Digital television with subscriber conference overlay

• US 7,355,621 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis S. Fernanadez
• Original Assignee: Dennis S. Fernanadez
• Inventors: Fernandez, Dennis S., Hu, Irene Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/059,611
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 348/14.14, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204, 725/133, 725/141, 725/183
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

Digital television system overlays subscriber two-way communication during broadcast program delivery to create virtual audience community. Individual or group billing and advertisement is personalized per DTV receiver program viewing and/or conferencing activity. Subscriber receiver includes camera and other media I/O device for multi-way video conferencing. Participants may be added or removed dynamically during programming or conferencing.

Claims

1. Integrated television conferencing apparatus with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

means for video-conferencing a television user comprising a DTV unit with a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-defined privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the program broadcast or data application comprises a professional football game, statistics or analysis, whereby a virtual game or simulation program is run locally by the user in common with the network processor.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the controller identifies a user media capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault, thereby enabling restricted, redirected, or reduced transmission effectively to improve such conference or access.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the controller or user uses an intelligent software agent to run a network search, thereby enabling selection of the program broadcast or data application for scheduled viewing, storage or delivery to the user or network processor.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the controller directs a personalized or targeted commercial or advertisement to the user or network processor for customized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively according to user or network processor action or commercial attribute, thereby enabling the controller to integrate, combine or mix graphically such commercial or advertisement with or within the program broadcast or data application.

6. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the controller authorizes or authenticates such conference or access via user or network processor smart-card, thereby enabling set-top television device authorization or authentication for internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, wireless or other delivery source of the program broadcast or data application.

7. Integrated television conference transaction method with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the step of:

transacting by a television user comprising a DTV unit video-conferencing with a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-defined privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services.

8. Method of claim 7 wherein:

the program broadcast or data application comprises a professional football game, statistics or analysis, whereby a virtual game or simulation program is run locally by the user in common with the network processor.

9. Method of claim 7 wherein:

the controller identifies a user media capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault, thereby enabling restricted, redirected, or reduced transmission effectively to improve such conference or access.

10. Method of claim 7 wherein:

the controller or user uses an intelligent software agent to run a network search, thereby enabling selection of the program broadcast or data application for scheduled viewing, storage or delivery to the user or network processor.

11. Method of claim 7 wherein:

the controller directs a personalized or targeted commercial or advertisement to the user or network processor for customized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively according to user or network processor action or commercial attribute, thereby enabling the controller to integrate, combine or mix graphically such commercial or advertisement with or within the program broadcast or data application.

12. Method of claim 7 wherein:

the controller authorizes or authenticates such conference or access via user or network processor smart-card, thereby enabling set-top television device authorization or authentication for internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, wireless or other delivery source of the program broadcast or data application.

13. Integrated television conferencing software with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

reconfigurable program or firmware for enabling a video-conference between a television user comprising a DTV unit and a network processor before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated centrally and overlaid functionally for management or coordination by a user transaction controller, the controller or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or data application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining user for television or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing services.

14. Software of claim 13 wherein:

the program broadcast or data application comprises a professional football game, statistics or analysis, whereby a virtual game or simulation program is run locally by the user in common with the network processor.

15. Software of claim 13 wherein:

the controller identifies a user media capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault, thereby enabling restricted, redirected, or reduced transmission effectively to improve such conference or access.

16. Software of claim 13 wherein:

the controller or user uses an intelligent software agent to run a network search, thereby enabling selection of the program broadcast or data application for scheduled viewing, storage or delivery to the user or network processor.

17. Software of claim 13 wherein:

the controller directs a personalized or targeted commercial or advertisement to the user or network processor for customized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively according to user or network processor action or commercial attribute, thereby enabling the controller to integrate, combine or mix graphically such commercial or advertisement with or within the program broadcast or data application.

18. Software of claim 13 wherein:

the controller authorizes or authenticates such conference or access via user or network processor smart-card, thereby enabling set-top television device authorization or authentication for internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, wireless or other delivery source of the program broadcast or data application.

