Method and apparatus for downloading on-screen graphics and captions to a television terminal
First Claim
1. A method of downloading graphics display generation data and program code data to a terminal of a multi-service distribution system for display on an associated television display comprising the steps of:
- generating a bit map of graphics for display,encoding the bit map into cube definition data,transmitting the cube definition data from a headend of the system to at least one terminal,storing the program code data and cube definition data in terminal memory, andoutputting display data in accordance with the cube definition data for display on the associated television.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of downloading on-screen graphics and captions to a television terminal for display comprises a system manager computer and data transmission apparatus coupled thereto for transmitting program code, cube definition data and downloadable display commands to the terminal. Manufacturer intervention is minimized in that the system operator scans a graphic image to create a bit map and encodes the bit map into the cube definition data. The system manager also generates display control commands for downloading to the terminal without manufacturer intervention which control when, how long, where and how the graphic image is displayed. In this manner, a system operator may generate a custom screen for display representing their particular logo or service name. Moreover, screen data for different service names are addressably downloaded to different groups of subscribers to the different services. The program code, the cube definition data and the downloadable display commands may be globally or addressably downloaded via in-band video, in-band audio or outband data transmission. The output graphics for display may be accompanied by a predetermined audio signal.
247 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of downloading graphics display generation data and program code data to a terminal of a multi-service distribution system for display on an associated television display comprising the steps of:
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generating a bit map of graphics for display, encoding the bit map into cube definition data, transmitting the cube definition data from a headend of the system to at least one terminal, storing the program code data and cube definition data in terminal memory, and outputting display data in accordance with the cube definition data for display on the associated television. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Terminal apparatus for receiving downloaded graphics data, downloaded display commands and program code data comprising:
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an in band data receiver for receiving data transmitted via a television signal, a first flash memory, coupled to the in band data receiver, for storing the downloaded program code and an alphanumeric character set, and a second dynamic random access memory, coupled to the in band data receiver, for storing the downloaded display commands and cube definition data.
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24. System control apparatus for downloading graphics data, display commands and program code comprising:
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a system manager for generating the graphics data and display commands for downloading and having input means for receiving the program code for downloading, a code download transmitter for downloading the program code via code download transactions and a graphics data download transmitter for downloading generated graphics data and display commands via generated graphics download transactions. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification