Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated Internet information segments

• US 7,243,139 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Open TV Corp
• Inventors: Spivack, Nova T., Ullman, Craig, Hidary, Jack D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US10/761,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 719/328, 719/329
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• 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

Abstract

A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed in a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.

Claims

1. A system for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the system comprising:

an encoder, wherein the encoder encodes the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the programming signal;

wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to a user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.

2. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the encoder and the transmitter are located at a Web hosting site.

3. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the program is a previously recorded program on a recording medium.

4. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.

5. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.

6. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the program comprises video and audio and the encoder embeds the address in a non-presented portion of the program.

7. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the programming signal is in digital format.

8. A method for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the method comprising:

combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal;

and transmitting the programming signal to a user;

wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.

10. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.

11. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the program comprises video and audio and the address is embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.

12. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the programming signal is in digital format.

13. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the programming signal is in analog format.

14. A computer readable medium containing instructions for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, by:

combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal;

and transmitting the programming signal;

wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.

15. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the steps of combining and transmitting are performed at a Web hosting site.

16. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein the program is a previously recorded program on a recording medium.

17. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.

18. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.

19. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the program comprises video and audio and the address is embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.

20. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the programming signal is in digital format.

21. A computer readable medium as described in claim 14, wherein the programming signal is in analog format.

22. A method for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address useable for retrieving over a network from at least one server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising the steps of:

providing the at least one address;

generating a signal carrying the video programming;

encoding the signal to carry the at least one address, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and

transmitting the signal encoded with the at least one address to a viewer, wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.

23. A method as described in claim 22, further comprising the steps of creating at least certain ones of the on-line information segments retrievable from respective ones of the at least one server, storing the created on-line information segments at respective ones of the at least one network server, providing at least one address for retrieving the created on-line information segments, and encoding the signal to carry the at least one address and timing indicia for retrieving the created on-line information segments in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming carried thereon before transmission thereof to the viewer.

24. A method as described in claim 22, wherein the decoding of the encoded signal is carried out in proximity to where the viewing of the video programming and the on-line information segments takes place.

25. A method as described in claim 22, wherein the decoding of the signal is carried out remotely from where the viewing of the video programming and the related on-line information segments takes place, and the at least one address extracted from the encoded signal is provided to the viewer over the network.

26. A method as described in claim 22, wherein the network comprises the Internet;

the at least one address comprises at least one uniform resource locator;

the at least one server comprises at least one Internet web site; and

the on-line information segments comprise at least one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at least Internet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator.

27. A system for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address for retrieving over a network from at least one network server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising:

a source of the at least one address;

a source of a signal carrying the video programming;

an encoder responsive to the source of the at least one address for encoding the signal carrying the video programming to carry the at least one address and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and

a broadcast system for transmitting the encoded signal to a viewer, wherein the address can be used to automatically retrieve on-line information segments over the network from the at least one server for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with viewing of the video programming, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.

28. A system as described in claim 27, further comprising a computer coupled to the network for creating at least certain ones of the on-line information segments and for sending the created on-line information segments to respective ones of the at least one server on the network for storage therein, wherein the encoder encodes the signal with at least one address and timing indicia for retrieving the created on-line information segments in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming.

29. A system as described in claim 27, wherein the network comprises the Internet;

the at least one address comprises at least one uniform resource locator;

the at least one server comprises at least one Internet web site; and

the on-line information segments comprise at least one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at least one Internet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator.

30. A system as described in claim 27, herein the signal is a television signal.

31. A system as described in claim 27, wherein the television signal is analog.

32. A system as described in claim 27, wherein the television signal is digital.