System method for local meta data insertion

• US 20010037500A1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Zenoni, Ian, Huber, Tom, Hassell, Joel, Lemmons, Tom, Reynolds, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234345 the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• 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 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A data modification system and method for selective insertion of local meta data into an incoming data stream, the incoming data stream having a video data component and a meta data component. The data modification system comprises an incoming data terminal, a local data terminal, and a data modification unit coupled to the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal, wherein the data modification unit is adapted to selectively combine data from the incoming data tenninal and the local data terminal. The method comprises receiving a data signal, the data signal comprising a first data component and a second data component, separating the first data component from the second data component, determining whether to modify the second data component, retrieving a third data component from a database, merging the third data component with the first data component, and outputting the third data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal.

Claims

1. A data modification device, comprising:

an incoming data terminal;

a local data terminal;

a data distribution terminal; and

a data modification unit coupled to the incoming data terminal, the local data terminal, and the data distribution terminal, wherein the data modification unit is adapted to selectively combine data from the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal in accordance with an instruction set.

2. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the data modification unit comprises:

a data stripper;

a processor configured to execute the instruction set; and

an inserter.

3. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the data stripper is coupled to the incoming data terminal, the processor is coupled to the local data terminal, and the data insertion unit is coupled to the data distribution terminal.

4. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the incoming data terminal is adapted to receive a data signal from a broadcasting source.

5. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the incoming data terminal is adapted to receive a data signal that conforms to a TCP-IP standard.

6. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the incoming data terminal is adapted to receive a data signal that conforms to an ATVEF standard.

7. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the incoming data terminal is adapted to receive a data signal that conforms to a DOCSIS standard.

8. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the broadcasting source is an NTSC format.

9. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the broadcasting source is an MPEG2 format.

10. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the broadcasting source is an HDTV format.

11. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the broadcasting source is an DVD format.

12. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the broadcasting source is an DBS format.

13. The device of

claim 4

, wherein the data signal comprises a video data component and a meta data component.

14. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the local data terminal is adapted to receive a data signal from a storage device.

15. The device of

claim 14

, wherein the storage device is a recordable disk.

16. The device of

claim 14

, wherein the storage device is a RAM.

17. The device of

claim 14

, wherein the storage device is a computer database.

18. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the data distribution terminal is adapted to transmit a data signal to a distribution channel.

19. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the data stripper is adapted to separate an incoming signal into a video data component and a meta data component.

20. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the processor is a reprogrammable device.

21. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the processor is an ASIC.

22. The device of

claim 1

, further comprising a receiver adapted to display the combined data from the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal.

23. The device of

claim 22

, wherein the receiver is an NTSC enabled television.

24. The device of

claim 22

, wherein the receiver is an HDTV enabled television.

25. The device of

claim 22

, wherein the receiver is an MPEG2 enabled television.

26. The device of

claim 22

, wherein the receiver is an DVD enabled television.

27. The device of

claim 22

, wherein the receiver is an DBS enabled television.

28. A data modification system for selective insertion of local meta data into an incoming data stream, the incoming data stream having a video data component and a meta data component, the data modification system comprising:

an incoming data terminal;

a local data terminal; and

a data modification unit coupled to the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal,

wherein the data modification unit is adapted to selectively combine data from the incoming data terminal and the local data terminal.

29. The data modification system of

claim 28

, wherein the data modification unit comprises:

a data distribution terminal;

a data stripper coupled to the incoming data terminal;

a processor coupled to the local data terminal; and

a data insertion unit coupled to the data distribution terminal.

30. The data modification system of

claim 29

, wherein the processor is adapted to execute an instruction set.

31. A method of selectively modifying a data signal, comprising:

receiving a data signal, the data signal comprising a first data component and a second data component;

separating the first data component from the second data component;

determining whether to modify the second data component;

retrieving a third data component from a database;

merging the third data component with the first data component; and

outputting the third data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal.

32. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the first data component comprises a video component and the second data component comprises a meta data component.

33. The method of

claim 31

, wherein determining whether to modify the second data component is a logic function programmed into a processor.

34. The method of

claim 33

, wherein the processor is a reprogrammable circuit.

35. The method of

claim 33

, wherein the processor is an ASIC.

36. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the third data component replaces the second data component.

37. The method of

claim 31

, where the third data component is a local meta data component.

38. A method of selectively modifying a data signal, comprising:

receiving a data signal, the data signal comprising a first data component and a second data component;

separating the first data component from the second data component;

determining whether to modify the second data component;

if modification of the second data component is not required, then forwarding the second data component;

merging the second data component with the first data component; and

outputting the second data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal;

if modification of the second data component is required, then retrieving a third data component from a database;

forwarding the third data component;

merging the third data component with the first data component; and

outputting the third data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal.

39. The method of

claim 38

, wherein the first data component comprises a video data component, the second data component comprises a meta data component, and the third data component comprises a local meta data component.

40. The method of

claim 38

, wherein the third data component replaces the second data component.

41. A data modification system for selective insertion of local meta data into a data stream, the data stream having a video data component and a meta data component, the data modification system comprising:

a data stripper operative to separate the video data component from the meta data component;

a data storage device for storing the local meta data;

a processor coupled to the data storage device and the data stripper, the processor operative to selectively determine whether to replace the meta data component with the local meta data; and

a data insertion unit coupled to the processor, wherein the data insertion unit is operative to replace the meta data component with the local meta data.

42. A data modification system for selective insertion of local meta data into a data stream, the data stream having a video data component and a meta data component, the data modification system comprising:

means for separating the video data component from the meta data component;

means for storing the local meta data;

means for determining whether to replace the meta data component with the local meta data; and

means for replacing the meta data component with the local meta data.

43. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of selectively modifying a data signal, the method comprising:

receiving a data signal, the data signal comprising a first data component and a second data component;

separating the first data component from the second data component;

determining whether to modify the second data component;

if modification of the second data component is not required, then forwarding the second data component;

merging the second data component with the first data component; and

outputting the second data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal;

if modification of the second data component is required, then retrieving a third data component from a database;

forwarding the third data component;

merging the third data component with the first data component; and

outputting the third data component and the first data component to a distribution terminal.