Digital interactive system for providing full interactivity with live programming events
First Claim
5. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
- a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming and branching codes, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video signals and audio signals, the reception system comprising;
a memory for storing a viewer profile;
a microprocessor, connected to the memory interface, for selecting one each of the plurality of video signals and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to at least one of the selected video signal and the selected audio signal at a predetermined time, the selection of the selected video signal and the selected audio signal and the predetermined time of each selection a function of at least one of the branching codes and the stored viewer profile;
a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the plurality of video signals and the audio signals;
a decompressor/decoder connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed plurality of video signals and audio signals;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an interactive digital system enabling viewers full and active participation in experiencing a live broadcast event. Particularly, the presentation of the live event is personalized for the viewer through the provision of various options, including multiple video streams, associated with different camera angles, for example, and integrated audio and graphics segments. Further, information obtained from related Web sites can be integrated into the live program. Various video and audio streams are collected from a live event and forwarded to a central control studio. Graphics are created at the central studio on a personal computer or chyron device. After receiving the video, audio and graphics signals, the signals are digitized and compressed in digital compressors. These signals are then combined with special data codes into a “digital package,” and subsequently, transmitted over a cable distribution system. Once received at a viewer home, the signals are received and processed in an interactive digital cable box. Selections of the video, audio, graphics displays and/or Web pages can be made as a function of immediate viewer entries, or to interrogatory responses presented at the beginning or during the program, or based on a prestored viewer profile. Once a decision is made to switch from one video to another video option, the digital switch is performed seamlessly. The digital interactive system is based upon seamless branches which occur in the course of full-motion video.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
5. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming and branching codes, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video signals and audio signals, the reception system comprising;
a memory for storing a viewer profile;
a microprocessor, connected to the memory interface, for selecting one each of the plurality of video signals and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to at least one of the selected video signal and the selected audio signal at a predetermined time, the selection of the selected video signal and the selected audio signal and the predetermined time of each selection a function of at least one of the branching codes and the stored viewer profile;
a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the plurality of video signals and the audio signals;
a decompressor/decoder connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed plurality of video signals and audio signals;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
8. A live interactive digital presentation system, comprising:
-
a means for receiving live interactive programming from a digital program stream, wherein the live interactive programming contains a plurality of digital video signals and audio signals;
a viewer interface for receiving a viewer entry;
a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting and seamlessly switching to one each of the plurality of video signals and audio signals based on the viewer entry;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
13-1. The live interactive digital presentation system of claim 8, wherein the system is embodied within a computer workstation.
-
22. A method for providing live interactive digital programming comprising:
-
obtaining a plurality of video signals from a plurality of video cameras, wherein at least one of the plurality of video cameras provide a differentiable view of a live event;
receiving the plurality of video signals in a control studio;
digitally compressing the plurality of video signals;
digitally multiplexing the plurality of video signals into a combined digital program stream;
transmitting the combined digital program stream;
receiving the combined digital program stream at a reception site;
digitally demultiplexing the plurality of video signals;
digitally decompressing the plurality of video signals;
selecting at least one of the plurality of video signals; and
displaying the selected video signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35)
-
-
34. A method for providing live interactive digital programming, comprising:
-
receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video signals and audio signals, and at least one encoded information segment address specifying the location of a related information segment;
demultiplexing the plurality of video signals and audio signals;
decompressing the demultiplexed plurality of video signals and audio signals;
obtaining a viewer entry;
selecting one each of the plurality of video signals and audio signals based, at least in part , on the viewer entry;
directing a seamless switch to the selected video signal and the selected audio signal;
decoding the information segment address;
retrieving the related information segment at the information segment address; and
presenting the selected video signal, the selected audio signal, and the information segment.
-
Specification