CA2444294C - Television program delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

An expanded television program delivery system is described which allows viewers to select television and audio program choices from a series of menus. The primary components of the system include an operations center, a digital cable headend, and at least one set top terminal having a remote control. The system allows for a great number of television signals to be transmitted by using digital compression techniques. A combined signal is transmitted over satellite to a cable headend, which may modify the combined signal for changes or additions in programming or menu content. The combined or modified signal is subsequently distributed to individual set top terminals in the cable network. Menus are partially stored in a set top terminal in each subscriber's home and may be reprogrammed by signals sent from the operations center or headend. Numerous types of menus may be used, incorporating information included within the video/data signal received by the set top terminal. A remote control unit with icon buttons allows a subscriber to select programs based upon a series of major menus, submenus, and during program menus. Various data gathering and analysis techniques are used to compile programs watched information that in turn is used in packaging programs, customizing menu selections, targeting advertisements, and maintaining account and billing information.

Description

TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY' SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATIONS
S This is a divisional application of Canadian patent application serial number 2,151,462 which is the Canadian National Phase of PCT
International application number PCTfEJS93/I1706 filed 2 December 1993 (02.12.93).

The invention relates to television entertainment systems for providing television programming to consumer homes. More particularly, the invention relates to user ~'0 9~ttlLE3 FCT C'S93. I i'ae

2 frten~ily system for providing eonsmners with television pr~gramming choices.
Advances in televisian entertainment have been primarily driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939.
advances on Vladmir Zwaryieira°s picture tube provided the st~ulus for I~IHC to begin its first regular broadcasts. In 19'T5, advances in satellite technology provided consumers with increased progrannnaing to homes.
Many of these technolog,~ brea~kth~roughs have produced inconvenient systems for consumers. One exaaxple is the ubiquitous three remote control home. having a separate and unique remote control for the 'I1~', cable box and VCR More recently, technology has provided cable users in certain parts of the country with 100 channels of programming. 'This increased progra~x capacity is beyond the ability of many eonsurners to use effecttveIy. N~ method of managing the program choices has been provided to consumers.
Consumers are dennanding that future advances in television entertainment, particularly pro~ams and program choices. be presented to the eonsu~aer tn a user friendly manner. Consumer preferences, instead of technological breakthroughs, will drive the television entertainment market for at Ieast the ne~et 20 years. As computer vendors have experienced a switch from marketing nevr technology tn 2 5 computer hardvrare to marketing better useabillty, interfaces and service. sac television entertainment industry will also experience a switch from new technology driving the market to consumer useability driving the market.
Consumers v~ant products incorporating nevi technology that are useful, and vrtll no Ionger purchase new technology for the salts of novelty or status. Technological advances in s~phisticated hardware are beginning to surpass P t WO l4lLi~E3 ~T,'t;533iI1'Oti

3 the capability of the average consumer to use the new technology. Careful engineering must be done to make entertainment products incorporating near technology useful and desired by consuaners.
In order far new television entertainment products to be successful, the products must satisfy consumer demands.
T"~I consumers wish to go from limited viewing choices to a variety of choices, from no control of programming to complete control. Consumers wish to advance from Z O cumbersome and inconvenient television to easy and convenient television and keep costs down. Consumers do not wish to pay for one hundred channels when due to lack of programming information, they seldom, if ever. watch prograauning on raany of these chaa~.nels.
°I'he concepts of interactive television, high definition television and 300 channel cable systems in consuuaer homes mill not sell if they are not packaged, delivered and presented in a useable fashion to consumers. The problesa is that TV
programming is not being presented to consuazers in a user a 0 friendly per.
Consuasers are already being bombarded with prograaaming options. numerous °fres° cable channels.
subscription cable channels aa~d pay-per-view choices. Any further increase in '1'V entertainment choices. without a user friendly presentation and approach, will likely bewilder viewers with a mind-numbing array of' choices.
that is needed is an economical system which can present television programs through a user friendly interface which allows the consumer to ily select from among the anany pmgrana choices.

ff ~'O 9.u t i:~33 P~T.t S 93, I ! 706 what is needed is .a system capable of handling hundreds of programs in different formats. be expandable for future types of programming and be inexpensive.
What is need is a system for organizing programming to be o~'ered to viewers.
What is needed is a television program delivery system that Gan be operated in a distributive fashion and controlled from one or more national centers.
V~hat is needed is a television program delivery system l0 that operates in the digital audioOvideo environment.
'~~hat is needed is a ;system capable of packaging hundreds of television programs for delivery to subscribers.
UVVhat is needed is a system that analyses data on programs watched by viewers.
What is needed is a system capable of monitoring account and billing inforuaation for hundreds of prograyn offerings.
What is needed is a system that assists the consumer with pmgrara selection.
2 Q What is needed fs a systeia that provides subscribers wish rnenu-driven access to hundreds of telrviston programs.
''What is needed is a system that accommodates digital decompression and digital si g eapabitibes.
The present invention is addressed to fulfill thase 2 5 needs.
~tltl~dLAIt~,~' >~TENTiOI~f This invention is a digital television pro delivery system. Specifically, the present invention is a digital 30 television pmgraza delivery system that provides subscribers with menu-driven access to an expanded television program package.

