Systems and methods for displaying data over video

• US 20040150749A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M., Campbell, Kurt A., Brodigan, Donald
• Application Number:
  US10/377,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing and displaying video and/or data in a picture-in-picture, or multi-picture image format. Some of the systems include a video and data stream that are selected by a selecting device. The video and data streams are formatted and transferred to a network interface device via a transmission device. Various of the methods include receiving a selection input and, based on the selection input, selecting multiple video and/or data streams for transmission. The streams are formatted, and transmitted to a network interface device that creates a composite video signal based on the input data and/or video streams.

Claims

1. A system for displaying picture-in-picture, the system comprising:

a video stream;

a data stream;

a selecting device, wherein the selecting device is operable to receive a selection input, and wherein the selection input selects the video stream and the data stream; and

a transmission device, wherein the transmission device transmits a first signal derived from the video stream and a second signal derived from the data stream to a NID.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the NID includes:

a video encoder, wherein the video encoder transforms the first signal and the second signal to signals selected from a group consisting of;

a first analog video signal at a first frequency and a second analog video signal at a second frequency, a first video signal in digital packets and a second video signal in digital packets, and a first digital video signal with a first frequency carrier and a second digital video signal with a second frequency carrier; and

wherein the NID combines the transformed first and second signals on a common transmission medium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection input is further received at the NID, and wherein the selection input indicates the display size of the second signal relative to the first signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the selection input further indicates the location of the second signal relative of the first signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data stream is selected from a group consisting of:

an email data source, a messenger data source, a caller identification data source, a text messaging data source, , and an Internet based content data source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream, and wherein the Internet data stream is a streaming stock ticker.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream, and wherein the Internet data stream is a streaming headline news.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the streaming headline news comprises scores of sporting events.

9. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising a compression engine.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the compression engine is operable to format the first signal in a format selected from a group consisting of:

MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted over a fiber-optic cable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted over a wireless network.

13. A method for forming a picture-in-picture, the method comprising:

Receiving a selection signal, wherein the selection signal indicates a video signal and a data signal;

accessing a video source to obtain the video signal;

accessing a data source to obtain the data signal; and

transmitting the video signal and the data signal to a NID.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

formatting the video signal in a format selected from a group consisting of;

MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

15. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

superimposing the data signal over the video signal to form a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal as a single video signal.

16. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

formatting the video signal as an NTSC signal at a first frequency;

formatting the data signal as an NTSC signal at a second frequency; and

communicating both the first signal and the second signal over a common communication medium.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

attaching the common communication medium to a display device.

18. A method of receiving data over picture, the method comprising:

selecting an Internet site providing a data signal;

selecting a display channel;

indicating the data signal is to be superimposed on a video program associated with the display channel;

selecting a frequency at which the data signal is to be received.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

receiving a video signal, wherein the video signal includes both the video program associated with the display channel, and the data signal at the frequency.

20. The method of claim 19, the method further comprising:

decoding the video program using a first decoder, and displaying the video program as a full screen presentation; and

decoding the data signal using a second decoder, and displaying the data signal superimposed over a portion of the video program.

21. A system for displaying picture-in-picture, the system comprising:

a first video stream;

an audio stream;

a second video stream a selecting device, wherein the selecting device is operable to receive a selection input, and wherein the selection input selects the first video stream, the second video stream, and the audio stream; and

a transmission device, wherein the transmission device transmits a first signal derived from the video stream, a second signal derived from the second video stream, and a third signal derived from the audio signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the audio stream is associated with the first video stream.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the audio stream is distinct from either of the first video stream and the second video stream.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the first, second and third signals are combined at the NID to form a composite output that is provided to a television.