User interface for interactive television systems

• US 7,506,352 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blackketter, Dean J., Park, Timothy F., White, Christopher, Yaksick, Jeffrey D
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US11/083,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39- 43, 725/51, 725/61
• US Class Current: 725/61
• 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 ii 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 of changing television channels, the method comprising:

displaying a television program having an associated first channel;

changing to a second channel and displaying a television program associated with the second channel;

determining an interactive television mode status of the second channel from a channel status list; and

if the second channel is in an interactive television mode, then opening an interactive window.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further including recreating a previous status of the interactive window.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further including:

determining an online television mode status of the second channel from the channel status list; and

if the second channel is in an online television mode, then opening an associated web page.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a separate tuning device maintains the interactive television mode for each channel.

5. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

6. 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 television program having an associated first channel;

change to a second channel and display a television program associated with the second channel;

determine an interactive television mode status of the second channel from a channel status list; and

if the second channel is in an interactive television mode, then open an interactive window.

7. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 6 wherein the computer program, when executed by one or more processors, further causes the one or more processors to recreate a previous status of the interactive window.

8. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 6 wherein the computer program, when executed by one or more processors, further causes the one or more processors to:

determine an online television mode status of the second channel from the channel status list; and

if the second channel is in an online television mode, then open an associated web page.

9. An interactive television device configured to:

store a channel table that maintains an interactive mode status and an online mode status of one or more television channels, wherein the channel table indicates whether a television viewer has activated an interactive mode for an associated channel, and wherein the channel table further indicates whether the television viewer has activated an online mode for an associated channel;

display a television program having an associated first channel;

receive a television viewer request to change to a second channel;

determine, from the channel table, that the second channel is in an interactive mode;

determine, from the channel table, that the second channel is in an online mode;

if the second channel is in an interactive mode, then open an interactive window; and

if the second channel is in an online mode, then connect the interactive television system to a web page associated with the second channel.