Interactive mosaic channel video stream with additional programming sources

• US 8,832,738 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, David E., Purpura, Richard F., Thompson, Matthew J., Shurgot, Mark A., Le, Craig, Shanks, David E
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US11/701,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,777 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interactive matrixed video channel presented on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. An interactive matrixed video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, and a text box, wherein statistical data is displayed within at least one of the group comprising the plurality of video cells and the text box, the statistical data generated from outside of the interactive matrixed video channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying an interactive matrixed video channel in a first screen having a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, the first screen comprising:

a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, the plurality of video cells including a user-selected video cell; and

a text box concurrently displayed with the plurality of video cells;

a control bar having a plurality of control bar icons presented concurrently with the plurality of video cells and the text box, the each of the control bar icons corresponding to only one of a plurality of user-selectable buttons of a remote control;

wherein;

statistical data related to video information being presented by the user-selected video cell and distinct from program guide data and previews of upcoming events distinct from program guide data are presented within at least one of the plurality of video cells simultaneously with the video information being presented and transmitted as part of the interactive matrixed video channel, the statistical data and the previews of upcoming events are generated from outside of the interactive matrixed video channel;

a user selection of only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control selects a second screen for presentation that replaces the first screen, the second screen and comprising user-scrollable information having one or more user-selectable further screens replacing the second screen upon selection by the user; and

the video feed associated with the user-selected video cell depicts a sporting event, and the user selection of the only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control presents a second program guide having programming of only the sporting event including future television coverage of the sporting event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first screen further comprises a cursor, for selecting the user selected video cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a barker cell that presents additional video and audio information that is selectable by the cursor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of video cells are grouped by genre.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is selected from a group comprising an Olympic Games, a NCAA basketball tournament, and a National Football League game schedule.

6. A system for delivering at least one interactive matrixed video channel for display in a first screen having a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, the first screen comprising:

at least one receiver, for receiving at least one downlink signal transmitted from at least one satellite, the at least one downlink signal related to at least one uplink signal from an uplink facility, the at least one receiver for providing a video signal generated from the at least one downlink signal for display by the video monitor the video signal comprising;

a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with a respective one of the plurality of individual video feeds, the plurality of video cells including a user selected video cell; and

a text box, displayed on the video monitor;

a control bar having a plurality of control bar icons presented concurrently with the plurality of video cells and the text box, the each of the control bar icons corresponding to only one of a plurality of user-selectable buttons of a remote control;

wherein;

the video signal includes statistical data related to video information of the user-selected video cell and distinct from program guide data and previews of upcoming events distinct from program guide data are included within at least one of the plurality of video cells, the statistical data and previews of upcoming events transmitted simultaneously with the video information of the user-selected cell, the statistical data being in the video signal as part of the at least one interactive matrixed video channel, wherein the statistical data and the previews of upcoming events are generated from outside of the interactive matrixed video channel;

a user selection of only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control selects a second screen for presentation that replaces the first screen, the second screen and comprising user-scrollable information having one or more user-selectable further screens replacing the second screen upon selection by the user; and

the video feed associated with the user-selected video cell depicts a sporting event, and the user selection of the only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control presents a second program guide having programming of only the sporting event including future television coverage of the sporting event.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the statistical data is further disposed within the text box.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the video signal further comprises a cursor for selecting the user selected video cell.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the video signal further comprises a barker cell that presents additional video and audio information that is selectable by the cursor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of video cells are grouped by genre.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the specific event is selected from a group comprising an Olympic Games, a NCAA basketball tournament, and a National Football League game schedule.

12. A system for displaying at least one interactive matrixed video channel in a first screen having a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, the first screen comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmitted interactive matrixed channel, for providing a video signal comprising;

a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, the plurality of video cells including a user-selected video cell; and

a text box, displayed on the video monitor;

a control bar having a plurality of control bar icons presented concurrently with the plurality of video cells and the text box, the each of the control bar icons corresponding to only one of a plurality of user-selectable buttons of a remote control;

wherein;

statistical data related to video information of the user-selected video cell and distinct from program guide data and previews of upcoming events distinct from program guide data are received along with the transmitted interactive matrixed channel and presented within at least one of the plurality of video cells simultaneously with the video information as part of the interactive matrixed video channel, wherein the statistical data and the previews of upcoming events are generated from outside of the interactive matrixed video channel;

a user selection of only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control selects a second screen for presentation that replaces the first screen, the second screen and comprising user-scrollable information having one or more user-selectable further screens replacing the second screen upon selection by the user; and

the video feed associated with the user-selected video cell depicts a sporting event, and the user selection of the only one of the user-selectable buttons of the remote control presents a second program guide having programming of only the sporting event including future television coverage of the sporting event.