Detection and recognition of data receiver to facilitate proper transmission of enhanced data

• US 20020059629A1
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Markel, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/934,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/4622 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• 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 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and device to determine which type of Set-Top Box (STB) is used in conjunction with an interactive television signal to convey code that has been developed for that specific STB. The STB is in effect, interacting with the transmission point to identify itself, and in certain circumstances, issue a request for information so that a signal or code developed for that specific receiving unit may be delivered to it. More specifically, the aforementioned invention discloses methods and devices to make these determinations on either the server side or the client side of the system.

Claims

1. A method for delivering specific enhanced content to a set-top box whereby said content can be correctly utilized by said set-top box comprising;

receiving a trigger included in a video signal input at said set-top box that indicates enhanced content is available;

establishing a communication link between a server operated by a data service provider and said set-top box;

identifying said set-top box through said communication link;

responding by said server to said identification by transmitting said enhanced content to said set-top box;

receiving enhanced data content by said set-top box for generation of enhanced display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the said signal sent by the set-top box requests specific type content only.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the server responds to said signal set by said settop box and said server establishes identity of said set-top box and only transmits enhanced content specific to that type of said set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger is located in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger is a command string written in Advanced Television Enhancement Forum compliant code.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication link is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger is located in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal input.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger is a command string written in Advanced Television Enhancement Forumn compliant code.

7. A method for delivering specific enhanced content to a set-top box whereby said content can be correctly utilized by said set-top box comprising;

receiving a trigger included in a video signal input at said set-top box that indicates enhanced content is available;

establishing a communication link between a server operated by a data service provider and said set-top box;

sending a signal from said set-top box to said server through said communication link;

decoding a signal header by said server to establish said set-top box 10 identity;

responding by said server to said signal by transmitting said enhanced content corresponding to said identity of said set-top box;

receiving the enhanced data content by said set-top box for generation of an enhanced display.

10. The method of claim I wherein said communication link is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

11. A method for delivering specific enhanced content to a set-top box whereby said content can be correctly utilized by said set-top box comprising;

receiving a trigger included in a video signal input at said set-top box that indicates enhanced content is available;

establishing a communication link between a server operated by a data service provider and said set-top box;

sending a signal from said set-top box to said server through said communication link;

decoding a signal header by said server to establish said set-top box identity;

responding by said server to said signal by transmitting said enhanced content corresponding to said identity of said set-top box;

receiving the enhanced data content by said set-top box for generation of an enhanced display.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said trigger is located in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal input.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said trigger is a command string written in Advanced Television Enhancement Forum compliant code.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said communication link is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the said signal sent by the set-top box requests a specific type of content only.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the server responds to said signal from said settop box and only transmits enhanced content specific to that type of said set-top box.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said trigger is located in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal input.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said trigger is a command string written in Advanced Television Enhancement Forum compliant code.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said communication link is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

15. A system for delivering specific enhanced content to a set-top box whereby said content can be correctly utilized by said set-top box comprising;

a set-top box that receives a trigger encoded in a video signal indicating that enhanced content is available, and in response to said trigger sends a signal containing header information conveying identification and location information of said set-top box;

a server that receives said signal and responds to said signal by transmitting enhanced content to said set-top box;

wherein said a set-top box receives said enhanced content and generates an enhanced display.