System and method for a user interface to input URL addresses from captured video frames

• US 6,204,842 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,374
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/329, 345/335, 345/339, 345/340, 345/346, 345/357, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/552, 348/569, 348/18, 348/559
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

A system and method for a user interface to input URL address data obtained from captured video frames while simultaneously viewing a television broadcast, the system having a television with associated television screen, a set-top box, and a remote control. The invention also includes means for initiating a video-viewing mode (where the television receives a television signal via the set-top box and displays the television signal on the television screen), a capture manager for capturing image data frames from the television signal, an interface manager for displaying information windows on the display screen, and a search manager for retrieving data pages from a networked source such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A device for capturing image data, comprising:

a display coupled to said device to show a signal from a transmission

source during a viewing mode;

a capture manager configured to capture said image data from said

signal during said viewing mode; and

an interface manager configured to show information windows on said

display during said viewing mode, said interface manager showing an address input window for entering information to access a web page from an Internet network and a captured frame window for showing said image data on said display in response to a freeze-frame control option.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said information is entered into a text input area of said address input window.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said capture manager stores said image data as a plurality of captured image screens.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said interface manager shows one of said captured image screens on said display in response to a prior-image control option.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a search manager configured to retrieve data pages from a networked source.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said search manager retrieves a plurality of said data pages from an Internet network.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising:

a web page window for showing one of said data pages on said display.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising:

a page information window for showing file information for said one of said data pages on said display.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said interface manager shows said page information window and said web page window on said display in response to a go-to-page control option.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein said search manager switches to said viewing mode in response to a return-to-video control option.

11. The device of claim 5 further comprising:

a set-top box configured to retrieve said data pages; and

an input device for controlling said set-top box.

12. A system for capturing image data, comprising:

means for showing a signal from a transmission source on a display during a viewing mode;

means for capturing said image data from said signal during said viewing mode;

means for showing said image data in a captured frame window on a first portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to a freeze frame control option;

means for showing an address input window on a second portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to said freeze frame control option; and

means for entering information into said address input window to access a web page from an Internet network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said information is entered into a text input area of said address input window.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for storing said image data as a plurality of captured image screens; and

means for showing one of said captured image screens on a third portion of said display during said viewing mode.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for retrieving a data page from a network source, wherein said data page is identified by said information;

means for showing a page information window on a fourth portion of said display during said viewing mode; and

means for showing said data page on a fifth portion of said display during said viewing mode.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said data page is obtained from an Internet network.

17. A method for capturing image data, comprising the steps of:

showing a signal from a transmission source on a display during a viewing mode;

capturing said image data from said signal during said viewing mode;

showing said image data in a captured frame window on a first portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to a freeze frame control option;

showing an address input window on a second portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to said freeze frame control option; and

entering information into said address input window to access a web page from an Internet network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said information is entered into a text input area of said address input window.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

storing said image data as a plurality of captured image screens; and

showing one of said captured image screens on a third portion of said display during said viewing mode.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a data page from a network source, wherein said data page is identified by said information;

showing a page information window on a fourth portion of said display during said viewing mode; and

showing said data page on a fifth portion of said display during said viewing mode.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said data page is obtained from an Internet network.

22. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for capturing image data, by performing the steps of:

showing a signal from a transmission source on a display during a viewing mode;

capturing said image data from said signal during said viewing mode;

showing said image data in a captured frame window on a first portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to a freeze frame control option;

showing an address input window on a second portion of said display during said viewing mode and in response to said freeze frame control option; and

entering information into said address input window to access a web page from an Internet network.

23. The medium of claim 22 wherein said information is entered into a text input area of said address input window.

24. The medium of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

storing said image data as a plurality of captured image screens; and

showing one of said captured image screens on a third portion of said display during said viewing mode.

25. The medium of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a data page from a network source, wherein said data page is identified by said information;

showing a page information window on a fourth portion of said display during said viewing mode; and

showing said data page on a fifth portion of said display during said viewing mode.

26. The medium of claim 25 wherein said data page is obtained from an Internet network.