Method and system for providing interactive look-and-feel in a digital broadcast via an X-Y protocol

• US 6,256,785 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Musicqubed Innovations LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Corporate Media Partners
• Inventors: Klappert, Walter R., Sequeira, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Reuben M.
• Application Number:
  US08/774,055
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/10, 345/327, 725/136
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system for providing an interactive look-and-feel in a digital video broadcast via an X-Y protocol is provided. At a head-end, video information is digitized and associated with private data, such as event identifications, X-Y coordinates, link event identification and synchronization data. This information is then transmitted to a receiving end and is input into a set-top box. The set-top box receives the broadcast digital signal and includes a member for receiving the broadcast digital signal and generating a playable signal including indicia of the link data. The playable signal is then played on a playing device. The user is provided with a remote control or similar input device for selecting from the indicia. Upon selection of a desired indicia, the user may exercise the predetermined link associated with the selected indicia in order to obtain the desired playable signal.

Claims

1. A system for allowing a user to make a selection from a transmitted image in a one-way communication, wherein the system includes protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, a generator for generating a signal, and a receiver for receiving the signal, the system comprising:

a generator for generating a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data for enabling display of the transmitted image without resort to the second data set and the second data set comprising protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the protocol data comprising at least the following explicit data elements;

link data associated with the first event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

sync data associated with the link data for enabling time based synchronization of the link data with the first event data;

indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image;

coordinate data for defining the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

a receiving device for receiving at least a portion of the signal including at least a portion of each of the first and second data sets including the indication data for displaying the transmitted image such that the user may make a selection therefrom.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the protocol data comprises an event identifier field containing an identifier of the first event data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the link data includes a link event identifier field containing data identifying the second event data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the description data comprises new context data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the description data comprises media type data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises a device for separating the first data set from the second data set.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiving device comprises a processor for decoding the protocol data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the protocol data enables only a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device coupled to the receiving device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first event data comprises data representing an audiovisual signal and wherein the display device is a television receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the coordinate data defines two or more points, and wherein the receiving device comprises a processor for identifying the two or more points and positioning the selectable portion of the transmitted image therefrom.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the protocol data enables a plurality of portions of the transmitted image to be separately selectable.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator updates the link data and sync data on a substantially continuous basis.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator interleaves the first and second data sets.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising a transmitter for transmitting the signal from the generator to the receiving device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data set is in MPEG format and includes a private data section, wherein the generator comprises an MPEG encoder and inserts the protocol data in the private data section, and wherein the receiving device comprises an MPEG memory device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first event data comprises video data for enabling display of a plurality of successive images and wherein the second data set comprises protocol data for enabling at least a portion of each of a plurality of the images to be selectable.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the protocol data comprises first protocol data and second protocol data, the first protocol data being associated with a first of the successive images and the second protocol data being associated with a second of the successive images.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the coordinate data in the first protocol data differs from the coordinate data in the second protocol data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the link data in the first protocol data differs from the link data in the second protocol data.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the sync data in the first protocol data enables synchronization of the link data in the first protocol data with the first of the successive images, and the sync data in the second protocol data enables synchronization of the link data in the second protocol data with the second of the successive images.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the synch data comprises a time corresponding to a time code characterizing the corresponding image in the video data.

23. A system for receiving a transmitted image in a one way communication and allowing a user to make a selection from the transmitted image, wherein the system utilizes protocol data to enable at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data relating to the transmitted image and the second data set comprising protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the protocol data comprising at least the following explicit data elements;

link data associated with the first event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

sync data associated with the link data for enabling time-based synchronization of the link data with the first event data;

indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image;

coordinate data for defining the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image;

the system further comprising;

a user-activatable selection device for enabling the user to select the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

a processing device for processing the link and sync data so that the link data is synchronized with the first event data.

24. The system of claim 23, comprising a demultiplexer coupled to the receiver for separating the first and second data sets.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the selection device is a remote control unit and wherein the receiver includes an input device for receiving signals from the remote control unit.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiver includes a tuner.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive a second signal comprising the second event data, and wherein the processing device causes the receiver to switch to the second event data when the user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the receiver includes a tuner, and wherein the processing device causes the tuner to tune so that the receiver receives the second signal.

29. The system of claim 23, further comprising a display device coupled to the receiver.

30. The system of claim 29, comprising a converting device for converting the first event data into a form such that the transmitted image is displayable on a display device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the signal includes data representing audiovisual data and wherein the display device is a television receiver.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the coordinate data defines two or more points, and wherein the receiving device comprises a processor for identifying the two or more points and positioning the selectable portion of the transmitted image therefrom.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the first data set is in MPEG format and includes a private data section, wherein the protocol data is contained in the private data section, and wherein the receiving device comprises an MPEG memory device.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the description data comprises new context data.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the description data comprises media type data.

