Television content through supplementary media channels

摘要

A method and system implements supplementary media channels to Internet-protocol television (IPTV) channels. An IPTV user may receive a selected IPTV program on an IPTV channel. The IPTV program may be correlated in time with metadata describing the content of the IPTV program. At a point in the IPTV program, the metadata may match with user configuration information for receiving supplemental content. A supplementary media channel may be used at such point to provide the supplemental content to the IPTV user during the IPTV program. Supplemental content may include additional storyline content for the IPTV program or an advertising message, a redeemable coupon, a promotional offer, or an order invitation. The supplementary media channel may include a telephone connection with the IPTV user, an email message, a text message, or an instant message sent to the IPTV user, or a voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) connection with the IPTV user.

主权项

1. A method for supplementing multimedia content, the method comprising:
during streaming of a program over a multimedia distribution network to a user, polling program metadata for a match with user configuration information wherein a match occurs in response to a character in the program initiating a telephone call; responsive to detecting the match, initiating a telephone call to establish a telephone connection to the user as a supplemental media channel; and communicating supplemental content to the user via the supplemental media channel.