Television browsing system with transmitted and received keys and associated information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for implementation by a home-based television system, the method comprising:
- receiving signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels;
receiving a series of keys including at least two different keys in a first data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs;
receiving additional information associated with the keys in a second data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs;
in response to user input indicating a desired category of information causing an application in the television system to search the first data stream to select from the series of keys in the first data stream a plurality of keys associated with the category;
retrieving, from the second data stream, the information associated with keys selected from the first data stream; and
displaying the retrieved information and not displaying information associated with non-selected keys.
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Abstract
A home-based television system has a set top box that receives from a cable operator television programs for broadcast on many channels. The set top box also receives additional information for display and an application. In response to user input, the application filters data in a first data stream, uses the filtered data to identify data in a second data stream, and causes the thus-identified data to be displayed.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for implementation by a home-based television system, the method comprising:
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receiving signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels; receiving a series of keys including at least two different keys in a first data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; receiving additional information associated with the keys in a second data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; in response to user input indicating a desired category of information causing an application in the television system to search the first data stream to select from the series of keys in the first data stream a plurality of keys associated with the category; retrieving, from the second data stream, the information associated with keys selected from the first data stream; and displaying the retrieved information and not displaying information associated with non-selected keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for use by cable operator connected to a large number of home-based television systems, the method comprising:
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transmitting signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels; transmitting a series of keys in a first data stream; transmitting additional information other than television programs for display in a second data stream, the additional information being provided along with the television programs and being for display to users, wherein the additional information is divided into blocks, with each block being associated with a key in the first data system; and transmitting a plurality of different applications for searching the additional information, including a first application for a first type of additional information and a second application for a second type of additional information, wherein one of the first and second applications is responsive to user input requests for one of the first and second types of additional information for selecting keys associated with the desire category from the first data stream and for using selected keys to retrieve blocks of the additional information associated with selected keys. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A home-b&
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an input port for receiving signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels, and for continuously receiving signals representing information for display other than television programs; a display for displaying the television programs and the other information; memory including a first memory for storing an application and a second memory for buffering the information for display; a processor for executing the application in the first memory in response lo user input indicating a desired category of information, the executed application for searching a first data stream as that data is received to retrieve keys associated with the desired category, using the retrieved data from the first stream to identify data in a second data stream and causing the data identified in the second data stream to be displayed on the display; and an interface for receiving input from a user-operable input device, the input selecting a choice from among the menu of choices. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- ed television system comprising;
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30. A method for implementation by a home-based television system, the method comprising:
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receiving signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels; receiving a series of keys including at least two different keys in a first data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; receiving additional information associated with the keys in a second data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; receiving from a cable head end a first application with a first method for searching for keys in the first data stream relating to a first class of information, and a second application with a second method for searching for keys in the first data stream relating to a second class of information; in response to user input indicating information from the first class of information, selecting a plurality of keys from the first data stream in accordance with the searching method corresponding to the first class category of information; retrieving, from the second data stream, the information associated with keys identified in the first data stream; and displaying the retrieved information and not displaying information associated with non-selected keys. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for implementation by a home-based television system, the method comprising:
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receiving signals representing television programs for broadcast over many different channels; receiving a series of keys including at least two different types of keys in a first data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; receiving additional information associated with the keys in a second data stream transmitted with the signals representing television programs; in response to user input indicating a desired set of information that has both a first characteristic and a second characteristic an application in the television system identifying keys in the first data stream that have both the first and second characteristics; retrieving, from the second data stream, the information associated with identified keys in the first data stream; and displaying the retrieved information and not displaying information associated with non-selected keys. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification