Method and apparatus for interactive programming using captioning

• US 20040032486A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mediaip LLC
• Original Assignee: Mediaip LLC
• Inventors: Shusman, Chad W.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system for the creation of interactive programming using captions. A caption and program information extractor monitors a broadcast media signal having captions and program information encoded in the broadcast media signal. The captions and program information are extracted and stored in a content database. A moderator accesses the content database to retrieve captions and for a program specified by the program information. The moderator uses the services of a moderator server to generate interactive programming from the captions and the moderator'"'"'s own comments. The interactive programming is transmitted to a plurality of viewers who interact with the interactive programming by entering viewer comments. The viewer comments are received by the moderator along with additional captions and new interactive programming is generated using the viewer comments, additional captions, and additional moderator commentary.

Claims

1. A method for generating an interactive program for transmission over a communications network, comprising:

extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal by a caption and program information extractor;

putting the captions and program information in the content database by the caption and program information extractor;

coupling a moderator server to the communications network and the content database;

coupling a moderator client and a plurality of viewer clients to the moderator server through the communications network;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to the viewer clients through the communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from the viewer clients through the communications network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server to the moderator client through the communications network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network is a virtual private network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the viewer comments further include an interactive program rating signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a viewer exclusion signal specifying a viewer client by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network; and

generating by the moderator server the interactive programming using the viewer exclusion signal to exclude viewer comments received from the specific viewer client.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a viewer invitation signal corresponding to a specific viewer client by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network; and

generating by the moderator server the interactive programming using the viewer invitation signal to include viewer comments from the specific viewer client in a virtual stage.

7. A method for generating an interactive program for transmission over a television broadcast network and a communications network, comprising:

extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal by a caption and program information extractor;

putting the captions and program information in the content database by the caption and program information extractor;

coupling a moderator server to the communications network and the content database;

coupling a moderator client and a plurality of viewer clients to the moderator server through the communications network;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to viewer televisions through the television broadcast network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from viewer clients through the communications network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server Co the moderator client through the communications network.

9. A method for generating an interactive program for transmission over a television broadcast network, comprising:

extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal by a caption and program information extractor;

putting the captions and program information in the content database by the caption and program information extractor;

coupling a moderator server to a communications network, the telephony network, the television broadcast network, and the content database;

coupling a moderator client to the moderator server through the communications network;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to viewer televisions through the television broadcast network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein viewers communicate with the moderator through a telephony network, the method further comprising:

coupling the moderator server to the telephony network;

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from the viewers through the telephony network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server to the moderator client through the communications network.

11. An apparatus for generating an interactive program for transmission over a communications network, comprising:

a content database;

a caption and program information extractor coupled to a broadcast media signal source and the content database for extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal and putting the captions and program information in the content database;

a moderator server coupled to the content database and coupled through the communications network to a plurality of viewer clients and a moderator client, the moderator server including;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to the viewer clients through the communications network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the program instructions further including:

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from the viewer clients through the communications network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server to the moderator client through the communications network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the communications network is a virtual private network.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the viewer comments further include an interactive program rating signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the program instructions further including:

receiving a viewer exclusion signal specifying a viewer client by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network; and

generating by the moderator server the interactive programming using the viewer exclusion signal to exclude viewer comments received from the specific viewer client.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the program instructions further including:

receiving a viewer invitation signal corresponding to a specific viewer client by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network; and

generating by the moderator server the interactive programming using the viewer invitation signal to include viewer comments from the specific viewer client in a virtual stage.

17. An apparatus for generating an interactive program for transmission over a television broadcast network and a communications network, comprising:

a content database;

a caption and program information extractor coupled to a broadcast media signal source and the content database for extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal and putting the captions and program information in the content database;

a moderator server coupled to a moderator client through the communications network, the moderator server coupled to the content database, and the moderator server coupled to the television broadcast network, the moderator server including;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to viewer televisions through the television broadcast network.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the moderator server is further coupled to a plurality of viewer clients through the communications network the program instructions further including:

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from viewer clients through the communications network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server to the moderator client through the communications network.

19. An apparatus for generating an interactive program for transmission over a television broadcast network, comprising:

a content database;

a caption and program information extractor coupled to a broadcast media signal source and the content database for extracting captions and program information from a broadcast media signal and putting the captions and program information in the content database;

a moderator server coupled to a moderator client through the communications network, the moderator server coupled to the television broadcast network, and the moderator server coupled to the content database, the moderator server including;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving moderator comments and edited viewer comments by the moderator server from the moderator client through the communications network;

getting captions and program information by the moderator server from the content database;

generating interactive programming by the moderator server using the moderator comments, edited viewer comments, program information, and captions; and

transmitting the interactive programming by the moderator server to viewer televisions through the television broadcast network.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the moderator server is further coupled to a telephony network and viewers communicate with the moderator server through the telephony network, the program instructions further including:

receiving viewer comments by the moderator server from the viewers through the telephony network; and

transmitting the viewer comments by the moderator server to the moderator client through the communications network.