Advanced television system

• US 20080212949A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wachtfogel, Reuven, Richardson, David, Maissel, Jonathan, Silver, Yonatan, Tsuria, Yossef, Kipnis, Sholomo
• Application Number:
  US12/152,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/124
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• 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 21/4112 : having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4325 : 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 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• 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 21/4532 : 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 21/466 : Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/4782 : 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 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• 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 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/84 : using optical recording H04N5/80, H04N5/89, H04N5/91 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited addressable program; and storing the edited addressable program.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A broadcast system comprising:

a headend including a headend tagger for applying headend tags to program material being broadcast; and

a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, each said receiver-decoder receiving said program material being broadcast and including;

a receiver-decoder tagger for applying receiver-decoder tags to program material received by said receiver-decoder; and

a user actuated tagger for applying user actuated tags to said program material received by said receiver-decoder in response to user actuation.

36. A receiver-decoder for use in a broadcast system which includes a headend including a headend tagger for applying headend tags to program material being broadcast and a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, receiving said program material being broadcast, said receiver-decoder comprising:

a receiver-decoder tagger for applying receiver-decoder tags to program material received by said receiver-decoder; and

a user actuated tagger for applying user actuated tags to said program material received by said receiver-decoder in response to user actuation.

37. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein said receiver-decoder is located in a set top box.

38. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein said receiver-decoder tags are operative to override at least one of the headend tags.

39. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein said user actuated tags are operative to override at least one of the following:

at least one of the headend tags; and

at least one of the receiver-decoder tags.

40. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein at least one of the headend tags can not be overridden by any of the following:

the receiver-decoder tags; and

the user-actuated tags.

41. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein at least one of:

the headend tags, the receiver-decoder tags, and the user-actuated tags comprises a tag determining at least one of the following;

a program retrieval parameter; and

a content retrieval parameter.

42. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the receiver-decoder tags comprise a recording quality parameter determining a quality of recording of the program material.

43. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the user-actuated tags comprise a rating parameter determining a rating of the program as provided by the user.

44. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the program material comprises a commercial, and

the headend tags comprise at least one of the following:

at least one commercial parameter;

a parameter determining a request for additional information relating to at least one of the following;

the commercial; and

the program; and

a parameter determining expiration of the commercial after an event comprising at least one of the following;

a predetermined number of people having viewed the commercial; and

the user having viewed the commercial a predetermined number of times.

45. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the headend tags comprise a tag disabling one of the following:

fast-forward browsing through at least a portion of the program material; and

fast-backward browsing through at least a portion of the program material.

46. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the program material comprises two separate television programs for display simultaneously in a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode on a television screen, and the user-actuated tags comprise a tag determining a viewing selection for viewing only one of the two separate television programs on the full television screen.

47. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the headend tags comprises at least one tag determining at least one of the following information fields:

a type of the program material;

supplementary information accompanying the program material;

an associated audio channel in a language which differs from a language used in an original audio channel associated with the program material;

program delete enabled/disabled;

parental control associated with at least a portion of the program material;

an expiration time of the program material;

picture-in-picture availability;

a program title;

a time when the program material is broadcast;

a length of the program material;

a determination whether the program material is encrypted;

a compression format of the program material;

characteristics of the program material;

cancellation of material already transmitted in the program material;

selective routing of part of the program material to selected users;

context specific tagging; and

a media item.

48. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the receiver-decoder tags comprise at least one tag determining at least one of the following information fields:

a quality of recording of the program material;

a type of program material whose recording is required;

identifying information identifying a favorite program whose recording is required;

a time and a date when recording of program material is required;

existence of a review attached to the program material;

context specific tagging;

a media item; and

a category of the program material.

49. A receiver-decoder according to claim 36 and wherein the user-actuated tags comprise at least one tag determining at least one of the following information fields:

a program rating provided by the user;

a review of a program;

a request for additional information relating to a program;

a format of a program after editing operations;

at least one highlight in a program;

compression preferences for compressing a program prior to storage;

image manipulation; and

video wallpaper selection.

50. A communication method comprising:

operating a headend including a headend tagger for applying headend tags to program material being broadcast; and

causing a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations to receive said program material being broadcast and to apply receiver-decoder tags and user actuated tags to said program material received by at least one of said receiver-decoders.

51. A communication method according to claim 50 and wherein at least one of said receiver-decoders is located in a set top box.

52. A broadcast receiving method useful with a headend including a headend tagger which applies headend tags to program material being broadcast, the method comprising:

causing a receiver-decoder at a user location to receive said program material being broadcast and to apply receiver-decoder tags and user actuated tags to said program material received by said receiver-decoder.

53. A broadcast receiving method according to claim 52 and wherein said receiver-decoder is located in a set top box.