Apparatus for and method of executing customized interactive computing services in a broadband network environment

• US 20030004961A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fourthwall Media Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fourthwall Media Incorporated
• Inventors: Slothouber, Louis P., Wiecek, John J. Jr., Lent, Kelly F., Dudar, M. Ellen, Ye, Aaron Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• 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 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Apparatus for and method of executing customized interactive computing services in a broadband network environment. A device on the broadband network is capable of retrieving user-defined data over the network and format and display it on an associated display along with data broadcast over the broadband network. The device may be customer premises equipment such as a set-top-box, gaming console, or home gateway connected to the broadband network. In the case of a set-top-box, the broadcast data would be television programming. The device is preferably capable of retrieving data from a source on the internet. Retrieval and formatting are preferably carried out by compact software agents which are sent to the device through the network to be stored in and to execute on the device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for enabling display of data from a plurality of data sources through a broadband network, at least one of said data sources comprising a data source which broadcasts data over said broadband network, and the other of said data sources being locally selectable by a user, said apparatus comprising:

a data structure stored in memory in said apparatus, said data structure representing an application which, when executed by said apparatus, enables said apparatus to retrieve data from said other of said data sources locally selected by a user.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises nonvolatile storage, and wherein said data structure is stored in said nonvolatile storage.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises storage and wherein said data structure is downloaded from a remote computing device through said broadband network when said apparatus is activated.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises storage and wherein said data structure is downloaded from a remote computing device through said broadband network when a user operating said apparatus attempts to use said application.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said broadband network is connected to the internet, and said other of said data sources is connected to the internet.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is configured to be able to perform substantially all computational tasks required to retrieve data from said other of said data sources.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus retrieves data from said other of said data sources using agent-based software included in said data structure.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a CPE device.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus can retrieve and display external network content.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a personal computer connected to the internet, and wherein data can be transferred between a user'"'"'s personal computer and said apparatus via said broadband network.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said data comprises personalized application settings.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said data comprises application modifications.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said application modifications comprise a new script adding new functionality to the application.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said application modifications comprise a replacement script that modifies previously existing functionality of the application.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said application modifications comprise addition of a new software agent that retrieves new information from an external source.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said external source is the internet

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said external source is an intranet.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said application modifications comprise addition of a new software agent that displays new information on a local display device.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to display in conjunction with a display device a personalized selection of information retrieved from external networks.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said information comprises news headlines for one or more user-customizable localities.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said information comprises weather reports and forecasts for one or more user-customizable localities.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said information comprises sports news and scores for selected sports, leagues and teams.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said information comprises selected stock quotes.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said information comprises e-mail messages.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein application specific components of said application are defined in a remotely modifiable portion of said data structure, facilitating modification and extension.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to recognize an occurrence of a pre-defined event and to alert a user to said occurrence of a pre-defined event.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said alert comprises of a graphic display.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said alert comprises a text message.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said alert comprises an auditory signal.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user from one of a pre-defined list of senders.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user containing one of a pre-defined list of keywords.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises a severe weather warning or advisory.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises appearance of one of a pre-defined list of items on a shopping channel.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said pre-defined event comprises appearance of one of a pre-defined list of performers in the program guide description of a currently airing television program.

36. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to locally execute a retrieval agent to retrieve selected content from said other data source.

37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said apparatus is further adapted to display, in conjunction with a display device, said selected content retrieved from said other data source.

38. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to locally execute operations for displaying video, textual, and graphic information simultaneously.

39. Apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a horizontally scrolling region.

40. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39 wherein the horizontally scrolling region does not obscure resized video information.

41. Apparatus as claimed in claim 39 wherein the horizontally scrolling region overlays full screen video.

42. Apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a vertically scrolling region.

43. Apparatus as claimed in claim 42 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a periodically updated region.

44. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to locally execute a user interface for gathering application settings information from a user.

45. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to display, in conjunction with a display device, selectable regions which display indicia for defining and selecting pre-defined settings.

46. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to display, in conjunction with a display device, selectable regions for navigating through a multi-page user interface.

47. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to display, in conjunction with a display device, a locally executing virtual keyboard for entering alpha-numeric information into locally executing applications.

49. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said customizable interactive computer service comprises customizable retrieval of data from the internet.

50. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said devices are configured to be able to perform substantially all computational tasks required to implement said customizable interactive computer service.

51. A system as claimed in claim 48 further comprising a support server configured to optimize bandwidth utilization of the broadband network.

52. A system as claimed in claim 48 further comprising a support server configured to provide nonessential support services to augment the capabilities of the device.

53. A system as claimed in claim 52 wherein said support server is further configured to provide remote persistent storage services to said plurality of local user units devices for storing customized application preferences.

54. A system as claimed in claim 52 wherein said support server is further configured to provide data carousel services to repeatedly broadcast out carousel data to said plurality of devices simultaneously.

56. A system as claimed in claim 54 wherein said support server stores preferences data for respective users of said plurality of devices, and wherein said carousel data is selected based at least in part on said preferences.

57. A system as claimed in claim 52 wherein said device is a CPE device.

58. A system as claimed in claim 57 wherein said CPE device is configured to use an IP protocol to upload customized preferences data to said support server after a user makes changes to said customized preferences data, and to download said customized preferences data from said support server.

59. A system as claimed in claim 57 wherein said CPE device is additionally connected to an external IP-based network through said broadband network.

60. A system as claimed in claim 59 wherein said external IP-based network is additionally connected to a plurality of network data sources.

61. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network is a wired network.

62. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network is a wireless network.

63. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises a cable television network.

64. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises a satellite television network.

65. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises a local area network (LAN).

66. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises a wide area network (WAN).

67. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises an analog telephone network.

68. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises a digital telephone network.

69. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network comprises the Internet.

70. A system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said broadband network is capable of carrying TCP/IP network traffic.

48. A system comprising:

a broadband network;

a server connected to said broadband network;

a plurality of devices for customizable interaction with said server over said broadband network, each of said devices being connectable to a display and being adapted to cause said display to show content broadcast over said broadband network to said devices, each of said devices including a data structure representing an application which, when executed, enables said devices to interface with said broadband network to provide at least one customizable interactive computer service.

71. A system for providing customizable interactive computer service in a broadband network environment, said system comprising:

a plurality of CPE devices, said CPE devices being configured to communicate using an IP protocol over a broadband network to retrieve information from data sources connected to external computer networks, process the retrieved information, and selectively display the results locally on a display device.

72. A system as claimed in claim 71 wherein said broadband network environment is a digital cable television environment.

73. A system as claimed in claim 71 wherein said broadband network environment is a digital satellite television environment.

74. A system as claimed in claim 71 wherein said CPE has no persistent storage, and further comprising a server computer to provide persistent storage services to said CPE.

75. A system as claimed in claim 71 further comprising a server computer to optimize network bandwidth utilization.

77. A system as claimed in claim 71 wherein said broadband network environment is a game console network environment.

78. A system as claimed in claim 71 wherein said broadband network environment is a home gateway environment.

80. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is a digital cable television set-top-box

81. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is a digital satellite television set-top-box

82. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said application can retrieve and display external network content.

83. A system as claimed in claim 79 further comprising a personal computer connected to the internet, and wherein data can be transferred between a user'"'"'s personal computer and said set-top-box via said broadband network.

84. A system as claimed in claim 83 wherein said data comprises personalized application settings.

85. A system as claimed in claim 83 wherein said data comprises set-top-box application modifications.

86. A system as claimed in claim 85 wherein said application modifications comprise a new script adding new functionality to the application.

87. A system as claimed in claim 85 wherein said application modifications comprise a replacement script that modifies previously existing functionality of the application.

