Television content through supplementary media channels

Abstract

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.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A multimedia method, comprising:
 checking metadata included with a sports program provided to a user for a match with user configuration information wherein the metadata is indicative of content associated with at least one of: a specific sports team, a specific player, a specific game, and a specific opponent;   responsive to detecting the match and a specific event within the sports program, obtaining supplemental content via a supplemental media channel; and   communicating the supplemental content to the user via the supplemental media channel.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 merging personal information associated with the user into the sports program.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the personal information comprises caller identification information. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the sports program provided to the user includes personal information of other users. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the user configuration information indicating an agreement to receive the supplemental media channel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the supplemental content is audio content and wherein the method includes:
 muting original audio content of the sports program and playing the supplemental content.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the supplemental content comprises audio content including additional speech of the specific player. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the content metadata is associated with a specific time within the sports program. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 sending an email message to the user.   
     
     
         33 . An application server, comprising:
 a processor;   a computer readable medium, including processor-executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 checking metadata included with a sports program provided to a user for a match with user configuration information wherein the metadata is indicative of content associated with at least one of a specific sports team, a specific player, a specific game, and a specific opponent; 
 responsive to detecting the match and a specific event within the sports program, obtaining supplemental content via a supplemental media channel; and 
 communicating the supplemental content to the user via the supplemental media channel. 
   
     
     
         34 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the operations include:
 merging personal information associated with the user into the sports program.   
     
     
         35 . The server of  claim 34 , wherein the personal information comprises caller identification information. 
     
     
         36 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the sports program provided to the user includes personal information of other users. 
     
     
         37 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the supplemental content is audio content including additional speech of the specific player and wherein the operations include:
 muting original audio content of the sports program and playing the supplemental content.   
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer readable medium, including stored, processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 checking metadata included with a sports program provided to a user for a match with user configuration information wherein the metadata is indicative of content associated with at least one of a specific sports team, a specific player, a specific game, and a specific opponent;   responsive to detecting the match and a specific event within the sports program, obtaining supplemental content via a supplemental media channel; and   communicating the supplemental content to the user via the supplemental media channel.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the operations include:
 merging personal information associated with the user into the sports program.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein the personal information comprises caller identification information. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the sports program provided to the user includes personal information of other users. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the supplemental content is audio content including additional speech of the specific player and wherein the operations include:
 muting original audio content of the sports program and playing the supplemental content.