19. ATSC-compliant digital video signal processor with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

a processor for video-conferencing a video user comprising an ATSC-compliant DTV unit with a network source before, while or after a program broadcast or video application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and access are integrated and overlaid functionally for management or coordination, the network source or processor restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or video application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or video application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles, whereby DTV content and conferencing are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same processor or network source that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or video application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria for both DTV content and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services; and

a digital video codec for processing an accessed or conferenced signal, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group.

20. Digital video signal processor of claim 19 wherein:

the program broadcast or video application comprises a sport or game, whereby a virtual game or simulation program is run during the sport or game access.

21. Digital video signal processor of claim 19 wherein:

the processor identifies a user media capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault, thereby enabling restricted, redirected, or reduced transmission of the conference or access.

22. Digital video signal processor of claim 19 wherein:

a software agent runs a network search of one or more program broadcast or video application.

23. Digital video signal processor of claim 19 wherein:

a personalized or targeted commercial or advertisement is accessed for customized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively, thereby enabling the processor to integrate, combine or mix graphically such commercial or advertisement with or within the program broadcast or video application.

24. Digital video signal processor of claim 19 wherein:

the conference or access is authorized or authenticated via a set-top television device coupled to internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, wireless or other delivery source of the program broadcast or video application.

25. ATSC-compliant digital video signal processing method with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the steps of:

video-conferencing a video user comprising an ATSC-compliant DTV unit with a network source before, while or after a program broadcast or video application is accessed and overlaid functionally from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, the network source or DTV unit restricting or permitting such overlaid user access to the program broadcast or video application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program broadcast or video application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles, such network source further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same network source or DTV unit that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or video application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or video classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria for both DTV content and conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services; and

processing an accessed or conferenced signal using a digital video codec.

26. Method of claim 25 wherein:

the program broadcast or video application comprises a sport or game, whereby a virtual game or simulation program is run during the sport or game access.

27. Method of claim 25 wherein:

a user media capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault is identified for enabling restricted, redirected, or reduced transmission of the conference or access.

28. Method of claim 25 further comprising step

of:

running a network search of one or more program broadcast or video application.

29. Method of claim 25 wherein:

a personalized or targeted commercial or advertisement is accessed for customized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively, such commercial or advertisement being integrated, combined or mixed graphically with or within the program broadcast or video application.

30. Method of claim 25 wherein:

the conference or access is authorized or authenticated via a set-top television device coupled to internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, wireless or other delivery source of the program broadcast or video application.

31. Functionally-overlaid advertising for ATSC-compliant DTV conferencing subscribers with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising steps:

monitoring at least one ATSC-compliant DTV virtual audience subscribing to a logical group, such group comprising a plurality of conferencing virtual audiences; and

advertising to at least one functionally-overlaid conferencing virtual audience;

wherein such overlaid virtual audience access to the advertising is restricted or permitted by censoring or authorizing selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more advertising class or title, such virtual audience conference being restricted or permitted by dynamically adding or removing such virtual audience to or from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby advertising and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of virtual audience access to the advertising according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more advertising classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining virtual audience for advertising or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal advertising and conferencing services.

32. Advertising of claim 31 wherein:

at least one of the conferencing virtual audience comprises a digital television, wherein the advertisement comprises a personalized game for execution by the digital television.

33. Advertising of claim 32 wherein:

the digital television runs an intelligent agent to search for one or more game application.

34. Advertising of claim 31 wherein:

the advertisement comprises a message targeted to one or more audience demographic interest or viewing activity.

35. DTV subscriber unit for real-time functionally-overlaid collaborative network gaming with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

a processor; and

an interface;

wherein the processor runs a game application locally or across a network via the interface in common with a DTV subscriber unit effectively running the game application, whereby the other subscriber is coupled via the interface to enable video conferencing or messaging between coupled subscriber units effectively playing the game application during such conferencing or messaging, the interface being coupled to a broadband system headend controller for centrally controlling access in common or selectively by one or more subscriber units to the conferencing or messaging and the game application, wherein the controller functionally overlays the game application that is accessed by a plurality of subscriber units, with the conference or messaging, the controller or processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application locally or across the network by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the gaming application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services.

36. Subscriber unit of claim 35 wherein:

the processor runs a software program or an intelligent agent for searching or transacting via the network, thereby enabling network delivery of or access to one or more multi-user game application.

