System and method to subscribe to channel URL addresses and to provide non-programming-related URL addresses in an interactive video casting system

• US 7,360,232 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Diego
• Inventors: Mitchell, Slade
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US10/033,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 348/461, 348/473, 348/487, 348/564, 348/731, 348/460, 348/734, 725113-118, 725111-112, 725144-148, 725/109, 725/135, 725 34- 35, 725/110, 725/133, 725/141, 725/136, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/8586 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 7/165 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A remote device is capable to receive network address information, such as uniform resource locator (URL) addresses, and other supplemental content that are available along with television signal. A set top box coupled to a television receives the network address information via triggers. The set top box transmits a television program from a first channel to a television, and transmits network address information associated with a second channel to the remote device. After receiving the network address information, the remote device can display the corresponding supplemental content while a viewer is watching the first channel on the television. The supplemental content can include program-related address information and/or non-programming-related content. In another technique, the viewer can subscribe certain channels, such that supplemental content on the subscribed channels is obtained and stored, and can be made available to the remote device via the set top box or via a different communication link.

Claims

1. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a headend having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for a corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television channels, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to obtain the trigger information from all of the television channels, the system further comprising a server coupled to the trigger processor to provide the obtained trigger information from all of the television channels to the remote control device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to a client terminal, the client terminal being capable to tune to a first channel to receive a television signal therein and to tune to a second channel to receive the obtained trigger information unrelated to the television signal received via the first channel, the client terminal further being capable to send the received obtained trigger information to the remote control device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to the remote control device by way of a communication link independent of the client terminal.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to the client terminal by way of a cable modem connection.

6. The system of the claim 1 wherein the headend is coupled to receive an instruction from the remote control device to obtain and store trigger information from a television program in a particular television channel that is tuned to prior to tuning to another television channel.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the instruction instructs the headend to obtain and store trigger information from television programs based on viewer preferences.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the headend is coupled to receive an instruction from the remote control device to obtain and store, in the storage unit on the remote control device, trigger information associated with a particular television channel while a client terminal located proximate to the remote control device is tuned to a television signal on a different television channel.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage unit on the remote control device is capable to store a viewer preference related to determination of which triggers to obtain.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a trigger inserter coupled to the multiplexer to overload at least some of the television channels with non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the multiplexer includes an override channel as an input, the override channel capable to carry non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device in at least some of the television channels.

12. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a broadcast center having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for a corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels, wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television channels, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device,

wherein a client terminal for a television for the interactive video casting system is coupled to present supplemental content corresponding to trigger information on the television,

wherein the television includes a screen to display supplemental content available from the interactive video casting system,

wherein the client terminal is capable of being communicatively coupled to the interactive video casting system to receive the trigger information from the interactive video casting system and is coupled to present at least some of the supplemental content on the screen of the television in addition to television signals from television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system includes a plurality of content sources communicatively coupled to a plurality of broadcast centers,

wherein the broadcast centers are coupled to storage mediums to store at least some of the supplemental content to be made available to the client terminal, and

wherein the interactive video casting system is capable to provide the trigger information to the remote control device via different communication channels, including at least one of a plurality of television broadcast channels and a communication channel with a communication network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the broadcast center comprises part of a satellite delivery system.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the interactive video casting system comprises an interactive television system.

15. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a broadcast center having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels, wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television channels, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device,

wherein a client terminal for a television for the interactive video casting system is coupled to present supplemental content corresponding to trigger information on the television,

wherein the television includes a screen to display supplemental content available from the interactive video casting system,

wherein the client terminal is capable of being communicatively coupled to the interactive video casting system to receive the trigger information from the interactive video casting system and is coupled to present at least some of the supplemental content on the screen of the television in addition to television signals from television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system includes a plurality of content sources communicatively coupled to a plurality of broadcast centers,

wherein the broadcast centers are coupled to storage mediums to store at least some of the supplemental content to be made available to the client terminal, and

wherein the interactive video casting system is capable to provide the trigger information to the remote control device via different communication paths, including at least one of a plurality of television broadcast channels and a communication path with a communication network; and

a trigger inserter coupled to the multiplexer to insert non-programming-related trigger information in at least one of the television channels.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the trigger inserter is coupled to the multiplexer to overload a plurality of the television channels with non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the multiplexer includes an override channel at an input terminal coupled to the trigger inserter, the override channel being capable to carry non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided, in a plurality of the television channels, to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a trigger mixer coupled to receive a television signal and coupled to the trigger inserter to receive non-programming-related trigger information from the trigger inserter, the trigger mixer capable to mix the non-programming-related trigger information into the received television signal.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein one of the paths to provide the address information to the remote control device via different communication paths includes a path that uses a cable modem in a client terminal to receive the non-programming-related trigger information from the interactive video casting system.

20. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a headend having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for a corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with Programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television programs, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to a client terminal, the client terminal being capable to tune to a first channel to receive a television signal therein and to tune to a second channel to receive the obtained trigger information unrelated to the television signal received via the first channel, the client terminal further being capable to send the received obtained trigger information to the remote control device.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to the remote control device by way of a communication link independent of the client terminal.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the trigger processor is coupled to provide the obtained trigger information to the client terminal by way of a cable modem connection.

24. The system of the claim 21 wherein the headend is coupled to receive an instruction from the remote control device to obtain and store trigger information from a television program in a particular television channel that is tuned to prior to tuning to another television channel.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the instruction instructs the headend to obtain and store trigger information from television programs based on viewer preferences.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the storage unit is capable to store a viewer preference related to determination of which triggers to obtain.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising a trigger inserter coupled to the multiplexer to overload at least some of the television channels with non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the multiplexer includes an override channel as an input, the override channel capable to carry non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device in at least some of the television channels.

29. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a broadcast center having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for a corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels, wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television programs, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device,

wherein a client terminal for a television for the interactive video casting system is coupled to present supplemental content corresponding to trigger information on the television,

wherein the television includes a screen to display supplemental content available from the interactive video casting system,

wherein the client terminal is capable of being communicatively coupled to the interactive video casting system to receive the trigger information from the interactive video casting system and is coupled to present at least some of the supplemental content on the screen of the television in addition to television signals from television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system includes a plurality of content sources communicatively coupled to a plurality of broadcast centers,

wherein the broadcast centers are coupled to storage mediums to store at least some of the supplemental content to be made available to the client terminal, and

wherein the interactive video casting system is capable to provide the trigger information to the remote control device via different communication channels, including at least one of a plurality of television broadcast channels and a communication channel with a communication network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the broadcast center comprises part of a satellite delivery system.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the interactive video casting system comprises an interactive television system.

32. An interactive video casting system, comprising:

a broadcast center having a multiplexer to multiplex a plurality of input television signals for corresponding plurality of television channels, wherein at least some of the television signals are accompanied by supplemental content including trigger information associated with programming on respective television channels;

a trigger processor coupled to the multiplexer to obtain the trigger information from at least some of the television channels;

a remote control device configured and arranged for providing user input to the system, the remote control device comprising a storage unit on the remote control device; and

a storage unit coupled to the headend to store the trigger information obtained by the trigger processor from the television channels, wherein the interactive video casting system is configured and arranged to allow the user to individually identify as a user preference one or more television programs, from the plurality of television channels, for which trigger information will be provided to the remote control device for storage in the storage unit on the remote control device for later retrieval from the storage unit on the remote control device,

wherein a client terminal for a television for the interactive video casting system is coupled to present supplemental content corresponding to trigger information on the television,

wherein the television includes a screen to display supplemental content available from the interactive video casting system,

wherein the client terminal is capable of being communicatively coupled to the interactive video casting system to receive the trigger information from the interactive video casting system and is coupled to present at least some of the supplemental content on the screen of the television in addition to television signals from television channels,

wherein the interactive video casting system includes a plurality of content sources communicatively coupled to a plurality of broadcast centers,

wherein the broadcast centers are coupled to storage mediums to store at least some of the supplemental content to be made available to the client terminal, and

wherein the interactive video casting system is capable to provide the trigger information to the remote control device via different communication paths, including at least one of a plurality of television broadcast channels and a communication path with a communication network; and

a trigger inserter coupled to the multiplexer to insert non-programming-related trigger information in at least one of the television channels.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the trigger inserter is coupled to the multiplexer to overload a plurality of the television channels with non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the multiplexer includes an override channel at an input terminal coupled to the trigger inserter, the override channel being capable to carry non-programming-related trigger information that is to be provided, in a plurality of the television channels, to at least one of a client terminal coupled to a television and the remote control device.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising a trigger mixer coupled to receive a television signal and coupled to the trigger inserter to receive non-programming-related trigger information from the trigger inserter, the trigger mixer capable to mix the non-programming-related trigger information into the received television signal.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein one of the paths to provide the address information to the remote control device via different communication paths includes a path that uses a cable modem in a client terminal to receive the non-programming-related trigger information from the interactive video casting system.