Method for generating blocks of data, method for processing the same, television broadcasting system employing such methods, and teletext receiver arrangement for use in the system

• US 20030031207A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Upadhya, Bhargavi
• Application Number:
  US10/175,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035

Abstract

A method for generating blocks of data, e.g. teletext pages or electronic program guide structures, comprising data intended for display and control data, which blocks of data can be multiplexed with a composite video signal, e.g. a television signal, wherein the blocks of data are encoded in packets, comprising at least one packet (24) containing at least one data field (29,50,51,57) in which a reference link to (a part of) another block of data (62) is programmed. The reference link is programmed to link an element (49) of the data intended for display in the referring block of data (48) to (a part of) the other block of data (62). A method for processing such data uses the programmed reference link. A teletext receiver arrangement uses this processing method. A broadcasting station (1) and a device (3) for programming blocks of data (24) are adapted to using a method of the first-mentioned kind to generate a signal.

Claims

1. Method for generating blocks of data, e.g. teletext pages or electronic program guide structures, comprising data intended for display and control data, which blocks of data can be multiplexed with a composite video signal, e.g. a television signal, wherein the blocks of data are encoded in packets, comprising at least one packet (24) containing at least one data field (29,50,51,57) in which a reference link to (a part of) another block of data (62) is programmed, characterised in that the reference link is programmed to link an element (49) of the data intended for display in the referring block of data (48) to (a part of) the other block of data (62).

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the reference link is programmed to provide for emphasised display, as a hotspot, of the element (49) of the data intended for display.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data field (29,60,61) in which a reference link is programmed is comprised in a dedicated data structure.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each data field (24,60,61) in which a reference link is programmed, is identified as such by a special code (27,28,31,59).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims wherein one or more data fields (30,50,51) are programmed to indicate the availability of, and identify, a data field (29,60,61) in which a reference link has been programmed.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a data field (29) in which a reference link is programmed contains one or more sub-fields (32-34) identifying the element (49) of the data intended for display.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the element (49) is identified by its position in a screen image, when displayed.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the details of the (part of) the other block of data (62) are programmed in data fields (29) in the control data of the referring block of data.

9. Method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the details of the (part of) the other block of data (62) are programmed in data fields (60,61) in a block of data (57) which is distinct from the referring block of data (48).

15. Broadcasting station (1) adapted to using a method according to any one of claims 1-9.

18. Signal generated using a method according to any one of claims 1-9.

19. Storage medium storing a registration of a signal according to claim 18.

20. Device (3) for programming blocks of data (24) using a method according to any one of claims 1-9.

21. Computer program, which can be loaded onto a computer (3), so that the computer programmed in this way, constitutes a device according to claim 20.

22. Computer readable medium having thereon the code of a computer program according to claim 21.

10. Method for processing blocks of data, e.g. teletext pages or electronic program guide structures, comprising data intended for display and control data, wherein the blocks of data are separated from a composite video signal, e.g. a television signal, with which they have been multiplexed, the blocks of data being encoded in packets, comprising at least one packet (24) containing at least one data field (29,50,51,57) in which a reference link to (a part of) another block of data (62) has been programmed, characterised in that a programmed reference link is used to provide a link from an element (49) of the data intended for display in the referring block of data (48) to (a part of) the other block of data (62).

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the availability of a reference link from an element (49) of the data intended for display in the referring block of data (48) is determined from data (50,51) comprised in the referring block of data.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the data comprised in the referring block of data are initial and terminal escape sequences (50,51), indicating the boundaries of the element (49) and comprised in the data intended for display.

13. Method according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the element (49) of the data intended for display is displayed with emphasis as a hotspot.

14. Method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the manner of display is determined from data comprised in the data field (29,50,51,57).

16. Teletext receiver arrangement (7) capable of carrying out a method according to any one of claims 10-14.

17. Television set (7,8), comprising a teletext receiver arrangement (7) according to claim 16.