Digital television with subscriber conference overlay

• US 20030193559A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Fernandez, Fernandez & Associates LLP
• Original Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Inventors: Hu, Irene Y., Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• 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 21/42204 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Digital television system overlays subscriber two-way communication during broadcast program delivery to create virtual audience community. Individual or group billing and advertisement is personalized per DTV receiver program viewing and/or conferencing activity. Subscriber receiver includes camera and other media I/O device for multi-way video conferencing. Participants may be added or removed dynamically during programming or conferencing.

Claims

1. In a digital television system comprising a plurality of receivers coupled to a program source, a method for providing subscriber conferencing with program delivery comprising the steps of:

coupling a program source to a plurality of digital television (DTV) receivers;

delivering a program from the program source to the DTV receivers coupled thereto; and

enabling a conference between the coupled DTV receivers during program delivery.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

sending a billing message to one or more of the coupled DTV receivers according to program viewing or conferencing activity.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing to one or more coupled DTV receiver a personalized commercial message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

each coupled DTV receiver comprises a video camera, such that the conference comprises a multi-way video conference between coupled DTV receivers.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adding or removing a DTV receiver coupled to the program source during program delivery.

6. A digital television system comprising:

a program source; and

a plurality of digital television (DTV) receivers coupled to the program source;

wherein a program is deliverable from the program source to the DTV receivers, and a conference is enabled between the coupled DTV receivers

7. The system of claim 6 wherein:

each DTV receiver comprises a video camera, such that the conference comprises a video conference between coupled DTV receivers.

8. Digital television apparatus comprising:

a display, a camera, and an interface;

wherein the interface couples to a program source for presentation of a program by the display, the interface receiving a conference signal from a conference participant for presentation of a video conference by the display, and the camera generating a video signal for transmission to the conference participant.