Methods and systems for controlling consumer electronics external devices via data delivered to a device

• US 7,140,033 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Durden, George A., Stefanik, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ma, Johnny
• Application Number:
  US09/752,267
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 725/80, 725/85, 725 24- 31, 725/110, 725/105, 725/74, 725/141, 725/153, 725/54, 725/39, 725/133, 725/136
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

This document discloses systems and methods for enabling viewers to control and manage programming and to control external consumer electronic devices through the use of a STB or other device. This invention provides command information that is embedded into an EPG signal and transmitted from a headend or transmission facility through a distribution network to the end user. By way of example, the program data includes volume, lighting, internet or environmental tag information for controlling external devices, such as a surround sound entertainment system, home environment system, personal computer, etc. A set top box or other properly configured consumer electronics device either receives data from the external device to effect programming or transmits data to the external device to optimize the viewing experience or to supplement information produced by the EPG.

Claims

1. A method of distributing tagged programming, the method comprising:

receiving programming;

receiving a data tag with Electronic Programming Guide data, the data tag comprising control data relating to the programming, the data tag added to an end of a program description field in the Electronic Programming Guide data, the data tag comprises a command to mute a ringer on a telephony device;

stripping the data tag from the Electronic Programming Guide data; and

communicating the control data to a consumer electronics device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises an ASCII character that prevents display of the data tag in the program description field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises a command to add a reminder to a calendar application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises a command to add a reminder to an external calendar application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag begins and ends with a predetermined ASCII character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises a command and a start offset, the start offset having a negative value to indicate the command becomes active before a start time for the program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises a single entry having a command with multiple pairs of a start offset and a duration, with each paired start offset and duration identifying commercial programming, and the command muting the commercial programming.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data tag comprises a command to mute programming that exceeds a parental control rating.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a reminder for a calendar application.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a reminder for a calendar application.

11. A method of receiving tagged programming, comprising:

receiving electronic program guide data;

receiving a data tag that has been added to an end of a program description in the electronic program guide data, the data tag comprising a command and a parameter to mute a ringer on a telephony device;

stripping the data tag from the electronic program guide data; and

communicating the command and the parameter to a consumer electronics device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the data tag comprises receiving an ASCII character that prevents display of the data tag in the electronic program guide data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a reminder for a calendar application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a predetermined ASCII character that indicates a beginning and an end of the data tag.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a command and a start offset, the start offset having a negative value to indicate the command becomes active before a start time for a program.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a single entry having a command with multiple pairs of a start offset and a duration, with each paired start offset and duration identifying commercial programming, and the command muting the commercial programming.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a command to mute programming that exceeds a parental control rating.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the data tag comprises receiving a command to add a reminder to an external calendar application.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting a reminder for a calendar application and communicating the reminder to the consumer electronics device.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating the electronic program guide data to the consumer electronics device.