of the perceived difficulty in doing so. [0004] Another problem with the prior art is that multiple URLs cannot readily be provided during the program or commercial, although there may be multiple Web sites relevant to the ongoing program or commercial that might be of interest. The display of multiple URLs would further clutter the screen, and viewers would typically not be able to make note of more than a couple of URLs at a time anyway. Accordingly, only a single URL is typically displayed, limiting viewer access to supplementary information of relevance or likely interest. [0005] Furthermore, the URLs displayed during programs and commercials cannot be tailored for different viewers; that is, all viewers see the same URL. Thus, even if one viewer is interested in one aspect of a program while another viewer has different interests, both viewers will be directed to the same Web site. [0006] Some products currently available, referred to in general as interactive television or Web television, attempt to make it easier to access information on the Web, but these products still have some shortcomings. Typically, these products function using some type of menu or pop-up window that appears on the television screen, obscuring aspects of the television display and distracting viewers. In addition, in order to display the Web-based information, these products typically use a split-screen or picture-in-picture type of format. Thus, instead of seeing a full-size image, viewers must contend with smaller images, reducing the quality of the display and diminishing the viewing experience. Moreover, one viewer may want to see one Web site and another viewer a different Web site; however, only one site can be viewed at a time. Thus, in addition to agreeing on which television program is to be watched, viewers must also agree on which Web site is to be viewed. [0007] Accordingly, what is needed is a method and/or system that can more conveniently direct viewers to Web sites that pertain to what is being viewed on television. What is also needed is a method and/or system that can satisfy the above need and that can identify multiple Web sites that may be of interest. In addition, what is needed is a method and/or system that can satisfy the above needs and that can identify Web sites according to the likely interests of different viewers. Furthermore, what is needed is a method and/or system that can satisfy the above needs and that can display Web-based information, and that can allow individual viewers to view the Web-based information that is of particular interest of them, without distracting or inconveniencing other viewers. The present invention provides a novel solution to the above needs. [0008] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides a system and method that can more conveniently direct viewers to Web sites that pertain to what is being viewed on television. The present invention also provides a system and method that can identify multiple Web sites that may be of interest. In addition, the present invention provides a system and method that can identify Web sites according to the likely interests of different viewers. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method that can display Web-based information, and that can allow individual viewers to view the Web-based information that is of particular interest of them, without distracting or inconveniencing other viewers. [0010] The present embodiment of the present invention pertains to a method and system thereof for providing Web-based information that is relevant to a program or commercial ("program content") being viewed (and/or listened to) on a television. In one embodiment, a data stream providing a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) is provided along with the program content. The URLs identify Web sites that are relevant to the program content. Based on user preferences specified in a user profile, URLs for Web sites that are likely to be of particular interest to the user can be culled from the overall set of URLs. These URLs are sent to a device connected to the Internet (e.g., a personal computer system, palmtop computer system, or the like), allowing the user to access Web-based information relevant to the program content. The program content continues to be displayed on the television and the Web-based information is displayed on the personal computer system. Accordingly, the user can view targeted information that is of interest without interrupting the display on the television. [0011] In one embodiment, the program content and the set of URLs associated with the program content are received by the television, or by a set top box that can be either coupled to the television or integrated with the television into a single unit. The program content is displayed on the television, and the set of URLs are forwarded to the Internet-connected device. In this embodiment, the user profile resides on the Internet-connected device. Based on the preferences specified in the user profile, a subset of the URLs can be selected and the Internet-connected device can be directed to the associated Web sites. The Internet-connected device can also be directed to other Web sites that may be of interest based on the information in the user profile. [0012] In another embodiment, the user profile resides on the television (e.g., the set top box), and only the subset of URLs selected based on the user profile are forwarded to the Internet-connected device. [0013] In yet another embodiment, the television (set top box) is connected with the Internet. The set of URLs received with the program content are forwarded via the Internet to a service provider. The user profile resides on the service provider's equipment. A subset of URLs are selected based on the user profile and forwarded either to the Internet-connected device or back to the television. In this latter case, the television can forward the subset of URLs to the Internet-connected device. Alternatively, the service provider can send Web-based information (e.g., Web pages) to the Internet-connected device instead of sending the URLs. In addition, the user can send information to the service provider or to the Web pages via the Internet-connected device. [0014] In another embodiment, only the program content is received by the television (set top box) connected to the Internet. In this embodiment, the television (set top box) communicates to the service provider a channel number (or other information) identifying the program being viewed. Similar to the implementations described above, depending on where the user profile resides, the service provider can send a set of URLs, a subset of URLs based on the user's profile, or Web-based information to the television (set top box) or the Internet-connected device. [0015] In accordance with the present invention, multiple Internet-connected devices can be used and individual profiles can be established for each user. Thus, one user can receive one set of targeted information relevant to the program being viewed on the television, and another user can receive a different set of targeted information. Each user can separately view the targeted information (e.g., Web page) they receive on their respective Internet-connected device, while jointly viewing the program (or commercial) displayed on the television. In addition, via their Internet-connected device, each user can interact with other users that are also connected with the same Web site and that may be viewing the same television program or commercial. [0016] Furthermore, with the television connected to the Internet, the television (set top box) can receive commands from other Internet-connected devices, Accordingly, the television can be programmed to perform functions based on instructions and commands received from devices in remote locations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention: [0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network of communicatively coupled devices upon which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. [0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system upon which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. [0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary set top box upon which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. Continue reading about Set top to internet device communication and use... Full patent description for Set top to internet device communication and use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Set top to internet device communication and use patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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