Communicating Video Content

• US 20090320068A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHEN, WENGE
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• 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 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method is disclosed that includes receiving a selection of a channel at a set-top box device. In response to the selection of the channel, a still image associated with a program being transmitted via the selected channel is displayed at a display device. The method further includes receiving a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel at the set-top box device. At least a portion of the multicast stream is received while the still image is displayed at the display device. The method also includes transmitting the video content to the display device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating video content, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a channel at a set-top box device;

in response to the selection of the channel, transmitting a still image associated with a program being transmitted via the selected channel to a display device;

receiving a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel at the set-top box device, wherein at least a portion of the multicast stream is received while the still image is displayed at the display device; and

transmitting the video content to the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video content is transmitted to the display device in response to a selection of an accept channel command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the still image is received from a server of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the still image is selected from a plurality of still images.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of still images corresponds to a different program available via the selected channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the still image is further associated with a second program available via the selected channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is further available via a second channel that is different from the selected channel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data corresponding to a graphical user interface to the display device, wherein the graphical user interface includes an indicator of the selected channel and a plurality of indicators of selectable commands.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface includes a selectable accept channel indicator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the indicator of the selected channel includes a channel identifier, a network identifier, a program name, a type of program, a program audience rating, an elapsed program time, a remaining program time, a program start time, a program end time, a program summary, an actor name, a program host name, a program viewership, a video-on-demand availability indicator, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the selected channel is made using a next channel command, a previous channel command, a channel number input, a selection from a channel menu, a selection from a channel list, a selection from a program guide, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast stream is transmitted to the set-top box device via at least one Internet Protocol (IP) multicast-enabled router.

13. A set-top box device, comprising:

a channel change module configured to receive a selection of a channel;

an image control module configured to receive a still image associated with a program being transmitted via the selected channel and to transmit the still image to a display device coupled to the set-top box device; and

a video content control module configured to;

receive a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel including receiving at least a portion of the multicast stream while the still image is displayed at the display device; and

transmit the video content to the display device.

14. The set-top box device of claim 13, wherein the set-top box device is coupled to a switch of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system.

15. The set-top box device of claim 13, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) control module configured to transmit data corresponding to a graphical user interface to the display device, wherein the graphical user interface includes the still image, data related to the selected channel, and a plurality of indicators of selectable commands.

16. The set-top box device of claim 15, wherein the channel change module, the image control module, the video content control module, the GUI control module, or any combination thereof are stored within a shared memory device.

17. The set-top box device of claim 15, wherein the channel change module, the image control module, the video content module, the GUI control module, or any combination thereof are executable by a processor.

18. The set-top box device of claim 15, wherein the GUI control module is configured to determine a type of programming associated with the selected channel and to identify at least one other channel having a substantially similar type of programming.

19. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a selection of a channel at a set-top box device;

in response to the selection of the channel, transmit a still image associated with a program being transmitted via the selected channel to a display device;

receive a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel at the set-top box device, wherein at least a portion of the multicast stream is received while the still image is displayed at the display device; and

transmit the video content to the display device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the still image is associated with the program on a one-to-one basis.