Content proxy method and apparatus for digital television environment

• US 7,028,331 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwalb, Eddie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai
• Application Number:
  US09/795,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 725/132, 725/135, 725/136, 725/140, 725/141, 725/151, 725/152, 719/328, 709/218, 709/220, 709/234, 712/19, 713/200
• US Class Current: 725/140
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• 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 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries

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.

Claims

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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said application program interface is a Document Object Model Application Program Interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said single reference data structure of said content proxy comprises a hierarchal Document Object Model.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said Document Object Model is a level two Document Object Model.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said television broadcast content information comprises Program and System Information Protocol data converted to an eXtendable Markup Language format.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said hardware configuration abstraction layer decouples and encapsulates hardware specific information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said content proxy is configured to encapsulate appliance specific information.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information comprises European Computer Manufacturers Association Scripting data.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information comprises resource allocation data and information.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information comprises utilization data and information.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information comprises data and information on simultaneously accessing various combinations of said television broadcast content information stored within said content proxy.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information originates from information components coupled to said content proxy.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein said television broadcast content information originates from a transport stream.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said transport stream contains a broadcast stream having broadcast information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said broadcast stream is a Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast stream.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises streaming video data.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises streaming audio signals.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises streaming data signals.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises non-streaming video signals.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises non-streaming audio signals.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said broadcast information comprises non-streaming data signals.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said content proxy eliminates the need to develop separate and distinct combination-specific methods, algorithms, and code for the processing and display to different combinations of said streaming and said non-streaming video, audio, and data encoded in differing formats.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said content proxy assembly is implemented within a Digital TV Application Software Environment that includes a Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device having said content proxy embedded therein.

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:

(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.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising full script processing to support a user interactive environment, said full script processing accessing said content proxy directly.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said content proxy facilitates synchronized access of said full script processing with said broadcast information.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said full script processing utilizes ECMAScript technology.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said reference data structure of said content proxy comprises a hierarchal Document Object Model data structure.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said Document Object Model data structure contains said content information as extracted from said Program and System Information Protocol data structure.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said content information is converted into an eXtendable Markup Language format prior to being extracted from said Program and System Information Protocol data structure and input into said Document Object Model data structure.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said Document Object Model data structure contains broadcast content information.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein said Document Object Model data structure contains information about the hardware coupled to and existing within said Digital TV Application Software Environment framework.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein said Document Object Model contains information about the appliances coupled to and existing within said Digital TV Application Software Environment framework.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein said single reference data structure is updated when new content information is received from said Digital TV Application software Environment broadcast stream.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein a portion of said single reference data structure is cleared when the power is turned off.

36. The system of claim 24, further comprising a Document Object Model Application Program Interface.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said Document Object Model Application Program Interface is a Document Object Model Level Two Application Program Interface.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein said user input is processed by said graphical user interface components.

39. The system of claim 24, wherein said user input is processed by a Digital TV Application Software Environment application.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein a Digital TV Application Software Environment application program interface is used to control at least one tuner when said user input is processed by said Digital TV Application Software Environment application.

41. The system of claim 24, wherein said user input includes controlling at least one tuner.

42. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains streaming audio signals.

43. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains streaming video signals.

44. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains streaming data signals.

45. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains nonstreaming audio signals.

46. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains non-streaming video signals.

47. The system of claim 24, wherein said broadcast information contains non-streaming data signals.

48. The system of claim 24, wherein said content proxy eliminates the need to develop separate and distinct combination-specific methods, algorithms, and code for the processing and display of different combinations of streaming and non-streaming video, audio, and data encoded in differing formats.

49. The system of claim 24, wherein said encapsulated data includes all resource allocation and utilization data of each of said plurality of information components.

50. The system of claim 24, wherein said encapsulated data includes data required to synchronize said plurality of information components.

51. The system of claim 24, wherein said encapsulated data includes data enabling simultaneous access of streaming and non-streaming broadcast information.

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:

(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.

53. The method of claim 52, further including the step of selecting a different Digital TV Application Software Environment broadcast stream received from a transmitter and into said broadcast receiving system.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of providing full script processing to support a user interactive environment, said full script processing directly accessing said content proxy.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said content proxy facilitates synchronized access of said full script processing with said broadcast information.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said reference data structure of said content proxy comprises a hierarchal Document Object Model.

57. The method of claim of claim 56, wherein said Document Object Model includes content information from said Program and System Information Protocol.

58. The method of claim of claim 56, wherein said Document Object Model includes content information from said broadcast stream.

59. The method of claim of claim 56, wherein said Document Object Model includes content information about any hardware coupled to said rendering device.

60. The method of claim of claim 56, wherein said Document Object Model includes content information about any appliances coupled to said rendering device.

61. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of implementing a Document Object Model Application Program Interface.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said Document Object Model Application Program Interface is a Document Object Model level two Application Program Interface.

63. The method of claim 52, wherein a portion of said single reference data structure is refreshed upon receipt of a new broadcast stream.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein a portion of said reference data structure is cleared when said power is turned off.

65. The method of claim 52, further including coupling a plurality of information components to said rendering device, said information components having content information specific to each respective component.

66. The method of claim 52, wherein said user input is processed by said graphical user interface.

67. The method of claim 52, wherein said user input is processed by a Digital TV Application Software Environment application.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said Digital TV Application Software Environment application comprises both declarative and procedural applications.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein a Digital TV Application Software Environment application program interface is used to control at least one tuner provided said Digital TV Application Software Environment application is used to process said user input.

70. The method of claim 52, wherein said step of generating user input includes controlling at least one tuner.

71. The method of claim 52, further including the step of connecting a plurality of information components to said Digital TV Application Software Environment rendering device, each of said information components containing respective content information.

72. A method for providing synchronized presentation of streaming and non-said method comprising:

(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.

73. A method for displaying synchronized, real-time television broadcast information, said method comprising:

(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.