Subscriber television system user interface with a virtual reality media space

• US 6,795,972 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rovira, Luis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US09/896,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, G06/F.300, G06/F 1.300, 725/38, 725/39, 725/40, 725/43, 725/44, 725/47, 725/51, 725/52, 725/60, 725/61, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 345/757, 345/706, 345/702, 345/850
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

This invention provides a method for a subscriber television system client device to provide a three-dimensional user interface comprising a virtual reality media space. The three-dimensional user interface allows the user to navigate a three dimensional environment, participate in activities, and interact with other users. The three-dimensional user interface enables the user to associate personal characteristics with an avatar which represents the user in the system, such personal characteristics comprising a symbol, a picture, and video.

Claims

1. A method in a Subscriber Television System (STS) client device of providing a user interface, the method comprising steps of:

implementing the user interface to be a three-dimensional (3D) user interface;

displaying to a user a Virtual Reality (VR) media space in the 3D user interface, the 3D user interface enabling a plurality of navigation functions, the plurality of navigation functions enabling the user to maneuver through the VR media space, the VR media space comprising a virtual world of a plurality of media, the plurality of navigation functions enabling the user to maneuver in the VR media space such that one or more of the plurality of media is viewable, the plurality of media comprising a plurality of video streams, a plurality of advertisements, a plurality of avatars, and a plurality of user communications;

enabling the user to select an object in the VR media space and link to a secondary interface, the secondary interface comprising a full screen view of a television channel, a video, a web page, a programming guide, and an interact programming guide;

displaying at least one of a plurality of avatars to represent the user, said at least one plurality of avatars being implemented to be augmented by a reality insertion device providing a plurality of character information, the plurality of character information comprising a picture of the user, at least one picture from a digital camera, and at least one video from a video camera; and

granting access to said VR media space based upon a dynamic variable, the dynamic variable being configured to change in value upon the occurrence of an event, the event comprising a debiting event and a crediting event, the debiting event comprising viewing a plurality of media, entering a particular domain, and linking to an external environment, the crediting event comprising viewing a plurality of advertisement media, executing a purchase of an element in said VR media space, linking to an external environment, and purchasing an increase in said dynamic variable.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D user interface includes a navigation controller having a plurality of navigation functions, the plurality of navigation functions enabling the user to navigate through the VR world.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of navigation functions enable the first user to select an object in the VR media space and link to a two-dimensional (2D) user interface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the object is a billboard displaying a video stream of a television channel currently being received by the STS client device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the 2D user interface is a web page.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the 2D user interface is an interactive program guide displaying programming information for the STS client device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of navigation functions enable the first user to select on an object in the VR media space and link to a 3D VR media space not contained within current the VR media space.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of navigation functions enable the first user to selectively jump to positions in the VR world.

2. A method in a Subscriber Television System (STS) client device of providing a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

implementing the user interface to be a three-dimensional (3D) user interface;

displaying in the 3D user interface a Virtual Reality (VR) world having a 3D landscape and a Virtual Reality (VR) media space to a first user;

navigating through the VR world to access services offered through a Subscriber Television System (STS), wherein the STS client device is coupled to the STS;

displaying in the 3D user interface an avatar of a second user to the first user; and

enabling the first user to maneuver through the VR World by selectively jumping to predetermined positions in the VR World, wherein responsive to the first user jumping from a first position in the VR World to a second position in the VR World, the avatar of the second user jumps to the second position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the VR media space includes a plurality of media.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of media comprises a plurality of video streams, a plurality of advertisements, a plurality of avatars, and a plurality of user communications.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the plurality of media is enabled to be selected by the first user to be displayed in full screen mode.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of navigation functions enable the first user to maneuver in the VR media space such that one or more of the plurality of media is viewable.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the VR media space comprises a plurality of billboards displaying the plurality of media.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of navigation functions enable the first user to maneuver in the VR media space such that one or more of the plurality of billboards is viewable.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of billboards displaying the plurality of media comprises the plurality of video streams.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises the television channels currently being received by the STS client device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the STS client device is enabled with a plurality of tuners, the amount of the plurality of tuners enabling an equal amount of the plurality of video streams to be displayed simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein a secondary portion of the 3D user interface is a map view of a larger area of the VR media space than is currently visible in a primary portion of the 3D user interface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the map view of a larger area of the VR media space displays a dynamically updating aerial view of the VR media space, the dynamically updating aerial view of the VR media space comprising an indication of the first user'"'"'s position in relation to a plurality of elements in the VR media space.

21. The method of claim 4, further comprising a reality insertion device providing a plurality of character information to the STS client device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of avatars are implemented to be augmented by the plurality of character information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of character information comprises a picture of the first user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the reality insertion device comprises a digital camera enabled to provide a plurality of pictures of the first user as a plurality of character information.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the reality insertion device comprises a video camera enabled to provide a video of the first user as a plurality of character information.

26. A method in a Subscriber Television System (STS) client device of providing a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

implementing the user interface to be a three-dimensional (3D) user interface;

displaying in the 3D user interface a Virtual Reality (VR) world having a 3D landscape and a Virtual Reality (VR) media space to a first user;

navigating through the VR world to access services offered through a Subscriber Television System (STS), wherein the STS client device is coupled to the STS;

displaying in the 3D user interface at least a portion of a dashboard of a transportation device belonging to an avatar of the user, wherein the dashboard includes a map of the VR World and jump selection control panel, and wherein the map shows the current position of the avatar in the VR World; and

selecting from the jump selection control panel a predetermined destination in the VR World, wherein responsive to the user selecting the predetermined destination the map reflects the new position of the avatar in the VR World.