Interactive computer system for providing an interactive presentation with personalized video, audio and graphics responses for multiple viewers

• US 5,861,881 A
• Filed: 02/08/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Freeman, Michael J., Harper, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/598,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 395/762, 395/806, 395/807, 395/173, 395/174, 395/327, 395/328, 434/307 R, 434/308, 364/514 A, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 345/302, 345/473, 345/474, 345/327, 345/328, 707/501
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/042 Codec means
• 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 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4758 : for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 : involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 : the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• 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 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

The present invention is an interactive computer system which may operate on a computer network. Subscribers interact with a fully interactive programthrough the use of input devices and a personal computer or a television. The multiple video/audio datastreams may be received from a broadcast transmission source or may be resident in local or external storage. In response to user inputs, a personalized graphics, video and/or audio presentation is provided to the user either immediately or at a later time. If not presented immediately, the interactive computer system utilizes "trigger points" to determine when to enable multiple multimedia segments during the show. The CPU uses embedded or stored authoring commands for integrating the various multimedia elements. The interactive multimedia computer enables seamless flicker-free switching from one signal to another on the same or different channels.

Claims

1. An interactive computer work station for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation, comprising:

a means for receiving an integrated audio, graphics and video presentation, the presentation comprising a common audio and plurality of video signals, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options;

a means for interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

a means, connected to the interaction means, for determining an appropriate personalized feedback response, wherein the feedback response may consist of video, audio and graphics segments and the selected feedback response is based on one or more user selected options; and

a means, connected to the determination means, for presenting the appropriate personalized feedback response to the viewer and seamlessly switching between the video signals to create a visually transparent segway between video signals, wherein the appropriate personalized feedback response may occur immediately after user selection or at a later predetermined time in the integrated presentation.

2. The interactive computer work station of claim 1, wherein the interactive computer work station further comprises:

a plurality of video sources, each source storing one of the plurality of video signals, wherein least one of the video signals contains data commands;

a means, connected to at least one video source, for extracting data commands, wherein the data commands comprise branching codes;

wherein the determination means comprises;

a means for detecting the branching codes; and

a means, connected to the detection means, for processing the branching codes, wherein the personalized feedback response is based on the branching codes and the user selected options.

3. The interactive computer work station of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio card, connected to the determination means, for storing the plurality of different audio segments.

4. An interactive computer work station for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation, comprising:

a receiver, for receiving a common video signal and a plurality of different video signals, wherein at least one of either the common video or the different video signals has embedded data commands, the data commands comprising branching codes and trigger points;

a means for displaying an integrated audio, graphics and video presentation, the presentation comprising a common audio and the common video signal, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options;

a means, connected to the receiver, for extracting data commands;

a means for interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

a means, connected to the interaction and extracting means, for determining an appropriate personalized feedback response, wherein the feedback response may consist of one of the video signals, audio and graphics segments and the selected feedback response is based on one or more user selected options and the branching codes, whereby the feedback responses occur at predetermined trigger points, whereby the trigger point initiates the selection of the personalized response corresponding to an interactive even for presentation to the subscriber; and

a means, connected to the determination means, for presenting the appropriate personalized feedback response to the viewer and seamlessly switching between the video signals to create a visually transparent segway between the video signals, wherein the appropriate personalized feedback response may occur immediately after user selection or at a later predetermined time in the integrated presentation.

5. The interactive computer work station of claim 4 further comprising:

an audio card, connected to the determination means, for storing the plurality of different audio segments.

6. An interactive computer work station for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation, comprising:

a means for receiving interactive programming, the interactive programming comprising a plurality of video signals and audio signals;

a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;

a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals, and the selection of the video and audio signals is based on the branching codes and the received viewer entries; and

a means, connected to the microprocessor, for presenting the selected video and audio signal to the viewer, wherein the switch to the selected video signal is seamless thereby creating a visually transparent segway between the video signals.

7. A live interactive programming system, comprising:

an interactive computer workstation for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of video signals, audio signals, and branching codes, the workstation comprising;

a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;

a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries;

a means, connected to the microprocessor, for switching to the selected video signal, wherein the switch is seamless thereby creating a visually transparent segway between the video signals;

a means for displaying the selected video signal; and

a means for playing the selected audio signal.

8. The live interactive programming system of claim 7, wherein the different video signals correspond to different predetermined camera angles of an event.

9. The live interactive programming system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of video signals are digitally compressed.

10. The live interactive programming system of claim 7, wherein the live programming further contains graphics signals and the microprocessor selects one of the graphics signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the graphics signal a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries, and further comprising a means, connected to the microprocessor, for presenting the selected graphics signal on the display means.

