Method and apparatus for encoding a user interface
First Claim
1. A method of producing an encoded user interface comprising:
- producing a video frame sequence representing an interactive program guide by combining, in a frame synchronized manner, background imagery with at least one video sequence and at least one graphic containing program guide information to form said video frame sequence;
encoding said video frame sequence within a head end of an information distribution system distribution system;
wherein the combining step further comprises;
compositing, frame-by-frame, at least one video sequence onto said background imagery to form a background sequence; and
compositing a plurality of program guide graphics onto said background sequence, where a different program guide graphic is composited onto said background sequence to form a plurality of program guide frame sequences that represent individual program guide pages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for combining video frame sequences with a video display of an interactive program guide (IPG). The apparatus comprises a plurality of compositors that combine background information, video frame sequences and program guide graphics into a single video frame sequence. The sequence is then digitally encoded to form an MPEG-like bitstream. The same background information and informational video is composited with a different program guide graphic to form another video sequence that is also encoded. A plurality of such sequences are produced with each sequence having a different program guide graphic. Each sequence is encoded and then multiplexed into a transport stream such that all the encoded sequences are transmitted to a subscriber'"'"'s terminal using a single transport stream. As such, the subscriber can transition from one program guide to the next without interruption of the background or video display as the program guide graphic is changed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of producing an encoded user interface comprising:
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producing a video frame sequence representing an interactive program guide by combining, in a frame synchronized manner, background imagery with at least one video sequence and at least one graphic containing program guide information to form said video frame sequence; encoding said video frame sequence within a head end of an information distribution system distribution system; wherein the combining step further comprises; compositing, frame-by-frame, at least one video sequence onto said background imagery to form a background sequence; and compositing a plurality of program guide graphics onto said background sequence, where a different program guide graphic is composited onto said background sequence to form a plurality of program guide frame sequences that represent individual program guide pages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of producing an encoded user interface, said encoded user interface comprising a plurality of bitstreams representing respective interactive program guide (IPG) pages and forming thereby a sequence of IPG pages, said method comprising:
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combining, in a frame synchronized manner, background imagery with each of a plurality of video sequences to form a plurality of IPG video portions; overlaying a plurality of respective graphic images containing program guide information over respective ones of each of said plurality of IPG video portions to form a plurality of IPG page portions, each of said plurality of IPG page portions comprising a respective common video portion and a plurality of programming information portions, and wherein a plurality of IPG page sequences comprises common programming information portions and differing video portions per IPG page sequence; encoding each sequence of IPG pages within a head-end of an information distribution system to form said plurality of bitstreams; providing a unique packet identifier (PID) for each IPG page;
providing an indicator in each bitstream where said video component may be switched from one PID to another PID; andmultiplexing said plurality of bitstreams in a common transport stream to subscriber equipment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification