System and method for distribution of interactive content to multiple targeted presentation platforms

• US 7,162,697 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Intellocity USA, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Markel, Steven O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US09/933,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 715/717, 715/718, 715/760, 715/749, 715/748, 715/762, 715/719, 715/716, 715/746, 715/747, 715/513, 715/500.1, 715/512, 725/37, 725/51, 725/59, 725/105, 725/109, 725/110, 725/112, 725/133, 725/135, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• 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 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A text based script file describing enhancements is parsed to produce platform dependent enhancement files that may be employed to produce enhancements on a set top box, enhanced television, or computer display. A script file may be of XML format and a parser may be an XSL translator. A parser may import HTML and Javascript from other applications. A parser may support a media player for emulation to view video and enhancements. Trigger data for rendering enhancements may be formatted into a javascript array. Trigger events may be employed to replace graphic pointers or text values. Multiple parsers, each supporting a specific platform, allow a single script file to be employed across multiple platforms. New platforms or versions of platforms are supported through new or updated parsers.

Claims

1. A method of creating a television presentation enhancement comprising:

accessing a platform independent enhancement file containing elements, attributes of said elements, and trigger information specifying at least one event wherein said enhancement is rendered in synchrony with at least one image of a video presentation;

applying a first parsing script to said platform independent enhancement file to produce a first output file that provides rendering of said enhancement in synchrony with said at least one image in a web browser having an embedded media player; and

applying a second parsing script to said platform independent enhancement file to produce a second output file that provides rendering of said enhancement in synchrony with said at least one image on a specific television platform.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said platform independent enhancement file further comprises:

XML compliant tags for elements, triggers, and administrative information comprising enhancement file name and enhancement file creation date.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said platform independent enhancement file is a text file.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said first output file in a browser window.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of applying a second parsing script further comprises:

specifying aversion of HTML for said second output file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a link is associated with at least one of said elements.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said attributes of said elements further comprises:

a z order value for at least one of said elements.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first parsing script is an XSL transformation file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said second parsing script is an XSL transformation file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said platform independent enhancement file contains a change text function.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said second parsing script imports HTML code into said second output file.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing said enhancement file further comprises:

accessing a database containing user and project administration information, page layout information and trigger creation information.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said second parsing script is operable to translate a color value.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

editing said platform independent enhancement file to specify elements and attributes of said elements.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said first parsing script includes a routine tat scans a list of elements and produces a change text function for elements with a text area tag.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said second parsing script includes a function to translate a color value dependent on said specific television platform.

17. A computer readable medium comprising a parser for producing a platform specific television enhancement file the parser comprising:

a function that accesses a platform independent file containing project information, a description of an element, the position of said element, and a time at which said element may be rendered;

a function that creates an HTML header containing said project information;

a function tat places said position of said element between division tags in an HTML output file if said element is either a text element or a graphic element;

a function that inserts JavaScript code if said element is an imported element;

a function tat embeds a media player in an HTML file if said element is a television element;

a function that updates an address at which said element may be accessed; and

a function tat creates and stores triggers in a JavaScript array.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said parser is XSL compliant.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

a function tat imports HTML code.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

a function to translate color value.

21. The parser of claim 17 further comprising:

a routine that scans a list of elements and produces a change text function for elements with a text area tag.

22. The parser of claim 17 further comprising;

a routine tat translates a color value dependent on a specific television platform.

23. A method of producing a television enhancement comprising:

accessing a database containing a platform independent enhancement file comprising elements, attributes of said elements, and trigger information specifying at least one event when said enhancement is rendered in synchrony with a video presentation;

selecting a first parsing program from a plurality of parsing programs each parsing program supporting a specific platform;

parsing said platform independent enhancement file using said first parsing program to produce a first output file that may be viewed with a web browser;

saving said first output file;

selecting a second parsing program from the plurality of parsing programs;

parsing said platform independent enhancement file using said second parsing program to produce a second output file that may be viewed with employing a specific television platform; and

saving said second output file.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said platform independent enhancement file is XML compliant.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said parsing said platform independent enhancement file using said first parsing program further comprises:

applying an XSL transformation to said platform independent enhancement file.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said parsing said platform independent enhancement tile using said first parsing program further comprises:

translating a color value associated with one of said elements.

27. A system for developing television enhancements comprising:

a computer

a database;

a web browser;

a first parser that parses a platform independent enhancement file contained in said database and that produces an output that may be viewed employing said browser; and

a second parser that parses said platform independent enhancement file contained in said database and that produces an output that may be viewed employing a specific television platform,

wherein said platform independent enhancement file comprises elements, attributes of said elements, and trigger information specifying at least one event when said outputs are rendered in synchrony with a video presentation.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a component that embeds a media player in said browser if said platform independent enhancement tile contains an element representative of a television image.

29. The parser of claim 28 wherein said platform independent enhancement file further comprises:

an element that specifies a screen location for the media player.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein said parser scans a list of elements and produces a change text function for elements with a text area tag.