System and method in a television receiver for providing user-selection of objects in a television program

• US 9,098,128 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/850,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/113, 725/112, 725/110, 725/63, 725/64, 725/60, 715/204, 348/80, 348/734, 340/12.54, 705/26, 705/26.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/438 : Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 : involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 : involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 : using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 : for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47805 : Electronic banking banking in general G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• 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 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/845 : Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method in a television receiver (e.g., a television receiver external to a television) for providing user-selection of objects in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a user-selected object in television programming, the method comprising:

in a television receiver;

receiving television programming for presentation on a screen of a television;

receiving information of user-selectable objects in the received television programming;

communicating the television programming and the information of the user-selectable objects in the television programming for presentation on the screen of the television;

determining an on-screen pointing location pointed to by a controller apparatus;

identifying a subset of the user-selectable objects in the television programming in a region associated with the determined on-screen pointing location; and

selecting, by a processor in the television receiver in response to the identifying of the subset of the user-selectable objects, a user-selectable object with the highest monetary value from the identified subset of user-selectable objects in the region, wherein a monetary value is associated with the respective user-selectable objects in the subset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises:

determining respective regions of the television screen associated with respective user-selectable objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises receiving said information embedded in a same data stream as a stream communicating the television programming to the television receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises receiving said information in a data stream communicated in parallel with a stream communicating the television programming to the television receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming is communicated with the television programming without being requested by the television receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises timing information associated with the selectable objects.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises information defining respective regions of the television programming associated with respective selectable objects in the television programming.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information defining respective regions of the television programming associated with the respective selectable objects comprises information describing movement of the respective regions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises low-pass filtering a plurality of determined on-screen pointing locations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicated television programming comprises real-time broadcast television programming received by the television receiver and communicated for presentation on the screen in real time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the communicated television programming is user-stored; and

the information identifying selectable objects is user-stored.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising generating a signal comprising characteristics adapted to cause the television to generate a user output indicating the identified user-selectable object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said generated signal comprises characteristics adapted to cause the television to overlay a graphical feature coinciding with the identified user-selectable object on the television programming as the television programming is presented to the user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the television receiver is external to the television.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the monetary value associated with a user-selectable object comprises an advertising fee associated with the user-selectable object.

16. A television receiver comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

receive television programming for presentation on a screen of a television;

receive information identifying user-selectable objects in the television programming

communicate the television programming for presentation on the screen of the television;

determine an on-screen pointing location pointed to by a television remote control device;

identify, by a processor in the television receiver, a user-selectable object from a subset of user selectable objects in the television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location and a highest monetary value associated with the subset of user-selectable objects; and

communicate information indicating the identified user-selectable object for presentation.

17. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to identify a user-selectable object in the television programming by, at least in part, operating to:

determine respective regions of the television screen associated with respective user-selectable objects; and

identify a user-selectable object in the television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location and the determined respective regions.

18. The television receiver of claim 17, wherein said at least one module is operable to identify a user-selectable object in the television programming by, at least in part, operating to:

determine a region of the television screen associated with the on-screen pointing location;

determine respective user-selectable objects associated with the region; and

select a user-selectable object in the region at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on a duration for which the user-selectable object has been displayed in the television programming.

19. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to receive information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming by, at least in part, operating to receive said information embedded in a same data stream as a stream communicating the television programming to the television receiver.

20. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to receive information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming by, at least in part, operating to receive said information in a data stream communicated in parallel with a stream communicating the television programming to the television receiver.

21. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming is communicated with the television programming without being requested by the television receiver.

22. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises timing information associated with the selectable objects.

23. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the information identifying the user-selectable objects in the television programming comprises information defining respective regions of the television programming associated with respective selectable objects in the television programming.

24. The television receiver of claim 23, wherein the information defining respective regions of the television programming associated with the respective the user-selectable objects comprises information describing movement of the respective regions.

25. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine the on-screen pointing location by, at least in part, operating to low-pass filter a plurality of determined on-screen pointing locations.

26. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to identify a user-selectable object by, at least in part, operating to identify a closest user-selectable object to the determined on-screen pointing location.

27. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the at least one module is operable to generate a signal comprising characteristics adapted to cause the television to generate a user output indicating the identified user-selectable object.

28. The television receiver of claim 27, wherein said generated signal comprises characteristics adapted to cause the television to overlay a graphical feature coinciding with the identified user-selectable object on the television screen as the television programming is presented.

29. The television receiver of claim 27, wherein said generated signal comprises characteristics adapted to cause the television remote control device to overlay a graphical feature coinciding with the identified user-selectable object on the screen of the television remote control device.

30. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the television receiver is external to the television.

31. The television receiver of claim 16, wherein the television programming is not an electronic program guide.

32. A method for identifying a user-selected object in television programming, the method comprising:

in a television receiver;

communicating television programming for presentation on a screen of a television, the television programming comprising user-selectable objects;

determining an on-screen pointing location pointed to by a user of the television;

identifying, by a processor in the television receiver, a user-selectable object from a subset of user selectable objects in the television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location and a highest monetary value associated with the subset of user-selectable objects.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the identifying comprises identifying the user-selectable object in the television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the history of the selection of the user-selectable object by the user.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the identifying comprises identifying the user-selectable object in the television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the newness of the user-selectable object, wherein the newness is based on a duration for which the user-selectable object has been displayed on the television screen.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the television programming is not an electronic program guide.