Method and apparatus for providing a menu structure for an interactive information distribution system
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a video layer of a program guide for an interactive information distribution system, said interactive information distribution system having provider equipment and subscriber equipment, said video layer having at least one user selectable object associated with selectable video content sent from said provider equipment to said subscriber equipment, said video layer sent from said provider equipment to said subscriber equipment, said video layer containing a video region and a graphical region, said video region containing a video barker having associated audio, said graphical region containing a list of program titles; and
a graphics layer of said program guide, where said graphics layer selectively overlays and provides emphasis and de-emphasis of said at least one user-selectable object in said video layer, said program guide being generated in a central location of said information distribution system, said graphics layer providing emphasis and de-emphasis by masking or revealing an object in the video layer.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an improved interactive menu structure for an on-screen program guide within an interactive information distribution system. The menu structure is generated in service provider equipment and delivered to subscriber equipment as a digital video bitstream. The menu structure enables a viewer to view program schedules in an interactive manner with substantially no latency when switching from one program guide page to another. A mask and reveal technique is used to provide an interactive environment through which a viewer can identify programming, preview programming, launch multi-media programming for viewing, and cause other events within an information distribution system to occur.
170 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising:
-
a video layer of a program guide for an interactive information distribution system, said interactive information distribution system having provider equipment and subscriber equipment, said video layer having at least one user selectable object associated with selectable video content sent from said provider equipment to said subscriber equipment, said video layer sent from said provider equipment to said subscriber equipment, said video layer containing a video region and a graphical region, said video region containing a video barker having associated audio, said graphical region containing a list of program titles; and a graphics layer of said program guide, where said graphics layer selectively overlays and provides emphasis and de-emphasis of said at least one user-selectable object in said video layer, said program guide being generated in a central location of said information distribution system, said graphics layer providing emphasis and de-emphasis by masking or revealing an object in the video layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
generating, within service provider equipment of an information distribution system, a bitstream representing a program guide having a video layer and a graphics layer disposed over said video layer; communicating said bitstream to subscriber equipment; converting, within said subscriber equipment, said bitstream into a display of said program guide; selectively providing at least one of emphasis and de-emphasis of at least one user-selectable object in said video layer that is associated with selectable video content sent from said provider equipment using said graphics layer; and producing a mask/reveal overlay within said subscriber equipment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification