Mosaic channel video stream with personalized interactive services

• US 8,949,895 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shanks, David E., Thompson, Matthew J., Shurgot, Mark A., Feldstein, David E., Purpura, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US11/833,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,741 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/43, 725/47
• US Class Current: 725/43
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream. An interactive matrixed video channel displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising an area within the video cell reporting data related to the video feed, a cursor, which is moveable between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that a video program associated with the selected video cell is selectable via the cursor, and at least one selection screen, associated with the video information, wherein selections of at least one individual participant are made and statistics related to the selected individuals are displayed on the video monitor based on performance of the at least one individual participant.

Claims

1. A system for providing user-selectable interactive matrixed video information, comprising:

a transmitter, for transmitting one or more signals having a plurality of channels, including an interactive video channel and a plurality of viewer channels, wherein;

each viewer channel comprises video information of an associated one of a plurality of video feeds, each depicting an associated one of a plurality of athletic contests;

the interactive video channel comprises first interactive matrixed video information for presentation on a first screen, comprising;

a plurality of concurrently presented and user-selectable first video cells, each of the plurality of first video cells depicting an associated one of the plurality of video feeds depicting the associated one of the athletic contests;

wherein user selection of a selected one of the plurality of first video cells replaces the first screen with a second screen comprising;

the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells,

a second plurality of user-selectable video cells, the second plurality of video cells presenting a first depiction of a status of at least some of the athletic contests depicted in the other of the plurality of video feeds, the second plurality of user-selectable video cells arranged about a periphery of the video feed on the second screen in a configuration comprising an L-wrap configuration; and

wherein the second screen comprises;

a depiction of a first control wherein user selection of the first control replaces the second screen with a third screen having a full-screen presentation of the selected one of the first video cells;

a depiction of a second control wherein user selection of the second control replaces the second plurality of video cells with another second plurality of video cells, each of the another second plurality of video cells presenting a first depiction of a status of other of the plurality of athletic contests, the other of the plurality of athletic contests not depicted in the plurality of first video cells; and

a depiction of a third control wherein user selection of the third control replaces the second screen with the first screen.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein further user selection of one of the second plurality of video cells replaces the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells with the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the further selected one of the second plurality of second video cells.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the concurrently presented user-selectable first video cells comprises:

a second depiction of the status of the athletic contest associated with the concurrently presented user selectable first video cells, the second depiction comprising a graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the athletic contests are football contests, and the graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest comprises:

a possession indicator, having a length indicating a current field position of a team currently in possession of a football of the football contest.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate that the current field position of the associated team in possession of the football is in a red zone.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate when the associated team in possession of the football scores.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second screen comprises:

a first portion for presenting the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the first video cells; and

a second portion presenting the second plurality of user-selectable video cells about a periphery of the first portion;

wherein the first portion comprises more than half of the second screen.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth control for presenting statistics for the athletic contest associated with a user selected one of the second plurality of user-selectable video cells.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein user selection of the selected one of the plurality of first video cells tunes a receiver to the viewer channel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the second plurality of user-selectable video cells excludes the video feed of the associated athletic contest.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the athletic contests depicted in the plurality of video feeds is a live athletic contest.

12. A method of providing interactive video services, comprising:

transmitting one or more signals having a plurality of channels, including an interactive video channel and a plurality of viewer channels, wherein;

each viewer channel comprises video information of an associated one of a plurality of video feeds, each depicting an associated one of a plurality of athletic contests;

the interactive video channel comprises first interactive matrixed video information for presentation on a first screen, comprising;

a plurality of concurrently presented and user-selectable first video cells, each of the plurality of first video cells depicting an associated one of the plurality of video feeds depicting the associated one of the athletic contests;

wherein user selection of a selected one of the plurality of first video cells replaces the first screen with a second screen comprising;

the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells,

a second plurality of user-selectable video cells, the second plurality of video cells presenting a graphical first depiction of a status of at least some of the athletic contests depicted in the other of the plurality of video feeds, the second plurality of user-selectable video cells arranged about a periphery of the video feed on the second screen in a configuration comprising an L-wrap configuration; and

wherein the second screen comprises;

