Interactive entertainment system for presenting supplemental interactive content together with continuous video programs

• US 6,240,555 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bronson, Valerie L., Matthews, Joseph H. III, Shoff, Daniel J., Lawler, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/623,610
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/461, 348/468, 348/476, 348/563, 348/589, 348/706, 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 364/283.3, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 345/327, 709/217-219
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• 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

An interactive entertainment system enables presentation of supplemental interactive content along side traditional broadcast video prams, such as television shows and movies. The programs are broadcast in a conventional manner. The supplemental content is supplied as part of the same program signal over the broadcast network, or separately over another distribution network. A viewer computing unit is located at the viewer'"'"'s home to present the program and supplemental content to a viewer. When the viewer tunes to a particular channel, the viewer computing unit consults an electronic programming guide (EPG) to determine if the present program carried on the channel is interactive. If it is, the viewer computing unit launches a browser. The browser uses a target specification stored in the EPG to activate a target resource containing the supplemental content for enhancing the broadcast program. The target resource contains display layout instructions prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed. When the data from the target resource is downloaded, the viewer computing unit is responsive to the layout instructions obtained from the target resource to display the supplemental content concurrently with the video content program. Embedding the layout instructions in the supplemental content advantageously places control of the presentation to the content developers. The developers are free to arrange the data and video in any manner they choose.

Claims

1. A viewer computing unit for receiving and displaying continuous video content programs, comprising:

a memory;

a processor programmed to determine whether the video content programs are interactive;

a tuner to tune to channels carrying the video content programs;

an Internet browser stored in the memory, the Internet browser being dynamically loadable for execution on the processor when the tuner is tuned to a channel carrying a video content program that is interactive;

an electronic programming guide (EPG) stored in the memory and executable on the processor to organize programming information, the EPG associating a target specification to a target resource with a video content program, the target resource containing supplemental content which is displayed concurrently with the video content program to provide viewer interactivity with the video content program and display layout instructions prescribing how the

supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

the Internet browser activating the target resource when the tuner is tuned to the video content program; and

the processor being responsive to the layout instructions obtained from the target resource to display the supplemental content concurrently with the video content program.

2. A viewer computing unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processor to receive both the video content program and the supplemental content supplied from the target resource.

3. A viewer computing unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiver coupled to the processor to receive the video content program; and

a second receiver coupled to the processor to receive the supplemental content supplied from the target resource.

4. A method for enhancing a continuous video content program with supplemental hyperlink content to provide viewer interactivity with the video content program comprising the following steps:

configuring digital data which defines a display layout prescribing how the supplemental hyperlink content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

transmitting the digital data along with the video content program as two separate signals to a viewer computing unit;

receiving a first signal containing the digital data using a first receiver at the viewer computing unit;

receiving a second signal containing the video content program using a second receiver at the viewer computing unit; and

displaying the supplemental hyperlink content and the video content program according to the display layout.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource; and

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the following steps:

correlating the target specifications with associated programs in an electronic program guide (EPO); and

checking the EPG to ascertain whether the program is interactive compatible; and

determining that the program is interactive compatible by presence of a target specification in the EPG which is related to the program.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of automatically displaying the supplement content together with the video content program.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of overlaying the supplemental content at least partly on the video content program.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource;

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource;

displaying the video content program within a program boundary on a visual display screen;

presenting the supplemental content in a presentation format on the visual display screen; and

controlling location and shape of the program boundary and the presentation format of the supplemental content relative to the program boundary according to the display layout received from the target resource.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource;

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource; and

synchronizing presentation of the supplemental content to corresponding points in the video content program.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel from a first source;

receiving the digital data from the target resource at a second source different than the first source; and

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed, the digital data further defining timing information to synchronize presentation of the supplemental content with the video content program;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource;

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource; and

displaying the supplemental content at prescribed times during the video content according to the timing information received from the target resource.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

displaying an icon to visually inform the viewer that the program is interactive compatible;

launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource; and

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of displaying the supplement content in response to the viewer activating the icon.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

is in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource is located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource;

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource; and

presenting the supplemental content in an area surrounding the video content program.

16. A computer programmed to perform the following steps:

tuning to a channel;

determining if a video content program being carried on the channel is interactive compatible as indicated by presence of a target specification provided in association with the video content program;

in an event that the program is interactive compatible, retrieving the target specification associated with the video content program on the channel;

dynamically launching an Internet browser to activate a target resource located by the target specification, the target resource containing digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program, the digital data defining supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program and a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video content program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed;

receiving the video content program over the channel;

receiving the digital data from the target resource; and

displaying the video content program and the supplemental content according to the display layout prescribed in the digital data received from the target resource.