Platform for displaying information from multiple sources

• US 6,512,551 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lund, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Linus H.
• Application Number:
  US08/747,263
• Time in Patent Office: 2,268 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.708, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 348/568, 348/567, 348/566, 348/9, 348/10, 348/478, 348/473, 455/6.3, 455/6.2, 725/36, 725/22, 725/151, 725/136, 725/142, 725/100, 725/131
• US Class Current: 348/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

A display system for concurrently displaying stored display information and received information, having a display monitor, receiver for receiving television signals, and a sub-system having a storage unit and a processor, which sub-system can operate simultaneously with the receiver. The stored display information comprises application information portion and sponsor information portion which may be downloaded via a vertical blanking interval or a portion of the bandwidth associated with digital signals.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

a display monitor;

a broadcast television signal receiver operable in response to broadcast television signals to generate a display at a first area of said display monitor; and

a control sub-system connected to and located proximate said receiver, said control sub-system including a storage unit to store a plurality of preselected items of application information at first individual storage locations of said storage unit;

said control subsystem operable to store at second individual storage locations of said storage unit, a plurality of items of sponsor information downloaded via vertical blanking intervals or a select portion of a bandwidth associated with said broadcast television signals;

wherein selective launching of a stored item of said application information, to generate a display at an area of said display monitor different from said first area, concurrently and without user intervention generates a display of a selectable item of said stored sponsor information at an area of said display monitor different from said first area without interrupting display of said broadcast television signals; and

wherein display of an item of stored sponsor information in response to launching of a selected application information item is based on priority queuing of information items stored in said storage unit.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises an analog television receiving unit.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a digital television receiving unit.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a television tuner card.

5. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sub-system further comprises:

access control means; and

a data communication port, wherein said data communication port and said access control means are operably coupled to a processor of said control sub-system.

6. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said display monitor, said receiver means, and said sub-system are integrated into a single unit.

7. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage unit comprises a magnetic storage device.

8. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage unit comprises an optical storage device.

9. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein storage of said sponsor information items is effected independently of storage of said stored application information items.

10. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control subsystem includes a processor operable to effect launching and display at a second area of said display monitor of a stored item of application information and concurrent display of a stored item of sponsor information at a third area of said display monitor.

11. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the stored items of application information include interactive applications.

12. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stored items of sponsor information include passive display items.

13. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stored items of sponsor information include one or both of JPEG and MPEG compatible items.

14. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein said application information items can be selectively launched in response to a user operable actuator.

15. A method for enhancing user experience with a display system having a display monitor, a receiver for receiving broadcast television signals, and a sub-system with a non-volatile storage unit in which information to be displayed is stored, the non-volatile storage unit connected to an located proximate the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) storing, independently of reception of said broadcast television signals, application information items at a plurality of first individual storage locations of said non-volatile storage unit;

(B) receiving broadcast television signals to generate a display by said display monitor;

(C) during reception of broadcast television signals by said receiver, receiving sponsorship information items via a vertical blanking interval or a select portion of a digital bandwidth associated with said television signals and storing said sponsorship information items at a plurality of storage locations of said non-volatile storage unit different from said first individual storage locations; and

(D) effecting user initiated launching of the display of an item of said stored application information at a user determined point during display of said broadcast television signals resulting in concurrent launching of the display of a stored item of said sponsorship information determined without user selection, and concurrently displaying the launched application information item and sponsorship information item at an area of said display monitor different from the display area of the broadcast television signal display, while continuing the display by said broadcast television signal.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said user initiation of launching of a said application content comprises manipulating a remote control unit operable in conjunction with said display system.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the broadcast television signal display is in a first window of said display monitor, the application information item display is in a second window of said display monitor, and the sponsorship information display is in a third window of said display monitor.

18. A display system, comprising:

a display monitor including separate first, second and third display windows;

a broadcast television signal receiver operable in response to broadcast television signals to generate a display in said first window of said display monitor; and

a control subsystem including a processor and a storage unit;

said control sub-system including a storage unit to store a plurality of preselected items of application information at first individual storage locations of said storage unit;

said control subsystem operable to store at second individual storage locations of said storage unit, a plurality of items of sponsor information downloaded via vertical blanking intervals or a select portion of a bandwidth associated with said broadcast television signals, and storage of said sponsor information items being independent of storage of said stored application information items;

said subsystem processor operable under user control to launch a selected stored item of said application information and concurrently to launch a stored item of said sponsor information selected based on priority queuing of said stored information items, to generate a display of said selected application information item in said second window of the display monitor and concurrent display of the selected item of sponsor information in said third window of the display monitor, while permitting concurrent display in response to said broadcast television signal in the first window of the display monitor.

19. The display system as recited in claim 18, wherein the stored items of application information include interactive applications.

20. The display system as recited in claim 18, wherein said stored items of sponsor information include passive display items.

21. The display system as recited in claim 18, wherein said stored items of sponsor information include one or both of JPEG and MPEG compatible items.

22. The display system as recited in claim 21, wherein said application information items can be selectively launched in response to a user operable actuator.

23. A display system, comprising:

a display monitor;

a broadcast television signal receiver operable in response to broadcast television signals to generate a display at a first area of said display monitor; and

a control sub-system connected to said receiver, said control sub-system including a storage unit to store a plurality of preselected items of application information at first individual storage locations of said storage unit;

said control subsystem operable to store at second individual storage locations of said storage unit, a plurality of items of sponsor information downloaded via vertical blanking intervals or a select portion of a bandwidth associated with said broadcast television signals;

said control sub-system permitting user controlled launching of individual stored items of said application information, to generate a display of a launched item of said application information at an area of said display monitor different from said first area and without user intervention concurrently to generate a display of a selectable item of said stored sponsor information at an area of said display monitor different from said first area without interrupting display of said broadcast television signals;

wherein said display of a selectable item of stored sponsor information item is based on priority queuing of information items stored in said storage unit.