User interface for a streaming media client

• US 20020116708A1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stellar One Corp.
• Original Assignee: Stellar One Corp.
• Inventors: Greenwalt, Todd, Morris, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/956,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116708A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A user interface for a streaming media client includes web browser-type controls provided by a web page and hosted by a top-level web browser application. The user interface includes other controls for controlling the access, retrieval, and delivery of digital media to a client system. The browser-type controls are generated by executable client-side scripts that are called through the top-level web page. The top-level web page is provided by a media gateway, through which communication with a user, and user commands, takes place.

Claims

1. A method for controlling delivery of streaming video, comprising:

superimposing a web browser on a video picture displayed from a decoded video stream; and

forming a user interface within a web page hosted by the web browser.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating browser controls in the web page to form the user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the browser controls include one or more hyperlinks.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more hyperlinks are configured to link to and activate a control program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control program is an ActiveX control.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the control program is a Java applet.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the browser controls are represented as graphics.

8. A method for providing a user interface in a digital media content receiver system, comprising:

decoding a digital content stream to display the digital content; and

superimposing a web browser on the decoded digital content, the web browser hosting a web page that provides a user interface for controlling delivery of the digital content.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving user inputs via the user interface provided by the web page.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising processing the user inputs to control the digital content stream.

11. A system for controlling delivery of streaming video, comprising:

a web browser superimposed on a video picture displayed from a decoded video stream; and

web page hosted by the web browser, the web page forming a user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the web page hosts a plurality of links representing user controls.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user controls are graphical objects.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical objects are provided by one or more client-side scripts, the scripts being executable by the web browser.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more client-side scripts are downloaded from a remote web site.

16. A user interface for controlling streaming media content from a variety of sources, comprising:

an HTML-rendering application for rendering a web browser, the web browser configuring a display region in a display for displaying digital media content; and

a web page generated by the web browser, the web page including web browser functions and being superimposed over the displayed digital media content to provide a user interface for controlling delivery of the digital media content.

17. A user interface for controlling streaming media content from a variety of sources, comprising:

a web page configured to display the streaming digital media content; and

a graphical user interface generated by the web page and superimposed over the displayed digital media content.

18. A method of forming a user interface for controlling the receipt of streaming media, comprising:

receiving a stream of digital video for display;

generating graphics representing web browser controls;

superimposing the graphics over the displayed digital video.