Set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus

• US 6,828,993 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Discovery Communications, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkobin, Eric C., Bonner, Alfred E., Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/643,722
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/810, 345/717, 345/718, 345/825, 345/828, 345/829, 345/830, 345/902, 345/819, 345/838, 345/840, 345/841, 345/846, 345/851, 725/38, 725/39, 725/40, 725/42, 725/43, 725/56, 725/132, 725/32, 725/36, 725/41, 725/48, 725/49, 725/52
• US Class Current: 715/819
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/42653 for processing graphics
• 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 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• 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 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• 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 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• 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 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A viewer interface for a television program delivery system is described. The innovation relates to methods and devices for viewer pathways to television programs. Specifically, the interface involves hardware and software used in conjunction with a television at the viewer home to create a user friendly menu based approach to television program access. The device is particularly useful in a program delivery system with hundreds of programs and a data signal carrying program information. The disclosure describes menu generation and menu selection of television programs.

Claims

1. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal arc stored, wherein the menu generation instructions are stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a combiner, operably connected to the microprocessor, that combines the video with the generated menus.

2. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the video is in compressed form, the set top terminal further comprising:

a video decompressor, operably connected to the memory, that decompresses the video.

3. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the program signal in multiplexed form, the set top terminal further comprising:

a demultiplexer, operably connected to the second input port, that demultiplexes the program signal individually into the one or more programs.

4. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the menus comprise graphics, the set top terminal further comprising:

a graphics memory that stores compressed graphics; and

a graphic decompressor, operably connected to the graphics memory and the combiner, that decompresses the compressed graphics and generates the menus.

5. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the menus comprise graphics, the set top terminal further comprising:

a graphic controller, operably connected to the combiner, that generates menu graphics.

6. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the received information comprises a program control information signal.

7. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal comprises graphics.

8. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal comprises text.

9. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal comprises video location information.

10. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal comprises compressed video.

11. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal is generated by an operations center.

12. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal includes the menu data.

13. The set top terminal of claim 12, wherein the menu data comprises menu codes.

14. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal includes program information.

15. The set top terminal of claim 14, wherein the program information comprises data on the scheduling and description of the one or more programs.

16. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal is in multiplex form, the set top terminal further comprising:

a demultiplexer, operable connected to the first input port, that demultiplexes the program control information signal into separate components.

17. The set top terminal of claim 6, wherein the program control information signal is in compressed form, the set top terminal further comprising:

a decompressor, operably connected to the first input port, that decompresses the program control information signal.

18. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port is a phone jack.

19. The set top terminal of claim 18, wherein the first input port receives the information from an external source that communicates with the set top terminal through a network.

20. The set top terminal of claim 19, wherein the network is a local telephone network.

21. The set top terminal of claim 19, wherein the network is a cellular telephone network.

22. The set top terminal of claim 19, wherein the network is a personal communications network.

23. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port is a coaxial cable input.

24. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port is a satellite dish input.

25. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the second input port is a coaxial cable input.

26. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the second input port is a satellite dish input.

27. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the second input is a phone jack.

28. The set top terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second memory that stores the instructions that prompt the generation of menus.

29. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises RAM.

30. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises non-volatile RAM.

31. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a magnetic storage device.

32. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises an optical storage device.

33. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the menus comprise text, the set top terminal further comprising:

a text generator, operably connected to the combiner, that generates menu text.

34. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port receives the information from a first external source and the first external source is a cable headend.

35. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port receives the information from a first external source and the first external source is an operations center.

36. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port receives the information from a first external source and the first external source is a telephone line.

37. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein menu templates are stored in the memory and the menus are generated using the menu data and the menu templates.

38. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs may be selected from at least one menu for viewing.

39. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the menus include at least one overlay menu that is displayed in conjunction with video from the one or more programs.

40. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input port receives the information from an external source, and the second input port also receives the program signal from the external source.

41. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives a program signal comprising one or more compressed video signals;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored, wherein the menu generation instructions are stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a video decompressor, capable of decompressing the one or more compressed video signals.

42. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored, wherein the menu generation instructions are stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus include graphics and are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a graphics generator, that generates the graphics for the menus using the graphics files.

43. The set top terminal of claim 42, wherein the menus include text, further comprising:

a text generator, that generates the text for the menus.

44. The set top terminal of claim 42, wherein the menus include video, further comprising:

video combiner, that combines the video with the graphics.

45. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives a program signal comprising at least one portion of a program, the program including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored, wherein the menu generation instructions are stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus include graphics and are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a graphics generator, that generates the graphics for the menus using the graphics files.

46. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a tuner;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the tuner, that executes menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menu generation instruction are stored in a memory in a data file;

a video storage, operably connected to the microprocessor;

a multiplexer, operably connected to the microprocessor; and

a decompressor, operably connected to the multiplexer, that generates menus using the menu generation instructions, wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation.

47. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored, wherein the menu generation instructions am stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, the menu data including graphics and text, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a combiner, operably connected to the microprocessor, that combines the video with the generated menus.

48. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, in the set top terminal that receives information and menu generation instructions, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored, wherein the menu generation instructions are stored in the memory in a data file;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the menu generation instructions and generates menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data and executed menu generation instructions, and wherein the data file instructs the microprocessor on the location of graphics files that are used for the menu generation; and

a combiner, operably connected to the microprocessor, that combines the video with the generated menus.