Method and system for downloading and storing interactive device content using the horizontal overscan portion of a video signal

• US 20050204400A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musicqubed Innovations LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ranta, Craig S., Singh, Harjit, Alexander, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/085 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A method and system for decoding and storing encoded control data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An interactive device such as a toy performs behavior defined by control data that can be encoded into a video signal. The toy is equipped with a decoder for extracting data from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal, and a non-volatile memory that permits the control data to be stored for use after the video signal is no longer being received. The control data are delivered as a series of words that include genus codes and sequence codes. Genus codes identify the specific toy to which the word is directed, as more than one toy may receive the video signal. Error grading is used to minimize the effect of such signal deterioration, so the toy will replace previously received words if newer words are of higher quality.

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23. A method for delivering and storing control data for an interactive device using a horizontal overscan portion of a video signal, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the video signal at the interactive device during a transmission session, the transmission session comprising a plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of frames define a program that is displayed to a viewer during the transmission session;

(b) extracting the control data from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal using a decoder integral to the interactive device, said decoder being configured to extract control data encoded into the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal;

(c) storing the control data in the interactive device, such that the control data will be available for use after the transmission session has ended;

(d) waiting for the transmission session to end;

(e) after the transmission session has ended, using the control data extracted from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal during the transmission session and stored in the interactive device to cause the interactive device to perform a behavior defined by the control data.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of waiting for transmission session to end comprises the step of waiting until the interactive device is no longer receiving the video signal.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the video signal at a base station, the base station being configured to convey the video signal to the interactive device via a wireless connection; and

(b) transmitting the video signal from the base station to the interactive device using the wireless connection.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of extracting the control data comprises the step of processing the extracted control data to assemble the control data into control words, each control word comprising a plurality of data bits, the plurality of data bits defining data useable for controlling the interactive device and at least one of:

(a) a genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the control data are intended;

(b) a sequence code identifying an order in which behavior defined by the control data are to be executed in; and

(c) a sequence code that can be used for error correction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein when the plurality of data bits comprising the control words include a sequence code that can be used for error correction, further comprising the steps of

(a) using the sequence code to determine an error grade for the control word;

and

(b) determining if the control word is already stored in the interactive device; and

if not,

(i) storing the control word in the interactive device;

else

(ii) storing the control word having a higher quality as indicated by the error grade in the interactive device, and discarding the control word having a lower quality as indicated by the error grade.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein when the plurality of data bits comprising the control words include a genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the control data are intended, further comprising the steps of using the genus code to determine if the control word is intended for the interactive device;

and if so storing the control word in the interactive device;

else ignoring the control word.

29. A system for delivering and storing control data for use by interactive devices, using a horizontal overscan portion of a video signal, the system comprising:

(a) an interactive device operative to perform a behavior defined by the control data, the interactive device comprising;

(i) a receiver configured to receive a wireless communication, the wireless communication comprising the video signal;

(ii) a decoder operative to extract the control data from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal during a transmission session, the transmission session comprising a plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of frames defines a program that is displayed to a viewer during the transmission session;

(iii) a non-volatile memory operative to store the control data extracted during the transmission session for use by the interactive device after the transmission session has ended and the program is no longer displayed to the viewer, and

(iv) a controller operative to retrieve the control data from the non-volatile memory and to cause the interactive device to perform the behavior defined by the control data; and

(b) a transmitter configured to transmit the wireless communication to the interactive device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the controller is further configured to:

(a) analyze the control data extracted from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal to determine if the control data defines a control word including a genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the control data are intended;

(b) store each control word having a corresponding genus code; and

(c) ignore each control word that does not have a corresponding genus code.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the controller is further configured to:

(a) analyze the control data extracted from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal to determine if the control data defines a control word that includes a sequence code that can be used for error correction;

(b) use the sequence code to determine an error grade for the control word; and

(c) determine if the control word is already stored in the interactive device; and

if not,

(i) storing the control word in the interactive device;

else

(ii) storing the control word having a higher quality as indicated by the error grade in the interactive device, and discarding the control word having a lower quality as indicated by the error grade.

32. A method for delivering and storing control data for an interactive device using a horizontal overscan portion of a video signal, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the video signal at a first interactive;

(b) extracting control words from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal using a decoder integral to the first interactive device, said decoder being configured to extract control words encoded into the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal, each control word comprising a plurality of data bits, the plurality of data bits defining a genus code and the control data, the genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the interactive device control data are intended;

(c) analyzing each control word received to determine if the genus code of the control word corresponds to the first interactive device;

(d) for each control word whose genus code corresponds to the first interactive device, storing the control data corresponding to that control word in a non-volatile memory contained within the first interactive device;

such that the stored control data will be available for use after the transmission session has ended;

(e) waiting until interactive device is no longer receiving the video signal;

(f) after the interactive device is no longer receiving the video signal, using the control data extracted from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal previously received and stored in the first interactive device to cause the first interactive device to perform a behavior defined by the control data.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of transmitting each control word whose genus code does not correspond to the first interactive device from the first interactive device to a second interactive device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the video signal at the second interactive device;

(b) extracting control words from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal using a decoder integral to the second interactive device, said decoder being configured to extract control words encoded into the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal, each control word comprising a plurality of data bits, the plurality of data bits defining a genus code and the control data, the genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the interactive device control data are intended;

(c) receiving each control word transmitted by the first interactive at the second interactive device;

(d) analyzing each control word received by the second interactive device from the first interactive device to determine if the genus code of the control word corresponds to the second interactive device;

(e) analyzing each control word extracted from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal by the decoder integral to the second interactive device to determine if the genus code of the control word corresponds to the second interactive device;

(f) for each control word whose genus code corresponds to the second interactive device, storing the control data corresponding to that control word in a non-volatile memory contained within the second interactive device;

such that the stored control data will be available for use after the video signal is no longer being received;

(g) waiting until the video signal is no longer being received at the second interactive device; and

(h) after the video signal is no longer being received at the second interactive device, using the control data stored in the second interactive device to cause the second interactive device to perform a behavior defined by the control data.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of transmitting video signal data including an encoded control word whose genus code does not correspond to the first interactive device from the first interactive device to a second interactive device.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the video signal at the second interactive;

(b) extracting control words from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal using a decoder integral to the second interactive device, said decoder being configured to extract control words encoded into the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal, each control word comprising a plurality of data bits, the plurality of data bits defining a genus code and the control data, the genus code identifying a specific interactive device for which the interactive device control data are intended;

(c) analyzing each control word received to determine if the genus code of the control word corresponds to the second interactive device;

(d) for each control word whose genus code corresponds to the second interactive device, storing the control data corresponding to that control word in a non-volatile memory contained within the second interactive device;

such that the stored control data will be available for use after the video signal is no longer being received by the second interactive device;

(e) waiting until the video signal is no longer being received at the second interactive device; and

(f) after the video signal is no longer being received at the second interactive device, using the control data stored in the second interactive device to cause the second interactive device to perform a behavior defined by the control data.