System and method for providing real-time ticker information

• US 20040031061A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bluestreak Technology (Canada), Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Bluestreak Technology (Canada), Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: DʼAoust, Yves, McCalla, John
• Application Number:
  US10/631,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• 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 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; tracking of instant messages H04L51/234; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• 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 21/42204 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• 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 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 : using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 : for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 : Content authoring
• 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 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The invention, generally addresses problems associated with, for example, providing on a device having limited graphical, memory or processing capabilities, a “ticker” service, i.e. an automated display of textual information, such as news related items, news stories, stock prices, weather, sports information, etc., especially, for example, one over an interactive television medium. A system and method for providing a ticker service that implements a preferred embodiment of the invention is used to advantage in an interactive television medium. A viewer or subscriber is able to watch information displayed by the ticker service on his or her television, while watching regular television programming. In its preferred embodiment, the system does not degrade the performance of the interactive television network. This preferred embodiment also demonstrates an efficient user navigation mechanism for interacting with the service using, for example, a television remote control.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium, for displaying information having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a television ticker on a display device, said television ticker comprising of a plurality of information items;

automatically displaying one or more of said plurality of information items in a predetermined order; and

interrupting said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items in response to receiving a user input.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which no user input is received.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said plurality of information items are divided into a plurality of categories.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of displaying one or more information items selected by said user.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected category.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a sub-category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected sub-category.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining whether a current category comprises at least one sub-category; and

automatically displaying information items under each of said at least one subcategory in response to determining that said current category comprises at least one subcategory.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a satellite system.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a broadcast network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network using an RF signal.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a cable system.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a data network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further causing the processor to perform the step of displaying said television ticker in response to receiving a signal to display said television ticker.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said display device is associated with an interactive television device.

17. A computer-readable medium, for controlling information, having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a plurality of information items;

storing said plurality of information items in an interactive television device;

associating a timer with selected ones of said plurality of information items; and

automatically deleting one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items upon expiration of their respective timers.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating an expiring timer with said one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further causing the processor to perform the step of associating a periodic timer with remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating a periodic timer with one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further causing the processor to perform the step of automatically updating one or more of the remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further causing the processor to perform the step of automatically replacing said deleted information items.

23. An apparatus for displaying information, comprising:

a device, comprising;

a processor; and

a memory having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by said processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of;

displaying a television ticker on a display device associated with said device, said television ticker comprising of a plurality of information items;

automatically displaying one or more of said plurality of information items in a predetermined order; and

interrupting said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items in response to receiving a user input.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which no user input is received.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said plurality of information items are divided into a plurality of categories.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of displaying one or more information items selected by said user.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected category.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a sub-category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected sub-category.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining whether a current category comprises at least one sub-category; and

automatically displaying information items under each of said at least one subcategory in response to determining that said current category comprises at least one subcategory.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a satellite system.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a broadcast network.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network.

34. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network using an RF signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a cable system.

36. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of receiving said plurality of information items over a data network.

37. The apparatus of claim 23, further causing the processor to perform the step of displaying said television ticker in response to receiving a signal to display said television ticker.

38. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said device comprises an interactive television device.

39. An apparatus for controlling information, comprising:

a device, comprising;

a processor; and

a memory having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed by said processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of;

receiving a plurality of information items;

storing said plurality of information items in said device;

associating a timer with selected ones of said plurality of information items; and

automatically deleting one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items upon expiration of their respective timers.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating an expiring timer with said one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further causing the processor to perform the step of associating a periodic timer with remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, further causing the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating a periodic timer with one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, further causing the processor to perform the step of automatically updating one or more of the remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, further causing the processor to perform the step of automatically replacing said deleted information items.

45. A method for displaying information, comprising:

displaying a television ticker on a display device, said television ticker comprising of a plurality of information items;

automatically displaying one or more of said plurality of information items in a predetermined order; and

interrupting said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items in response to receiving a user input.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising continuing said automatic display of said one or more of said plurality of information items upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which no user input is received.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of information items are divided into a plurality of categories.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising displaying one or more information items selected by said user.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

determining a category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected category.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

determining a sub-category selected by said user; and

displaying one or more information items from said plurality of information items, said one or more information items being related to said selected sub-category.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining whether a current category comprises at least one sub-category; and

automatically displaying information items under each of said at least one subcategory in response to determining that said current category comprises at least one subcategory.

53. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over a satellite system.

54. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over a broadcast network.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network.

56. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over an interactive television network using an RF signal.

57. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over a cable system.

58. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving said plurality of information items over a data network.

59. The method of claim 45, wherein said displaying said television ticker comprises displaying said television ticker in response to receiving a signal to display said television ticker.

60. The method of claim 45, wherein said display device is associated with an interactive television device

61. A method for controlling information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of information items;

storing said plurality of information items in an interactive television device;

associating a timer with selected ones of said plurality of information items; and

automatically deleting one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items upon expiration of their respective timers.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating an expiring timer with said one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising associating a periodic timer with remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining a type of each of said selected ones of said plurality of information items, prior to said associating said timer; and

associating a periodic timer with one or more of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising automatically updating one or more of the remaining ones of said selected ones of said plurality of information items.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising automatically replacing said deleted information items.