Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments

• US 6,330,595 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Ullman, Craig, Hidary, Jack D., Spivack, Nova T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet D.
• Application Number:
  US09/633,348
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/231, 709/328, 709/329, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/906, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed on a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether an address, identifying a source of an online information segment, has been previously received, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a programming signal;

receiving the address identifying the source of the online information segment;

reviewing a list of previously received addresses;

determining whether the address is on the list of previously received addresses;

retrieving the online information segment from the source when the address is not on the list; and

adding the address to the list upon initial retrieval of the online information segment from the source.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the address is embedded within the programming signal and the method further comprises the step of extracting the address from the programming signal.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the list is deleted every time a system implementing the method is restarted.

4. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of saving the list in a storage device.

5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the storage device is local to a system receiving the address.

6. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the storage device is remote to a system receiving the address.

7. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the storage device further comprises at least one storage device selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic tape, compact disc, digital versatile disc, server, computer hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, CD ROM, a magnetic data storage medium, and an optical data storage medium.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the list further contains a designator of when a listed address was last updated, and the method further comprises the step of determining whether the online information segment provided by the source has been modified since the listed address was last updated.

9. A method as described in claim 8, further comprising the step of verifying whether the address has been updated on a locally generated list.