Content proxy method and apparatus for digital television environment
First Claim
1. A system configured for decoupling and encapsulating television broadcast content information in a digital television environment, the system comprising:
- (a) a central processing unit;
(b) a hardware abstraction layer processed by said central processing unit, said hardware abstraction layer divided into a plurality of modules including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer configured to decouple a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy configured to decouple a television broadcast stream;
(c) a memory module electrically coupled to said central processing unit;
(d) a single reference data structure contained and stored on said memory module, said single reference data structure capable of receiving and storing said television broadcast content information, said television broadcast content information processed by said central processing unit such that said content proxy assembly decouples said television broadcast stream and encapsulates said television content information within said single reference data structure;
(e) an application program interface for providing a single unified access interface to said encapsulated television content information, wherein all of said television content information is accessed through said application program interface; and
(f) a routing module for subsequent synchronized routing of said encapsulated content information.
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Abstract
The present invention describes and claims a new system and technique or method for decoupling the interpretation of broadcast content information from the display of this information. The information may exist in any of the available types, such as audio, video, or data. In addition, the information may be received in any form, such as streaming or non-streaming, combinations of the two, or even parts thereof. The decoupling and encapsulating of the broadcast content information is accomplished using a content proxy. All content information in the content proxy is accessed via an Application Program Interface. The content proxy employs a hierarchical Document Object Model (DOM) that contains Program and System Information Protocol (“PSIP”) data, that has been converted to an eXtendible Markup Language format using a conversion algorithm, broadcast content data, as well as content data or information about all of the hardware, software, and appliances connected within the networked environment. The proxy concept is applicable to the design and implementation of a Digital TV broadcast rendering device within a Digital TV Application Software Environment framework.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A system configured for decoupling and encapsulating television broadcast content information in a digital television environment, the system comprising:
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(a) a central processing unit; (b) a hardware abstraction layer processed by said central processing unit, said hardware abstraction layer divided into a plurality of modules including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer configured to decouple a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy configured to decouple a television broadcast stream; (c) a memory module electrically coupled to said central processing unit; (d) a single reference data structure contained and stored on said memory module, said single reference data structure capable of receiving and storing said television broadcast content information, said television broadcast content information processed by said central processing unit such that said content proxy assembly decouples said television broadcast stream and encapsulates said television content information within said single reference data structure; (e) an application program interface for providing a single unified access interface to said encapsulated television content information, wherein all of said television content information is accessed through said application program interface; and (f) a routing module for subsequent synchronized routing of said encapsulated content information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for decoupling the interpretation of real-time broadcast information from the presentation of said broadcast information within a Digital TV Application Software Environment framework, said system comprising:
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(a) a transmitter for transmitting a transport stream comprising a plurality of Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast streams containing Digital TV Application Software Environment software components and content information in the form of Digital Storage Media Command and Control data; (b) a Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device capable of receiving said Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast streams and executing said Digital TV Application Software Environment software components, said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device also capable of collecting said Digital Storage Media Command and Control data; (c) a Program and System Information Protocol data structure wherein said content information in the form of Digital Storage Media Command and Control data collected by said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device is stored; (d) a microprocessor electrically coupled to said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device for processing said content information; (e) a hardware abstraction layer processed by said microprocessor, said hardware abstraction layer divided into a plurality of modules including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer configured to decouple a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy configured to decouple said broadcast streams; (f) a memory module electrically coupled to said microprocessor; (g) a plurality of information components coupled to said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device, each of said information components containing respective content information; (h) a parsing module capable of parsing said content information stored in said Program and System Information Protocol data structure; (i) said content proxy assembly embedded within said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device and being capable of providing synchronized loading, decoding, and presentation of said content information, wherein said content proxy controls all content communication, said content proxy controlling said parsing module, said content proxy comprising; i) a single reference data structure created from and based upon said parsed content information and stored on said memory module, said content information processed by said microprocessor such that said content proxy assembly decouples and encapsulates said content information within said single reference data structure; ii) content proxy application program interface capable of providing access to said single reference data structure; (j) a data manipulating device for generating user input to said Digital TV Application Software Environment framework; and (k) a visual display unit, wherein said content information may be displayed in a synchronized manner, said content information accessed via said content proxy; and
wherein said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device processes said content information contained within said single reference data structure to produce at least one layout and graphical user interface component used to make up the visible television display, said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device and said graphical user interface components directly linking to said single reference data structure, wherein said graphical user interface component is mapped to said content information contained within said single reference data structure. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for decoupling the interpretation of real-time broadcast information from the presentation of said broadcast information within a Digital TV environment, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a broadcast receiving system with a hardware abstraction layer divided into a plurality of modules, including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer to decouple a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy configured to decouple a Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast stream; (b) selecting said Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast stream received from a transmitter of said broadcast receiving system, said broadcast stream comprising Digital TV Application Software Environment software components and content information in the form of and Digital Storage Media Command and Control data; (c) implementing a Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device within said broadcast receiving system to receive said Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast stream and execute said Digital TV Application Software Environment software components, said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device also capable of collecting said Digital Storage Media Command and Control data; (d) storing said content information in a Program and System Information Protocol data structure; (e) using a microprocessor electrically coupled to said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device to process said content information; (f) using a memory module contained within said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device and electrically coupling said memory module to said microprocessor to selectively preserve information; (g) using a parsing module to parse said content information stored in said Program and System Information Protocol data structure, said parsing module converting said content information into an eXtendable Markup Language format; (h) using said content proxy to encapsulate said content information such that said content proxy provides synchronized loading, decoding, and presentation of said content information, wherein said content proxy controls all of said content information communication, and wherein said content proxy controls said parsing module; (i) processing said content information contained within a single reference data structure using said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device to produce layout and graphical user interface components used to make up the visible television display, said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device and said graphical user interface components linking directly to said single reference data structure, wherein said graphical user interface components are mapped to said content information contained within said single reference data structure; (j) generating user input through a data manipulating device, said data manipulation device providing a user control of and interaction with said Digital TV environment; and (k) displaying said content information, in a synchronized manner, on a visual display unit, said content information accessed via said content proxy. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for providing synchronized presentation of streaming and non-said method comprising:
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(a) dividing an abstraction layer of a digital television rendering system into a plurality of modules, including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer that decouples a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy that decouples a television broadcast stream; (b) obtaining content information from said television broadcast stream, said content information comprising streaming and non-streaming data, said television broadcast stream having a broadcast life cycle; (c) implementing said content proxy within said broadcast life cycle, said content proxy comprising a single reference data structure capable of storing, encapsulating and synchronizing the presentation of said streaming and non-streaming data; (d) accessing said content information stored withing said through a content proxy application interface; and (e) presenting said content information to a graphical user interface.
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73. A method for displaying synchronized, real-time television broadcast information, said method comprising:
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(a) dividing an abstraction layer of a digital television rendering system into a plurality of modules, including (i) a hardware configuration abstraction layer that decouples a hardware configuration and (ii) a content proxy that decouples a television broadcast stream; (b) storing content information received from said broadcast stream in said content proxy, said content proxy comprising a single reference data structure, said content information comprising streaming and non-streaming data and being decoupled from said broadcast stream and encapsulated within said content proxy; (c) accessing said content proxy though an application interface; (d) creating a graphical user interface based on said content information; (e) displaying said streaming data on said graphical user interface, said streaming data being processed by said content proxy and accessed through said application program interface; and (f) displaying said non-streaming data with said streaming data in a synchronized manner, said non-streaming data being processed by said content proxy and accessed through said application interface via said application program interface.
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Specification