36. A system for transmitting an image in a one-way communication, wherein the image contains one or more selectable portions, and wherein the system includes protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable and a generator for generating a signal, the system comprising:

a generator for generating a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data relating to the transmitted image and the second data set comprising protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the protocol data comprising at least the following explicit data elements;

link data associated with the first event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

sync data associated with the link data for enabling time-based synchronization of the link data with the first event data;

indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image;

coordinate data for defining the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

a transmitter for transmitting the signal.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the transmitter comprises a device for broadcasting the signal to multiple receivers.

38. The system of claim 36, comprising a video effects device from which the generator receives the first data set.

39. The system of claim 36, comprising a computer from which the generator receives the second data set.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the generator comprises a multiplexer for multiplexing the first and second data sets.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the generator interleaves the first and second data sets.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the first data set comprises video data in MPEG format having a private data section, and wherein the generator inserts the second data set into the private data section.

43. The system of claim 36, comprising a video effects device from which the generator receives the first data set and a computer from which the generator receives the second data set, and wherein the generator comprises a multiplexer for interleaving the first and second data sets.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the description data comprises new context data.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the description data comprises media type data.

48. The method of claim 40, comprising positioning the selectable portion of the transmitted image on the display device using the coordinate data.

46. A method for allowing a user to make a selection from a transmitted image in a one-way communication, the method comprising:

generating a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data relating to the transmitted image and the second data set comprising protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the protocol data comprising;

link data associated with the first event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

sync data associated with the link data for enabling time-based synchronization of the link data with the first event data;

indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image;

coordinate data for defining the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image;

transmitting the signal; and

receiving at least a portion of the signal including at least a portion of each of the first and second data sets for displaying the transmitted image such that the user may make a selection therefrom.

47. The method of claim 46, comprising separating the first data set from the second data set.

49. The method of claim 46, comprising updating the link and sync data on a substantially continuous basis.

50. The method of claim 46, comprising interleaving the first and second data sets.

51. A method for generating an MPEG data stream for enabling a set top box in one-way communication with a head end to present an image having at least one selectable portion thereon, the method comprising,

receiving event data in MPEG format having a private data section;

inserting in the private data section positional data for defining the selectable portion of the image;

inserting in the private data section link data associated with the event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

inserting in the private data section sync data associated with the link data for enabling time-based synchronization of the link data with the event data;

inserting in the private data section indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image; and

inserting in the private data section description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image;

wherein the event data enables display of the image without resort to the positional data, link data, sync data, indication data, or description data.

52. A system for providing an interactive look-and-feel in a display device receiving a digital broadcast in a one-way communication, the system comprising:

generation means for generating a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data for enabling display of an image on the display device without resort to the second data set and the second data set comprising private data for enabling one or more interactive hot-spots to be maintained in the image, the generation means comprising a video effects device for producing the fire event data, a digital video encoder for encoding the first event data, a computer for producing the private data, and a multiplexer for interleaving the first and second data sets;

the private data comprising a plurality of explicit data elements including the number of hot-spots to be maintained in the image, coordinates for each hot-spot within the image, an identifier for identifying second event data to be displayed when a user interacts with the hot-spot, description data describing the second event data, and synchronization data for time synchronizing the one or more hot-spots with the first event data; and

signal reception means for receiving at least a portion of the signal, for displaying the image, and for allowing the user to interact with the one or more hot-spots, the signal reception means comprising a tuner, a demultiplexer for separating the first and second data sets, a processor for generating and maintaining the one or mote hot-spots using the private data, and a user-selection device.

53. A method for transmitting an image in a one-way communication system, which image contains one or more selectable portions, the method comprising:

generating a signal comprising a first data set and a second data set, the first data set comprising first event data for enabling display of the transmitted image without resort to the second data set and the second data set comprising protocol data for enabling at least a portion of the transmitted image to be selectable, the protocol data comprising at least the following explicit data elements;

link data associated with the first event data for enabling the selectable portion of the transmitted image to be selectable;

sync data associated with the link data for enabling time-based synchronization of the link data with the first event data;

indication data for indicating the number of selectable portions of the transmitted image;

coordinate data for defining the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

description data for describing second event data presented when a user selects the selectable portion of the transmitted image; and

transmitting the signal.