i z w'O 9~1I1.t~3 E'CT-t 593 t 114 The invention snakes use of developments in digital compression sigz-.allng that allows much greater tht°aughput of television program signals over existing transmission media.
These developments allow ~ubscrtbers to use the present invention to exploit a four-fold or more increase in currtnt program delivery capability. In particular, the present invention provides subscribers with a menu-driven access scheme to an e~cpanded television program lineup, enabling subscribers to access and view selected programs using a user I0 friendly interface.
'This interface ineludes a remote control and a series of menus that may be sequenced by the subxriber using siraplt alpha. numeric and iconic character access keys, or by moving a cursor or highlight bar on the television screen. In I5 this ro~ay. subscribers can advance fronn one menu to the next with the press of a single buttor,~. Different television programs, grouped by category. rnay be selected and accessed from each menu. As a result, the present invention provides subscribers with a convenient method of choosing a program 2~ for viewing from hundreds of program offerings.
'fhe present invention uses several basic system components. namely. ti3 at least one operations center, where the television prograaas are pacl~ged and control information is created and then assembled in the .form of digital data. tiii 25 a digital coaapression system. where the television pro g signals end digital data may tx compressed and processed for digital transmission over satellite to a cable headend for subsequent distribution over a cable network.
and tiii) a set of in-home decomprcssors or set top terminals.
3t? which provide subscribers with digital decompression. digital signaling snd menu generation capabilities. Each of these r , WO 9~4ILiZa3 PCT',"C543~11 basic system components plays an important role in the system's swerall operation.
The operations center includes a eomputer assisted packaging system, (CAP), which makes use of the necessary hardware and software to control and transmit programming sisals over a television delivery system. The CAP creates the program lineup or packagtng of programs and the packaging of menu and control information for later tzransmission and use at the cable headend. ',l"rransmission of control information enables the operations renter to change .
allocation of programs across physical channels, update menu information. reprogram menu formats and menu flow, and ehange or augment a packaged program signal sent to a particular region of the country.
Once the programming signals have been packaged.
compressed and processed for digital transmission, these signals are sent along with the control information to the cable headend. Each cable headend typically includes signal proctssing hardware and software capable of receiving.
repaclsaging/combining and routing program signals to the subscriber homes.
Each cable headend in the television delivery system also includes a network controller that manages the con8guratio~t of the set top to 's and processes signals received from the set top terminals, gathering programs watched data. The network controller modifies the control information to accommodate changes and additions in progra~m~ing and advertisements. working with the signal processing hardware and soft~re to distribute programs to the subscribers. The network controller also monitors all data received from the set 'top terminals in the cable network. the network controller uses data received to target l advertisements to particular subscribers as well as to maintain account and billing information.
From the cable headend, the programming signals and program control information are transmitted to the subscriber locations. Each subscriber is equipped with a set top terminal having various digital decompression, menu generation, upstream data transmissions, remote reprogramming and other advanced functional capabilities, or some combination thereof. With such capabilities, the set top terminal supports, for example, interactive communications with the cable headend. The set top terminal includes an interface that allows a subscriber to select and decompress a digitally compressed program signal for display on a television through sequencing menus on the television screen. The menus may be generated from menu templates stored in each set top terminal, with each selectable menu option corresponding to either another menu or a particular television program.
Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering digital program signals from a center to .
subscriber locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder; a first cable headend, comprising: a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and a means, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital program signals from the first cable headend to the subscriber 7a locations; and a first terminal, located at each subscriber locatio~, wherein the sent digital program signals are received from the first cable headend and at least one digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering digital program signals from a center to subscriber locations using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein the digital program signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a satellite system, the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder; a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber location, wherein the digital program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and a first terminal, located at the first subscriber location, and connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received and at least one digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu driven cable television selection system offering a plurality of 2D television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations t~
present options on a menu displayed o~ a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the system comprising: an operations center for packaging the plurality of television programs and for generating the program 7b control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the system comprising: an operations center for packaging the plurality of television programs and for generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations; means, located at each cable headend, for distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations; means, connected to the distributing means, for monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations; means, located at the plurality of subscriber locations, for receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing computer program instructions; a means, connected to the storing means, for sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying means uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal; a subscriber interface for choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing, generating and displaying of the menus, using the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing, generating and displaying means; means for compiling the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; means, at each of the subscriber locations, for reporting the compiled programs watched data to each cable headend; and means, located at each cable headend and connected to the monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the compiled programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the method comprising the steps of: packaging the plurality of television programs; generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations; monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations; receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend; storing computer program instructions; sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal; choosing one of 7d the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing of the menus, storing the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing step; compiling the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; reporting the compiled programs watched data to each cable headend; and gathering the compiled programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven television program selection system offering a plurality of television programs for independent selection by a plurality of different subscribers, the system using a program control information signal carrying programming data on television program lineups of the plurality of the television programs, the system also using computer program instructions stored at each of the plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to receive upstream data signals from each of the subscriber locations at a cable headend, the system comprising: an operations center for generating the program control information signal and a plurality of television program lineups, wherein a delivery means delivers the plurality of television program lineups and the program control information signal to at least one cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations: at least one of the cable headends having a network controller for receiving and processing the plurality of television program lineups and the program control information signal and for receiving the upstream data signals from the plurality of subscriber locations; the delivery means including means for further distributing at least one of the plurality of television program lineups and the program control information signal from 7e the cable headend to each of the plurality of subscriber locations;
and each of the plurality of subscriber locations having a set top terminal connected to the delivery means for receiving at least one of the plurality of the television program lineups and the program control information signal from the delivery means, wherein each set top terminal comprises: a means for selecting at least one television program from a plurality of television programs in the received television program lineup from the displayed menus using the program control information signal and the computer program instructions; a means for generating the upstream data signals using the computer program instructions; and a means for transmitting the upstream data signals to the network controller at the cable headend.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a digitally compressed program delivery system to provide subscribers with menu selection of a plurality of television programs using a plurality of analog program signals and a program control information signal transmitted to at least one cable headend for further transmission, each cable headend transmitting to each subscriber a control information stream and programming signals carrying the plurality of the television programs, each of the menus generated and displayed using the control information stream and stored menu templates at each subscriber location, the system comprising: an operations center including: means for digitally compressing the plurality of analog program signals to produce digitally compressed signals; and means for creating a plurality of television program lineups with the digitally compressed signals of the programs in the lineups and program control information signal, wherein the program control information signal includes data on the television program lineups and control information for 7f use at the subscriber location; delivery means for transmitting the plurality of television program lineups and the program control information signal to at least one of the cable headends for processing; at least one of the cable headends having means for processing the plurality of television program lineups and the program control information signal to produce the control information stream and the programming signals; the delivery means further includes means for distributing the control information stream and the programming signals to each subscriber location; means for generating menus using the control information stream and stored menu templates; and subscriber interface means for selection of any one of the plurality of television programs using one or more of the generated and displayed menus.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for selecting a specific television program from a plurality of television programs to be displayed on a television at a subscriber location, using a display of menu options on the television, the method comprising the steps of: creating a plurality of television program lineups; generating programming data which relates to specific television programs in the television program lineups;
transmitting the programming data and the television program lineups to the subscriber location; receiving the programming data and the television program lineups at the subscriber location;
generating at least one menu option related to at least one specific television program in the received television program lineups using the received programming data; and displaying one or more of the generated menu options on the television; selecting a displayed menu option; displaying a specific television program associated with the menu option selected from the received television programs.

