Reprogrammable set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus

• US 20030117445A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonner, Alfred E., Hendricks, John S., Berkobin, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/42204 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4385 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/472 : 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 21/47214 : 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 21/4755 : 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• 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 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A terminal for a television program delivery system is described. The terminal stores programs locally. The terminal includes a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information, a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal having one or more programs including video, a memory in which the program signal is stored, a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt display of the information, and a means for transmitting the information to a display device. The terminal may receive a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions. The new instructions may be instructions for reprogramming the terminal.

Claims

1. A set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the received information and the program signal are stored;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the memory, that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data; and

a combiner, operably connected to the microprocessor, that combines the video with the generated menus, wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that reprograms the set top terminal.

2. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the reprogramming signal reprograms the instructions that prompt the generation of menus.

3. The set top terminal of claim 2, further comprising an instruction memory, operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein the instructions are stored in the instruction memory.

4. The set top terminal of claim 3, further comprising a menu memory, operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein a menu format is stored in the menu memory.

5. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein a menus comprise graphics, the set top terminal further comprising:

a graphics memory that stores compressed graphics;

a graphics decompressor, operably connected to the graphics memory and the combiner, that decompresses the compressed graphics and generates the menus; and

wherein the reprogramming signal reprograms the graphics stored in the graphics memory.

6. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor interprets the reprogramming signal.

7. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the set top terminal receives the reprogramming signal via the first input port.

8. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the set top terminal receives the reprogramming signal via the second input port.

9. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the reprogramming signal is sent from an operations center.

10. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the reprogramming signal is sent from a cable headend.

11. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the memory is a first memory and the set top terminal further comprises a second memory, operably connected to the microprocessor, which includes reprogramming software.

12. The set top terminal of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor interprets the reprogramming signal and directs the execution of the reprogramming software.

13. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one of the menus is generated using a menu format stored in the set top terminal and the reprogramming signal reprograms the stored menu format.

14. The set top terminal of claim 1, wherein the program signal is demultiplexed prior to being stored in the memory.

15. A system for delivering programs comprising:

the set top terminal of claim 1;

a cable headend, remotely located from the set top terminal; and

an operations center, remotely located from the set top terminal, wherein the information received by the first input port is transmitted from the operations center to the set top terminal.

16. A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

a first memory location, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;

a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data;

a second memory location, operably connected to the processor, that stores the menu generating instructions, wherein menu generating instructions are reprogrammable and the terminal receives a reprogramming signal that reprograms the menu generating instructions; and

means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the video and the generated menus to a display device.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor interprets the reprogramming signal.

18. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the program signal is demultiplexed prior to being stored in the memory.

19. A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal, that receives information, wherein the information includes menu data;

a second input port, located on an external face of the set top terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

a first memory location, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;

a microprocessor, operably connected to the first memory, that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the menu data;

a second memory location, operably connected to the processor, that includes reprogramming software; and

an output device, operably connected to the microprocessor, that outputs the video and the generated menus to a display device.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the terminal receives a reprogramming signal that causes the microprocessor to execute the reprogramming instructions.

21. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the program signal is demultiplexed prior to being stored in the memory.

22. A terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information;

a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;

a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the generation of menus, wherein the menus are generated using the information;

an output device, operably connected to the microprocessor, that outputs the generated menus to a display device; and

wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

23. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the reprogramming signal reprograms the instructions.

24. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the memory is a first memory and the terminal further comprises a second memory, operably connected to the microprocessor, which includes reprogramming software.

25. The terminal of claim 24, wherein the microprocessor interprets the reprogramming signal and directs the execution of the reprogramming software.

26. The terminal of claim 22, wherein at least one of the menus is generated using a menu format stored in the terminal and the reprogramming signal reprograms the stored menu format.

27. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the reprogramming signal prompts execution of a reprogramming process.

28. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the program signal is demultiplexed prior to being stored in the memory.

29. A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

a first input port, located on an external face of the terminal, that receives information;

a second input port, located on an external face of the terminal that receives a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

memory, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, in which the program signal is stored;

a microprocessor that executes instructions that prompt the display of the information;

means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device; and

wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

30. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the reprogramming signal reprograms the instructions.

31. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the memory is a first memory and the terminal further comprises a second memory, operably connected to the microprocessor, which includes reprogramming software.

32. The terminal of claim 31, wherein the microprocessor interprets the reprogramming signal and directs the execution of the reprogramming software.

33. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the information is displayed in a menu.

34. The terminal of claim 33, wherein the menu is generated using a menu format stored in the terminal and the reprogramming signal reprograms the stored menu format.

35. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the reprogramming signal prompts the execution of a reprogramming process.

36. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the program signal is demultiplexed prior to being stored in the memory.

37. A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving information;

means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

means, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, for storing the program signal;

means for executing instructions that prompt the display of the information; and

means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device, wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.

38. A terminal that stores programs locally, comprising:

means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving information;

means, located on an external face of the terminal, for receiving a program signal comprising one or more programs, the one or more programs including video;

means, operably connected to the first input port and the second input port, for storing the program signal;

means for generating menus using the received information; and

means, operably connected to the microprocessor, for transmitting the information to a display device, wherein the set top terminal receives a reprogramming signal that contains new instructions.