Method and apparatus for displaying an image and data related to the image conditioned on user identifier

• US 6,857,131 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Morioka, Michio, Ozaki, Tomochika, Yajima, Akio, Kuwabara, Tadashi, Yagawa, Yuichi, Hirasawa, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US08/997,487
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.7/10, H04/N00.7/14, G06/F01.3/00, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/563, 348/564, 348/552, 348/906, 348/1, 348/9, 348/565, 455/5.1, 455/2, 345/327
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 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 21/42204 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 21/43074 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 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 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios

Abstract

A device and method of displaying images and data on a display device. The device and method displays still and moving images in which at least one icon is associated and displayed with each image on a screen. A single screen may contain several images which change over time. As the images change so do the icons associated with them. Upon selection of an icon by a viewer, the device and method will display one of several possible advertisements or information associated with the icon. The selection of which advertisement or piece of information is based on information stored about the viewer. This information would include data concerning the viewer'"'"'s age, income, address and hobbies. A list of selections made by a viewer is maintained and may be displayed at the viewer'"'"'s request. The system may also force the display of advertisements if desired by advertisers.

Claims

1. A method of displaying video information on a display device included in a receiver broadcast from an information broadcasting apparatus, comprising:

(a) receiving the video information having a plurality of sequential a scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information, and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of a characteristic of a user corresponding to a plurality of related data, respectively from the information broadcasting apparatus;

(b) comparing a second utilization condition indicative of characteristics of the user registered with the receiver and the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively;

(c) selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of related data in accordance with the compared result obtained from the step (b);

(d) determining at least one related data among the selected related data in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data when there is a plurality of the selected related data that conflict with other related data of the plurality of the selected related data; and

(e) displaying, on the display device, information corresponding to the at least one related data determined by the step (d),

wherein the display priority order is determined by a value of providing the related data.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second utilization conditions comprises at least one of an age, a sex, an address, a hobby and a character, of a user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second utilization conditions have an identifier for identifying a user.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the related data is the information to be displayed on the display device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the related data includes data indicative of an access manner to the information to be displayed on the display device, and the step (e) includes a step of accessing the information in accordance with the related data.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the data indicated by the access manner to the information includes URL on Internet.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the receiver is connected to a storage medium storing the information to be displayed on the display device, and the access manner for the information includes an access manner to the storage medium.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step (e) of the display displays simultaneously the image indicative of the information corresponding to the selected related data and the received video information.

39. A method according to claim 1, wherein the received first utilization condition further includes identification information for identifying related data corresponding to the plurality of related data an importance degree indicative of display magnitude.

9. A receiver having a display device for receiving video information broadcast from an information broadcasting apparatus and for displaying the received video information on the display device, comprising:

a receiver unit for receiving the video information having a plurality of sequential images broadcast from the information broadcasting apparatus, a plurality of related data corresponding to a scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information, and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of a characteristic of a user corresponding to the plurality of related data, respectively;

a storage unit having a second utilization condition, previously stored, indicative of the characteristic of the user registered with the receiver;

a controller connected to said receive unit and said storage unit through signal lines, for comparing the second utilization condition with the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively, and selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of data in response to a compared result; and

a display control unit to control and display, on the display device, information corresponding to predetermined related data among the selected related data corresponding to the scene of the plurality of sequential images indicative of the received video information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data in a case where there are a plurality of the selected related data and the plurality of the selected related data conflict with one another,

wherein said display control unit controls display information corresponding to the selected related information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data, the priority order being determined by a value of providing the related data.

10. A receiver according to claim 9, wherein said display control unit carriers out a control to display synchronously the image indicative of the information corresponding to the selected related data and the received video information.

11. A receive according to claim 9, wherein said display control unit controls the display device in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data.

12. A receiver according to claim 9, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include at least one of an age, a sex, an address, a hobby and a character, of a user.

13. A receiver a according to claim 9, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include an identifier for identifying a user.

14. A receiver according to claim 9, wherein the related data is the information to be displayed on the display device.

15. A receiver according to claim 9, further comprising, an access control unit for connecting to the information source with the related data used when the related data includes data indicative of an access manner to the information to be displayed on the display device.

16. A receiver according to claim 15, wherein said access control unit includes a communication control unit connected with a computer through a network for accessing to the computer having information corresponding to the selected related data in accordance with data indicative of the access manner.

17. A receiver according to claim 16, wherein the data indicated by the access manner includes a URL on Internet.

18. A receiver according to claim 16, wherein said access control unit includes a storage medium control unit connected with a storage medium storing information for accessing information corresponding to the selected related data in accordance with data indicative of the access manner.

44. A receiver according to claim 9, wherein the received first utilization condition further includes identification information for identifying related data corresponding to the plurality of related data an importance degree indicative of display magnitude.

19. An information broadcasting apparatus for broadcasting video information to a plurality of receivers, comprising:

means for providing a correspondence to a scene of a plurality of sequential images in the video information and a plurality of related data related to the scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information;

means for providing a correspondence to the plurality of related data and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of characteristics of users, respectively; and

means for broadcasting the video information, the plurality of related data and the plurality of first utilization conditions to the plurality of receivers, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers performs the following processing;

a processing means for comparing a second utilization condition, previously stored, indicative of the characteristic of the user registered with the receiver and the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively;

a processing means for selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of data in accordance with a compared result; and

a processing means for displaying, on the display device, information corresponding to predetermined related data among the selected related data corresponding to the scene of the plurality of sequential images indicative of the received video information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data in a case where there are plurality the selected related data and that conflict with other selected related data,

wherein said receiver carries out the display in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data, the priority order being determined by a value of providing the related data.

20. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said receiver displays, as the display processing, simultaneously an image indicative of information corresponding to the selected related data and the received video information.

21. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include at least one of an age, a sex, an address, a hobby and a character, of a user.

22. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include an identifier for identifying a user.

23. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the related data is the information to be displayed on the display device.

24. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the related data includes data indicative of an access manner to the information to be displayed on the display device.

25. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the data indicated by the access manner to the information includes a URL on Internet.

26. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the access manner to the information includes an access manner to a storage medium storing the information to be displayed on the display device.

49. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the received first utilization condition further includes identification information for identifying related data corresponding to the plurality of related data an importance degree indicative of display magnitude.

27. A method of broadcasting video information to a plurality of receivers, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a correspondence to the video information and a plurality of related data related to the video information;

(b) providing a correspondence to the plurality of related data and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of characteristics of users, respectively; and

(c) broadcasting the video information, the plurality of related data and the plurality of first utilization conditions to the plurality of receivers, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers performs the following processing;

comparing a second utilization condition, previously stored, indicative of the characteristic of the user registered with the receiver and the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively;

selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plural data in accordance with a compared result; and

displaying an image indicative of information corresponding to the selected related data and the received video information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order determined by a value providing the related data.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the receiver displays, as the display processing, synchronously an image indicative of information corresponding to the selected related data and the received video information.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include at least one of an age, a sex, an address, a hobby and a character of a user.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein the first and second utilization conditions include an identifier for identifying a user.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein the related data is the information to be displayed on the display device.

32. A method according to claim 27, wherein the related data includes data indicative of an access manner to the information to be displayed on the display device.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the data indicated by the access manner to the information includes URL on Internet.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the access manner to the information includes an access manner to a storage medium storing the information to be displayed on the display device.

35. A method of displaying video information on a display device included in a receiver broadcast from an information broadcasting apparatus, comprising:

(a) receiving the video information having a plurality of sequential images, a plurality of related data corresponding to a scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information, and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of a characteristic of a user corresponding to the plurality of related data, respectively from the information broadcasting apparatus;

(b) comparing a second utilization condition indicative of characteristics of the user registered with the receiver and the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively;

(c) selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of related data in accordance with the compared result obtained from the step (b); and

(d) determining at least one related data among the selected related data in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data when there is a plurality of the selected related data that conflict with other related data of the plurality of the selected related data;

(e) displaying, on the display device, information corresponding to the at least one related data determined by the step (d); and

(f) storing related data among the selected related data, with the exception of the predetermined related data, in a storage device, wherein the display data priority order is determined by a value of providing the related data.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the step (e) is to store the predetermined related data in the storage device.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the step (e) includes a step (e1) comprising deleting the stored related data in the storage device from a lower order of information indicative of the priority order in a case of satisfying a predetermined condition.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the information indicative of the priority order is included in the first utilization condition and is determined by using at least one of an importance degree of the related data and a vector matching individual information and an advertisement.

40. A receiver having a display device for receiving video information broadcast from an information broadcasting apparatus and for displaying the received video information on the display device, comprising:

a receiver unit for receiving the video information having a plurality of sequential images broadcast from the information broadcasting apparatus, a plurality of related data corresponding to a scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information, and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of a characteristic of a user corresponding to the plurality of related data, respectively;

a storage unit having a second utilization condition, previously stored, indicative of the characteristic of the user registered with the receiver;

a controller connected to said receive unit and said storage unit through signal lines, for comparing the second utilization condition with the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively, and selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of data in response to a compared result;

a display control unit to control and display, on the display device, information corresponding to predetermined related data among the selected related data corresponding to the scene of the plurality of sequential images indicative of the received video information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data in a case where there are a plurality of the selected related data and the plurality of the selected related data conflict with one another; and

a storage device for storing related data among the selected related data, with the exception of the predetermined related data, wherein the display data priority order is determined by a value of providing the related data.

41. A receiver according to claim 40, wherein the storage device stores the predetermined related data.

42. A receiver according to claim 41, wherein the stored related data in the storage device is deleted from a lower order of information indicative of the priority order in a case of satisfying a predetermined condition.

43. A receiver according to claim 42, wherein the information indicative of the priority order is included in the first utilization condition and is determined by using at least one of an importance degree of the related data and a vector matching of individual information and advertisement.

45. An information broadcasting apparatus for broadcasting video information to a plurality of receivers, comprising:

means for providing a correspondence to a scene of a plurality of sequential images in the video information and a plurality of related data related to the scene of the plurality of sequential images in the video information;

means for providing a correspondence to the plurality of related data and a plurality of first utilization conditions indicative of characteristics of users, respectively; and

means for broadcasting the video information, the plurality of related data and the plurality of first utilization conditions to the plurality of receivers, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers performs the following processing;

a processing means for comparing a second utilization condition, previously stored, indicative of the characteristic of the user registered with the receiver and the plurality of first utilization conditions, respectively;

a processing means for selecting the related data corresponding to the first utilization condition further corresponding to the second utilization condition from the plurality of data in accordance with a compared result;

a processing means for displaying, on the display device, information corresponding to predetermined related data among the selected related data corresponding to the scene of the plurality of sequential images indicative of the received video information in accordance with information indicative of a display priority order added to the selected related data in a case where there are plurality the selected related data and that conflict with other selected related data; and

a storage device for storing related data among the selected related data, except the predetermined related data, wherein the display data priority order is determined by a value of providing the related data.

46. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the storage device stores the predetermined related data.

47. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the stored related data in the storage device is deleted from a lower order of information indicative of the priority order in a case of satisfying a predetermined condition.

48. An information broadcasting apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the information indicative of the priority order is included in the first utilization condition and is determined by using at least one of an importance degree of the related data and a vector matching individual information and an advertisement.