Carousel technology for interactive television

• US 20060190981A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visiware Visiware
• Original Assignee: Visiware Visiware
• Inventors: Besson, Pascal-Hippolyte, Weill, Laurant
• Application Number:
  US11/245,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A broadcast data stream is received on a device with a receiver and a processor. The system allows to broadcast multiple ITV applications (such as games). This system serially organizes the data on the broadcast stream which hosts several applications but are available in order, one at a time. The system provides a way to know when each application in the stream will be available for the user.

Claims

1. A system for receiving a broadcast signal, the system comprising:

a broadcast receiving device having a processor and a receiver for receiving a broadcast stream comprising a plurality of selectable interactive television (ITV) applications on a single channel;

a user interface for allowing a user to select one of the plurality of applications on the single channel.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the broadcast receiving device further comprises an electronic display and wherein the broadcast receiving device processor is configured to show a guide on the electronic display, wherein the guide includes information identifying the plurality of applications in the broadcast stream.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein, the guide further includes information identifying the time of availability of each of the plural applications in the broadcast stream.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein, the broadcast stream includes a plurality of tags containing information associated with the guide and wherein an ITV application is configured to respond to information in tags to generate the electronic display of the guide.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tags are disposed between each application in the broadcast stream.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein each application in the broadcast stream comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between at least one code module and data module of an application in the broadcast stream.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein each application in the broadcast stream comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between each code module and data module of each of the plural applications in the broadcast stream.

8. A broadcast signal communication system comprising:

a transmission system for transmitting a broadcast signal comprising a plurality of selectable applications and a plurality of tags on a single channel, the tags being disposed between applications in the broadcast signal;

wherein the tags contain information associated with a displayable information guide having information identifying the applications in the broadcast signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the tags are disposed between each application in the broadcast signal.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein each application in the broadcast signal comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between at least one code module and data module of an application in the broadcast signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein each application in the broadcast signal comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between each code module and data module of each of the plural applications in the broadcast signal.

12. A broadcast signal communication system comprising:

a transmission system for transmitting a broadcast stream comprising a plurality of selectable applications on a single channel;

at least one broadcast signal receiving device having a processor and a receiver for receiving the broadcast stream comprising a plurality of selectable applications on the single channel;

a user interface for allowing a user to select one of the plurality of applications on the single channel.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the broadcast signal receiving device further comprises an electronic display and wherein an ITV application (ie games portal) is configured to show a guide on the electronic display, wherein the guide includes information identifying the plurality of applications in the broadcast stream.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the guide further includes information identifying the time of availability of each of the plural applications in the broadcast stream.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein, the broadcast stream includes a plurality of tags containing information associated with the guide and wherein the an ITV application (ie game portal) is configured to respond to information in tags to generate the electronic display of the guide.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the tags are disposed between each application in the broadcast stream.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein each application in the broadcast stream comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between at least one code module and data module of an application in the broadcast stream.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein each application in the broadcast stream comprises a code module and a data module and wherein the tags are disposed between each code module and data module of each of the plural applications in the broadcast stream.