7g In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven television program selection system, comprising: an operations center for packaging a plurality of television programs and generating a program control information signal having programming data on the packaging which is used to generate menus at a subscriber location, the operations center comprising: a processor that receives the plurality of television programs and processes the plurality of television programs to provide digital programming, a storage device that stores data including digital and analog television programs, and video, and a computer-assisted packager that packages the digital programming and selected stored data; and a remote reception site that receives the packaged digital programming and the selected stored data.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven cable television selection system offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the system comprising: an operations center for packaging the plurality of television programs and for generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations; means, located at each cable headend, for distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations; means, connected to the distributing means, for monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations; means, located at the plurality of subscriber locations, for receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing computer 7h program instructions; a means, connected to the storing means, for sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying means uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal; a subscriber interface for choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing, generating and displaying of the menus, using the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing, generating and displaying means; eans for generating and storing the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; means, at each of the subscriber locations, for transmitting the programs watched data to each cable headend; and means, located at each cable headend and connected to the monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the programs watched data from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the method comprising the steps of: packaging the plurality of television programs; generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations; monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations; receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend; storing computer program instructions; sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal;
choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing of the menus, storing the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing step; generating and storing the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; transmitting the programs watched data to each cable headend; and gathering the programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven television program selection system, comprising: an operations center, comprising: a processor that receives a plurality of television programs and processes the plurality of television programs; a storage device that stores data including digital and analog television programs, and video; and a computer-assisted packager that packages the digital programming and selected stored data and provides a program control information signal carrying programming data on the packaging; a cable television headend comprising: a distributor that distributes the packaging and the program control information signal to a plurality of set top terminals; a processor that monitors and controls each set top terminal; and a headend receiver for gathering the compiled programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of set top terminals; and a plurality of set top terminals, each comprising: a receiver that receives the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from the cable television headend; a memory that stored computer program instructions; a processor that sequences, generates and displays menus using the stored computer program instructions and the program control information signal, and generates and stores programs watched data using chosen menu options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs; a subscriber interface for choosing options on the menus, wherein the chosen options effects the sequencing of the menus using the stored computer program instructions by the processor; and a transmitter that transmits the programs watched data to each cable headend.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven cable television selection system comprising: an operations center capable of (i) packaging a plurality of television programs, (ii) generating a program control information signal, and (iii) transmitting the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to a cable headend; a cable headend capable of (i) distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to a set top terminal at a subscriber location, and (ii) monitoring and controlling the set top terminal; and the set top terminal at the subscriber location, capable of (i) receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from the cable headend, (ii) sequencing, generating and displaying menus using the program control information signal and computer program instructions stored at the set top terminal, (iii) receiving a choice of an option on the menus, (iv) generating and storing programs watched data, and (v) transmitting the programs watched data to the cable headend.
It is an object of the invention to provide a user friendly interface for subscribers to access television programs.
It is an object of this invention to provide an economical system which can present television programs through a user friendly interface which allows the consumer to easily select from among the many program choices.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system capable of handling hundreds of programs in different formats, be expandable for future types of programming and be inexpensive.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system for organizing programming to be offered to viewers.

x~.. , dip 9.t~t.t;~33 PC't L'S~3% ll~uo It is an object of this Invention to provide a television progxam delivery system that can be operated in a distributive fashion and controlled from one or more national centers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a television program delivery system that operates in the digital audio/video environment.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system capable of packaging hundreds of television programs for delivery to subscribers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that analyzes data on progi-axns watched by vitwers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system capable of monitoring account and billing inforaaation for hundreds of program offerings.
It is an object of this Invention to provide a system that assists the consumer with pro selection.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that provides subscribers with menu-driven access to hundreds of television pro s.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that accommodates digital decompression and digital signaling capabilities.
These and other ob'ects grad advantages of the invention will become obvious t~ those skilled in the are upon revte~ of the following description, the attached drawings and appended claims.

v ~ ~"~
!i'O 9.ul~:~d3 FC'TZ:S93~117(n, Figure 3 is a schematic of the operation of the primary components of the system.
Figure 4 is a bPoc~: diagram of the hardware components of the set top terminal.
Figure Sa is a perspective front view of a set top to Figure 5b is a perspective rear view of a set tog terminal.
Figure ~ is a schematic of a l~rbo card upgrade for a set top terminal.
Figure '~a is a drawing of a frara~e format for a program control infoa-~zaauon signal.
Figure 7b is a drawing of a franc format for a polling response from the sei top t Figure ~ is a drawing of the basic menus usrd in the present invention, including ten major menus represented by icons.
3 ~ t~.
1.
Figure 1 shows the peesent invention as an expanded cable television program delivery system ~~~ that w'O ~.uLi:.83 PC'8' t 593- I I' . ,.o IO
drazraatically tnereases programming capacity using compressed transmission of television program signals.
Developments in digital bandwidth compression technology now allow ra~uch greater throughput of television program signals over exist,irxg or slightly modified transmission media.
The program delivery system 20~ shown provides subscribers with a user friendly interface to operate and exploit a six-fold or m~re increase in current program delivery capability.
Subscribers are able to access an expanded eelevision program package and view selected programs through a menu-driven access seheme that allows each subscriber to select individual programs by sequencing a series of menus.
The menus are sequenced by the subscriber using simple alpha-numeric and iconic character access or moving a cursor I5 or highlight bar on the TV screen to access desired programs by simply pressing a singe button. rather than recalling from memory and pressing the actual two or more digit numeric number assigned to a selection. Thus. with the press of a single button, the subscriber can advance from one menu to - 20 the ne~rt. In this fashion, the subscriber can sequence the mnenus and select a program from any given menu. The programs are grouped by category so that similar program offerings are found on the same menu.
2. ~~al,or vstem Darnflonente 25 In its most basis forts. the system uses a program delivery system 2~0 in eonjunetion with a conventional concatenated cable television system 210. The program delivery system 20~ generally ineiudes Vii) at least one operations center 2~2. where program packaging and control 30 information are created and then assembled in the f~rm of digital data. iii) a digital compression system. where the digital data is compressed, combined/multiplexed, encoded.

