MPEG-4 remote communication device

• US 7,831,726 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Megeid, Magdy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/485,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,016 Days
• Field of Search: 709/246, 709/230, 709/236, 709/206, 709/207, 709/231, 709/220, 725 37- 38, 725/61, 715/530, 700/94, 375/285
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• 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 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

An MPEG-4 based multimedia system in connection with a service provider therefore, and a remote communication device therefore, is presented. The interactive content based remote communication unit simplifies and reduces the number of steps and buttons required for receiving interactive service by the use of MPEG-4 encoded data. Additionally, new ways are disclosed for the data processing at the service provider side. Further, an improved way of exchanging data between the service provider (broadcaster, cable provider) and the customer (viewer) is presented. Still further, there is disclosed how digital equipment (server, set-top box, remote control unit and display) involved in the data processing can be optimized for the task of controlling the available channel bandwidth and displaying the data.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a data signal on a first communication channel comprising a data stream including;

data encoded in a first format for representing an event; and

data encoded in a second format for representing information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event;

means for extracting the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event, represented by data encoded in a second format, from the data stream;

means for providing the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event to at least one predetermined remote control unit;

means for receiving a request from the predetermined remote control unit for the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event;

means for requesting from a service provider the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event indicated in the request from the predetermined remote control unit;

means for receiving data on a second communication channel comprising the requested at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event; and

means for providing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object indicated in the request from the remote control unit, received on the second communication channel, and associated with the event received on the first communication channel, to the remote control unit;

further comprising means for decoding the data stream representing the event to produce decoded data, and means for producing a display of the event in response to the decoded data, wherein the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event comprises external objects of additional information about the event, and a number of the external objects become invalid with the passage of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event is provided to more than one remote control unit and only the predetermined remote control communication unit is responsive to the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the data included in the data stream encoded in the first format for representing the event comprises MPEG-2 encoded data and the data encoded in the second format for representing the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event comprises MPEG-4 encoded data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the data signal receiving means receives the data signal comprising the data representing the event and the data representing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event via a first communications channel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for providing the request for at least one additional supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event to a service provider via one of either the first communications channel or a the second communications channel other than the first communications channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external objects are valid as long as the event is displayed on the main display device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data representing the at least one supplemental audio-visual objects comprises MPEG-4 encoded data.

8. A method of processing a signal comprising the steps of:

receiving a data signal on a first communication channel comprising a data stream including data encoded in a first format for representing an event and comprising data encoded in a second format for representing information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event;

extracting the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event from the data stream of the event;

providing the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event to a predetermined remote control unit;

receiving a request from the predetermined remote control unit for the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event;

requesting on a second communication channel the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event indicated in the request from the predetermined remote control unit;

receiving data on the second communication channel comprising the requested at least on supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event; and

providing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object indicated in the request from the remote control unit, received on the second communication channel, and associated with the event received on the first communication channel, to the remote control unit; and

further comprising the steps of decoding the data stream representing the event to produce decoded data, and producing a display of the event in response to the decoded data, wherein the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event comprises external objects of additional information about the event, and a number of the external objects become invalid with the passage of time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event comprises providing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event to more than one remote control communication unit and only the predetermined remote control unit being responsive to the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data included in the data stream encoded in the first format for representing the event comprises MPEG-2 encoded data and the data encoded in the second format for representing the information regarding the availability of at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event comprises MPEG-4 encoded data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of receiving the data signal comprises receiving the data signal comprising the data representing the event and the data representing the at least one supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event via a first communications channel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing the request for at least one additional supplemental audio-visual object associated with the event to a service provider via one of either the first communications channel or a the second communications channel.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the external objects are valid as long as the event is displayed on the main display device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data representing the at least one supplemental audio-visual objects comprises MPEG-4 encoded data.