Technique for delivering entertainment programming content including interactive features in a communications network

• US 7,111,314 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company LP (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buehl, Joseph, Urdang, Erik G., Kimble, David M., DeFreese, Darryl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US10/175,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 725/95, 725/126
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/14 Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• 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 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

In delivering an entertainment program over a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network, interactive application data for realizing interactive features in the entertainment program are interjected into the program stream carrying the entertainment program on an as needed basis. Because the entire channel bandwidth is temporarily dedicated for transmission of the interactive application data, whose amount is relatively small compared with that of the video and audio data of the programming content, the interactive application data when transmitted appears as a short “burst,” causing a virtually unnoticeable interruption in the programming content delivery.

Claims

1. A system for providing an entertainment program over a transmission channel, comprising:

a first processor for generating a data stream which includes program data representing the entertainment program, said program data including at least two different program segments;

a second processor for detecting a demarcation between different program segments and for determining whether the entertainment program has interactive application data associated with the detected demarcation which is to be inserted at a location in the data stream corresponding to the detected demarcation or if there is no interactive application data associated with the detected demarcation, the interactive application data being data which is to be processed to realize at least one interactive feature at a selected point of the entertainment program, no predetermined bandwidth of the transmission channel being required for transmission of the interactive application data; and

a control unit for dynamically allocating bandwidth of the transmission channel for transmission of the interactive application data when it is determined that a detected demarcation has associated interactive application data, thereby interjecting the interactive application data, into the data stream to be transmitted through the transmission channel, the transmission of the interactive application data through the transmission channel occurring prior to transmission of a portion of the program data, corresponding to a part of the entertainment program before the selected point corresponding to the interactive application data being transmitted.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive application data contains a reference to a source from which data for realizing the at least one interactive feature is obtainable.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission of the interactive application data occurs before the transmission of the program data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive application data is repeatedly transmitted through the transmission channel prior to the transmission of the portion of the program data.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the data stream contains audio and video information.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data stream is encoded in an MPEG format.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a device for receiving the interactive application data, wherein the length of the part of the entertainment program is a function of the time required by the device for realizing the at least one interactive feature based on received interactive application data.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the device includes a set-top terminal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission channel is made part of a cable TV network.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission of the interactive application data is afforded a full bandwidth of the transmission channel.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive feature is presented with a link to an activity associated therewith.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the activity includes providing information relating to the entertainment program.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the link includes an icon.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the link includes a prompt.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said program data is preprocessed to include program segment demarcation indicators used to indicate demarcation points within said data stream corresponding to demarcations between program segments included in said data stream.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said second processor detects said demarcation point by detecting a demarcation indicator included in the program data.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said second processor generates a trick file including at least some of said interactive application data and program data.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the second processor inserts a data start flag delimiting the start of the inserted interactive application data.

19. A method for providing an entertainment program over a transmission channel, comprising:

generating a data stream which includes program data representing the entertainment program, the data stream being transmitted through the transmission channel;

detecting a demarcation between different program segments in the program data representing the entertainment program;

determining whether the entertainment program has interactive application data associated with the detected demarcation which is to be inserted at a location in the data stream corresponding to the detected demarcation or if there is no interactive application data associated with the detected demarcation, the interactive application data being data which is to be processed to realize at least one interactive feature at a selected point of the entertainment program, no predetermined bandwidth of the transmission channel being required for transmission of the interactive application data; and

dynamically allocating bandwidth of the transmission channel for transmission of the interactive application data when it is determined that a detected demarcation has associated interactive application data, thereby interjecting the interactive application data into the data stream for transmission through the transmission channel, the transmission of the interactive application data occurring prior to transmission of a portion of the program data, corresponding to a part of the entertainment program before the selected point corresponding to the interactive data being transmitted.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the interactive application data contains a reference to a source from which data for realizing the at least one interactive feature is obtainable.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmission of the interactive application data occurs before the transmission of the data stream.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the interactive application data is repeatedly transmitted through the transmission channel prior to the transmission of the data portion in the data stream.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the data stream contains audio and video information.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the data stream is encoded in an MPEG format.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving the interactive application data, wherein the length of the part of the entertainment program is a function of the time required for processing the received interactive application data to realize the at least one interactive feature.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmission of the interactive application data is afforded a full bandwidth of the transmission channel.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the interactive feature is presented with a link to an activity associated therewith.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the activity includes providing information relating to the entertainment program.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the link includes an icon.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the link includes a prompt.

31. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

preprocessing said program data to include program segment demarcation indicators used to indicate demarcation points within said data stream corresponding to demarcations between program segments included in said data stream.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein detecting a demarcation point includes detecting a demarcation indicator included in the program data.

33. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

generating a trick file including at least some of said interactive application data and program data.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

accessing said trick file to respond to a rewind command.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising inserting into the data stream a data start flag delimiting the start of the inserted interactive application data.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising inserting into the data stream a data stop flag delimiting the end of the inserted interactive application data.