a t i~i~ 0 94: I .i:~3 PCT 'i; S93 ~ I I X06 qI
and crapped into digital signals for satellite transmission to ehe cable headend 208, and (iii? a set of in-home decornpressors. The program delivery system 200 transports the digital signals to the cable headend 208 where the signals are transmitted through a concatenated cable television system 210. 't~ithfn the cable headend 208. the receivtd signals may be decoded, demuliiplexed, managed by a local central distribution and switching mechanism, combined and then transmitted to the set top terminal 220 located in each subscriber's home over the cable system 2i0. ~Ithough concatenated cable systems 210 a.re the anost prevalent transar~ission media to the home. telephone lines. cellular networks. $beroptics, Personal Communication Networks and siynilar technalagy far transmittizag to the home can be used I 5 interchangeably with this pragram delivery system 200.
The delivery system 200 has a reception region 207 with an in-home decompression capability. This capability is performed by a decompressor housed within a set top terminal 220 in each subscriber's home. The decompressar remains transparent from the subscriber's point of view and allows any of the campreased signals to be demultiptexed and individually extracted frond the composite data stream and then individually decompressed upon selectian by the subscriber. The decompressed video signals are converted 2 8 into analog signals for television display. Such analog signals include hiTSC formatted signals for use by a standard televisian. Control signals axe likewise extracted and decompressed and then either executed immediately or placed in local storage such as a R~i. Multiple sets of decompressian hardware may be used to decompress video and control signals. 'The set t~p terminal 220 may then overlay or combine different signals to form the desired I
display on the subscriber's television. Graphics on video or picture-on-picture are examples of such a display.
Although a single digital compression standard (e.g..
MPEG) may be used for both the program delivery system 200 and the concatenated cable system 210. 'the compression technique used may differ between the two systems. When the compression standards dii'fer between the two media, the signals received by the cable headend 208 must be decompressed before transmission from the headend 208 to the set top terminals 220. Subsequently, the cable headend 208 must recompress and transmit the signals to the set top terminal 220, which would then decompress the signals using a specific decompression algorithm.
The video signals and program conerol signals received by the set top tera~.nal 220 correspond to specfflc television progrs.ias and menu selections that each subscriber may access through a subscriber interface. The subscriber interface is a device with buttons located on tht set top terminal 220 or on a portable remote control 900. In the preferred system embodiment. the subscriber interface is a combined alpha-charaeter, numeric and iconic remote control device J00, which provides direct or menu-driven program access. The preferred subscriber interface also contains cursor movement and go buttons as well as alpha.
2 5 numeric and iconic buttons. '1'hhis subscriber interface and menu arrangement enables the subscriber to sequence through menus by choosing from among several aaenu options that are displayed on the television screen. Ln addition. a user may bypass several menu screens and laxmediateIy choose a program by selecting the appropriate alpha-character. numeric or iconic combinations on the subscriber interface. In the preferred eanbodiment. the set top terminal . r--1~0 9~Iti=33 PCTt593%It 2?0 generates the menus that are displayed on Lhe television by creating arrays of particular menu templates, and the set top terminal 2243 displays a speciAc menu or submenu option for each available video signal.
3. ~perations Center a_nd Digs compression The operations center 202 performs twa primary services, packaging television pros and generating the pragram control information signal. At the operations center 202. television programs are received from external program sources in bath analog and diglta~l form. Figure 2 shows an embodiraene of the operations center receiving signals from various external sources 212. E~Camples of the external program sources are sporting events, children's prograxas.
specialty channels. news or any other program source that can provide audio or visual signals. Once the programs are received from the e~ctemal pragraan sources, the operations center 202 digitizes (and preferably compressesD any progra.~n signals received in analog forth. The operations center 202 may also maintain acs internal storage of programs.
The inter~y stored programs may be in analog or digital form and stored on permanent or volatile memory sources.
including etic tape or RA,M. Subsequent to recZiving programm9ng, the operations center 202 packages the programs into the groups and eategortes which provide the optimal marketing of the pro s to subseribers. For example. the operattc~ns center 2~2 may package the same programs into different categories and menus for weekday.
prime-time viewing and Saturday afterr~aon viewing. Also. the operations center 202 packages the television programs In a manner that enables bad the various menus to easily 1i'O 94~tPCTtS93'tl~_~

represent the programs and the subscribers to easily access the programs through the menus.
The packaging of the digital signals is typically performed at the operations center 202 by computer assisted packaging equipment iCAPI. The CAP system normally includes at least one computer monitor, keyboard. mouse.
and standard video edfting equipment. A programmer packages the signals by entering certain information into the CAP. This information includes the date. time slot. and program category of the various programs, The programmer and the CAP utilize demographic data and ratings in performing the packaging tasks. After the programmer selects the various programs from a pool of available programs and inputs the requisite info~-taation. the programmer. arith assistance from the CAP, can select the price and allocate transponder space for the various programs. After the process is complete, the CAP displays draft menus or program schedules that correspond to the entries of the pro er. The CAP may also graphically display allocation of transponder space. Tht programmer may edit the menus and eransponder allocation several times until satisfied with the programming schedule. During the editing, the pro mer may direct the enact location of any program name on a nnenu with siazpit commands to the CAP.
The packaging process also accounts for any groupings by satellite transponder which are necessary. The operations center 202 may send different groups of programs to different cablt headends 208 and/or set top terimminals 220.
One way the operations center 202 away accomplish this task is to Bend different program packages to each transponder.
Each transponder. or set of transponders. then relays a specific program package to specific cable headends 208 , t w'0 9~~I~:.E3 PCTt593~I1706 IS
and/or set top teraninals 220. The allocation of transponder space is an irraportant task performed by the operations center 202.
The operations center 202 raay also 'insert' directions for filling local available program tune tn the packaged signal to enable local eable and television companies to fill the program time with local advertising and/or local programming. Consequently. the local cable headends 208 are not constrained to show only programs transmitted from the operations center 202. I~tew sit top converters will incorporate both digita,I and analog channels. 'Therefore. the cable headend 208 iaay co~;bine analog signals with the digital signals prior to transmitting the program signals to the set top terminals 220.
After the CAP packages the programs, it creates a program control information signal to be delivered with the program package to the cable headend 208 and/or set top terminal 220. The program control inforaaation signal Contains a description of the contents of the program 24 package. commands to be sent to the cable headend 208 andlor set top terminal 220. and other information relevant to the sisal taansanission.
In addition to pacltaging the signal, the operations center 202 employs digital compression techniques to increase e,~isting satellite transponder capacity by at least a