37. Subscriber unit of claim 35 further comprising:

a user interface for displaying at least one screen element representing a subscriber playing the game application while conferencing or messaging.

38. DTV communication controller for providing functionally-overlaid real-time gaming and conferencing between multiple subscriber units with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

means for coupling to a first subscriber unit playing a multi-user game application; and

means for coupling to a DTV subscriber unit playing effectively the same multi-user game application;

whereby a video conference or message is enabled and functionally overlaid between both subscriber units while, after or before playing effectively the same multi-user game application, such that the communication controller functions effectively as a system headend controller in an integrated broadband services network for multi-user gaming and conferencing or messaging, thereby enabling centralized network control of subscriber access selectively by one or more subscriber units to both conferencing or messaging and multi-user game application services, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the game application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services.

39. Communication controller of claim 38 further comprising:

means for controlling or restricting access to the conference or message by an additional subscriber unit playing effectively the same multi-user game application.

40. The communication controller of claim 38 further comprising:

means for sending a message to the first or second subscriber unit adaptively or dynamically in response to such subscriber unit gaming, conferencing or messaging action, thereby enabling network transaction or billing according to gaming or conferencing usage by such subscriber unit.

41. Communication method between DTV subscriber units for functionally-overlaid real-time collaborative gaming with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising the steps of:

running a multi-user game application effectively in common by a plurality of DTV subscriber units locally or across a network; and

functionally-overlaid conferencing or messaging between the subscriber units via the network while running the multi-user game application;

wherein a system headend controller for multi-user gaming and conferencing or messaging controls access by one or more subscriber units to conferencing or messaging while, before or after such one or more subscriber units runs the multi-user game application, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the game application locally or across the network by censoring or authorizing one or more game application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more video conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the game application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data classes or titles for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining subscriber for both gaming and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing or messaging services.

42. Communication method of claim 41 wherein:

the multi-user game application comprises a simulated sports game, whereby a screen element representing at least one subscriber unit playing the multi-user game application is displayed during the conference or message.

43. Communication method of claim 41 wherein:

one or more subscriber unit receives a personalized message or bill for actual usage of or participation in such game application, conference or messaging.

44. Communication method of claim 41 wherein:

the conference and broadcast enabled to be accessed by a non-mobile subscriber unit comprising a residential or business set-top device, digital television, or personal computer.

45. Multi-user game application for DTV users with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

a simulator or gaming program for access by a plurality of DTV users via a network; and

means for functionally-overlaid conferencing between the users, thereby enabling a virtual community among on-line players;

wherein a broadband headend system processor for integrated multi-user gaming and conferencing controls access by one or more users to conferencing while, before or after one or more user accesses the simulator or gaming program, the processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid user access to the program by censoring or authorizing one or more program selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title, such processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing a DTV user to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by one or more pre-defining user for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services.

46. Application of claim 45 wherein:

one or more of the users is billable or receives an advertisement according to a controller for controlling user access to the program.

47. DTV integrated television gaming and conferencing console with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

means for functionally-overlaid conferencing a first user with a DTV integrated television gaming and conferencing user for video, audio or text messaging or conferencing before, while or after a television or gaming program broadcast or data application is accessed commonly by both users from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel, whereby such conference and common access are integrated functionally for management or coordination by a television or gaming access and user-conference controller coupled to users for delivering or enabling a combined broadband television gaming and conferencing service, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid user access to the program or application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program or application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference or message by dynamically adding or removing the DTV user to or from one or more conferencing or messaging active set or selected logical group, whereby television and conferencing or messaging services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of user access to the program broadcast or data application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates user conferencing or messaging according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing or messaging, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining user for both television and conferencing or messaging thereby enabling privately accessed personal television and conferencing or messaging services.

48. Console of claim 47 wherein:

the program broadcast or data application comprises a video game or simulation program run locally by one or more users, whereby the controller bills one or more user for gaming or conferencing service.

49. Console of claim 47 wherein:

the controller or console identifies a user capability or address, program or data content, or actual or possible channel bandwidth congestion or network connection fault according to a program for restricting, redirecting, or reducing transmission of the conference or access.