a depiction of a first control wherein user selection of the first control replaces the second screen with a third screen having a full-screen presentation of the selected one of the first video cells;

a depiction of a second control wherein user selection of the second control replaces the second plurality of video cells with another second plurality of video cells, each of the another second plurality of video cells presenting a first depiction of a status of other of the plurality of athletic contests, the other of the plurality of athletic contests not depicted in the plurality of first video cells; and

a depiction of a third control wherein user selection of the third control replaces the second screen with the first screen.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein further user selection of one of the second plurality of video cells replaces the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells with the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the further selected one of the second plurality of second video cells.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the concurrently presented user-selectable first video cells comprises:

a second depiction of the status of the athletic contest associated with the concurrently presented user selectable first video cells, the second depiction comprising a graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the athletic contests are football contests, and the graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest comprises:

a possession indicator, having a length indicating a current field position of a team currently in possession of a football of the football contest.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate that the current field position of the associated team in possession of the football is in a red zone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate when the associated team in possession of the football scores.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the second screen comprises:

a first portion for presenting the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the first video cells; and

a second portion presenting the second plurality of user-selectable video cells about a periphery of the first portion;

wherein the first portion comprises more than half of the second screen.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising a fourth control for presenting statistics for the athletic contest associated with a user selected one of the second plurality of user-selectable video cells.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein user selection of the selected one of the plurality of first video cells tunes a receiver to the viewer channel.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the athletic contests depicted in the plurality of video feeds is a live athletic contest.

22. A method of providing user-selectable interactive matrixed video information, comprising:

receiving one or more signals having a plurality of channels, including an interactive video channel and a plurality of viewer channels, wherein;

each viewer channel comprises video information of an associated one of a plurality of video feeds, each depicting an associated one of a plurality of athletic contests;

the interactive video channel comprises first interactive matrixed video information for presentation on a first screen, comprising;

a plurality of concurrently presented and user-selectable first video cells, each of the plurality of first video cells depicting an associated one of the plurality of video feeds depicting the associated one of the athletic contests;

accepting a user selection of a selected one of the plurality of first video cells; and

replacing the first screen with a second screen comprising;

the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells,

a second plurality of user-selectable video cells, the second plurality of video cells presenting a first depiction of a status of at least some of the athletic contests depicted in the other of the plurality of video feeds, the second plurality of user -selectable video cells arranged about a periphery of the video feed on the second screen in a configuration comprising an L-wrap configuration; and

wherein the second screen comprises;

a depiction of a first control wherein user selection of the first control replaces the second screen with a third screen having a full-screen presentation of the selected one of the first video cells;

a depiction of a second control wherein user selection of the second control replaces the second plurality of video cells with another second plurality of video cells, each of the another second plurality of video cells presenting a first depiction of a status of other of the plurality of athletic contests, the other of the plurality of athletic contests not depicted in the plurality of first video cells; and

a depiction of a third control wherein user selection of the third control replaces the second screen with the first screen.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

accepting a further user selection of one of the second plurality of video cells; and

replacing the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the plurality of first video cells with the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the further selected one of the second plurality of second video cells.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the concurrently presented user-selectable first video cells comprises:

a second depiction of the status of the athletic contest associated with the concurrently presented user selectable first video cells, the second depiction comprising a graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the athletic contests are football contests, and the graphical depiction of the status of the athletic contest comprises:

a possession indicator, having a length indicating a current field position of a team currently in possession of a football of the football contest.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate that the current field position of the associated team in possession of the football is in a red zone.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein each of the possession indicators further indicate when the associated team in possession of the football scores.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the second screen comprises:

a first portion for presenting the video feed transmitted by the viewer channel associated with the selected one of the first video cells; and

a second portion presenting the second plurality of user-selectable video cells about a periphery of the first portion;

wherein the first portion comprises more than half of the second screen.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising a fourth control for presenting statistics for the athletic contest associated with a user selected one of the second plurality of user-selectable video cells.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein user selection of the selected one of the plurality of first video cells tunes a receiver to the viewer channel.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the athletic contests depicted in the plurality of video feeds is a live athletic contest.