Method for choosing a reference information item in a television signal

• US 20040060075A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Adolph, Dirk, Chevtsov, Andrei
• Application Number:
  US10/466,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A description is given of a method for choosing a reference information item in a television signal, which can be employed in particular for calling up an Internet and/or email address with a television set. A television signal comprises a video signal and a supplementary signal, the reference information item being contained in the supplementary signal. According to the invention, the reference information item is assigned to a sub-area of the picture content of the video signal, the reference information item being chosen by selecting the assigned sub-area and a reproduction of assigned information being enabled. The supplementary signal contains contour information items which are assigned to the sub-area of the picture content and represent an approximation of the outer contour of the sub-area The supplementary signal is preferably situated in the vertical blanking interval in the case of an analogue television signal and in the so-called user data in the case of a digital television signal.

Claims

1. Method for choosing a reference information item in a television signal comprising a video signal and a supplementary signal, the reference information item being contained in the supplementary signal and the choice of the reference information item enabling a reproduction of assigned information and/or execution of assigned actions, characterized in that the reference information item is assigned to a sub-area of the picture content of the video signal and the reference information item is chosen by selecting the assigned sub-area.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supplementary signal contains contour information items which are assigned to the sub-area of the picture content and represent an approximation of the outer contour of the sub-area.

3. Method according to claim,2, characterized in that the contour information items contain parameters for approximation functions such as polynomials or spline functions.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the video signals and supplementary signals have been transmitted as an analogue television signal or reproduced from a recording medium, the supplementary signals having been inserted into the vertical blanking interval of the television signal.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the supplementary signals are present in a teletext format.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the video signals and supplementary signals have been transmitted as a digital television signal in accordance with an MPEG video standard or reproduced from a recording medium, the supplementary signals having been inserted into the user_data of the extensions_and_user_data of the picture layer.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference information item represents a hyperlink to an Internet or email address, which hyperlink is forwarded to an Internet browser in the event of the reference information item being chosen.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference information item is chosen by selecting an area of the picture content of the video signal using a cursor which is moved over the screen for example using a computer mouse.

9. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Television signal which contains, in addition to the video signal, supplementary signals with reference information items, the choice of the reference information item enabling a reproduction of assigned information, characterized in that the reference information item is assigned to a sub-area of the picture content of the video signal.

11. Recording medium for a television signal according to claim 10.