11. The live interactive programming system of claim 7, wherein the display means presents at least one interrogatory to the viewer, the content of the interrogatory involving program options, and the viewer entries corresponds to collected entries from the viewer via the viewer interface in response to the interrogatories.

12. A live interactive digital programming system, comprising:

an interactive computer workstation for receiving live interactive programming, the live interactive programming comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video, audio, branching codes and graphics signals, the workstation comprising;

a viewer interface for receiving viewer entries;

a microprocessor, connected to the viewer interface, for selecting one of the video and audio signals and directing a switch to the selected video and audio signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the video and audio signals and the predetermined time of each selection a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries, wherein the switch to the selected video signal is seamless so as to create a visually transparent segway between video signals;

a demultiplexer, for demultiplexing the selected video and audio signals;

a decompressor/decoder, connected to the demultiplexer for decompressing the demultiplexed selected video and audio signals;

a means for displaying the selected video signal; and

a means for playing the selected audio signal.

13. The live interactive digital programming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of digitally compressed video signals corresponds to different predetermined camera angles of an event.

14. The live interactive digital programming system of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor selects one of the graphics signals at a predetermined time, the selection of the graphics signal a function of the branching codes and the received viewer entries, and further comprising a means, connected to the microprocessor, for presenting the selected graphics signal on the display means.

15. The live digital programming system of claim 12, wherein the display means presents at least one interrogatory to the viewer, the content of the interrogatory involving program options, and the viewer entries correspond to collected entries from the viewer via the viewer interface in response to the interrogatories.

16. A method for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation on a interactive computer work station, comprising the steps of:

receiving an integrated audio, graphics and video presentation, the presentation comprising a common audio and a plurality of video signals, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options;

interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

determining an appropriate personalized feedback response, wherein the feedback response may consist of video, audio and graphics segments and the selected feedback response is based on one or more user selected options; and

presenting the appropriate personalized feedback response to the viewer and seamlessly switching between the video signals to create a visually transparent segway between the video signals, wherein the appropriate personalized feedback response may occur immediately after user selection or at a later predetermined time in the integrated presentation.

17. A method for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation on an interactive computer work station, comprising:

receiving a common video signal and a plurality of different video signals, wherein at least one of the video signals has embedded data commands, the data commands comprising branching codes and trigger points;

a means for displaying an integrated audio, graphics and video presentation, the presentation comprising a common audio and the common video signal, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options;

extracting data commands;

interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

determining an appropriate personalized feedback response, wherein the feedback response may consist of video, audio and graphics segments and the selected feedback response is based on one or more user selected options and the branching codes, whereby the feedback responses occur at predetermined trigger points, whereby the trigger point initiates the selection of the personalized response corresponding to an interactive even for presentation to the subscriber; and

presenting the appropriate personalized feedback response to the viewer and seamlessly switching between the video signals to create a transparent segway between the video signals, wherein the appropriate personalized feedback response may occur immediately after user selection or at a later predetermined time in the integrated presentation.

18. An interactive computer work station for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation, comprising:

a television, wherein the television receives an integrated multimedia program, the program containing a common video signal and a plurality of different video signals, wherein at least one of the video signals has data commands, comprising;

a means for displaying an integrated audio, graphics and video presentation, the presentation comprising a common audio and the common video signal, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options; and

an interactive computer workstation, operably connected to the television set, comprising;

a means for receiving the integrated multimedia program;

a means, connected to the receiving means, for extracting data commands from at least one of the video signals, wherein the data commands comprise branching codes;

a means for interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

a microprocessor, connected to the interaction and extracting means, for determining an appropriate personalized feedback response based on one or more user selected options and the branching codes, wherein if at least part of the response includes switching to a selected video signal, the switch to the selected video signal is seamless in order to create visually transparent segway between video signals; and

a means, connected to the determination means, for sending commands to the television set to present on the display monitor the appropriate personalized feedback response for the viewer.

19. A computer network for presenting an integrated multimedia interactive presentation, comprising:

a video server, wherein the video server stores and processes interactive programs, comprising;

means for transmitting the interactive programs;

at least one interactive computer workstation, connected to the video server, comprising;

a means for receiving the interactive program, the interactive program comprising a common audio and common video signal and a plurality of different video signals, and at predetermined times, at least two selectable user options;

a means for interacting with the integrated presentation, wherein the user selects a selectable user option;

a means, connected to the interaction means, for determining an appropriate personalized feedback response, wherein the feedback response may consist of video, audio and graphics segments and the selected feedback response is based on one or more user selected options; and

a means, connected to the determination means, for presenting the appropriate personalized feedback response to the viewer and seamlessly switching between the video signals to create a visually transparent segway between the video signals, wherein the appropriate personalized feedback response may occur immediately after user selection or at a later predetermined time in the integrated presentation.