Use of multiple embedded messages in program signal streams

• US 7,614,066 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Interactive Video Group, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Urdang, Erik G., Carlucci, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P
• Application Number:
  US10/428,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,378 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/114, 725/116, 725/138, 725/144, 725/146, 386/46, 386/83, 386/95
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/00 Colour television systems details H04N9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/00 : Television systems details H04N3/00, H04N5/00; methods or arrangements, for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00; selective content distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 : Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method of generating a program signal stream comprises creating a sequence of serial programs that include a first event and a second, later occurring event and inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the second event. The messages may be indicative of a time to the second event, as measured from each respective message of an elapsed time since the first event, to each respective message. Alternatively or in addition, the messages may be at equal time intervals between the first event and second events. The first and second events may be the start and end of a program or a program portion, such as a chapter, an advertisement, unscheduled content or an entire program, for example. At least one message indicative of the time to the second event may be inserted in the sequence of serial programs prior to the first event.

Claims

1. A method of generating a program signal stream, the method comprising:

creating a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event;

inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the second event, the plurality of messages including a message including both;

a time to the second event, as measured from said message; and

an elapsed time since the first event, to said message; and

operating a transmission device to transmit the sequence of serial programs including the inserted plurality of messages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs includes inserting messages at equally spaced time intervals between the first event and the second event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first event is a start of a program portion and the second event is an end of a program portion.

4. The method claim 3, wherein the program portion is one of a chapter, advertisement, unscheduled content or an entire program.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

inserting at least one additional message in the sequence of serial programs prior to the first event, indicative of the time to the second event, as measured from the at least one message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second event is a start of a program portion.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the sequence of serial programs to a set-top terminal.

7. A method of generating a program signal stream, the method comprising:

creating a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event;

inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the second event, each respective message including;

an anticipated time to the second event, as measured from the respective message, wherein the time to the second event being undetermined; and

an elapsed time since the first event, to the respective message; and

operating a transmission device to transmit the sequence of serial programs including the inserted plurality of messages.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing the sequence of serial programs to a cable system.

10. A method of generating a program signal stream, the method comprising:

creating a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event;

inserting a plurality of messages, at equally spaced time intervals, in the sequence of serial programs between the first event and the second event, each individual message in the plurality of messages including;

a time to the second event, as measured from the individual message; and

an elapsed time since the first event, to the individual message; and

operating a transmission device to transmit the sequence of serial programs including the inserted plurality of messages.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first event is a start of a program portion and the second event is an end of a program portion.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the program portion is an advertisement.

13. The method claim 11, wherein the program portion is one of a chapter, unscheduled content or an entire program.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inserting a message in the sequence of serial programs, prior to the first event, indicative of the time to the second event, as measured from said inserted message.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second event is a start of a program portion.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the time to the second event is undetermined, the method further comprising:

inserting a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs indicative of an anticipated time to the second event.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing the sequence of serial programs to a cable system.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing the sequence of serial programs to a set-top terminal.

19. A method of operating a system for presenting programming content, the method comprising:

operating an interface coupled to a processor to receive a sequence of serial programs, the sequence, including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event; and

wherein receiving said sequence of programs includes receiving a plurality of messages included in the sequence, the messages being between the first event and the second event, each respective message in the plurality of messages including;

a time to the second event, as measured from the respective message; and

a time since the first event, to the respective message.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the plurality of messages at equal time intervals.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first event is a start of a program portion and the second event is an end of a program.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first event is a start of an advertising portion and the second event is an end of the advertising portion, the method comprising:

inserting advertising starting at the start of the advertising portion; and

ending the insertion of advertising at the end of the advertising portion.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs between a third event prior to the first event and the second event.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the sequence of serial programs and the messages by a set-top terminal.

25. A method of operating a system for presenting programming content, the method comprising:

operating an interface coupled to a processor to receive a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event; and

wherein receiving said sequence of serial programs includes receiving a plurality of messages included in the sequence, each respective message including a time to the second event as measured from the respective message and an elapsed time since the first event to the respective message.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the messages are equally spaced so that the time between adjacent messages in the program sequence is the same.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first event is a start of a program portion and the second event is an end of a program portion.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first event is a start of an advertising portion and the second event is an end of the advertising portion.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving said sequence further includes:

receiving a plurality of messages in the sequence between a third event prior to the first event and the second event.

30. The method of claim 25,

wherein said sequence of serial programs is received from a cable system.

31. The method of claim 25,

wherein said receiver is included in a set-top terminal.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

taking action in response to at least one of the messages.

33. A system for generating a program signal stream, the system comprising:

a processor programmed to;

create a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event; and

insert a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the second event, the plurality of messages including a message including both;

a time to the second event, as measured from said message; and

an elapsed time since the first event to said message; and

an interface coupled to the processor, to receive the sequence of serial programs and send the sequence to another device.

34. A system for generating a program signal stream, the system comprising:

a processor programmed to;

create a sequence of serial programs, the sequence including a first event and a second event occurring after the first event; and

insert a plurality of messages in the sequence of serial programs, between the first event and the second event, at equal time intervals between the first event and the second event, each of the plurality of messages including a time to the second event, as measured from each respective message and an elapsed time since the first event, to each respective message; and

an interface coupled to the processor, to receive the sequence of serial programs and send the sequence to another device.