4:I ratio, resulting in a four-fold increase in program delivery capability. A nuatber of digital compression algorithms currently exist which can achieve the resultant increase in capacity arid improvegd signal quality desired for the system.
The algorithms generally use one or mare of three basic digital compression techniques: (1) within-frame ~intraframe) compression. (2) frasae-to-frame (interframe) compression.

wo ~as:as pc~t,ZS9a.~li~

and !3) within carrier compression. Specifically, in the preferred emb~diment, the MPEG 2 compression method is used. After digital compression, the signals are combined (multiplexed) and encoded. The combined signal is subsequently transmitted to various upilnk sites 204.
Them may be a single upllnk site 204 or multiple uplink sites represented by 204'. shown in phantom in Figure 1 ) for each operatton center 202. The uplink sites 204 may either be located in Lhe same geographical place or may be located reiaotely from the operations center 202.
Once the composite signal is transmitted to the uplink sites 204. the signal may be multiplexed with ether signals.
modulated, upconverted and amplified for transmission over satellite. Multiple cable headends 208 may .receive such transmissions.
In addition to multiple uplinks. the delivery system 200 may also contain multiple operations centers. The preferred method for using multiple operations centers is to designate one of the operations centers as a master operations center and to designate the remaining operations centers as slave operations centers. In this configuration. the master operations center coordinates various functions among the slave operations centers such as synchronization of simultaneous transmissions and distributes the operations 2 S workload ef~dentIy.
4. ale lHr~
After the operations center 202 has compressed and encoded the pro signals and transmitted the signals to the satellite. the cable headend 208 receives and further processes the signals before they are relayed to each set tap terminal 220. Each cable headend site is generally equipped wish multiple satellite receiver dishts. Each dish is capable i~~ 9~ui~:~3 PCTn:S~3~li of handling multiple transponder signals from a single satellite and sometimes from multiple satellites.
As an intermediary between the set top terminals 220 and the operations center 202 (or other remote site, the cable hcadend 208 performs two primary functions. First, the cable headend 208 acts as a distribution center. or signal processor, by relaying the program signal to the set top terminal 220 tn tech subscriber's home. In addition. the cable headend 208 acts as a network controller 214 by receiving informatgon from each set top terminal 220 and passing such information on to an information gathering site sash as the opera~ons center 202.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment where the cable headend 208 and the subseriber's home are linked by certain communications media 216. In this particular embodiment.
analog signals. digitally compressed signals, other digital signals and up-stream/interactivity signals are sent and received over tht media 2I6. 'The cable headend 208 provides such si capabilities in its dual roles as a signal processor 209 and netWOrk controller 21~.
As a signal processor 209, the cable headend 208 prepares t&e program signals that are received by the cable headend 208 for transmission to each set tap terminal 220.
In the preferred system. the signal processor 209 rr-routes or emultipiexes and recombines the signals and digital information received from the operations center 202 and allocates different portions of the signal to different frequency ranges. Cable headends 208 which offer different subscribers different program offerings may allocate the program signals from the operations center 202 in various manners to accomnnadate different vtevrers. 'The signal processor 20~ ra~ay also inrorporate local programming w0 9.~1i:~3 PCT~tS93 i1"1, andlor local advertisements into the program signal and form and the revised signal to the set top terminals 220. To accommodate this local programming availability, the signal processor 209 roust combine the local signal in digital or analog form v~ith the operations center program signals. If the local cable system uses a compression standard that is different than the one used by the operations center 202, the signal processor 209 must also decompress and recompress incoming signals so they may be properly formatted far transmission to the set top terminals 220. This process becomes less important as standards develop Ii.e.. MPEG 2I.
In addition, the signal processor 209 performs any necessary signal decryption and/or encryption.
As a network controller 214, the cable headend 208 1 S performs the system control functions far the system. The primary function of the network controller Z I4 is to manage the configuration of the set top terminals 220 and process signals received froze the set top terminals 22~. In the preferred embodiment, the network controller 214 monitors, among other things, automatic poll-back responses from the set top terminals 220 remotely located at each subscribers' home. The polling and automatic report-back cycle occurs frequently enough to allow the network controller 214 to maintain accurate account and billing information as well as monitor authorized channel access. In the sinxplest embodiment, inforanation to be sent to the network controller 214 will be stored in RAM ~rithirr each subscriber's set top terminal 220 and will be retrieved only upon polling by the netrwork controller 214. Retrieval may.
for example. occur on a daily. weekly or monthly basis. 'the network controller 214 alloc~rs the system to madntain 1~O 9~1t1~:d3 PCT.ZS'93;11~

