User interface for interactive television systems

• US 7,334,250 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yaksick, Jeff D, Blackketter, Dean J., Park, Timothy F., White, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P.
• Application Number:
  US11/171,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9- 21, 725/41, 725/61
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

An interactive television system displays a television program having an associated channel. The system also displays an interactive television mode indicator if the displayed television program supports an interactive television mode. The interactive television mode is activated in response to a request from a viewer of the television program to activate the interactive television mode. The system updates a channel status list to indicate that the television program is being viewed in the interactive television mode. The system is also able to handle requests for activating an online television mode. When changing channels, the channel status list is used to restore a previously activated interactive television mode or online television mode for a particular television channel. Two different indicators may be displayed to indicate whether the television program supports an interactive television mode and/or an online television mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a television program having an associated channel, wherein the television program is displayed using a video tuning device;

displaying an interactive television mode indicator if the displayed television program supports an interactive television mode;

activating the interactive television mode in response to a request from a viewer of the television program to activate the interactive television mode;

updating a channel status list to indicate that the television program is being viewed in the interactive television mode, and

assigning a separate data tuning device for each channel on the channel status list to maintain the interactive television status for each channel, wherein there are a greater number of data tuning devices than video tuning devices.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein updating a channel status list includes recording a time that the interactive television mode was activated for the associated channel.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the channel status list identifies all channels for which the interactive television mode has been activated.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein activating the interactive television mode includes opening an interactive window.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further including removing the interactive television mode indicator after a predetermined time period.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further including displaying an online video mode indicator if the displayed television program supports an online video mode.

7. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

display a video program, wherein the video program is displayed using a video tuning device;

display an online video mode indicator if the displayed video program supports an online video mode;

activate the online video mode in response to a request from a viewer of the video program to activate the online video mode;

update a channel status list to indicate that the video program is being viewed in the online video mode; and

assign a separate data tuning device for each channel on the channel status list to maintain the interactive television status for each channel, wherein there are a greater number of data tuning devices than video tuning devices.

8. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7 wherein the channel status list identifies all video channels for which the online video mode has been activated.

9. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7 wherein the channel status list identifies a time that the online video mode was activated.