METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE SECOND SCREEN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing an interactive second screen experience. In particular, the methods and systems provide data related to the timing of interest, expected questions and/or areas of interest and expected answers/information in response to that interest.

Claims

1. A method of providing a second screen experience of a broadcast from one or more separate input streams, the method comprising: providing a computer; and using said computer to access one or more input streams corresponding to a broadcast, wherein said computer includes software executing on said computer configured to: identify one or more markers related to the broadcast in the one or more input streams, wherein the markers are identified by using natural language processing and/or text recognition technology and/or video/image recognition technology and/or audio recognition technology; associate a time stamp with each of the one or more markers to create a second screen event; compile information from the one or more separate input streams during second screen event, and transmit said information to an output unit to provide a second screen experience to one or more users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more input streams are social media streams or streams from fan websites or sites dedicated to TV shows and movies.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the social media streams are selected from sources such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, Tumbler, LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, VK, Flickr and Vine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more input streams are selected from a group consisting of social media, an input stream from a movie reviewer, an input stream from a second running of a movie, a volume increase of a movie, and picking up audio signals from viewers in a theater or in a living room or in a location whereby the broadcast is watched.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more markers are selected from a group consisting of stories, posts, messages, actions corresponding to watching a particular piece of media content, liking a particular content objective, feedback from a second screen service users and queuing a particular piece of media content for future viewing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast is a live broadcast or a taped, saved or pre-recorded broadcast.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information transmitted to the second screen is filtered, such that the most relevant information is sent to the second screen.

8. The method of claim 9, wherein a user is provided with the most relevant information during the second screen event.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of compiling information from the one or more separate input streams that relate to the second screen event comprises: parsing said information to identify the most relevant information during the second screen event as well as peaks of interest at the content that is being broadcasted, wherein only the most relevant information is transmitted to the output unit to provide the second screen experience of the broadcast to the one or more users.

10. The method of claim 10, wherein said information transmitted to the output unit to provide a second screen experience comprises user questions and answers, topics of interest, areas of interest, keywords, hyperlinks, and links to third party applications and webpages including webstores.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said parsing involves using natural language processing and/or text/image/audio recognition technology.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said output unit is selected from a group consisting of an external device, app, website or a backend service.

13. A system for providing an interactive second screen experience of a broadcast from one or more separate input streams comprising: a computer; software executing on said computer for accessing one or more input streams corresponding to a broadcast; an identification module on said computer for identifying one or more markers related to the broadcast in the one or more input streams, wherein the markers are identified by using natural language processing and/or text recognition technology and/or video/image recognition technology and/or audio recognition technology; a time-stamp module on said computer for associating a time stamp with each of the one or more markers to create a second screen event; a compilation module on said computer for compiling information from the one or more separate input streams during the second screen event; and a transmission module for transmitting said information to an output unit to provide a second screen experience of the broadcast to one or more users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said one or more input streams are social media streams or streams from a fan website, wherein the social media streams are selected from a group consisting of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, Tumbler, LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, VK, Flickr and Vine.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more input streams are selected from a group consisting of social media, an input stream from a TV or movie reviewer, websites or sites dedicated to TV shows and movies such as IMDB, an input stream from a second running of a movie, a volume increase of a movie, and picking up audio signals from viewers in a theater or from viewers in a living room.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more markers are selected from a group consisting of stories, posts, messages, actions corresponding to watching a particular piece of media content including from other users who watched the same content, liking a particular content objective, and queuing a particular piece of media content for future viewing.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the information transmitted to the second screen is filtered, such that the most relevant information is sent to the second screen, so that a user is provided with the most relevant information during a second screen event.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the step of compiling information from the one or more separate input streams that relate to the second screen event comprises: parsing said information to identify the most relevant information during the second screen event, wherein only the most relevant information is transmitted to the output unit to provide the second screen experience of the broadcast to the one or more users.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said information transmitted to the output unit to provide a second screen experience comprises user questions, topics of interest, areas of interest, keywords, hyperlinks, and links to third party applications and webpages including webstores.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said output unit is selected from a group consisting of an external device, app, website or a backend service.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a system of an embodiment of the invention;

[0065] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of the invention; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. For instance, the techniques described below are described in a specified order, but other embodiments may change the order of the operations while still embodying the current invention.

