Systems and methods for monitoring visual information

• US 20040150750A1
• 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:
  US10/377,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150750A1
• 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 monitoring visual displays in a picture-in-picture, or other multi-picture format. Some of the systems include two video inputs, with one being generated remote from a display, while the other is being generated local to the display. The systems include a selecting device that receives a selection input indicating one of the video inputs as a full screen display and the other input as a partial screen display. A compositing device combines the two video inputs as a single video output, where the single video output includes one of the video inputs layered over the other video input. Some of the methods include receiving the video inputs as selected, and combining the video inputs into a single video output.

Claims

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

a first video input, wherein the first video input is generated remote from a video display;

a second video input, wherein the second video input is available local to the video display;

a selecting device, wherein the selecting device is operable to receive a selection input, and wherein the selection input selects the first video input as a full screen display and the second video input as a partial screen display; and

a compositing device, wherein the compositing device combines the first video input and the second video input as a single video output, wherein the single video output includes the second video input layed over the first video input such that the first video input is displayed full screen and the second video input is a picture-in-picture display within the full screen.

2. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a data converter, wherein the data converter converts a data stream to the second video input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the data converter forms part of a NID.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream selected using a computer local to the video display.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein displaying the second video input provides for monitoring Internet usage.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the data converter is implemented by a computer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream selected via the computer, and displayed via the converter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein displaying the second video input provides for monitoring Internet usage.

9. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising a video capture device, wherein the video capture device generates the second video input.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the video capture device is coupled to a NID, and wherein the first video input is received at the NID.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein displaying the second video input provides for monitoring activity detected by the video capture device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the selecting device is a first selecting device, and wherein the video display is a first video display, the system further comprising:

a second video display, wherein a second selecting device selects the second video input for display on the second video display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein displaying the second video input provides for monitoring television usage associated with the second video display.

14. A method for displaying picture-in-picture, the method comprising:

receiving a first video input generated remote from a video display;

receiving a second video input generated local to the video display;

selecting the first video input for fill screen display, and the second video input for partial screen display; and

combining the first video input and the second video input as a video output, wherein the video output includes the second video input superimposed on the first video input; and

providing the video output to the video display.

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

converting a data stream to form the second video input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream selected using a computer local to the video display.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data stream is an Internet data stream selected via a computer local to the video display, and displayed via the converter.

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

capturing an image using a video capture device; and

providing the image as the second video input.

19. A method for displaying picture-in-picture, the method comprising:

receiving a first video input generated remote from a first video display;

receiving a second video input displayed on a second video display;

selecting the first video input for full screen display, and the second video input for partial screen display;

combining the first video input and the second video input as a video output, wherein the video output includes the second video input superimposed on the first video input; and

providing the video output to the first video display.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first video display is located in a first room, and the second video display is located in a second room, and wherein the method provides for monitoring programming watched in the second room from the first room.