ACTIVE CHANNEL FOR INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SERVICES

• US 20080189738A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arsenault, Robert G., Purpura, Richard F.
• Application Number:
  US11/959,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4622 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts

Abstract

An interactive home video channel displayed on a monitor is disclosed. A channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, a text box, a menu comprising menu choices, each menu choice and each video cell associated with a programming subject, and a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells and the menu, for selecting at least one of the video cells and the menu choices, which, presents additional information about the programming subject associated with the selected video cell or menu choice upon selection with the cursor.

Claims

1. An interactive home video channel displayed on a video monitor, comprising:

a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information;

a text box;

a menu comprising menu choices, each menu choice and each video cell associated with a programming subject; and

a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells and the menu, for selecting at least one of the video cells and the menu choices, which, presents additional information about the programming subject associated with the selected video cell or menu choice upon selection with the cursor.

2. The interactive home video channel of claim 1, further comprising a barker cell presenting additional video and audio information, wherein the barker cell is selectable by the cursor.

3. The interactive home video channel of claim 2, further comprising a subordinate screen, displayed on the video monitor, for presenting the additional information.

4. The interactive home video channel of claim 3, wherein the subordinate screen is selected from a group comprising a weather screen, a mix channels screen, a best bets screen, a horoscope screen, and a lottery screen.

5. The interactive home video channel of claim 4, wherein when the subordinate screen is displayed, barker cell information presented on the subordinate screen is related to the programming subject associated with the subordinate screen.

6. The interactive home video channel of claim 5, wherein information presented in the text box changes when the cursor is moved.

7. The interactive home video channel of claim 6, wherein the interactive home video channel is displayed on a monitor when the monitor is initially powered.

8. The interactive home video channel of claim 6, wherein at least one of the video cells is used for ordering pay-per-view programming.

9. The interactive home video channel of claim 6, wherein at least one of the video cells is used for ordering satellite television services.

10. The interactive home video channel of claim 6, wherein at least one of the video cells is used for advertising.

11. The interactive home video channel of claim 6, further comprising an information box.

12. The interactive home video channel of claim 11, wherein information presented in the information box changes based on a position of the cursor.

13. The interactive home video channel of claim 11, wherein information presented in the information box changes based on which subordinate screen is selected.

14. The interactive home video channel of claim 11, wherein at least one subordinate screen further comprises a menu.

15. The interactive home video channel of claim 14, wherein the at least one subordinate screen further comprises a second information box.

16. The interactive home video channel of claim 15, wherein information presented in the second information box changes as the cursor is moved through menu choices on the subordinate screen.