Digital interactive system for providing full interactivity with programming events
First Claim
1. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
- a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes and graphics signals, the reception system comprising;
a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;
a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries;
a demultiplexer, for demultiplexing the selected video and audio signals;
a decompressor/decoder, connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed selected video and audio signals;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an interactive digital system enabling viewers full and active participation in experiencing a live broadcast event. Particularly, the presentation of the live event is personalized for the viewer through the provision of various options, including multiple video streams, associated with different camera angles, for example, and integrated audio and graphics segments. Further, information obtained from related Web sites can be integrated into the live program. Various video and audio streams are collected from a live event and forwarded to a central control studio. Graphics are created at the central studio on a personal computer or chyron device. After receiving the video, audio and graphics signals, the signals are digitized and compressed in digital compressors. These signals are then combined with special data codes into a “digital package,” and subsequently, transmitted over a cable distribution system. Once received at a viewer home, the signals are received and processed in an interactive digital cable box. Selections of the video, audio, graphics displays and/or Web pages can be made as a function of immediate viewer entries, or to interrogatory responses presented at the beginning or during the program, or based on a prestored viewer profile. Once a decision is made to switch from one video to another video option, the digital switch is performed seamlessly. The digital interactive system is based upon seamless branches which occur in the course of full-motion video.
317 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes and graphics signals, the reception system comprising;
a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;
a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries;
a demultiplexer, for demultiplexing the selected video and audio signals;
a decompressor/decoder, connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed selected video and audio signals;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
5. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes and graphics signals, the reception system comprising;
memory, for storing a viewer profile;
a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the stored viewer profile;
a demultiplexer, for demultiplexing the selected video and audio signals;
a decompressor/decoder, connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed selected video and audio signals;
a means for displaying the selected video signal; and
a means for playing the selected audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
8. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:
a viewer television reception system for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes, and one or more uniform resource locators specifying one or more Internet addresses of related Internet information segments obtained from Web sites on the Internet, the reception system comprising;
a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;
a means, connected to the viewer interface, for processing comprising;
means for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries;
a means for decoding the uniform resource locators to determine the specified Internet addresses;
a means, connected to the decoding means, for retrieving the one or more Internet information segments residing at the determined Internet addresses; and
a means for presenting the video and audio signals, and Internet information segments. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
13. A system for providing live interactive digital programming, comprising:
-
a means for receiving video signals from a plurality of video cameras, one or more of the cameras relaying a different predetermined view of a live event;
a means for producing one or more audio signals corresponding to the live event;
a means for generating one or more graphics signals;
at least one digital compression device, connected to the receiving and producing means, for digitally compressing the video, graphics and audio signals;
a means for processing, connected to the compression device, wherein the processing means creates a set of data commands which link together the various audio, graphics and video signals, the data commands including branching commands;
a digital multiplexer, connected to the digital compression device, for multiplexing the video, graphics and audio signals, and the data codes into a combined digital program stream; and
a means for transmitting the combined digital program stream.
-
-
14. A method for providing live interactive digital programming, comprising the steps of:
-
obtaining video signals from a plurality of video cameras, one or more of the cameras relaying a different view of a live event;
producing one or more audio signals corresponding to the live event;
creating one or more graphics signals;
receiving the video and audio signals in a control studio;
digitally compressing the video, graphic and audio signals;
producing a set of data codes corresponding to the programming, the data codes including branching commands;
digitally multiplexing the video, graphics and audio signals, and the data codes into a combined digital program stream;
transmitting the combined digital program stream;
receiving the combined digital program stream at a receive site;
re-transmitting the combined digital program stream on a digital cable television distribution system;
receiving the combined digital program stream at one or more viewer sites;
gathering viewer specific information;
processing the data commands;
digitally demultiplexing the video and audio signals resulting in a first video and audio signal, the first output video and first audio signal selected based on the data commands and gathered viewer specific information;
instructing the digital demultiplexer to commence demultiplexing a second video and second audio signal, the second video signal and second audio signal selected based on the data commands and gathered viewer specific information;
seamlessly switching from the first to the second video signal; and
displaying the second video signal on a screen. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for providing live interactive digital programming, comprising:
-
receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes, and one or more uniform resource locators specifying one or more Internet addresses of related Internet information segments obtained from Web sites on the Internet, the reception system comprising;
obtaining viewer entries;
selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the obtained viewer entries;
decoding the uniform resource locators to determine the specified Internet addresses;
retrieving the one or more Internet information segments residing at the determined Internet addresses; and
demultiplexing the selected video and audio signals;
decompressing the demultiplexed selected video and audio signals; and
presenting the video and audio signals, and Internet information segments.
-
Specification