System and method for broadcasting web pages and other information

• US 20050149981A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Grosky, Aaron, Augenbraun, Joseph E., Plotnick, Bruce, Kunkel, Gerard K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for interactive broadcast of Internet web pages, or the like, on dedicated downstream channels in a cable television system or the like facilitates hyperlinking by a user from a broadcast television program to a web page, or between web pages, for example. In one embodiment, each user'"'"'s set top is programmed with channel mapping information that maps each hyperlink request to a particular channel and time where the requested information is being broadcast in a multiplexed information stream. In response to receipt of a hyperlink request from a user actuating a remote control button, mouse or keyboard, the set top tunes to the appropriate one of the downstream channels, and downloads the web page or other information. In one embodiment to facilitate picture-in-picture capability using a single tuner, the tuner in the set top briefly tunes away from the video program to the appropriate data channel for receiving the hyperlink information. After the information associated with the hyperlink is downloaded and stored in the set top, the tuner automatically tunes back to the video program. The user can then interact with the hyperlink content and continue watching TV simultaneously. Alternatively, a scaler application is provided in the headend that reduces the size of the video program or a content related web page, for example, so that they can then be combined at the headend in a picture-in-picture format.

Claims

1. A network headend for accessing information from one or more sources, and broadcasting said information over a television distribution network, said headend comprising:

a) at least one scaler for receiving a first image generating information stream and generating a scaled version of said first information stream having a reduced image size; and

b) at least one multiplexer for combining said scaled version with a second image generating information stream to form a combined information stream, said combined information stream being formatted in a picture-in-picture format where a first image generated by said first image generating information stream is overlaid on a second image generated by said second image generating information stream.

2. The headend of claim 1, further including an encoder for encoding said scaled version prior to being combined with said second information stream.

3. The headend of claim 1, wherein said first information stream is a video program, and said second information stream is selected from the group comprising an Internet web page, a television program guide and user account information.

4. The headend of claim 3, wherein said second information stream comprises an Internet web page that is related to a program content of said video program.

5. A method for transmitting multiple information streams in a networked distribution system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first image generating information stream;

b) scaling said information stream to form a reduced size image generating information stream;

c) combining said reduced size image information stream with a second image information stream in a picture-in-picture format to form a combined image information stream; and

d) transmitting said combined image information stream through a distribution network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the steps of scaling and combining are carried out in response to a request received from a terminal device for said second information stream, and

said step of transmitting further comprises transmitting said combined image information stream to said terminal device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said first information stream is a video program, and said second information stream is selected from the group comprising an Internet web page, a television program guide and user account information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second information stream comprises an Internet web page that is related to a program content of said video program.