Method and apparatus for combining video sequences with an interactive program guide

• US 6,415,437 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DIVA Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Ludvig, Ted, Osborn, Nathan, Gordon, Donald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US09/201,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.716, H04/N.5445, 345/326, 345/327, 455/6.2, 348/6, 348/10, 348/906, 348/563-568, 348/569, 348/553, 725/41, 725/42, 725/54, 725/43, 725/44
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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 method and apparatus for combining video frame sequences with a video display of an interactive program guide (IPG). The apparatus comprises a plurality of compositors that combine background information, video frame sequences and program guide graphics into a single video frame sequence. The sequence is then digitally encoded to form an MPEG-like bitstream. The same background information and video advertising is composited with a different program guide graphic to form another video sequence that is also encoded. A plurality of such sequences are produced with each sequence having a different program guide graphic. Each sequence is encoded and then multiplexed into a transport stream such that all the encoded sequences are transmitted to a subscriber'"'"'s terminal using a single transport stream. As such, the subscriber can scroll from one program guide to the next without interruption of the background or video display as the program guide graphic is changed. Each graphic contains a set of programs (e.g., channels) listed along a left, vertical axis and each program associated with the channel is identified in a rectangular cell that extends toward the right. The horizontal axis represents time and about 2 hours of programming for ten channels is shown in the graphic.

Claims

1. A method of producing a digital bitstream containing an interactive program guide for a digital information distribution system comprising:

combining, in a frame synchronized manner, background imagery with at least one video sequence and at least one graphic containing program guide information to form a composited frame sequence;

wherein the combining step further comprises;

compositing, frame-by-frame, at least one video sequence onto said background imagery to form a background sequence; and

compositing a plurality of program guide graphics onto said background sequence, where a different program guide graphic is composited onto said background sequence to form a plurality of program guide frame sequences that represent individual program guide pages; and

encoding the composited frame sequence to compress information therein to form a digital bitstream.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoding step further comprises:

separately encoding each of said program guide frame sequences to form a digital bitstream for each of the program guide frame sequences.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

multiplexing each of the digital bitstreams into a common transport stream.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein fifteen program guide sequences are formed, encoded, and contained in a common transport stream.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

encoding an audio signal associated with one of the video sequences; and

multiplexing the encoded audio signal into the common transport stream.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of:

multiplexing foreground program guide data into said common transport stream.

7. A method of generating and presenting an interactive program guide to a viewer comprising the steps of:

combining, in a frame synchronized manner, digital background imagery with at least one digital video sequence to form a background frame sequence;

combining said background frame sequence with a plurality of program guide graphics containing program guide information, where a different program guide graphic is combined with said background frame sequence to form a plurality of composite frame sequences;

separately encoding each of the plurality of composite frame sequences to compress information therein and form a plurality of digital bitstreams;

multiplexing the digital bitstreams into a transport stream;

transmitting the transport stream through a distribution network to a plurality of subscriber equipment;

extracting from said transport stream one of said digital bitstreams;

decoding said extracted digital bitstream to produce a composite frame sequence; and

displaying an interactive program guide containing said background imagery, at least one video sequence, and said program guide graphic from said composite frame sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

encoding an audio signal associated with said at least one video sequence;

multiplexing said encoded audio signal into said transport stream; and

decoding said encoded audio signal within said subscriber equipment.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a different digital bitstream to decode;

extracting said different digital bitstream from said transport stream;

decoding said extracted different digital bitstream to produce a different composite frame sequence; and

displaying a different interactive program guide containing said background imagery, said at least one video sequence, and a different program guide graphic from said composite frame sequence, where said background imagery and at least one video sequence is displayed in an uninterrupted manner while the different digital bitstream is extracted and decoded.

10. Apparatus for producing a digital bitstream representing an interactive program guide for a digital information distribution system comprising:

a video compositor for compositing background imagery with at least one video frame sequence to form a background frame sequence;

a plurality of program guide compositors for combining a plurality of program guide graphics with said background frame sequence to form a plurality of program guide frame sequences;

a plurality of encoders for separately encoding each of said program guide frame sequences to form a plurality of bitstreams; and

a multiplexer for multiplexing said plurality of bitstreams into a transport stream.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a program guide graphics generator for producing said program guide graphics and foreground overlay graphics, where said foreground overlay graphics are included into the transport stream as user data.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a program guide graphics generator for producing said program guide graphics and foreground overlay graphics, where said foreground overlay graphics are included into the transport stream as private data.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said encoders are MPEG-2 encoders.

14. An interactive program guide comprising:

a background image;

at least one video sequence positioned upon said background image;

a program guide graphic positioned upon said background;

where the background image, the at least one video sequence and the program guide graphic are frame synchronized.

15. Apparatus for distributing digital information comprising:

service provider equipment;

subscriber equipment; and

a communications network coupling the service provider equipment to the subscriber equipment,

where said service provider equipment further comprises a program guide generator that produces a digital bitstream containing a program guide graphic and at least one video sequence, where the guide graphic program and said at least one video sequence are frame synchronized;

said program guide generator further comprising;

a video compositor for compositing background imagery with at least one video frame sequence to form a background frame sequence;

a plurality of program guide compositors for combining a plurality of program guide graphics with said background frame sequence to form a plurality of program guide frame sequences;

a plurality of encoders for separately encoding each of said program guide frame sequences to form a plurality of bitstreams; and

a multiplexer for multiplexing said plurality of bitstreams into a transport stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a program guide graphics generator for producing said program guide graphics and foreground overlay graphics, where said foreground overlay graphics are included into the transport stream as user data.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a program guide graphics generator for producing said program guide graphics and foreground overlay graphics, where said foreground overlay graphics are included into the transport stream as private data.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said encoders are MPEG-2 encoders.