EMPHASIZED MOSAIC VIDEO CHANNEL WITH INTERACTIVE USER CONTROL

• US 20080209472A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shanks, David Eric, Hill, David B.
• Application Number:
  US11/953,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/43
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4781 Games
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

An interactive mosaic channel video stream is disclosed. Such a channel is displayed on a video 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, each video cell further comprising a mosaic of related video information, and a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell.

Claims

1. An interactive matrixed video channel displayed on a video 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, each video cell further comprising a mosaic of related video information wherein, within the mosaic of related video information, at least one video presentation is emphasized with respect other video presentations within the video cell;

and

a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell.

2. The interactive matrixed video channel of claim 1, wherein when the user selects a video program associated with the selected video cell, a secondary video cell is displayed, comprising at least the selected video program.

3. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 2, wherein the secondary video cell further comprises a plurality of secondary video feeds, each video feed having an associated audio portion.

4. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 3, wherein a secondary video feed is shared between a plurality of the individual video feeds.

5. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 4, wherein the shared secondary video feed has a first audio program associated with the shared video feed when displayed on a first secondary video cell, and a second audio program associated with the shared video feed when displayed on a secondary video cell.

6. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one information bar related to the video feed.

7. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 6, wherein a first bar comprises information related to an event shown in the video feed.

8. The interactive matrixed channel of claim 7, further comprising a second bar which displays information related to the secondary video feed.

9. A system for displaying a plurality of individual video feeds at a given time, comprising:

a broadcast delivery system, comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

a monitor, coupled to the receiver, for selectively displaying a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising a mosaic of related video information wherein, within the mosaic of related video information, at least one video presentation is emphasized with respect to other video presentations within the video cell; and

a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast delivery system is a satellite television delivery system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the secondary video cell further comprises a plurality of secondary video feeds, each video feed having an associated audio portion.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a secondary video feed is shared between a plurality of the individual video feeds.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the shared secondary video feed has a first audio program associated with the shared video feed when displayed on a first secondary video cell, and a second audio program associated with the shared video feed when displayed on a secondary video cell.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising displaying at least one information bar related to the video feed.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein a first bar comprises information