Digital television with subscriber conference overlay
DCFirst Claim
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1. Integrated television conferencing apparatus with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
- means for video-conferencing a television user comprising a DTV unit with a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-defined privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services.
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Abstract
Digital television system overlays subscriber two-way communication during broadcast program delivery to create virtual audience community. Individual or group billing and advertisement is personalized per DTV receiver program viewing and/or conferencing activity. Subscriber receiver includes camera and other media I/O device for multi-way video conferencing. Participants may be added or removed dynamically during programming or conferencing.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. Integrated television conferencing apparatus with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
means for video-conferencing a television user comprising a DTV unit with a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-defined privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Integrated television conference transaction method with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the step of:
transacting by a television user comprising a DTV unit video-conferencing with a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-defined privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Integrated television conferencing software with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
reconfigurable program or firmware for enabling a video-conference between a television user comprising a DTV unit and a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining user for television or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. ATSC-compliant digital video signal processor with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
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a processor for video-conferencing a video user comprising an ATSC-compliant DTV unit with a network source before, while or after a program broadcast or video application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated and overlaid functionally for management or coordination, the network source or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or video application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or video application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles, whereby DTV content and conferencing are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same processor or network source that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or video application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria for both DTV content and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services; and a digital video codec for processing an accessed or conferenced signal, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. ATSC-compliant digital video signal processing method with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the steps of:
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video-conferencing a video user comprising an ATSC-compliant DTV unit with a network source before, while or after a program broadcast or video application is accessed and overlaid functionally from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, the network source or DTV unit restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or video application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or video application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles, such network source further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same network source or DTV unit that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or video application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria for both DTV content and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services; and processing an accessed or conferenced signal using a digital video codec. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Functionally-overlaid advertising for ATSC-compliant DTV conferencing subscribers with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising steps:
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monitoring at least one ATSC-compliant DTV virtual audience subscribing to a logical group, such group comprising a plurality of conferencing virtual audiences; and advertising to at least one functionally-overlaid conferencing virtual audience; wherein such overlaid virtual audience access to the advertising is restricted or permitted by censoring or authorizing selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more advertising class or title, such virtual audience conference being restricted or permitted by dynamically adding or removing such virtual audience to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby advertising and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of virtual audience access to the advertising according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more advertising classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining virtual audience for advertising or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal advertising and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. DTV subscriber unit for real-time functionally-overlaid collaborative network gaming with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
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a processor; and
an interface;wherein the processor runs a game application locally or across a network via the interface in common with a DTV subscriber unit effectively running the game application, whereby the other subscriber is coupled via the interface to enable video conferencing or messaging between coupled subscriber units effectively playing the game application during such conferencing or messaging, the interface being coupled to a broadband system headend controller for centrally controlling access in common or selectively by one or more subscriber units to the conferencing or messaging and the game application, wherein the controller functionally overlays the game application that is accessed by a plurality of subscriber units, with the conference or messaging, the controller or processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application locally or across the network by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the gaming application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. DTV communication controller for providing functionally-overlaid real-time gaming and conferencing between multiple subscriber units with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
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means for coupling to a first subscriber unit playing a multi-user game application; and means for coupling to a DTV subscriber unit playing effectively the same multi-user game application; whereby a video conference or message is enabled and functionally overlaid between both subscriber units while, after or before playing effectively the same multi-user game application, such that the communication controller functions effectively as a system headend controller in an integrated broadband services network for multi-user gaming and conferencing or messaging, thereby enabling centralized network control of subscriber access selectively by one or more subscriber units to both conferencing or messaging and multi-user game application services, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the game application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. Communication method between DTV subscriber units for functionally-overlaid real-time collaborative gaming with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the steps of:
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running a multi-user game application effectively in common by a plurality of DTV subscriber units locally or across a network; and functionally-overlaid conferencing or messaging between the subscriber units via the network while running the multi-user game application; wherein a system headend controller for multi-user gaming and conferencing or messaging controls access by one or more subscriber units to conferencing or messaging while, before or after such one or more subscriber units runs the multi-user game application, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application locally or across the network by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the game application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. Multi-user game application for DTV users with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
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a simulator or gaming program for access by a plurality of DTV users via a network; and means for functionally-overlaid conferencing between the users, thereby enabling a virtual community among on-line players; wherein a broadband headend system processor for integrated multi-user gaming and conferencing controls access by one or more users to conferencing while, before or after one or more user accesses the simulator or gaming program, the processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid user access to the program by censoring or authorizing one or more program selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title, such processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing a DTV user to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining user for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. DTV integrated television gaming and conferencing console with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
means for functionally-overlaid conferencing a first user with a DTV integrated television gaming and conferencing user for video, audio or text messaging or conferencing before, while or after a television or gaming program broadcast or data application is accessed commonly by both users from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and common access are integrated functionally for management or coordination by a television or gaming access and user-conference controller coupled to users for delivering or enabling a combined broadband television gaming and conferencing service, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid user access to the program or application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program or application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV user to or from one or more conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing or messaging services. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. In a networked DTV device, a programmable broadband functionally-overlaid service software with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
firmware or computer code for authorizing a functionally-overlaid conference between a first broadband subscriber unit and a DTV broadband subscriber unit before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel by at least one subscriber unit, whereby both the conferencing and accessing are authorized by an integrated broadband service provider centrally coupled to such subscriber units, the service provider restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program or application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title, such service provider further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same service provider that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the program or application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for DTV content or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. In an interactive system comprising a data management system for authorizing DTV subscriber service with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing, a database comprising:
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a database representing one or more DTV subscriber account authorized to access a program or data for online broadband service, and conduct a functionally-overlaid conference between authorized subscribers while, after or before such subscribers access the program or data; wherein a controller authorizes the access to both the program or data and the conference, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber access to the program or data by censoring or authorizing one or more program or data selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the program or application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for DTV content or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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57. In an interactive network device for accessing a gaming program or data signal and conferencing with DTV interactive network device while, before or after accessing the same program or data signal, a method for integrating functionally-overlaid broadband service with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising steps of:
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outputting by a DTV network device interactively a gaming program or data signal; and integrating functionally in such output at least one participant accessing the gaming program or data signal, wherein a controller coupled centrally to each conferencing network device authorizes access by a plurality of participants to the gaming program or data signal while, before or after the authorized participants conduct a conference with each other, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid participant access to the gaming program or data signal by censoring or authorizing one or more gaming program or data signal selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV device to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of participant access to the gaming program or data signal according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining participant for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services.
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58. A set-top gaming device for coupling to a DTV media output with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:
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a DTV set-top processor, and a network interface; wherein the set-top processor enables a functionally-overlaid conference by a subscriber with another subscriber during, before or after access by both subscribers to a multi-subscriber gaming program;
the media output generating an integration of one or more conferencing subscriber and the accessed gaming program, wherein a controller couples to the network interface for authorizing centrally the access and conference as a combined subscription service for on-line gaming community, the controller or processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber access to the gaming program by censoring or authorizing one or more gaming program selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV subscriber to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the gaming program according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services.
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Specification