complete information on alI programs watched using a particular set top terminal 220.
The network controller 214 is also able to respond to the immediate needs of a set top terminal 220 by modifying a program control information signal reeeived from the operations center 202. Therefore. the network controller 214 enables the delivery system to adapt to the specific requirements of individual set top terminals 220 when the requirements cannot be provided to the operations center 202 in advance. In other words, the network controller 214 is able to perform ~on the fly programming" changes. With this capability. the network controller 214 can handle sophisticated local programming needs such as, for example.
interactive television services. split screen video, and 1 ~ selection of different foreign languages for the carne video. In addition. the network controller 214 controls and monitors alI compressors and decompressors in the system.
The delivery system 200 and dfgital compression of the preferred embodiment provides a one-way path from the operations center 202 to the cable headend 208. Status and billing information is sent from the set top terrrnnal 220 to the network controller 214 at the cable headend 208 and not directly to the operatiana center 202. Thus. program monitoring and selection control will take place only at the cable headend 208 by the local cable company and its decentralized rzetrovork controllers 214 (i.e.. decentralised relative to the operations center 202, which is central to the program delivery system 200). The local cable company will in tum be in communication with the operations center 202 3 0 or a regional control center (not shownD which accumulates return data from the set top terminal 220 for statistical or billing purposes. In alternative system embodiments, the w 0 9~iI l.L',3Z PCT t 593 11'0 operations center 202 and the statistical and billing sites are collocated. Further, telephone lines with modems are used to transfer information from the set top terminal 220 to the statistical and billing sites.

5 5~, S
The set top terminal 220 is the portion of the delivery system 200 that resides in the home of a subscriber. The set top terminal 220 is usually located above or below the subscriber's television, but it may be placed anywhere in or I O near the subscriber°s home as long as it is withtrt the range of the subscriber's remote control device 900. In some aspects.
the set top terminal 220 may resemble converter boxes already used by many cable systexas. For instanct, each set top terminal 220 may include a variety of error detection.
I5 decryption. and coding techniques such as ant!-taping encoding. &io~rever, it will become apparent from the discussion below that the set top terminal 220 is able to perform many functions that an ordinary converter box cannot perform.
20 °T"he set top terminal 220 has a plurality of input and output ports eo enable it to communicate with other local and remote devices. The set Lop terminal 220 has an input port that receives information gross the cable headend 208. In addition. the unit has ai least t~ovo output ports which provide comznunicafions from the set top teraainal 220 to a television and a VCR. Certain menu selections may cause the set top terminal 220 to send control signals direetly to the VCR to autoamatically pragraaa or operate the VCR ~~lso, the set top terminal 220 contains a phone ,~aclt which can be used for maintenance, trouble shooting, reprogramming and additional customer features. °fhe set top teaminal 220 may W~ fttl.t:EJ PCT~tS93~t1'.4,.

also contain stereo/audio output terminals and a satellite dish Input port.
Functionally. the set top terminal 220 is the last component in the delivery system chain. The set top terminal 220 receives compressed program and control signals from the cable headend 20~ (or. in some cases, directly from the opera~tons center 202). After the set top terminal 220 receives the individually compressed program and control signals, the signals are demultiplexcd.
decompressed. con~aerted to analog signals (if necessary) and either placed in local storage (from which the menu template axay be created). executed immediately. or sent directly to the television screen.
After processing certain signals received firoan the cable headend 208. the set top teaminal 220 is able to store menu templates for ereatlng menus that are displayed on a subscriber's television by using an array of menu templates.
Before a menu can be constructed. menu templates moat be created and sent to the set top ter:mminal 220 for storage. A
microprocessor uses the eontrol signals received from the operations center 202 or cable headend 208 to generate the menu Leiapiates for storage. Each iaenu template may be stored in volatile memory in the set top termixaal 220. When the set top terminal receives template Information it dearuItiplexes the program control signals received from the cable headend 208 into four parts: video, graphics.
program logic and text. Each menu template represents a different portion of a whole menu. such as a menu background, television Ioga. cursor highlight overlay. or other miscellaneous components needed to build a menu. The uienu templates ~ay be deleted or altered using control .
~0 ~l~t?~3 PCT~tS93~1T~~~
Z
signals received from the operations center 202 or cable headend 208.
Once the menu templates have been stored in memory.
the set top terminal 220 can generate the appropriate menus.
In the preferred embodiment. the basic menu format information is stored iza memory located within the set top terminal 220 so that the microprocessor may locally access the information from the set top terminal instead of from an incoming signal. The microprocessor next generates the i 0 appropriate menus from tine menu templates and the other menu information stored in memory. The see top terminal 220 then displays specific menus on the subscriber's television screen that correspond to the inputs the subscriber selects.
If the subscriber selects a specific program from a mcnu, the set top terminal 220 determines on which channel the program is being shown, demultiplexes and extracts the single c el muted from the cable headend 208. The set top terminal 220 then decompresses the chanmel and. if necessary, converts the prograaa signal to an analog NTSC
signal to enable the subscriber to view the selected program.
The set top terminal 220 can be equipped to decompress more than one program signal, but this would r~npecessarlly add to the cost of tha unit since a subscriber will generally only ~riew one program at a bane. However, t~ao or three decompressoss mtay be desirable to provide picture-on-picture capability, contral signal decompression. enhanced channel switching or lilts features.
In addition to menu information. the set top terminal 220 may also store text transmuted from the cable headend 208 or the operations center 202. The text may inform the subscriber about upcoming events. billing and account status.

