Secondary video supplements during vod services

Abstract

A method for providing media to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device includes receiving user input requesting on-screen comments to be provided with a media presentation and providing the user with a media presentation along with comments related to the media presentation.

1 . A method implemented by a television set-top terminal (STT) coupled via a bi-directional communication network to a programmable remote server, wherein the STT is configured to receive a video program from a remote server, said method comprising steps of:
 providing a selectable option to enable reception of a second video stream corresponding to a supplemental view of the video program;
 receiving from the server via a tuner in the STT that is tuned to a single transmission channel a first plurality of streams corresponding to the video program, said first plurality of streams including an audio stream, a first video stream corresponding to a main view of the video program, and the second video stream; 
 receiving a viewer input from a viewer to select the selectable option; 
 responsive to receiving the viewer input, enabling the STT to process the second video stream; and 
 outputting by the STT audio corresponding to the audio stream and a composition corresponding to the first and second video streams as a television signal, wherein the audio and composition of the first video and second video are time synchronized according to time stamps specifications. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video program is a video-on-demand program established over a dedicated network session between the remote server and the STT. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition of the first and second video streams in the television signal is presented as a split-picture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition of the first and second video streams in the television signal is presented as a picture-in-picture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second video streams correspond to a first and second camera angle of the scene contained in the video program, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving from the server a supplementary data stream with respective portions associated with the presentation time of respective portions of the video program; and   outputting by the STT a television signal that contains the supplementary data stream and the first and second videos; wherein the supplementary data stream and the first video and second video streams are time synchronized according to time stamps specifications.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a dedicated network session between the server and the STT and providing a rented video program through the established network session. 
     
     
         8 . A method implemented by a server coupled to a television set-top terminal (STT) via a bi-directional communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing to the STT information including respective descriptions of rentable video program;   providing a selectable option to receive from the server a first supplemental data stream that is associated with the presentation time of respective portions of a rented video program, said first supplemental data stream being different to each stream in a first plurality of streams corresponding to the rented video program;   receiving a request from the STT for the rented video program;   establishing a dedicated network session between the server and the STT;   providing the first plurality of streams through the established network session;   receiving a viewer input from a viewer to select the selectable option;   responsive to receiving the viewer input, receiving from the server at least a portion of the first supplemental data stream and at least a respective portion of each stream in the first plurality of streams via a tuner in the STT;   outputting by the STT a composition of the received said portion of the first supplemental data stream and the received said respective portion of each stream in the first plurality of streams as a television signal, wherein the composition of the received said portion of the first supplemental data stream and the received said respective portion of each stream in the first plurality of streams are time synchronized according to time stamps specifications.