CONTROLLING ACCESS TO USER-INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS INCLUDING DYNAMIC VIDEO MOSAIC ELEMENTS

• US 20110209173A1
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remenick PLLC
• Original Assignee: Remenick PLLC
• Inventors: Zaslavsky, Eduard, Vaysman, Arthur
• Application Number:
  US13/101,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method of creating and presenting a user interface comprising a Dynamic Mosaic Extended Electronic Programming Guide (DMXEPG) using video, audio, special applications, and service dynamic metadata. The system enables television or digital radio service subscribers to select and display of various programs including video, interactive TV applications, or any combination of audio or visual components grouped and presented in accordance with the dynamic program/show metadata, business rules and objectives of service providers, broadcasters, and/or personal subscriber choices, collectively referred to as mosaic element presentation criteria.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method of generating a user interface (UI) display comprising a plurality of mosaic elements (MEs), the method comprising:

selecting a subset of available media content in accordance with ME presentation criteria, the presentation criteria including a parental control limit;

associating the selected subset of content with an ME comprising the UI display, wherein the ME outputs the subset of content that is associated therewith;

repeating the selecting and associating for other MEs that comprise the UI display;

outputting the UI display on an output device; and

subsequent to outputting the UI display, determining if one or more of the MEs have a parental control limit associated therewith and, if the parental control limit has been exceeded, modifying the video or audio associated with the MEs to which the parental control limit applies.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of modifying the video or audio associated with the MEs to which the parental control limit applies includes deactivating the video unless and until a parental control disable code has been entered by a user.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of modifying the video or audio associated with the MEs to which the parental control limit applies includes overlaying the video with a different on-screen display unless and until a parental control disable code has been entered by a user.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein:

a user has the ability to focus-in on a selected ME; and

the step of modifying the video or audio associated with the MEs to which the parental control limit applies includes defeating the ability to focus in on those MEs unless and until a parental control disable code has been entered by a user.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of modifying the video or audio associated with the MEs to which the parental control limit applies includes deactivating the audio unless and until a parental control disable code has been entered by a user.