CONSUMER ACCESS SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME

• US 20070094698A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panwin Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ourworld Live, Inc.
• Inventors: Haas, Andreas, Bauer, Werner, Voelk, Manfred, Liebert, Alexander, Bountour, Lazaros
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced consumer access to information sources and controllable entities. An Access device can be a stand alone device such as a DVD player in which the DVD disk contains the back-end information network. Other Access devices obtain the back-end information network from remote sources. By way of a specific example, the consumer can then view a game and interactively select every television camera located at the game venue.

Claims

1. A user front-end human interface system comprising:

a program stored in a back-end information network located at a remote location from the user;

means for upgrading said program;

an access device available to said user, said program being loaded onto said access device from said back-end information network each time the user connects to said system;

a controllable entity connected to said access device;

an information source connected to said access device;

whereby said access device serves as a standalone control device to remotely control said controllable entity; and

whereby said access device serves as a standalone access device to display information from said information source.

2. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said controllable entity is a home appliance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said appliance is a video camera.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said appliance is a refrigerator.

5. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said information source includes a plurality of remote installed video cameras.

6. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said back-end information network provides a high bandwidth network and a plurality of lower bandwidth networks so that the user can interactively display the video signal in the high bandwidth network on a large high resolution video display and the video signals on the lower bandwidth network on smaller lower bandwidth video displays.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a DVD player.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said access device is a TV set top player.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said information source includes a source of textural information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said source of textured information provides stock quotes.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said source of textural information is advertising.

12. the user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said software supports a plurality of multimedia formats.

13. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said system automatically identifies the information source and dynamically assembles said program.

14. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said program decodes a plurality of data codes so that the provider of said information source is free to choose, deploy, and mix a plurality of media platforms.

15. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said program provides multiple types of window objects such as onscreen, companion and monitor.

16. The user front-end human interface system of claim 1, wherein said system dynamically assembles said program in response to the users preferences and the specifications of said access device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said digital readable storage media is a DVD disk.

17. A user front-end human interface system comprising:

a software program and plural information sources stored on a digital readable media member,

an access device for receiving said digital readable member, said access device utilizing said software program for interactively displaying said plurality of information sources,

whereby the user may interactively display on multiple monitor displays the information included in said plural information sources on said digital readable media member.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said plural information sources are television signals from multiple video cameras.

20. The user front-end human interface system of claim 17, wherein said information source stored on said digital readable member is an event viewed by a plurality of video cameras.

21. A method for converting a networked user access device to a standalone access device, comprising:

loading into said access device a plurality of programs stored in a back-end information network;

connecting said access device to an information source;

connecting said access device to a controllable entity;

interactively selecting information to be displayed on said access device from said information source using said programs previously loaded from said back-end information network; and

using said access device to selectively controlling said controllable entity using said programs previously loaded from said back-end information network.

22. A method for providing a networked user access device comprising:

loading into said access device a plurality of programs stored in a back-end information network;

connecting said access device to an information source;

connecting said access device to a controllable entity;

interactively selecting information to be displayed on said access source from said information source using said programs loaded from said back-end information network; and

using said access source to selectively controlling said controllable entity using said programs previously located from said back-end information network.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising:

dynamically assembling said plurality of programs stored in said back-end information network in response to the users preferences and the specifications of said access device.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising:

decoding a plurality of data codes.

25. A method for providing a networked user access device;

dynamically assembling a plurality of programs stored in a back-end information network in response to the users preferences and the specifications of said access device;

loading said assembled programs into said access device;

connecting said access source to an information source; and

selecting displaying information on said access source from said information source using said programs loaded from said back-end information network.