Compressed digital-data interactive program system

• US 6,252,586 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Harper, Gregory W., Freeman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US09/429,850
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.710, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 345/327, 709/217-219
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/042 Codec means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 : the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

An interactive cable television system is disclosed which utilizes a standard cable television distribution network for simultaneously providing a plurality of viewers with an interactive television program comprising a plurality of signals related in time and content. Video signals are transmitted in a digital format, more than one signal being multiplexed onto a data stream on a single channel. The video signals may be compressed for efficiency. A receiver, in conjunction with a signal selector, selects a particular NTSC channel for playback, then selects a particular video signal from the data stream, and decompresses the video signal for playback. Seamless switching between video signals on different channels is provided. An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the various signals which comprise the interactive program are switched at the head end rather than at the receiver. The multiple choice control unit selects a desired signal by relaying the multiple choice selections of the user through a relay box back to a remotely located switching station. The switching station routes the correct video signal down the appropriate cable channel for the particular user.

Claims

1. An interactive television system comprising:

a subscriber television reception system for receiving interactive television programming, the interactive television programming comprising one or more interactive program signals placed at one or more communication frequencies, each interactive television program signal comprising a data stream containing a plurality of digitally compressed video signals, the reception system comprising;

a user interface for receiving subscriber selections;

a microprocessor, connected to the user interface for selecting one of the video signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video signal;

means for independently receiving and demodulating an interactive program signal from one or more communication frequencies;

means for demultiplexing received interactive program signal into two video signals;

a pair of digital video buffers, each buffer receiving one video signal from the demultiplexing means and buffering the demultiplexed video signal;

a pair of decompressor/decoders, each decompressor/decoder connected to one digital video buffer, for decompressing the buffered video signals and converting the decompressed signals into standard video signals;

a pair of synchronization means, each synchronization means connected to the decompressor/decoder, for synchronizing the standard video signals; and

a vertical blanking interval switch, connected to each synchronization means, for switching between the synchronized signals during the vertical blanking interval of the current synchronized signal;

a means, connected to the vertical blanking interval switch, for displaying said selected video signal, wherein the seamless switch to the selected video signal results in a transition without a visually perceptible delay; and

wherein subscribers in said interactive television system independently select and view said interactive television programming.

2. A method of receiving and viewing an interactive television program, where the interactive program is comprised of one or more interactive program signals located on one or more communication frequencies, wherein the interactive program signals comprise digitally compressed video signals containing video and command information, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more interactive selections from a user,

receiving an interactive program signal;

demultiplexing the received interactive program signal to obtain first and second compressed video signals;

independently decompressing and decoding the first and second compressed video signals to obtain the first and second video signals;

independently frame synchronizing the first and second video signals to obtain first and second synchronized video signals;

passing the first and second synchronized video signals through a vertical blanking interval switch; and

seamlessly switching between the first and second synchronized video signals, wherein the seamless switch results in a transition to the second synchronized video signal without a visually perceptible delay, according to the following steps;

determining whether a switch is necessary by processing the interactive selections and first and second command information in a processor; and

instructing the vertical blanking interval switch to switch between the first and second video signals only if the processor determines that a switch is necessary; and

displaying the video signal that passes through the vertical blanking interval switch.