At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Natasha Barrett Schultz

Linda Ann Roberts

E-Lee Chang

Robert King

Ja-Young Sung

Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying an action initiated by equipment of a first user of a number of users, during a presentation of a media program, and generating, responsive to the identifying of the action, an overlay comprising a symbol indicative of the action and situated in relation to the presentation of the media program. The overlay is presented, together with the media program, at a display of a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the symbol is selectable by the equipment of the second user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for presenting media programs

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to present an overlay to be combined with media content during presentation at each of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate a collection of user-generated comments temporally associated with portions of the media content, wherein the portions of the media content comprise portions of a media on demand presentation in an interactive television network, collect the user-generated comments from the plurality of computing devices, identify target portions of the media content that each satisfy a threshold number of comments and non-target portions of the media content that do not satisfy the threshold number of comments, generate comment groups of the user-generated comments, and provide the comment groups to the plurality of computing devices for presentation in the overlay.

Apparatus and method for media on demand commentaries

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content in the form of a gaming session presented at the plurality of computing devices and present the one or more user-generated remarks as an overlay combined with the gaming session as a presentation to at least a set among the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for gaming

A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, where the overlay can include a timeline corresponding to the presentation of the media content and receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes, where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes. Additional steps can include receiving a tag generated at a first set top box during presentation of the media content, presenting the tag while the media content is presented, correlating the tag to a portion of the media content timeline and analyzing metadata associated with the portion of the timeline that is tagged to determine a first marketing parameter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for tagging media content and managing marketing

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device, including a controller to: transmit a client program having a graphical user interface to a media device operating in an interactive television network, wherein the client program presents a symbolic overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate commentary with the media content received at the media device; and conduct searches for one of consumer products or consumer services associated with the media content based on the commentary regarding the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to present an overlay combined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality of computing devices on an electronic communications network to illustrate a collection of one or more commentaries temporally associated with portions of the presented media content where the portions of the presented media content comprises portions of a teleconference workflow meeting, to collect one or more commentaries from each of the plurality of computing devices, and to present the commentaries from the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for collaborative network in an enterprise setting

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to present an overlay that is combined with a presentation of media content, collect one or more user-generated remarks from each of a plurality of computing devices where the one or more user-generated remarks are temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing devices according to the overlay, monitor one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices, and selectively filter the one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for monitoring and control on a network

A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, the steps of transmitting media content to a group of set top boxes for presentation with an overlay superimposed onto the media content, receiving a first comment from a first set top box of the group of set top boxes where the first comment is presentable with the overlay and the media content by the group of set top boxes, determining a first advertisement based on the first comment, and transmitting the first advertisement to the first set top box for presentation with the overlay and the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for managing marketing

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated comments from each of a plurality of computing devices, detect a correlation in the one or more user-generated comments collected from the plurality of computing devices, and establish a social network between the plurality of computing devices according to the detected correlation. The one or more user-generated comments can be temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for managing a social network

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to present media content provided by a media content source operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, access a client program which presents an overlay that superimposes onto the media content, wherein the client program enables the media processor to associate at least a portion of the media content with a user-generated comment, receive the user-generated comment, wherein the user-generated comment provides commentary on the portion of the media content, associate the user-generated comment with the portion of the media content, and transmit the user-generated comment to a third party for determination of marketing parameters of the portion of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for product marketing

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device, including a controller to: transmit a client program having a graphical user interface to a media device operating in an interactive television network, wherein the client program presents a symbolic overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate commentary with the media content received at the media device; and present the commentary by symbolic representations in a carrousel format within a window of the presentation of the symbolic overlay and in a vicinity of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying temporal actions initiated by equipment of users during presentation of a media program to the equipment of users. A timeline is modified that corresponds to a linear progression of the media program, wherein the modified timeline includes symbols indicative of the temporal actions. The modified timeline is provided to the equipment of the users. The modified timeline is presented at displays of the equipment of the plurality of users, together with the media program. The symbols are situated in relation to the presentation of the media program, wherein the symbols can be selected by input cursors at the displays of the equipment of the users. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may perform operations including, for example, receiving a plurality of user-generated comments associated with media content where the plurality of user-generated comments are temporally associated with a portion of the media content during a presentation of the media content at a group of communication devices, and identifying from the plurality of user-generated comments a cluster of comments associated with a segment of the media content based on a frequency of the user-generated comments. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Natasha Barrett Schultz