System and method for providing an omnimedia package

• US 20020138852A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Intellocity USA, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Zenoni, Ian, Lemmons, Thomas, Reynolds, Steven, Hassell, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Disclosed is a system that permits a variable number of disparate streams of data to be packaged together as content into a single distinct program referred to as an omnimedia package. A framework definition may be specified and created for the omnimedia package to allow a client set top box to decode the information and provide access to streams comprising video, audio and metadata information. The framework definition may be employed by a broadcast system to create a broadcast stream. A mechanism is described that permits a content provider to define a framework for delivering a package of related content. The framework definition encapsulates information necessary to build, format, transmit and display the disparate content streams. Data may be downloaded to a receiver prior to the broadcast of an associated program. The present invention may be implemented on terrestrial, cable, satellite, VDSL and other transport systems, including those that support upstream communication.

Claims

1. A method for producing a broadcast stream that contains audio content, video content, and metadata content comprising:

creating a framework definition that identifies said audio content, said video content and said metadata content associated with a broadcast and attributes thereof;

comparing the audio format of said audio content with an audio transmission format and converting said audio content to said audio transmission format if said audio format and said audio transmission format differ;

comparing the video format of said video content with a video transmission format and converting said video content to said video transmission format if said video format and said video transmission format differ;

comparing the metadata format of said metadata content with a metadata transmission format and converting said metadata content to said metadata transmission format if said metadata format and said metadata transmission format differ;

creating a menu describing said audio content, said video content, and said metadata content;

combining said audio content, said video content, and said metadata content into a broadcast stream;

transmitting said menu; and

transmitting said broadcast stream.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said framework definition further comprises:

a framework definition record for each element of said audio content, said video content, and said metadata content.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said menu further comprises:

an icon for each element of said audio content, said video content, and said metadata content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said metadata content comprises an image file.

5. The method of claim 5 wherein said converting said metadata content further comprises:

loading said image file;

loading a file conversion definition;

converting said file using said conversion definition; and

outputting a converted image file.

6. A method for rendering portions of a broadcast stream that contains audio content, video content, and metadata content and a menu indicating the contents of said audio content, video content, and metadata content comprising:

transferring preloaded metadata associated with said broadcast stream to a receiver prior to transmission of said broadcast stream;

receiving said broadcast stream;

displaying said menu wherein said menu includes an icon representing said preloaded metadata;

receiving a user input; and

rendering said preloaded metadata in response to said user input.

7. A system for combining multiple media and metadata streams having content into a framework for distribution of the content to a viewer, comprising:

at least one video source having an output;

at least one audio source having an output;

at least one metadata source having an output;

a framework controller that receives said video source, audio source, and metadata source and produces an omnimedia package integrating said outputs into a framework;

a framework definition module that interfaces with said framework controller and defines all content to be used in the omnimedia package;

a delivery module that receives said omnimedia package from said framework controller and transmits said omnimedia package to a receiver; and

a receiver that receives and distributes the content of said omnimedia package to display devices and audio outputs, said receiver further coupled to at least one user input device for providing interactivity between said viewer and the receiver.