Method and apparatus for providing a menu structure for an interactive information distribution system

• US 7,032,176 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Goode, Christopher, Gordon, Donald, Thomas, Philip A., Conover, Mark D., Cole, Brooks
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/781,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 345716-723, 345/748, 345/749, 345761-765, 348/563, 348/731, 348/570, 348/331, 715716-723, 715/748, 715/749, 715761-765, 725/37, 725/39, 725/43, 725/61, 725 47- 52, 725/91, 725/93, 725/27
• US Class Current: 715/719
• 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 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an interactive menu structure within an interactive information distribution system. The menu structure is embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so-called navigator and a set top terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and a video session manager which provides support functionality for the set top terminal. The menu structure has each menu (e.g., menu instructions, graphics and video) contained in downloadable applets which are sent upon request from the service provider equipment to the set top terminal for display. As such, the navigator functions are actually distributed between the service provider equipment and the subscriber'"'"'s equipment. Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real-time interactive session that allows the user to rapidly navigate through a plethora of menus to find particular information, which they desire to view.

Claims

1. A system for providing menu structures for interactive information distribution systems, comprising:

provider equipment for storing a plurality of logically linked applets, each of said applets defining a graphical layer, a video layer and a control layer, said control layer of each respective applet logically linking a graphical layer object to another applet, the provider equipment being in an interactive information distribution system; and

subscriber equipment for executing said applets, the subscriber equipment being within said interfactive information distribution system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical layer comprises a plurality of graphical objects, each of said graphical objects being logically linked to a respective applet via said control layer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said subscriber equipment generating an image representative signal which, when processed by a display device, results in the display of;

said graphics layer, for displaying one or more graphical objects, said graphical objects being associated with respective applets stored in provider equipment, said applets comprising menu information and associated image information;

said video layer, for displaying still or moving images, including still or moving images generated using said applet image information; and

said control layer, coupled to said graphics layer and said video layer, for generating an applet request in response to a selection of a graphical object.

4. In an interactive information distribution system comprising provider equipment and subscriber equipment in communication via a network, a method comprising:

transmitting, to said subscriber equipment from said provider equipment, a first applet defining a graphical layer, a video layer and a control layer, said control layer logically linking a graphical layer object to a second applet stored in said provider equipment; and

in response to subscriber interaction indicative of the selection of said graphical layer object transmitting said second applet to said subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said subscriber equipment receives and processes a single applet to provide, upon a display device, a graphical layer and a video layer, said control layer being responsive to user manipulation of graphical objects to select for download to said subscriber an applet associated with a selected graphical object.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said graphical layer includes at least one graphical object representative of said logically linked applets, said video layer provides a contextual anchor relating to said applets and said control layer operates to logically link said graphical objects to said other applets.

7. A system for providing menu structures for interactive information distribution systems, comprising:

a video layer forming background video of guide page and comprising a plurality of title objects, wherein the video layer is derived from a video stream received from a transmission source;

a graphics layer comprising a plurality of overlay objects selectively overlaying said video layer, wherein each of the overlay objects is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to visually emphasize or de-emphasize a title object in the video layer of said guide page; and

a control layer for controlling generation of the video and graphics layers, said video, graphics, and control layers being defined by an applet originating at said transmission source, and said overlay objects of said graphics layer being logically associated with another applet at said transmission source.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein an opacity level of each overlay object is adjustable to visually emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a color of each overlay object is adjustable to visually emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein de-emphasized title objects are substantially hidden from view.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the overlay objects are selectively controlled to hide or reveal the associated title objects.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein emphasized tide objects are depicted as high intensity objects on the guide page and de-emphasized title objects are depicted as low intensity objects.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein an amount of de-emphasize for each title object is adjustable in discrete increments.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the overlay objects in the graphics layer is a transparent overlay that does not visually alter the associated title object.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein each overlay object in the graphics layer is implemented as a bar having a particular shape.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein each overlay object in the graphics layer is implemented as horizontal bar.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein each overlay object is associated with a particular x-y coordinate.

18. The system of claim 7, wherein each title object in the video layer represents a program in a listing of programs.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the listing of programs includes prior, current, or future time programming, or a combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein each title object is associated with a respective program for a particular channel and time slot.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein title objects not associated with a desired time slot are masked by controlling the associated overlay objects.

22. The system of claim 7, wherein each title object corresponds to a manipulable object within the video layer.

23. The system of claim 7, wherein the title objects in the video layer are visually emphasized or de-emphasized in response to user manipulations via a remote control unit.

24. The system of claim 7, wherein the overlay objects in the graphics layer are controlled locally at a set top terminal.

25. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer is modified in response to a user command.

26. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer is derived based in part on data received from the transmission source.

27. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer is generated at the transmission source and received via one or more streams.

28. The system of claim 7, wherein the overlay objects are arranged in the graphics layer based on overlay parameters received from the transmission source.

29. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer is generated locally at a set top terminal.

30. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer is generated using one or more bitmaps.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more bitmaps are pre-programmed at a set top terminal.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more bitmaps are updatable at a set top terminal.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more bitmaps are synchronized to the video layer via signaling sent via a data delivery means.

34. The system of claim 7, wherein the graphics layer includes an icon representative of a particular channel selected for processing.

35. The system of claim 7, wherein an emphasized title object can be selected to retrieve a video stream or an audio stream, or both, associated with the emphasized title object.