[0067] An input stream is defined as a source of information correlating to a broadcast to which a second screen service provider can access to gather information.

[0068] The method and system of the presently claimed invention uses input from streams and/or sources such as social media (but not only, could be rewind of movie, volume increase, picking up audio signals from viewers), and will identify data or information which will help provide a second screen experience.

[0069] In particular, the data or information identified may include timing of interest, expected questions and/or areas of interest, and expected answers/information in response to that interest.

[0070] In certain embodiments of the invention, the second screen experience could involve receiving information from answering a question from an email, receiving an input such as a rewind of a movie, volume increase, and/or picking up audio signals from viewers. After such an event occurs, the system will understand that an interest or interest event has occurred and will hint the system that something meaningful happened (i.e. a second screen event has occurred).

[0071] In certain embodiments, the second screen experience involves analyzing a scene in a broadcast. In certain embodiments, the software can tell if a scene is dramatic by analyzing the scene, such as if a character gasps or is startled, the music suddenly changes, the screen goes black or if multiple cliffhangers or dramatic events occur. In this instance, software on the computer analyzes the scene and determines that a second screen event has occurred.

[0072] The system and method is able to anticipate questions in that moment in time and find the answers. For example, if, five minutes into watching a broadcast of an episode of television, the user says oh my goodness! and then rewinds several times, it will indicate that something meaningful has happened and that a second screen event has occurred. The system will then know that the second screen event came at that point of the original airtime.

[0073] The system will then compile information during that point in time (second screen event) and will transmit the complied information to an output unit to provide a second screen experience of the broadcast to one or more users.

[0074] In certain embodiments, the system uses time stamps, natural language processing and other tools to identify information so as to determine when a second screen event occurs.

[0075] In certain embodiments, the system corresponds input streams to a broadcasted content by outputting a compilation of information at the second screen event to one or more outputs in real time.

[0076] As set forth in this application, the term Real Time is defined as input that originated at the same time of watching said broadcast/stream.

[0077] As set forth in this application, the term timestamp is defined as the elapsed time from the beginning of the show until the said marker is identified, taking into account information which may change the actual timestamp. Information that may change the actual timestamp includes ads, last-times, pauses in viewing, etc.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing of a system of an embodiment of the invention is provided. In FIG. 1, the system shown includes a computer 110 and software that executes various functionality. The computer includes a processor 100 able to run the software and a memory and non-transient computer readable storage medium able to include instructions for running software.

[0079] FIG. 1 also shows a database 102 connected to the processor 100 as well as a display 140 connected to the processor via a link 134. One or more input streams 130 and 150 are accessed by the software executing on the processor 100 via links 132 and 136. These input streams are accessed when the software executing on the server cross references the input streams and performs the method as set forth in various embodiments described in the invention.

[0080] In certain embodiments, the links described could be via cables, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cable or other technology that allows one device to access a second device.

[0081] In certain embodiments, the display 140 is an output unit that provides the second screen experience to one or more users. In certain embodiments, the display 140 could be a computer display, monitor, tablet or smartphone, smartphone app, or any device that is able to display images or pixels such that a user can receive information.

[0082] In certain embodiments of the invention, the system is able to use natural language processing to decipher information from the one or more input streams 130, 150. In certain embodiments, multiple and/or a plurality of input streams are available.

[0083] FIG. 2 provides a method for creating a second stream event. FIG. 2 is a flowchart which provides steps for identifying one or more markers related to a broadcast in the one or more input streams in real time (201); using natural language processing and/or text recognition technology and/or text recognition technology and/or video/image recognition technology and/or audio recognition technology (202); associating a time stamp with each of the one or more markers to create a second screen event (203); compiling information from the one or more separate input streams during the second screen event (204); and transmitting said information to an output unit to provide a second screen experience of the broadcast to one or more users (205).

[0084] Additional steps possible in the method are set forth in the claims.

[0085] While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation and that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made thereto, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

[0086] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature, and thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.