Interactive mosaic channel video stream with nested menu features

• US 20070220551A1
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Matthew, Le, Craig, Dean, Jon, Purpura, Richard, Shurgot, Mark, Feldstein, David, Shanks, David
• Application Number:
  US11/701,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

The present invention discloses an interactive matrixed video channel presented on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. An interactive matrixed video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, a text box, and a control bar; wherein a command displayed on the control bar selects a screen for display on the monitor, the screen comprising information related to at least one of the video cells associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds.

Claims

1. An interactive matrixed video channel presented on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising:

a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds;

a text box, displayed on the monitor; and

a control bar, displayed on the monitor, wherein a command displayed on the control bar selects a screen for display on the monitor, the screen comprising information related to at least one of the video cells associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds.

2. The interactive matrixed video channel of claim 1, further comprising a cursor, wherein when the cursor selects one of the plurality of video cells a new condition is displayed on the monitor.

3. The interactive matrixed video channel of claim 2, wherein the new condition comprises an audio portion of the selected video cell being presented by the monitor.

4. The interactive matrixed video channel of claim 3, further comprising a barker cell that presents additional video and audio information that can also be selected by the cursor.

5. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of video cells are grouped by genre.

6. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 5, wherein the genre is a specific event.

7. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 6, wherein the specific event is selected from a group comprising an Olympic Games, a NCAA basketball tournament, and a National Football League game schedule.

8. A system for delivering at least one interactive matrixed video channel displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising:

at least one uplink facility;

at least one satellite, receiving at least one uplink signal from the at least one uplink facility;

at least one receiver, receiving at least one downlink signal from the at least one satellite, the at least one downlink signal related to the at least one uplink signal, the at least one receiver coupled to the video monitor, wherein the monitor displays a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds,

a text box, displayed on the video monitor; and

a control bar, displayed on the video monitor, wherein a command displayed on the control bar selects a screen for display on the monitor, the screen comprising information related to at least one of the video cells associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a cursor, wherein when the cursor selects one of the plurality of video cells a new condition is displayed on the monitor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the new condition comprises an audio portion of the selected video cell being presented by the monitor.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a barker cell that presents additional video and audio information that can also be selected by the cursor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of video cells are grouped by genre.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the genre is a specific event.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the specific event is selected from a group comprising an Olympic Games, a NCAA basketball tournament, and a National Football League game schedule.

15. A system for displaying at least one interactive matrixed video channel displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising:

a transmitter, the transmitter transmitting the interactive matrixed channel; and

a receiver coupled to the video monitor and receiving the transmitted interactive matrixed channel from the transmitter, wherein the monitor displays a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds;

a text box, displayed on the video monitor; and

a control bar, displayed on the video monitor, wherein a command displayed on the control bar selects a screen for display on the monitor, the screen comprising information related to at least one of the video cells associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a cursor, wherein when the cursor selects one of the plurality of video cells a new condition is displayed on the monitor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the new condition comprises an audio portion of the selected video cell being presented by the monitor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of video cells are grouped by genre.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the genre is a specific event.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the specific event is selected from a group comprising an Olympic Games, a NCAA basketball tournament, and a National Football League game schedule.