System and method for displaying a video menu
First Claim
1. An interactive video menu system which can display a video menu to a user, comprising:
- a program encoder for compressing post-produced video material and generating compressed background video images;
a script station which outputs(a) foreground text data based on the post-produced video material, and(b) instructions for(i) displaying the foreground text data to overlay the background video images, and(ii) responding to a command from the user based on the video menu, whereinthe foreground text data and the instructions form a script;
a processing engine coupled to the program encoder and to the script station which(i) processes the compressed background video images to generate a clip, and(ii) assembles the script into a number of script packets which are associated with the clip;
a server coupled to the processing engine which(i) stores the clip, and(ii) continuously broadcasts the clip simultaneously with the associated script packets into a broadband transmission medium; and
an end-user device coupled to the broadband transmission medium to receive the clip and associated script packets, which (i) using the clip, displays the background video images, and (ii) using the script packets, overlays foreground text on the displayed background video images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive video menu system provides an economical method for the storage, transmission, and reception of data necessary for interactive video sessions, which allows high-resolution images to be broadcast to end users along with all the control information necessary to display and navigate through these images. A simple interpretive script is run on the end user'"'"'s device which traps the broadcast information and allows rapid response time and control of the interactive session without requiring expensive high-bandwidth facilities. Buffer equalized coding is used so that still, picture-in-a-still; and moving video images can be compressed at rates below those typically used with the MPEG-2 standard and continuously transmitted as video backgrounds in a seamless loop saving bandwidth without degradation in video quality. Data that instructs the end-user device how to display the video backgrounds and what foreground text to overlay on the video backgrounds is broadcast simultaneously in the bit stream This creates the appearance of a dedicated connection to the server while minimizing bandwidth and equipment cost and complexity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interactive video menu system which can display a video menu to a user, comprising:
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a program encoder for compressing post-produced video material and generating compressed background video images; a script station which outputs (a) foreground text data based on the post-produced video material, and (b) instructions for (i) displaying the foreground text data to overlay the background video images, and (ii) responding to a command from the user based on the video menu, wherein the foreground text data and the instructions form a script; a processing engine coupled to the program encoder and to the script station which (i) processes the compressed background video images to generate a clip, and (ii) assembles the script into a number of script packets which are associated with the clip; a server coupled to the processing engine which (i) stores the clip, and (ii) continuously broadcasts the clip simultaneously with the associated script packets into a broadband transmission medium; and an end-user device coupled to the broadband transmission medium to receive the clip and associated script packets, which (i) using the clip, displays the background video images, and (ii) using the script packets, overlays foreground text on the displayed background video images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for displaying a menu in an interactive video system, comprising:
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(A) means for compressing post-produced video material to create compressed background video images; (B) means for creating (i) foreground text data based on the post-produced video material and (ii) instructions for overlaying foreground text on the background video images and for responding to a command from a user, wherein the foreground text data and the instructions form a script; (C) means for processing the compressed background video images using buffer equalized coding to generate a clip; (D) means for assembling the script into a number of script packets which are associated with the clip; (E) means for continuously broadcasting a number of buffer-equalized clips and associated script packets into a broadband transmission medium; and (F) means, coupled to the broadband transmission medium, for displaying the background video images and foreground text instantiated over the displayed background video images. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A process for creating a video image with text that includes a menu page for use in an interactive video menu system, comprising the following steps:
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(A) broadcasting into a broadband transmission medium a bit stream of buffer-equalized clips and script packets; (B) based on the clips, displaying background video images on an end-user device coupled to the broadband transmission medium; and (C) based on the script packets, instantiating foreground text over the displayed background video images to present the video image with text that includes a menu page. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification