Correlation of tuned channel information with internet web addresses

摘要

An auxiliary display device, capable of remotely controlling a set-top box (STB) and/or television to select a program channel, is used to navigate a web browser in the auxiliary display device to a web site associated with the selected channel. A web page associated with the selected channel is presented on a display of the auxiliary display device. When the channel is selected, current tuned channel information is transmitted by the set-top box (STB) and/or television to the auxiliary display device, irrespective of whether the auxiliary display device was used to select the channel. In an alternate embodiment, the STB and/or television forward channel information to the auxiliary display device via a cable head-end.

主权项

1. In a communications system including a set-top box (STB) in communication with a television and an auxiliary display device, a method of changing program channels viewed on the television and presenting, on a display of the auxiliary display device, a web page associated with a current tuned channel number viewed on the television, the method comprising:
(a) the STB transmitting the current tuned channel number to the auxiliary display device; (b) the auxiliary display device determining a particular uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the current tuned channel number utilizing the current tuned channel number provided by the STB by using a VCM when changing program channels viewed on the television, wherein the VCM includes uniform resource locator (URL) information associated with at least one program channel; and (c) the auxiliary display device presenting web content associated with the URL associated with the current tuned channel number on the display of the auxiliary display device.