Method and apparatus for providing broadcast data services

• US 9,009,773 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hendricks, John S., Bonner, Alfred E., Wunderlich, Richard E., Berkobin, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US09/106,859
• Time in Patent Office: 6,132 Days
• Field of Search: 725/64, 725/89, 725/92, 725/100, 725/116, 725/131, 725/151, 725/85, 725/139, 725/140, 725/132, 725/152
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71

Abstract

A novel advanced set top terminal capable of digital decompression, menu generation, interactivity and other advanced functional capabilities for use in a television program delivery system (200) is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for upgrading existing set top terminals (220) to provide menu generation capability and advanced functional capabilities. The invention is particularly useful in television program delivery systems (200) with hundreds of channels of programming, providing (i) menu driven program selection through the addition of an upgrade module (300) or menu generation card and (ii) advanced functional capabilities using a set of hardware upgrades (e.g., 130) and/or an expansion card. Specifically, the invention is an upgradeable system that supports advanced set top functionality through the use of internal software, hardware upgrades, an upgrade module and/or expansion cards. The upgraded hardware generally includes a microprocessor, various input/output ports (e.g., 308), processing circuitry (e.g., 108) and memory (e.g., 116). The invention results in an upgraded set top terminal that supports: menu generation; picture-on-picture displays; program catalog services; interactive services; telephone caller identification; digital audio reception; VCR control; HDTV reception; and backyard satellite system interoperability, among other features and capabilities.

Claims

1. A set-top terminal (STT), comprising:

a modem, coupled to a first communication medium, the modem configured to receive user requested data from at least one of a plurality of online services via the first communication medium, wherein the first communication medium is a two-way communication medium;

a memory that stores programming instructions;

a first processor to execute the programming instructions in the memory;

a tuner, coupled to a cable headend via a two-way second communication medium and coupled to the first processor, for tuning to a particular frequency for receiving program signals from the cable headend via the second two-way communication medium, in response to instructions from said first processor, the program signals including programming data and menu data, the menu data providing being used by the first processor to generate alterable menu options for selecting one of the plurality of online services to establish communication with via the modem and the first two-way communication medium, for selling users subscriptions to services, and for allowing a user to view promotional menus on future programming events;

a display generation module coupled to the first processor that provides a representation of text and graphical information of the menu data received via the second two-way communication medium, wherein the representation is a promotional menu, which is generated when a numeric television channel is requested that does not exist, a virtual channel being created for presenting the promotional menu;

a control input interface, coupled only and directly to the first processor, that converts user inputs to provide control signals to the first processor, the control signals directing the first processor to selectively execute routines for tuning to the particular frequency, for accessing the on-line services over the first two-way communication medium from the menu option defined by the data contained in the program signal received from the cable headend over the second two-way communication medium, and for displaying the received user requested data on the display module;

an upgrade device having;

an upgrade memory for storing data related to interactive services;

an interactive software memory that stores programming instructions to provide the interactive services and other enhanced functionality including one or more of;

customized menus, interactive overlay menus, accessibility with online databases, and digital radio channels;

a second processor for providing additional upgrade functionality to the first processor, wherein the second processor accesses the programming instructions in the interactive software memory and processes data related to interactive services and storing the data related to interactive services in the upgrade memory; and

an upgrade interface, coupled directly only to the first processor and the upgrade device, for providing communication between the first processor and the second processor to implement the additional upgrade functionality.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received data from the on-line services is stored in a compressed manner, the data being decompressed for display on the video display.

3. The STT of claim 1, wherein the memory is one of a floppy disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk.

4. The STT of claim 1, wherein the modem connects to a specific on-line service when the specific on-line service is selected using the interface.

5. The STT of claim 1, wherein the modem includes a high data-rate transfer device, the device providing two-way communication between the apparatus and interactive services via the first communication medium.

6. The STT of claim 1, further comprising:

a decompressor coupled to the modem that decompresses compressed data; and

a converter coupled to the decompressor and the processor that converts digital data to NTSC analog signals, wherein MPEG data is converted to NTSC compatible display devices.

7. A menu system, comprising:

a menu generator that generates alterable menus using program signals containing programming data and menu data received by a tuner coupled to a cable headend via a first two-way communication medium, the menu generator processing the program signals obtained by the tuner by tuning to a particular frequency for receiving the program signals in response to user commands provided to the tuner, at least one of the generated alterable menus having an option for selecting one of the plurality of online services to establish communication with via a modem and a second two-way communication medium, wherein the generated alterable menus comprise a promotional menu for selling users subscriptions to services, and for allowing a user to view promotional menus on future programming events, the promotional menu being generated when a numeric television channel that does not exist is requested by a user, the request of the non-existent numeric television channel creating a virtual channel for presenting the promotional menu;

a first processor that controls the menu generator, the first processor accessing a memory for storing programming instructions, wherein the first processor accesses the programming instructions in the memory to communicate with the online services;

a control interface device coupled only and directly to the first processor, the interface device used to enter commands to navigate the generated alterable menus, wherein the alterable menus provide access to the online services via the modem and the second two-way communication medium;

an upgrade device having;

an upgrade memory for storing data related to interactive services;

an interactive software memory that stores programming instructions to provide the interactive services and other enhanced functionality including one or more of;

customized menus, interactive overlay menus, accessibility with online databases, and digital radio channels;

a second processor for providing additional upgrade functionality to the first processor, wherein the second processor accesses the programming instructions in the interactive software memory and processes data related to interactive services and storing the data related to interactive services in the upgrade memory; and

an upgrade interface, coupled directly only to the first processor and the upgrade device, for providing communication between the first processor and the second processor to implement the additional upgrade functionality.

8. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the menus include programming menus, selected programming menus related to corresponding television programs, the selected programming menus accessible during display of the corresponding television programs.

9. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the generated menus including a menu displaying on-line service providers for accessing the on-line services.

10. The menu system of claim 9, wherein the menu displaying on-line service providers is accessed by operation of a single push button on a remote control, the menu providing a connection to the on-line service provider by selecting a desired on-line service provider using a cursor and a select key on the remote control.

11. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the menu system is contained in a terminal connected to a television.

12. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the menus include video, graphics and textual information.

13. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the generated menus are displayed during television programming, the generated menus over laying the television programming, the processor detecting when interactive services are available with the television programming.

14. The menu system of claim 7, wherein the generated menus are displayed during television programming, the generated menus displayed in a picture-in-picture format during the television programming.

15. A television schedule system, comprising:

a television program delivery system, the television program delivery system providing television signals containing television programming, television programming instructions and menu data for generating alterable menu options to access the programming via a first two-way communication medium and to access at least one of a plurality of on-line services over a two-way second communication medium; and

a terminal coupled to the television program delivery system, a television and the telecommunications network, the terminal comprising,

a modem, coupled to the second two-way communication medium, the modem configured to receive user requested data from at least one of the plurality of on-line services via the second two-way communication medium;

a first memory for storing the user requested data received from the on-line services;

a second memory that stores programming instructions;

a first processor for accessing the second memory to process the programming instructions in the second memory to send connection signals and process the user requested data received from the on-line services and store the user requested data in the first memory for creating alterable menus for display on a display of the television, wherein the first memory and the second memory are coupled only to the first processor for providing data only to the first processor;

a tuner, coupled to a television program delivery system via the first two-way communication medium and coupled to the first processor, for tuning to a particular frequency for receiving program signals from the television program delivery system via the first two-way communication medium, in response to instructions from said first processor, the program signals including programming data and menu data, the menu data providing alterable menu options for selecting one of the plurality of online services to establish communication with via the modem and the first two-way communication medium, for selling users subscriptions to services, and for allowing a user to view promotional menus on future programming events;

a control interface, coupled only and directly to the first processor, for selecting television programs and interactive on-line services from the displayed menus;

an upgrade device having a second processor for providing additional upgrade functionality to the first processor; and

an upgrade interface, coupled directly only to the first processor and the upgrade device, for providing communication between the first processor and the second processor to implement the additional upgrade functionality;

wherein the terminal generates a promotional menu via a virtual channel when a non-existent numeric television channel is selected and provides access to the on-line services through the modem and the second two-way communication medium from the promotional menu generated from the menu data received via the first two-way communication medium.

16. A set top terminal, comprising:

means, coupled to a first communication medium, for receiving user requested data from at least one of a plurality of online services via the first communication medium, wherein the first communication medium is a two-way communication medium;

processing means for storing programming instructions;

first processing means to execute the programming instructions to communicate with the at least one of a plurality of online services;

means, coupled to a cable headend via a second two-way communication medium and coupled to the first processing, for tuning to a particular frequency for receiving program signals from the cable headend via the second two-way communication medium, in response to instructions from said first processing means, the program signals including programming data and menu data, the menu data being used by the first processing means to generate alterable menu options for selecting one of the plurality of online services to establish communication with via the means for receiving user requested data and the first two-way communication medium, for selling users subscriptions to services, and for allowing a user to view promotional menus on future programming events;

means, coupled to the first processing means, for providing a representation of text and graphical information of the menu data received via the second two-way communication medium, wherein the representation is a promotional menu, which is generated when a numeric television channel is requested that does not exist, a virtual channel being created for presenting the promotional menu;

control input interface means, coupled only and directly to the first processing means, for converting user inputs to provide control signals to the first processing means, the control signals directing the first processing means to selectively execute routines for tuning to the particular frequency, for accessing the on-line services over the first two-way communication medium from the menu option defined by the data contained in the program signal received from the cable headend over the second two-way communication medium, and for displaying the received user requested data on the means for providing a representation;

an upgrade device having;

an upgrade memory for storing data related to interactive services;

an interactive software memory that stores programming instructions to provide the interactive services and other enhanced functionality including one or more of;

customized menus, interactive overlay menus, accessibility with online databases, and digital radio channels;

a second processor for providing additional upgrade functionality to the processing means, wherein the second processor accesses the programming instructions in the interactive software memory and processes data related to interactive services and storing the data related to interactive services in the upgrade memory; and

an upgrade interface, coupled directly only to the first processor and the upgrade device, for providing communication between the first processor and the second processor to implement the additional upgrade functionality.