Automatic switching between high definition and standard definition IP television signals

• US 20060184992A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A user interface receives a user selection of a video content item. The video content item is available in a high definition (HD) format and a non-HD format via a broadband network access line. A format selector automatically selects which format of the video content item from the HD format and the non-HD format to retrieve via the broadband network access line. The format is automatically selected based on at least one rule. A receiver receives the video content item via the broadband network access line in the format automatically selected by the format selector. A television display displays the video content item received by the receiver and in the format automatically selected by the format selector.

Claims

1. A television system comprising:

a user interface to receive a user selection of a video content item, the video content item being available in a high definition (HD) format and a non-HD format via a broadband network access line;

a format selector to automatically select which format of the video content item from the HD format and the non-HD format to retrieve via the broadband network access line, the format being automatically selected based on at least one rule;

a receiver to receive the video content item via the broadband network access line in the format automatically selected by the format selector; and

a television display to display the video content item received by the receiver and in the format automatically selected by the format selector.

2. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format when the television display is a most-recently powered-on television display of one or more television displays that are receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

3. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format when the television display is a most-recently-active television display of one or more television displays that are receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

4. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least rule comprises a rule to select the HD format based on a priority of the television display relative to at least one other television display that is receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

5. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format if an unused bandwidth of the broadband network access line is greater than a threshold.

6. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format if the user interface is part of a particular HD remote control having HD priority.

7. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format for one or more specified channels, and to select the non-HD format for other channels.

8. The television system of claim 1 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the non-HD format for one or more specified channels, and to select the HD format for other channels.

9. The television system of claim 1 wherein the video content item comprises an Internet Protocol television item.

10. The television system of claim 1 wherein the non-HD format is a standard definition format.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a video content item, the video content item being available in a high definition (HD) format and a non-HD format via a broadband network access line;

automatically selecting which format of the video content item from the HD format and the non-HD format to retrieve via the broadband network access line, the format being automatically selected based on at least one rule;

receiving the video content item via the broadband network access line in the format automatically selected by the format selector; and

displaying the video content item received via the broadband network access line and in the format automatically selected by the format selector.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format when the television display is a most-recently powered-on television display of one or more television displays that are receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format when the television display is a most-recently-active television display of one or more television displays that are receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least rule comprises a rule to select the HD format based on a priority of a television set relative to at least one other television set that is receiving video content via the broadband network access line.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format if an unused bandwidth of the broadband network access line is greater than a threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format if the user interface is part of a particular remote control having HD priority.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the HD format for one or more specified channels, and to select the non-HD format for other channels.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one rule comprises a rule to select the non-HD format for one or more specified channels, and to select the HD format for other channels.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the video content item comprises an Internet Protocol television item.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-HD format is a standard definition format.