36. The system of claim 7, wherein an emphasized title object can be selected to change a level of abstraction, wherein each of a plurality of possible levels of abstraction defines a particular manner in which data is presented on the program guide page.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of levels of abstraction include an interaction model that includes manipulations requiring no interaction with the transmission source.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of levels of abstraction include an interface model that includes manipulations requiring interaction with the transmission source.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of levels of abstraction include a contextual level indicative of replacement of the video layer in response to a user command.

40. A system for providing menu structures for interactive information distribution systems, comprising:

a video layer comprising a plurality of title objects, wherein each title object is associated with a particular channel and time slot, and wherein the video layer is derived from a video stream received from a service provider transmission source;

a graphics layer comprising a plurality of overlay objects selectively overlaying said video layer, wherein each overlay object is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to hide or reveal the associated title object; and

a control layer for controlling generation of the video and graphics layers, said video, graphics, and control layers being defined by an applet originating at said transmission source, and said overlay objects of said graphics layer being logically associated with another applet at said transmission source.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the video layer includes title objects for a plurality of time slots, and wherein tide objects corresponding to a selected time slot are revealed and title objects corresponding to remaining time slots are hidden from view.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the video layer is divided into a plurality of regions including a guide region and a video region.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the plurality of regions further includes a program description region used to display program information for a particular program.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the guide region presents a listing of programs and is generated at the transmission source.

45. A system for providing menu structures for interactive information distribution systems, comprising:

a video layer comprising a guide region and a video region, wherein the guide region includes a plurality of title objects, and wherein each title object is associated with a particular channel and time slot;

a graphics layer comprising a plurality of overlay objects selectively overlaying said video layer, wherein each overlay object is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object shown in an interactive program guide(IPG) page; and

a control layer for controlling generation of the video and graphics layers, said video, graphics, and control layers being defined by an applet originating at a transmission source, and said overlay objects of said graphics layer being logically associated with another applet at said transmission source.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the video layer further includes a plurality of icons representative of a plurality of user selectable options.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the video layer further includes a program description region.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein a first set of one or more title objects in the guide region is emphasized and a second set of one or more title objects in the guide region is de-emphasized.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the title objects in the guide region and the overlay objects in the graphics layer are generated at a transmission source.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the title objects in the guide region are generated at a transmission source and the overlay objects in the graphics layer are generated locally at a set top terminal.

51. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) page at a set top terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a video stream comprising a control layer and a video layer defined by an applet originating from a transmission source;

executing the received control layer for controlling presentation of said video layer and a graphics layer;

processing the received video stream to provide a video layer for the IPG page, wherein the video layer includes a plurality of title objects, and wherein each title object is associated with a respective channel and time slot;

presenting said graphics layer having included therein a plurality of overlay objects displayed over said video layer, wherein each overlay object is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to visually emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object; and

associating a selected overlay object of said graphics layer to another applet at said transmission source.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

merging the video layer with the graphics layer to provide an output video.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the video and graphics layers are generated at the transmission source.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the video layer is generated at the transmission source and the graphics layer is generated locally at the set top terminal.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a user command to change emphasis on one or more title objects; and

modifying the graphics layer in response to the user command.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a user command selecting a particular title object; and

processing a stream associated with the particular title object to retrieve selected information.

57. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a command to change a level of abstraction; and

changing the level of abstraction in response to the received command, and wherein each of a plurality of possible levels of abstraction defines a particular manner in which data is presented on the IPG page.

58. A method for providing a guide page at a set top terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a first stream comprising a control layer and a video layer defined by an applet originating from a transmission source;

executing the received control layer for controlling presentation of said video layer and a graphics layer;

processing the first stream to provide said video layer for the guide page, wherein the video layer includes a plurality of title objects;

receiving a second stream from the transmission source;

processing the second stream to provide said graphics layer for the guide page, wherein the graphics layer includes therein a plurality of overlay objects that are displayed over said video layer, and wherein each overlay object is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to visually emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object; and

associating a selected overlay object of said graphics layer to another applet at said transmission source.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

receiving a user command to emphasize or de-emphasize a particular title object; and

modifying the graphics layer in response to the user command.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the modifying is performed locally at a receiving device.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

receiving a user command for a particular selection; and

sending a request to the transmission source for additional data if the user request cannot be processed based on available data at a set top terminal.

62. A set top terminal (STT) operative to provide an interactive program guide (IPG) page, comprising:

a demodulator operative to receive a modulated signal including a control layer and a video layer of the IPG page, and provide a transport stream;

a transport de-multiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide a plurality of elementary streams;

a video decoder coupled to the transport de-multiplexer and operative to decode a first elementary stream to provide the video layer for the IPG page, wherein the video layer includes a plurality of title objects, and wherein each title object is associated with a respective channel and time slot in a program guide listing;

an on-screen display (OSD) processor operative to provide a graphics layer having included therein a plurality of overlay objects for display over said video layer, wherein each overlay object is associated with a respective title object in the video layer and is selectively controlled to visually emphasize or de-emphasize the associated title object;

a controller coupled to said video decoder and the OSD processor, and operative to process said control layer to define presentation of the video layer and the graphics layer displayed over the video layer, said video, graphics, and control layers being defined by an applet originating at a transmission source, and said overlay objects of said graphics layer being logically associated with another applet at said transmission source; and

a compositor coupled to the video decoder and the OSD processor and operative to combine the video layer with the graphics layer to provide the IPG page.

63. The STT of claim 62, wherein the controller is operative to receive a user command and, in response, modifies a signal provided to the OSD processor to change presentation of an overlay object.

64. The STT of claim 62, wherein the controller includes

a storage element operative to store one or more bitmaps used to produce the graphics layer.