88. A system as claimed in claim 85 wherein said application modifications comprise a new agent that retrieves new information from an external source.

89. A system as claimed in claim 88 wherein said external source is the internet

90. A system as claimed in claim 88 wherein said external source is an intranet.

91. A system as claimed in claim 85 wherein said application modifications comprise a new agent that displays new information on a local display device.

92. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said remote execution unit dynamically optimizes bandwidth utilization of said broadband network for interactive data services by examining user preference data.

93. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to generate horizontally scrolling text and graphics displays.

94. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to generate vertically scrolling text and graphics displays.

95. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to display, in conjunction with a television display, a personalized selection of information retrieved from external networks.

96. A system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said information comprises news headlines for one or more user-customizable localities.

97. A system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said information comprises weather reports and forecasts for one or more user-customizable localities.

98. A system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said information comprises sports news and scores for selected sports, leagues and teams.

99. A system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said information comprises user selected stock quotes.

100. A system as claimed in claim 95 wherein said information comprises e-mail messages.

101. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein application specific components of said application are defined in the remotely modifiable data, facilitating modification and extension.

102. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to recognize an occurrence of a pre-defined event and to alert a user to said occurrence of a pre-defined event.

103. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said alert comprises of a graphic display.

104. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said alert comprises a text message.

105. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said alert comprises an auditory signal.

106. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user.

107. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user from one of a pre-defined list of senders.

108. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises the existence of at least one unread e-mail message in the remote e-mail account of a system user containing one of a pre-defined list of keywords.

109. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises a severe weather warning or advisory.

110. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises appearance of one of a pre-defined list of items on a shopping channel.

111. A system as claimed in claim 102 wherein said pre-defined event comprises appearance of one of a pre-defined list of performers in the program guide description of a currently airing television program.

112. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to locally execute a retrieval agent to retrieve selected content from an external data source.

113. A system as claimed in claim 112 wherein said set-top-box is further adapted to display, in conjunction with a television receiver, said selected content retrieved from said external data source.

114. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to locally execute operations for displaying video, textual, and graphic information simultaneously.

115. A system as claimed in claim 114 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a horizontally scrolling region.

116. A system as claimed in claim 115 wherein the horizontally scrolling region does not obscure resized video information.

117. A system as claimed in claim 115 wherein the horizontally scrolling region overlays full screen video.

118. A system as claimed in claim 114 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a vertically scrolling region.

119. A system as claimed in claim 114 wherein said textual and graphic information is displayed in a periodically updated region.

120. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to locally execute a user interface for gathering application settings information from a user.

121. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to display, in conjunction with a television receiver, selectable regions which display indicia for defining and selecting pre-defined settings.

122. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to display, in conjunction with a television receiver, selectable regions for navigating through a multi-page user interface.

123. A system as claimed in claim 79 wherein said set-top-box is adapted to display, in conjunction with a television receiver, a locally executing virtual keyboard for entering alpha-numeric information into locally executing applications.

76. A system as claimed in 75 wherein said stored customized application preferences are used to provide statistical data that is used to configure said bandwidth optimization service

79. A system for providing customizable interactive computer service in a broadband network environment, said system comprising:

a plurality of set-top boxes, each of said set-top boxes including

a data structure stored in memory, said data structure representing an application which, when executed, enables said set-top box to interface with a broadband network to provide at least one customizable interactive computer service, and

a local execution unit for executing said application; and

a remote execution unit connected to said plurality of set-top boxes through said broadband network for supporting said plurality of set-top boxes.

124. A method of displaying data from a plurality of data sources retrieved through a broadband network, at least one of said data sources comprising a data source which broadcasts data over said broadband network, and the other of said data sources being locally selectable by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving over said broadband network a data structure representing an application which, when executed, enables retrieval of data from said other of said data sources;

storing said data structure;

executing said application thereby to retrieve said data from said other of said data sources;

formatting said data for display; and

displaying said data along with the data broadcast over the broadband network.