Device independent video enhancement scripting language

• US 20020057286A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intellocity USA, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Intellocity USA, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Batey, Philip J., Markel, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/007,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057286A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A video enhancement programming language alleviates problems of multiple versions of enhancement files for various display platforms. The programming language provides elements for selection of displayable objects, object attributes, modification of object attributes, scheduling of object rendering, and transport of scheduling and object information. Links, scripts, and user input may be associated with objects. Scheduling may be referenced to program display information or may be independent of program timing information. An enhancement filed created using the programming language of the present invention may be parsed to produce platform dependent enhancement files. Some elements may include platform identifiers such that parsed files may specifically include or exclude the element. Multiple parsers, each supporting a specific platform, allow a single script file to be employed across multiple platforms. New platforms or versions of platforms may be supported through new or updated parsers.

Claims

1. A television enhancement programming language comprising:

an XML head element;

an object element that provides selection of an object;

a property element that specifies an attribute for said object;

a modify-property element that modifies said attribute for said object;

a trigger element that specifies a time to render said object in relation to a video program; and

a television element that specifies a size and position at which said video program may be displayed.

2. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 wherein said attribute specifies a URL associated with said object.

3. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

an action element that provides a name for an action and contains at least one said modify-property element.

4. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

an action-call element that allows a first action element to call a second action element.

5. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

a script element that enables the use of a scripting language.

6. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

a field element operable to accept user input.

7. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

an attribute element that provides platform information for said object element.

8. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

a timeline element that contains said trigger element and a payload element that defines data embedded in a program broadcast stream.

9. The television enhancement programming language of claim 8 further comprising:

a component element contained within said payload element.

10. The television enhancement programming language of claim 9 wherein said component element specifies a file address.

11. The television enhancement programming language of claim 9 wherein said component element specifies an expiration attribute.

12. The television enhancement programming language of claim 1 further comprising:

a page element that contains said object element and said attribute element.

13. The television enhancement programming language of claim 12 further comprising:

a timed action-call element that provides a call to an action that is not timed to display of a program.

15. The television enhancement file of claim 14 wherein said attribute specifies a URL associated with said object.

16. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

an action element that provides a name for an action and contains at least one modify-property element.

17. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

an action-call element that allows a first action element to call a second action element.

18. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

a script element that enables the use of a scripting language.

19. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

a field element operable to accept user input.

20. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

a timeline element that contains said trigger element and a payload element that defines data embedded in a program broadcast stream.

21. The television enhancement file of claim 20 further comprising:

a component element contained within said payload element.

22. The television enhancement file of claim 21 wherein said component element specifies a file address.

23. The television enhancement file of claim 21 wherein said component element specifies an expiration attribute.

24. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

a page element that contains said object element and said attribute element.

25. The television enhancement file of claim 24 further comprising:

a timed action-call element that provides a call to an action that is not timed to display of a program.

26. The television enhancement file of claim 14 wherein said property element specifies a z order value for at least one of said objects.

27. The television enhancement file of claim 14 further comprising:

an attribute element that provides platform information for said object element.

14. A television enhancement file comprising:

an XML head element;

a television element that defines an area on a television screen where a television program may be displayed;

an object element;

a property element that describes at least one attribute of said object;

a modify-property element that modifies said attribute for said object;

a trigger element that specifies when said object may be rendered; and

a television element that specifies a size and position at which a program may be displayed.

28. A system for developing television enhancements comprising:

a computer;

a database; and

an XML compliant television enhancement programming language operable to specify an object element that provides selection of an object, a property element that specifies an attribute for said object, a modify-property element operable to change the attribute for said object, a trigger element that specifies a time to render said object in relation to a program, and a television element that specifies a size and position at which a program may be displayed.