Interactive television system and method having on-demand web-like navigational capabilities for displaying requested hyperlinked web-like still images associated with television content
First Claim
1. A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the system further comprises a media server which stores a plurality of still images, the method comprising:
- the video delivery system broadcasting one or more video channels and a first still image channel;
the subscriber television receiving said one or more video channels and said first still image channel;
displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein said one or more selection options includes a first selection option which indicates a request to view at least one still image;
receiving user input selecting said first selection option which indicates a request to view said at least one still image;
capturing said at least one still image from said first still image channel; and
the subscriber television displaying on the screen said at least one still image received on said first still image channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive broadcast television system. The system and method of the present invention may also be used for simulating an Internet home page on an interactive television system. The present invention thus supports hyperlinked web-like navigational capabilities in an interactive television system. According to the method of the present invention, the video delivery system provides or broadcasts one or more audio/video channels each comprising video content and also provides or broadcasts at least one still image channel comprising a plurality of still video images, preferably MPEG-2 compressed still images. The user or viewer can select options displayed on the television screen to view desired information. When the set top box receives user input selecting an option to view one of the linked still images, the set top box captures the requested image from the still image broadcast channel, stores the image in memory, and displays the captured still video image corresponding to the selection. The user can also request to view an image which is not currently being transmitted by the video delivery system. In this instance, the system provides user requested still images “on demand” on a dedicated “search” channel. The user can thus selectively navigate between the video content and stills in a web-like hyperlinked fashion.
211 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the system further comprises a media server which stores a plurality of still images, the method comprising:
-
the video delivery system broadcasting one or more video channels and a first still image channel; the subscriber television receiving said one or more video channels and said first still image channel; displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein said one or more selection options includes a first selection option which indicates a request to view at least one still image; receiving user input selecting said first selection option which indicates a request to view said at least one still image; capturing said at least one still image from said first still image channel; and the subscriber television displaying on the screen said at least one still image received on said first still image channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for providing web-like navigational capabilities in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the system further comprises a media server which stores a plurality of still images, the method comprising:
-
the video delivery system broadcasting a plurality of video channels each comprising video content; the video delivery system broadcasting one or more still image channels, each comprising still images; the subscriber television receiving said plurality of video channels and said one or more still image channels; displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein said one or more selection options includes a first selection option which indicates a request to view a first still image; receiving user input selecting said first selection option which indicates said request to view said first still image; if said first still image is not currently being broadcast by the video delivery system, the subscriber television system providing said request to the media server, the media server providing said first still image to the video delivery system in response to said request, the video delivery system broadcasting said first still image on a first still image channel in response to receiving said first still image from the media server; and if said first still image is currently being broadcast by the video delivery system, capturing said first still image from a second still image channel; and the subscriber television displaying on the screen said first still image. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An interactive television system which displays still video images related to video content, the system comprising:
-
a subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television receives a plurality of video channels each comprising video content and displays video content from one of said plurality of video channels, wherein said subscriber television also receives at least one still image channel comprising a plurality of still images; wherein said subscriber television is configured to display one or more selection options during display of video content, wherein said one or more selection options includes a first selection option which indicates a request to view a first still image; wherein said subscriber television is configured to receive user input selecting said first selection option; wherein the subscriber television system is configured to provide said request to the media server if said first still image is not currently being broadcast by the video delivery system, the media server being configured to provide said first still image to the video delivery system in response to said request, the video delivery system being configured to broadcast said first still image on a first still image channel in response to receiving said first still image from the media server; and wherein the subscriber television system is configured to capture said first still image from a second still image channel if said first still image is currently being broadcast by the video delivery system; and wherein said subscriber television is configured to receive and display said first still image in response to said request. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification