System and method for subscriber interactivity in a television system

• US 5,539,822 A
• Filed: 04/19/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lett, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US08/229,717
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/5, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 380/20, 348/12, 348/13, 348/17, 348/1, 348/3, 348/2, 348/7
• US Class Current: 380/211
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/97 using uplink of the CATV systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/03 Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0888 Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system for providing interactive services in a subscription television system comprises a system network controller for controlling the interactive services having controller memory for storing subscriber terminal identification data, transaction identification data and transaction return data, and a processor, coupled to the controller memory, for generating a transaction having interactive transaction data and transaction identification data. The processor also correlates received transaction return data with at least said transaction identification data and calculates summary data therefrom. A first transmitter transmits the transaction to terminal apparatus, and a first receiver receives transaction return data from terminal apparatus. A video signal source transmits a video signal to the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus, which is coupled to the first transmitter and the video signal source, receives the video signal and the transaction identification data. The terminal apparatus particularly comprises data input circuitry for receiving transaction return data, terminal memory for storing the transaction return data associated with the transaction identification data, a terminal controller, coupled to the data input circuitry and the memory, and a data return transmitter for returning the associated transaction return data and the transaction identification data to the first receiver of the system network controller. The terminal controller determines completion of entry of transaction return data for a particularly identified transaction and, immediately after data entry completion, initiates return by the data return transmitter.

Claims

1. System apparatus for providing interactive services in a subscription television system comprising:

a system network controller for controlling the interactive services, the system controller particularly comprising;

controller memory for storing subscriber terminal identification data, transaction identification data and transaction return data,

a processor, coupled to said controller memory, for generating a transaction having interactive transaction data and transaction identification data, for correlating received transaction return data with at least said transaction identification data and for calculating summary data therefrom,

a first transmitter, coupled to said processor, for transmitting said transaction to terminal apparatus, and

a first receiver for receiving transaction return data from terminal apparatus,

a video signal source for transmitting a video signal to the terminal apparatus, and

terminal apparatus, coupled to the first transmitter and the video signal source, for receiving the video signal, the interactive transaction data and the transaction identification data, the terminal apparatus particularly comprising;

data input circuitry for receiving transaction return data,

terminal memory for storing pay-per-view data and said transaction return data associated with said transaction identification data,

a terminal controller, coupled to said data input circuitry and said memory, and

a data return transmitter for returning said associated transaction return data and said transaction identification data to said first receiver of the system network controller,

said terminal controller for determining completion of entry of transaction return data for a particularly identified transaction and, immediately after data entry completion, initiating data return by the data return transmitter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system network controller is part of a program source of said subscription television system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said system network controller is part of a headend of said subscription television system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said subscription television system comprises a central office coupled to at least one headend, wherein said system network controller is part of said central office.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction identification data comprises a template number and transaction return data comprises subscriber entered data associated with said template.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said subscriber entered data comprises polling data.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said subscriber entered data comprises gambling data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said video signal source transmits an educational television program and said transaction return data comprises responses to questions associated with said educational television program.

9. The system of claim 1, said terminal apparatus further comprising a display controller responsive to said terminal controller for overlaying said template over a received video signal.

10. The system of claim 1, said terminal further comprising a real time clock, wherein said transaction identification data identifies said transaction as one requiring the collection of transaction return data at a particular real time of day and data entry completion is signaled by said real time of day.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said transaction return data comprises channel and data stream viewing data.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said transaction return data comprises energy management data.

13. The system of claim 1, said data input circuitry is coupled to an alarm sensing device, said transaction identification data identifies an alarm service.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein data entry completion is signaled by the occurrence of an alarm.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said video signal source transmits video images of items offered for sale, said transaction identification data comprises an item number and data entry completion is signalled by the occurrence of receipt of all of complete item description, quantity and price data associated with subscriber identification data.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said video signal source transmits video games, said transaction identification data at least identifies the video game.

17. A method for providing interactive services between a central source and a subscriber terminal of a subscription television system, comprising the steps of:

generating a transaction having interactive transaction data and transaction identification data at said central source;

downloading said transaction to said subscriber terminal;

determining completion of entry of transaction return data for a particularly identified transaction;

communicating said transaction return data and said transaction identification data to said central source; and

correlating received transaction return data with at least said transaction identification data at said central source.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

calculating summary data at said central source according to said correlating step.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

generating a second transaction at said central source according to said summary data; and

downloading said second transaction to said subscriber terminal.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said central source is a program source of said subscription television system.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said central source is a headend of said subscription television system.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said subscription television system comprises a central office coupled to at least one headend, wherein said central source is said central office.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the transaction identification data comprises a template number and transaction return data comprises subscriber entered data associated with said template.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said subscriber entered data comprises polling data.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said subscriber entered data comprises gambling data.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said transaction return data comprises responses to questions associated with an educational television program received by said subscriber terminal.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein said subscriber terminal comprises a real time clock, said transaction identification data identifies said transaction as one requiring the collection of transaction return data at a particular real time of day and data entry completion is signaled by said real time of day.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said transaction return data comprises channel and data stream viewing data.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said transaction return data comprises energy management data.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein said subscriber terminal comprises data input circuitry coupled to an alarm sensing device, said transaction identification data identifies an alarm service.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein data entry completion is signaled by the occurrence of an alarm.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein said transaction identification data comprises an item number of items offered for sale in a program received by said subscriber terminal and data entry completion is signaled by the occurrence of receipt of all of complete item description, quantity and price data associated with subscriber identification data.

33. The method of claim 17, wherein said transaction identification data at least identifies a video game received by said subscriber terminal.

34. A method of communicating interactive information between a central source and a subscriber terminal of a subscription television system, the method comprising the steps of:

downloading a template screen along with a template identifier from said central source to said subscriber terminal;

storing said template screen and said template identifier in an interactive buffer within said subscriber terminal;

selectively generating on-screen character and graphics displays in place of or overlaid on the composite video signal according to said template screen stored in said interactive buffer;

determining that a viewer has entered a selection or a timeout period has expired;

generating return path data according to said selection by the viewer; and

communicating said return path data together with said template identifier to said central source via a return path communication link.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the template screen includes interactive fields which represent one of blank fields which may be completed by the viewer and choices from which the viewer can make selections, said method further comprising the step of designating that one or more of the interactive fields is to be uniquely displayed.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said central source is a program source of said subscription television system.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said central source is a headend of said subscription television system.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein said subscription television system comprises a central office coupled to at least one headend, wherein said central source is said central office.

39. A subscriber terminal for communicating interactive information between a central source and the subscriber terminal for use in a subscription television system, comprising:

means for receiving a template screen along with a template identifier from said central source;

means for storing said template screen and said template identifier in an interactive buffer;

selectively generating on-screen character and graphics displays in place of or overlaid on the composite video signal according to said template screen stored in said interactive buffer;

means for determining that a viewer has entered a selection or that a timeout period has expired;

means for generating return path data according to the selection by the viewer; and

means for transmitting said return path data together with said template identifier to said central source via a return path communication link.

40. The subscriber terminal of claim 39, wherein the template screen include interactive fields which represent one of blank fields which may be completed by the viewer and choices from which the viewer can make selections, said subscriber terminal further comprising means for designating that one or more of the interactive fields is to be uniquely displayed.

41. The subscriber terminal of claim 39, wherein said central source is a program source of said subscription television system.

42. The subscriber terminal of claim 39, wherein said central source is a headend of said subscription television system.

43. The subscriber terminal of claim 39, wherein said subscription television system comprises a central office coupled to at least one headend, wherein said central source is said central office.