Method and system for providing a comprehensive integration of transmitted video, interactive television, video on demand and video catalogue services

• US 20070157264A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Norton Garfinkle
• Original Assignee: Norton Garfinkle
• Inventors: Garfinkle, Norton
• Application Number:
  US11/321,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

This invention comprises a comprehensive integrated method and system based on a unified hardware and software system whereby users can utilize a computerized catalogue to access and obtain video broadcast program material, can download video content on-demand, can store video content and can engage in a back and forth interactive mode with interactive capable video content.

Claims

1. An integrated method to enable a plurality of users to access, control, and interact with their choices of video program material including the steps of:

accessing a comprehensive catalogue of video program material,

searching the data in said catalogue for information relating to video program material,

obtaining downloaded video program material comprising either, video on demand program material, digital broadcast program material, or streaming program material, and

controlling their viewing of the program material they obtain by allowing for the initiation and pausing of said video content.

2. The method as in claim 1 that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of the program material obtained.

3. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising engaging interactively with a plurality of program material configured for back and forth response between viewers and a central system managing the interactive features of the program material.

4. The method recited in claim 2 further comprising engaging interactively with a plurality of program material configured for back and forth response between viewers and a central system managing the interactive features of the program material.

5. The method as in claim 1 in which users can:

access a central system catalogue that can include alone or in combination;

current video program material;

recently released video program material;

archival video content, and

create or receive one or more catalogues of video material customized to their own specifications, and

access their customized catalogues to obtain individual programs or a plurality of video program material.

6. The method as in claim 2 in which users can:

access a central system catalogue that can include alone or in combination;

current video program material;

recently released video program material;

archival video content, and

create or receive one or more catalogues of video material customized to their own specifications, and

access their customized catalogues to obtain individual programs or a plurality of video program material.

7. The method as in claim 3 in which users can:

access a central system catalogue that can include alone or in combination;

current video program material;

recently released video program material;

archival video content, and

create or receive one or more catalogues of video material customized to their own specifications, and

access their customized catalogues to obtain individual programs or a plurality of video program material.

8. The method as in claim 4 in which users can:

access a central system catalogue that can include alone or in combination;

current video program material;

recently released video program material;

archival video content, and

create or receive one or more catalogues of video material customized to their own specifications, and

access their customized catalogues to obtain individual programs or a plurality of video program material.

9. The method as in claim 1 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication.

10. The method as in claim 2 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication.

11. The method as in claim 3 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

12. The method as in claim 4 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

13. The method as in claim 5 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

14. The method as in claim 6 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

15. The method as in claim 7 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

16. The method as in claim 8 in which the user can communicate with other users and with the central computer system using voice over internet protocol or cell phone voice communication or wired telephone voice communication or e-mail or instant messaging.

17. A system that allow a plurality of users to interact with video availability listings, to obtain broadcast video content, video on demand content and engage interactively back and forth with television or other broadcast programming, comprising in combination:

a central computer system,

a catalogue stored on said central computer system listing streaming video programming, broadcast video programming, downloadable video, interactive television programs, interactive program channels, and other available content,

software and hardware on the central computer system for communication with the plurality of user systems,

a plurality of individual computer systems;

personal computers or computer capable signal processors or computer capable cell phones, or PDAs, or other equipment connected to said central computer system by commonly available communications means either directly or through the internet by means of digital cable or DSL lines or telephone lines or WiFi systems, or other communications hardware

display devices for the plurality of systems;

WiFi device or a cell phones or computer screens or television screens or other display devices to receive the input from the central computer system or from a broadcast network,

input devices;

WiFi devices or remote control devices or cell phones or a standard computer input devices;

keyboards or mice or touch pads or other input devices or any combination thereof,

communications devices and software for allowing the user to receive output communications from the central computer system,

software on the plurality of computer systems allowing for the download or storage or display of the catalogue, or any combination thereof,

software on the plurality of computer systems allowing the user to make selections from the catalogue,

one or more input devices to control the selection software,

software on the plurality of individual computer systems allowing for the download, storage, or display of video content, or any combination thereof,

software on the individual computer systems enabling the user to interact with television programs by sending signals back to the central computer, and

software parameters and routines in the central computer to calculate individual and aggregate data derived from responses to interactive television commands.

18. The system as in claim 17 which has the capability to transmit to a user or a plurality of users directly to one or more of each user'"'"'s computer system devices for viewing, or storage or display or any combination thereof, of data calculated by the central computer based on the responses of the user or a plurality of users or both to interactive television commands.

19. The system as in claim 17 which further incorporates;

software on the central computer system, or on the plurality of individual computer systems or both enabling the creation of customized catalogues,

software on the plurality of individual computer systems allowing for the download or display or both of a customized catalogue, and

software on the plurality of individual computer systems allowing the user to make selections from one or more customized catalogues.

20. The system as in claim 18 which further incorporates:

software on the central computer system, or on the plurality of individual computer systems or both enabling the creation of customized catalogues,

software on the plurality of individual computer systems allowing for the download or display or both of a customized catalogue, and

software on the plurality of individual computer systems allowing the user to make selections from one or more customized catalogues.

21. The system as in claim 17 which acquires data through a search engine optionally accessed through a web browser.

22. The system as in claim 18 which acquires data through a search engine optionally accessed through a web browser.

23. The system as in claim 19 which acquires data through a search engine optionally accessed through a web browser.

24. The system as in claim 20 which acquires data through a search engine optionally accessed through a web browser.

25. The system as in claim 17 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

26. The system as in claim 18 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

27. The system as in claim 19 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

28. The system as in claim 20 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

29. The system as in claim 21 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

30. The system as in claim 22 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

31. The system as in claim 23 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

32. The system as in claim 24 that includes a sub-system that establishes a limit of any kind to the use of downloaded or stored video content including but not restricted to such means as preventing duplication of the content or blocking access to such content if said limit for authorized viewing has been exceeded.

33. The system as in claim 17 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system that includes a video signal processor and a second separate computer system which performs the principal interactive TV functions.

34. The system as in claim 18 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

35. The system as in claim 19 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

36. The system as in claim 20 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

37. The system as in claim 21 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

38. The system as in claim 22 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

39. The system as in claim 23 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

40. The system as in claim 24 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

41. The system as in claim 25 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

42. The system as in claim 26 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

43. The system as in claim 27 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

44. The system as in claim 28 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

45. The system as in claim 29 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

46. The system as in claim 30 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

47. The system as in claim 31 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.

48. The system as in claim 32 where the individual computer capabilities are contained in two distinct and severable systems:

a first computer system or computer capable television signal processor and a second separate computer system that includes hardware and software to perform the principal interactive TV functions.