Hyperlinked media objects in personal video recording

• US 7,793,330 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jerding, Dean F., Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHELEHEDA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/388,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 725/136, 725/112, 725/142, 725/32, 725/134
• US Class Current: 725/142
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/218 Source of audio or video content , e.g. local disk arrays details of retrieval in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods of utilizing hyperlinks in connection with video services are disclosed. One such method includes receiving a video program having a start time. This method also includes receiving, before the start time, a media object associated with the video program. This method also includes storing the media object, and displaying the media object and the video program on a screen.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) for utilizing hyperlinks in connection with video services, the method comprising:

receiving by the DHCT a video program having a scheduled start time;

receiving by the DHCT, before the start time, a plurality of media objects associated with the video program, the plurality of media objects comprising all of the media objects associated with the video program that are scheduled to be displayed during a presentation of the video program;

storing a parent directory in a non-volatile storage device coupled to the DHCT, the parent directory comprising a service identifier corresponding to a service that provides the video program, the parent directory comprising plural sub-directories, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to an interval of time relative to a current interval of time, each of the plural sub-directories enabling access to zero or more of the plurality of the media objects presentable during presentation of the video program during the respective interval of time, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the interval of time relative to the current interval of time comprising a single state file;

alternately tracking one of plural state files corresponding to one of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the current interval of time, wherein alternately tracking comprises tracking, at a first instance of the current interval of time, a first of the plural state files comprising a location of a first media object destined for output during an interval associated with the one of the plural sub-directories, and wherein alternately tracking comprises tracking, at a second instance of the current interval of time, a second of the plural state files comprising a location to find a second media object associated with another of the plural sub-directories; and

providing for display the plurality of media objects and the video program on a screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video program is associated via a hyperlink.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media objects and video program are received via a single tuner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video program is received via a transport stream and the plurality of media objects is received as private data in the transport stream.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a video program-independent media object at the DHCT, the video program-independent media object having a presentation time that is independent of triggers in the video program and corresponds to an unscheduled event, the video program-independent media object stored in the non-volatile storage device in advance of the unscheduled event.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving the video program-independent media object from the non-volatile storage device responsive to the unscheduled event.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the unscheduled event is a weather alert or a notification from an application different from a controlling application associated with provision of the video program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first of the plural state files further comprises a table, the table comprising a first entry associated with the first media object, the first entry comprising plural data fields, the plural data fields comprising a first data field and a second data field, the first data field corresponding to a status regarding future use of the first media object, the second data field corresponding to a sub-directory path and file name of the first media object.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to the status indicating that the first media object is no longer to be used in subsequent intervals of time relative to the current interval of time, designating a portion of the non-volatile storage device used for storing the first media object to be written over or re-assigned.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to the status indicating that the first media object is to be used in a subsequent interval of time relative to the current interval of time, designating a portion of the non-volatile storage device used for storing the first media object as not to be written over or re-assigned.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing for display further comprises:

providing for display simultaneously the video program and one or more of the plurality of media objects without requiring user interaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing for display further comprises:

providing for display one of the plurality of media objects responsive to manipulation of a cursor on an object residing in a scene of the displayed video program, the object in the displayed video program displayed without a graphic overlay prompt.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one of the media objects displayed responsive to manipulation of the cursor comprises feedback directly informing a user whether a link is available for the object residing in the scene.

14. A system:

a non-volatile storage device;

a memory encoded with programming code; and

a processor configured to execute the code to;

receive, before a start time of a video program, a plurality of media objects associated with the video program, the plurality of media objects comprising all of the media objects associated with the video program that are scheduled to be displayed during a presentation of the video program;

store a parent directory in the non-volatile storage device to facilitate access to the plurality of media objects, the parent directory comprising a service identifier corresponding to a service that provides the video program, the parent directory comprising plural sub-directories, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to an interval of time relative to a current interval of time, the plural intervals of time equal in duration, each of the plural sub-directories enabling access to zero or more of the plurality of the media objects presentable during presentation of the video program during the respective interval of time, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the interval of time relative to the current interval of time comprising a single state file;

alternately track one of plural state files corresponding to one of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the current interval of time by;

tracking, at a first instance of the current interval of time, a first of the plural state files comprising a location of a first media object destined for output during an interval associated with the one of the plural sub-directories, and

tracking, at a second instance of the current interval of time, a second of the plural state files comprising a location to find a second media object associated with another of the plural sub-directories; and

provide for display the plurality of media objects and the video program on a screen.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first of the plural state files further comprises a table, the table comprising plural entries associated respectively with a first portion of the plurality of media objects, the plural entries comprising a first entry associated with the first media object, the first entry comprising plural data fields, the plural data fields comprising a first data field and a second data field, the first data field corresponding to a status regarding future use of the first media object, the second data field corresponding to a sub-directory path and file name of the first media object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the code to:

designate a portion of the non-volatile storage device used for storing the first media object to be written over or re-assigned responsive to the status indicating that the first media object is no longer to be used in subsequent intervals of time relative to the current interval of time.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the code to:

designate a portion of the non-volatile storage device used for storing the first media object as not to be written over or re-assigned responsive to the status indicating that the first media object is to be used in a subsequent interval of time relative to the current interval of time.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the code to:

receive a video program-independent media object at the DHCT, the video program-independent media object having a presentation time that is independent of triggers in the video program and corresponds to an unscheduled event, the video program-independent media object stored in the non-volatile storage device in advance of the unscheduled event.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the code to:

receive the video program-independent media object from the non-volatile storage device responsive to the unscheduled event; and

provide for display the media object, the media object configured as a sprite, wherein the unscheduled event is a weather alert or an email notification, and the sprite depicts a graphic of a user-perceived weather-related object associated with the weather alert or an envelope associated with the email notification.

20. A method, comprising:

storing a parent directory in the non-volatile storage device to facilitate access to a plurality of media objects stored in the non-volatile storage device and associated at least in part with a video program, the parent directory comprising a service identifier corresponding to a service that provides the video program, the parent directory comprising plural sub-directories, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to an interval of time relative to a current interval of time, the plural intervals of time equal in duration, each of the plural sub-directories enabling access to zero or more of the plurality of the media objects presentable during presentation of the video program during the respective interval of time, each of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the interval of time relative to the current interval of time comprising a single state file;

alternately tracking one of plural state files corresponding to one of the plural sub-directories corresponding to the current interval of time by tracking, at a first instance of the current interval of time, a first of the plural state files comprising a location of a first media object destined for output during an interval associated with the one of the plural sub-directories, and tracking, at a second instance of the current interval of time, a second of the plural state files comprising a location to find a second media object associated with another of the plural sub-directories; and

providing for display the plurality of media objects and the video program on a screen.