50. Console of claim 47 wherein:

the controller or console runs software for searching for the program broadcast or data application for delivery to or access by a virtual audience of users authorized for such delivery or access.

51. Console of claim 47 wherein:

the controller directs a narrowcast message to one or more user for customized or personalized screen display or incentive messaging dynamically or adaptively according to user action or commercial attribute, wherein the commercial, advertisement or message is integrated, combined or mixed with or within the program broadcast or data application.

52. Console of claim 47 wherein:

the controller authorizes the combined service by authenticating a set-top box or interface device coupled via internet, cable, satellite, optical fiber, microwave, MMDS, LMDS, or wireless channel.

53. In a networked DTV device, a programmable broadband functionally-overlaid service software with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

firmware or computer code for authorizing a functionally-overlaid conference between a first broadband subscriber unit and a DTV broadband subscriber unit before, while or after a program broadcast or data application is accessed from memory or via a network data interface or broadcast program channel by at least one subscriber unit, whereby both the conferencing and accessing are authorized by an integrated broadband service provider centrally coupled to such subscriber units, the service provider restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber unit access to the program broadcast or data application from memory or via the network by censoring or authorizing one or more program or application selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title, such service provider further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same service provider that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the program or application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for DTV content or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services.

54. Software of claim 53 wherein:

the program broadcast or data application is selectable programmably according to a software search, whereby a message adapted to such search is integrated, combined or mixed with or within the common program broadcast or data application.

55. In an interactive system comprising a data management system for authorizing DTV subscriber service with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing, a database comprising:

a database representing one or more DTV subscriber account authorized to access a program or data for online broadband service, and conduct a functionally-overlaid conference between authorized subscribers while, after or before such subscribers access the program or data;

wherein a controller authorizes the access to both the program or data and the conference, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber access to the program or data by censoring or authorizing one or more program or data selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV unit to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby DTV content and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the program or application according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or application class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for DTV content or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal DTV content and conferencing services.

56. Database of claim 55 wherein:

the program or data comprises one or more multi-user gaming or digital television program or signal, whereby a plurality of authorized subscribers access in common the multi-user gaming or digital television program or signal, while, after or before the conference is conducted between the plurality of subscribers.

57. In an interactive network device for accessing a gaming program or data signal and conferencing with DTV interactive network device while, before or after accessing the same program or data signal, a method for integrating functionally-overlaid broadband service with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising steps of:

outputting by a DTV network device interactively a gaming program or data signal; and

integrating functionally in such output at least one participant accessing the gaming program or data signal,

wherein a controller coupled centrally to each conferencing network device authorizes access by a plurality of participants to the gaming program or data signal while, before or after the authorized participants conduct a conference with each other, the controller restricting or permitting one or more overlaid participant access to the gaming program or data signal by censoring or authorizing one or more gaming program or data signal selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title, such controller further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV device to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller that functionally overlays management or coordination of participant access to the gaming program or data signal according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining participant for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services.

58. A set-top gaming device for coupling to a DTV media output with centrally-integrated personalized screening of DTV content overlaid with conferencing comprising:

a DTV set-top processor, and a network interface;

wherein the set-top processor enables a functionally-overlaid conference by a subscriber with another subscriber during, before or after access by both subscribers to a multi-subscriber gaming program;

the media output generating an integration of one or more conferencing subscriber and the accessed gaming program, wherein a controller couples to the network interface for authorizing centrally the access and conference as a combined subscription service for on-line gaming community, the controller or processor restricting or permitting one or more overlaid subscriber access to the gaming program by censoring or authorizing one or more gaming program selectively according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program class or title, such controller or processor further enabled to restrict or permit the conference by dynamically adding or removing the DTV subscriber to or from one or more conferencing active set or selected logical group, whereby gaming and conferencing services are centrally integrated for personalized screening such that effectively the same controller or processor that functionally overlays management or coordination of subscriber access to the gaming program according to privately pre-defined content-screening criteria using one or more program or data class or title for censoring or authorizing such access, also manages or coordinates conferencing according to privately pre-defined active set or selected logical group for restricting or permitting such conferencing, such centralized integration of screening criteria being pre-definable privately by a pre-defining subscriber for gaming or conferencing thereby enabling privately accessed personal gaming and conferencing services.