Playback of interactive programs

• US 7,386,221 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Pierre, Ludovic, Dureau, Vincent, Delpuch, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONUAKU, CHRISTOPHER O
• Application Number:
  US11/205,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/45, 386/68, 386/83, 386/125, 386/126, 725/9, 725/39, 725/45, 725/61
• US Class Current: 386/343
• 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.

Claims

1. A method for playback of a program, said method comprising:

initiating playback of a television program from a storage device, wherein said television program includes one or more interactive applications which are associated with the television program;

launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program;

initiating a special play mode of said program;

conveying an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode;

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

said first interactive application setting its state in response to receiving said indication; and

terminating said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is not configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting said first interactive application comprises comparing a validity range associated with said first interactive application to a current playback index of said television program and determining that said current playback index is within said validity range.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said validity range comprises a begin time and an end time, and wherein said current playback index comprises a relative time index.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising storing said television program, wherein storing said program comprises extracting from said program one or more data objects and storing said data objects on said storage device as a set of files.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising storing said television program, wherein said program is stored on said storage device as a data stream.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said program includes control signals configured to affect an execution state of said interactive application during playback of said television program, and wherein said indication includes one or more of said control signals.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said control signals included in said indication correspond to a portion of said television program normally encountered during normal playback of said program, but which was not encountered as a result of initiating said special play mode.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state by generating a query to ascertain a current position in playback of the program and setting its state to a first state which corresponds to said current position.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal, wherein said broadcast signal contains said program;

storing said program on said storage device; and

wherein said receiving and storing precede said initiating of said playback.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing said storage device with said program stored therein.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising conveying one or more signals selected from the group consisting of:

application kill signals;

application launch signals;

application pause signals;

application resume signals;

trick mode start notifications;

trick mode end notifications;

seek notifications;

module notifications;

trigger notifications; and

accelerated version notifications.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

terminating said special play mode;

conveying a kill signal to said first interactive application in response to detecting said first interactive application is not available at a position in playback of the program subsequent to terminating said special play mode; and

launching a second interactive application in response to detecting said second interactive application is available at said position in playback.

13. A device comprising:

a receiver; and

a storage device coupled to said receiver, wherein said storage device is configured to store a program including one or more interactive applications and provide said program to said receiver for playback;

wherein said receiver is configured to;

launch a first interactive application of said applications in response to said detecting said first interactive application during playback of said program;

initiate a special play mode of-said program;

convey an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

terminate said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is not configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state in response to receiving said indication.

14. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein in detecting said first interactive application said receiver is configured to compare a validity range associated with said first interactive application to a current playback index of said television program and determine whether said current playback index is within said validity range.

15. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein said validity range comprises a begin time and an end time, and wherein said current playback index comprises a relative time index.

16. The device as recited in claim 15, wherein said receiver is configured to extract from said program one or more data objects and store said data objects on said storage device as a set of files.

17. The device as recited in claim 15, wherein said receiver is configured to store said program on said storage device as a data stream.

18. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein said program includes control signals configured to affect an execution state of said interactive application during playback of said television program, and wherein said indication includes one or more of said control signals.

19. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein said control signals included in said indication correspond to a portion of said television program normally encountered during normal playback of said program, but which was not encountered as a result of initiating said special play mode.

20. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein said first interactive application is configured to generate a query to ascertain a current position in playback of the program and set its state to a first state which corresponds to said current position.

21. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein said receiver is configured to receive a broadcast signal containing said program.

22. The device as recited in claim 13, further comprising providing said storage device with said program stored therein.

23. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the receiver is further configured to:

terminate said special play mode;

convey a kill signal to said first interactive application in response to detecting said first interactive application is not available at a position in playback of the program subsequent to terminating said special play mode; and

launch a second interactive application in response to detecting said second interactive application is available at said position in playback.

24. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the receiver is further configured to convey one or more signals selected from the group consisting of:

application kill signals;

application launch signals;

application pause signals;

application resume signals;

trick mode start notifications;

trick mode end notifications;

seek notifications;

module notifications;

trigger notifications; and

accelerated version notifications.

25. A method for playback of a program, said method comprising:

initiating playback of a television program from a storage device, wherein said television program includes one or more interactive applications which are associated with the television program;

launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program, wherein detecting said first interactive application comprises comparing a validity range associated with said first interactive application to a current playback index of said television program and determining that said current playback index is within said validity range;

initiating a special play mode of said program;

conveying an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode;

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes; and

said first interactive application setting its state in response to receiving said indication.

26. A method for playback of a program, said method comprising:

initiating playback of a television program from a storage device, wherein said television program includes one or more interactive applications which are associated with the television program;

launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program;

initiating a special play mode of said program;

conveying an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode;

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes; and

said first interactive application setting its state in response to receiving said indication, wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state by generating a query to ascertain a current position in playback of the program and setting its state to a first state which corresponds to said current position.

27. A method for playback of a program, said method comprising:

initiating playback of a television program from a storage device, wherein said television program includes one or more interactive applications which are associated with the television program;

launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program;

initiating a special play mode of said program;

conveying an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode;

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

said first interactive application setting its state in response to receiving said indication;

terminating said special play mode;

conveying a kill signal to said first interactive application in response to detecting said first interactive application is not available at a position in playback of the program subsequent to terminating said special play mode; and

launching a second interactive application in response to detecting said second interactive application is available at said position in playback.

28. A device comprising:

a receiver; and

a storage device coupled to said receiver, wherein said storage device is configured to store a program including one or more interactive applications and provide said program to said receiver for playback;

wherein said receiver is configured to;

launch a first interactive application of said applications in response to said detecting said first interactive application during playback of said program, wherein in detecting said first interactive application said receiver is configured to compare a validity range associated with said first interactive application to a current playback index of said television program and determine whether said current playback index is within said validity range;

initiate a special play mode of-said program; and

convey an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state in response to receiving said indication.

29. A device comprising:

a receiver; and

a storage device coupled to said receiver, wherein said storage device is configured to store a program including one or more interactive applications and provide said program to said receiver for playback;

wherein said receiver is configured to;

launch a first interactive application of said applications in response to said detecting said first interactive application during playback of said program;

initiate a special play mode of-said program; and

convey an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state in response to receiving said indication, wherein said first interactive application is configured to generate a query to ascertain a current position in playback of the program and set its state to a first state which corresponds to said current position.

30. A device comprising:

a receiver; and

a storage device coupled to said receiver, wherein said storage device is configured to store a program including one or more interactive applications and provide said program to said receiver for playback;

wherein said receiver is configured to;

launch a first interactive application of said applications in response to said detecting said first interactive application during playback of said program;

initiate a special play mode of-said program;

convey an indication of said special play mode to said first interactive application in response to;

detecting the initiation of said special play mode; and

detecting said first interactive application is configured to operate in conjunction with special play modes;

terminate said special play mode;

convey a kill signal to said first interactive application, in response to detecting said first interactive application is not available at a position in playback of the program subsequent to terminating said special play mode; and

launch a second interactive application, in response to detecting said second interactive application is available at said position in playback;

wherein said first interactive application is configured to set its state in response to receiving said indication.