System and method for providing synchronized events to a television application
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- outputting a video signal comprising a video program;
synchronizing a plurality of scheduled events of an application with the video program;
receiving a request to output the video program in a fast forward mode;
determining that the video program has reached a time at which a scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events should be processed, wherein the determining is performed by accessing an event table comprising;
a plurality of time references, each of the plurality of time references corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, anda plurality of auxiliary information each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, wherein auxiliary information corresponding to the scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events comprises instructions on processing the scheduled event based on a rate at which video time of the video program elapses in the fast forward mode; and
determining, based on the auxiliary information and the rate at which video time of the video program elapses, to skip the scheduled event of the scheduled plurality of events.
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Abstract
A set top box client in an enhanced television system stores a table associating time references with events. The table is accessed to synchronize the delivery of events to an enhanced television application that is associated with an underlying video program. The enhanced television system delivers broadcast video, video-on-demand and video from a storage component such as a personal video recorder or a digital video disk player. The enhanced television system further provides an application that provides enhancements to an associated video program by overlaying a user interface, by providing overlaid graphical and/or text information or by providing additional audio information.
39 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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outputting a video signal comprising a video program; synchronizing a plurality of scheduled events of an application with the video program; receiving a request to output the video program in a fast forward mode; determining that the video program has reached a time at which a scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events should be processed, wherein the determining is performed by accessing an event table comprising; a plurality of time references, each of the plurality of time references corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, and a plurality of auxiliary information each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, wherein auxiliary information corresponding to the scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events comprises instructions on processing the scheduled event based on a rate at which video time of the video program elapses in the fast forward mode; and determining, based on the auxiliary information and the rate at which video time of the video program elapses, to skip the scheduled event of the scheduled plurality of events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to; output a video signal comprising a video program; synchronize a plurality of scheduled events of an application with the video program; receive a request to output the video program in a fast forward mode; determine, by accessing an event table, that the video program has reached a time at which a scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events should be processed, wherein the event table comprises; a plurality of time references, each of the plurality of time references corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, and a plurality of auxiliary information each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, wherein auxiliary information corresponding to the scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events comprises instructions on processing the scheduled event based on a rate at which video time of the video program elapses in the fast forward mode; and determine, based on the auxiliary information and the rate at which video time of the video program elapses, to skip the scheduled event of the scheduled plurality of events. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a first computing device; and a second computing device, wherein the first computing device comprises; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first computing device to; output, to the second computing device, a video signal comprising a video program; synchronize a plurality of scheduled events of an application with the video program; receive, from the second computing device, a request to output the video program in a fast forward mode; determine, by accessing an event table, that the video program has reached a time at which a scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events should be processed, wherein the event table comprises; a plurality of time references, each of the plurality of time references corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, and a plurality of auxiliary information each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of scheduled events, wherein auxiliary information corresponding to the scheduled event of the plurality of scheduled events comprises instructions on processing the scheduled event based on a rate at which video time of the video program elapses in the fast forward mode; and determine, based on the auxiliary information and the rate at which video time of the video program elapses, to skip the scheduled event of the scheduled plurality of events. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification