Video Broadcasts with Interactive Viewer Content

• US 20090064235A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy Kay Clough
• Original Assignee: Timothy Kay Clough
• Inventors: Sugahara, Kaytaro George
• Application Number:
  US12/188,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods are provided for providing information to a viewer of a digital broadcast. Digital broadcasts which include audio components, video components, and an additional information component are transmitted to media content display devices. Information may be extracted from the information component via user activation of an information interface and selection of desired information. The desired information may be extracted from the information component of the digital broadcast and/or transmitted to a broadcaster who may then, upon receipt of the request for information, modify the information component of the digital broadcast to the viewer.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a viewer of a digital broadcast, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the digital broadcast of an event wherein the digital broadcast comprises an audio digital component, a video digital component, and an information component in a digital data stream;

displaying the digital broadcast on a first video display;

activating an information interface on a second video display;

displaying the information interface on the second video display, wherein the information interface is user-activated;

selecting a request for information from the information interface;

transmitting the request for information to a broadcaster;

selecting a desired format in which the information component is to be presented on the video display using the user-activated information interface; and

broadcasting at least a portion of the information component in response to and in accordance with the request for information and the desired format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video display is the first video display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information component comprises pre-recorded audio-visual commentary.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pre-recorded audio-visual commentary is displayed on a portion of the first video display and overlays the digital broadcast.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the pre-recorded audio-visual commentary is displayed on a portion of the second video display and overlays the digital broadcast.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the digital broadcast is time-shifted while the audio-visual commentary is displayed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via a television.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via streaming video and audio content via a computer over an Internet connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information component is displayed on a portion of the first video display and overlays the digital broadcast on the first video display.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information component is displayed on a portion of the second video display and overlays the digital broadcast on the second video display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast is live and the information component was prepared prior to the digital broadcast.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a sporting event and the information component comprises rules for the sporting event.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a sporting event and the information component comprises statistics for at least one team involved in the sporting event.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a sporting event and the information component comprises audio commentary relating to the sporting event pre-recorded prior to an occurrence of the sporting event.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast is pre-recorded and the information component was prepared after an occurrence of the event but prior to the digital broadcast.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating a plurality of keywords with the broadcast based on the audio component and the video component, wherein the request for information is selected from the plurality of keywords.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating a plurality of keywords with the broadcast based on the audio component, wherein the request for information is selected from the plurality of keywords.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing an Internet search relating to the request for information to produce a plurality of search results;

wherein the information component comprises the plurality of search results.

19. A method for providing to a viewer of a digital broadcast of a sporting event certain information relating to the substantive content of the sporting event, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the digital broadcast of the sporting event wherein the digital broadcast comprises an audio digital component, a video digital component, and an information component in a digital data stream;

displaying the digital broadcast on a video display;

activating an information interface and displaying the information interface on the video display, wherein the information interface is user-activated on the video display;

using the activated information interface to select information related to at least one of the following;

rules for the sporting event, statistics for the sport event, statistics for the teams involved in the sporting event, history of the sporting event, or an explanation of the sporting event; and

broadcasting at least a portion of the information via the information component in response to and in accordance with the selected information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information component is temporarily stored at the point of the video display.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information component is temporarily stored on a set-top box in communication with a television.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the information component is transmitted independently from said audio digital component and video digital component.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said information component is transmitted simultaneously with the audio digital component and video digital component.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said information component is transmitted to said set-top box via the Internet.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the information component is temporarily stored on a computer in communication with the video display.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via an Internet connection and a computer and wherein the information component is transmitted via the Internet connection to the computer only after the information interface is activated.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via the Internet connection and a computer and wherein the information component is transmitted via the Internet connection to the computer upon activation of the information interface.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via the Internet connection and a computer and the information interface is activated by selecting an icon displayed on a the video display.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital broadcast is displayed via a television and the information interface is activated by utilizing a handheld wireless remote control.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the remote control is a standard television remote control having a plurality of buttons and the information interface is activated by simultaneously holding down at least two of said buttons.

31. A method for providing information to a viewer of a digital broadcast, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying the digital broadcast on a video display, said digital broadcast characterized by a defined run-time;

synchronizing data, having an information component with the digital broadcast, with a particular point in time in the run-time to form a synchronized information component;

receiving a user request during the digital broadcast for additional information related to the digital broadcast at the particular point in time; and

displaying at least a portion of the synchronized information component of the digital broadcast.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the user request is made by activating an information interface and displaying the user interface on the video display, wherein the information interface is user-activated.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the activated information interface is used to select a desired information and a desired format to be presented on the video display.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising broadcasting at least a portion of the information component in response to and in accordance with the desired information and the desired format.