Television system with downloadable features

• US 20030167473A1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Milnes, Kenneth Alan, Klosterman, Brian Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/140
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0888 : Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing downloadable features, and more particularly to providing these features to identified receiving locations (50) in a television system (10). Features may be desired by the manufacturer for correcting software defects, updating software, or meeting compatibility requirements. Features may also be ordered by consumers who respond to solicitation advertisements (130) for those features. The data related to the features is compiled and sent from a main location (20) to multiple receiving locations (46, 48 and 50). The data is then stored in a memory (58) in the identified receiving locations (50), and software is used to install or operate the stored feature.

Claims

1. A television system with downloadable features, comprising:

multiple receiving locations;

multiple receivers for receiving data associated with said features, one of said receivers being located within each of said receiving locations, said data including an identifier, said identifier identifying at least one of said receiving locations;

a memory associated with each of said receiving locations for storing said data related to said features, each said memory only storing said data when said identifier identifies said associated receiving location; and

a processor associated with each of said receiving locations, each said processor coupled to said memory and at least one of said receivers, said processor using said data to implement at least one of said features in at least one of said receiving locations.

2. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, further comprising at least one remote control for selecting information related to said features for execution in said receiving locations.

3. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, further comprising at least one device with a screen for displaying information related to at least one of said features.

4. The television system with downloadable features of claim 3, wherein said device with a screen is at least one of a television and a computer monitor.

5. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, further comprising at least one telephone for ordering said features, wherein data needed for said implementation of said features is downloaded to said receiving locations after at least one of said features is ordered with said telephone.

6. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, wherein said receiving locations are at least one of a television, a VCR, a TVCR, and a set-top box.

7. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, further comprising at least one remote control for selecting modes of operation of at least one of said features.

8. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, further comprising at least one remote control for ordering said features through a set-top box, wherein data needed for said implementation of said feature is downloaded to said receiving locations after at least one of said features is ordered with said remote control.

9. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, wherein said features include at least one of a software fix, an advertisement for an enhancement, a feature, a product, and an enhancement.

10. The television system with downloadable features of claim 1, wherein said feature assigns IR codes.

11. A television system with downloadable features, comprising:

multiple receiving locations;

at least one computer storage device coupled to at least one of said receiving locations, said computer storage device retrieving data associated with at least one of said features from a computer disk;

a memory associated with each of said receiving locations for storing said data related to said features; and

a processor associated with each of said receiving locations, said processor using said data from said computer disk to implement at least one of said features in at least one of said receiving locations.

12. The television system with downloadable features of claim 11, further comprising a device with a screen associated with each of said receiving locations, said device with a screen for displaying information related to said features.

13. The television system with downloadable features of claim 12, further comprising at least one remote control for selecting said information related to said features for display on said device with a screen.

14. The television system with downloadable features of claim 11, further comprising at least one of a telephone and a remote control for ordering said features.

15. The television system with downloadable features of claim 11, wherein said receiving locations are televisions.

16. A method of providing a television system with downloadable features, comprising:

transmitting data associated with said features to multiple receiving locations, said data including an identifier, said identifier identifying at least one of said receiving locations;

receiving said data at said multiple receivers, one of said receivers being located within each of said receiving locations;

storing said data in at least one of said receiving locations, said storing only occurring in said receiving locations identified by said identifier; and

using said data stored in said receiving locations identified by said identifier to enable at least one of said features in at least one of said receiving locations.

17. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, further comprising displaying information related to said features.

18. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 17, wherein said displaying is on a television.

19. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, further comprising selecting information related to said features for display, said selecting done with a remote control.

20. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, further comprising ordering said features, wherein data needed for said enabling of said features is broadcast to said receiving locations after at least one of said features is ordered.

21. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 20, wherein said ordering is done with a telephone.

22. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 20, wherein said ordering is done with a remote control and a set-top box.

23. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, wherein said receiving locations are at least one of televisions, VCRs, TVCRs and set-top boxes.

24. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, wherein said features include at least one of a software fix, an advertisement for an enhancement, a feature, a product, and an enhancement.

25. The method of providing a television system with downloadable features of claim 16, wherein said receiving locations are at least one of a VCR, a television, TVCR and a cable box.

26. A television system receiving location comprising:

a data receiver for receiving said television operating software;

memory coupled to said data receiver, said memory for storing said television operating software when said television operating software includes an associated receiver identifier;

a processor coupled to said memory,

said processor implementing selected software features when said television operating software includes said associated receiver identifier;

a device with a screen coupled to said receiver for displaying information associated with said television operating software.

27. The television system receiving location of claim 26, wherein said device with a screen is a television.

28. The television system receiving location of claim 26, further comprising a tuner coupled to said receiver for tuning to a channel, said television operating software being available on said channel.

29. The television system receiving location of claim 28, wherein said processor tunes said tuner to said channel at a predetermined time, said television operating software being available on said channel at said predetermined time.

30. The television system receiving location of claim 26, further comprising an on-screen display device coupled to said processor, said on-screen display device capable of displaying said information associated with said television operating software on said device with a screen.

31. The television system receiving location of claim 26, further comprising a remote control receiver coupled to said processor, said remote control receiver capable of receiving user selections from a remote control, said user selections being related to said television operating software.