MENUING SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING CONTENT DELIVERY WITHIN A VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20090119718A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
• Original Assignee: LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Barnett, Brian G., Fenwick, Richard C. JR., Miner, John T., Power, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US12/259,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• 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 21/4356 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. to reformat additional data on a handheld device, attached to the STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A menuing system for a video distribution system provides an interactive display to allow a user to select and control the delivery of program material. A central host computer processes initial request for service from users and maintains a database of currently available program materials and other system resources. In response to a user'"'"'s request for service, the central host computer assigns one of a plurality of assignable computing devices (ACDs) to communicate with the user. The ACD reads the database and presents an interactive menu to the user on the user'"'"'s audiovisual display monitor. Using a graphical user interface (GUI) the user may then respond to the menu by selecting an item for viewing. The menuing system may have a number of levels that the user may parse through to allow the user to select desired program material. Upon selection by the user, the ACD passes the request on for further programming.

Claims

1. A method of presenting an audiovisual signal to a user'"'"'s audiovisual display monitor comprising:

receiving a command from the user;

responding to the command by assigning an assignable computing device (ACD) to the user;

establishing a communications link between the user'"'"'s audiovisual display monitor and the ACD;

presenting a menu containing a selection of video programs to the user'"'"'s audiovisual display monitor with the ACD;

selecting one of the video programs for display; and

routing said selected video program to the user'"'"'s audiovisual display monitor.