1~0 9s11i233 ~.. PC flL:S93:111~~

new subscriptions. or other relevant information. The text will be stored in an appropriate memory location depending on the frequency and the duration of the use of the textual message.
Also. optional upgrades are available to enhance the performance of a subscriber's set top terminal 220. These upgrades may consist of a cartridge or coyaputer card (not shown) that is inserted into an expansion slot in the set tap tezminal 220 or may consist of a feature o$'ered by the cable headend 208 or operations center 202 to which the user may subscribe Available upgrades may include on line data base services, interactive mufti-media services, access to digital radio channels, axed other services.
in the simplest embodionent. available converter boxes such as those manufactured by General Instruments or Scientific Atlanta. may be modified and upgraded to perform the functions of a set top terminal 220. The preferred upgrade is a circuit card with a microprocessor which is electronically connected to or inserted into the converter bax.
8. ~ ~Qntrol ~evlce 'fhe primary conduit for communication between the subscriber and the set top terminal 220 is through the subscriber interfaee, preferably a rezaote control device 900.
?hraugh this interface. the subscriber may select desired programmfrag through the system°s menu-driven scheme or by directly accessing a specific c by entering the actual channel nualber. Using the interface, the subscriber can navigate through a series of informative program selection menus. 13y using menu~driven, iconic or alpha-character access, the subscriber can access desired prog,~ra~ms by simply pressing a single buttan rather than recalling from memory ~'O 'l3t1.ts33 PCT 1593. ! t~

and pressing the aetual channel number to make a selection.
The subscriber can access regular broadcast and basic cable television stations by using either the numeric keys an the remote control 900 (pressing the corresponding channel 5 number), or one of the menu icon selection options.
In addition to enabling the subscriber to tasily interact with the cable system 200, the physical characteristics of the subscriber interface 900 should also add to the user friendliness of the systexzz. The rewrote control 900 should 10 easily fit in the palm of the user s hand. The buttons of the preferred remote control 900 contain pictorial syaibois that are easily identifiable by the subscriber. Also, buttons that perform similar functions may be color caordinated and eonsist of distinguishing textures to increase the user I5 friendliness of the system.
Merry-Drivezt Preg~ , 1 tio~
The menu-driven schema provides the subscriber with one-step access to all major menus. ranging from hit nrrovies to sport specials to specialty programs. From any of the 2 0 major taenus. the subscriber can in turn access submenus and minor menus by cursor or alpha-character access.
There are two different types of menus utilized by the preferred embodiment, the Program Selection menus and the During Program menus. The $zst series of menus.
25 Program Selection menus, consists of an Introductory, a Home. Major menus, and Submenus. The second series of menus. During Pmgraga menus, consists of two primary types. Hidden menus and the Pro~aai Dverlay menus.
Itaznediately after tt:e subscriber turns an the set top 30 terminal 220, the Introductory menu welcomes the subscriber to the system. The Introductory menu may display important announcements from the local cable franchise.

W~ 9~l.i~E3 FCT~LS93: t t7~o advertisements from the cable provider, or other types of rnessages. In addition, the Introductory menu can inform the subscriber if the cable headend 208 has sent a personal message to the subscriber's particular set top terminal 220.
After the Introductory menu has been displayed the subscriber may advance to the next level of menus, namely the Home menu. In the preferred embodiment. after a certain period of time, the cable system a~ll1 advance the subscriber by default to the Home menu. From the Home IO menu, the subscriber is able to access all of the progiamming options. The subscriber may either select a program directly by entering the appropriate channel numher from the resaote control 900, or the subscriber may sequence through incremental levels of menu options starting firom the Home I S ~xtenu. The Home menu lists categories that correspond to the first Level of menus called Major menus.
If the subscriber chooses to sequence through subsequent menus, the subscriber wi?1 be forwarded to the Major menu that corresponds to the chosen category from 20 the Home menu. The ~ia~or menus further refine a subscriber's search and help guide the subscriber to the selection of his choice.
From the Major menus, the subscriber may access several submenus. From each submenu, the subscriber may 2 5 access other submenus until the subscriber finds a desired television program. Similar to the I~Yiajor menu, each successive Ievtl of Submenus further refines the subscriber's search. The system also enables the subscriber to skip certain menus or submenus and directly access a specific . 30 menu or television program by entering the appropriate commands on the remote contrnl 9~0.

_.. .
w0 l~Ild~3 PCT 1593. l l~~o The During program menus (including Ridden Menus and Prograan Qverlay Menus) are displayed by the set top terminal 220 only after the subscriber has selected a television progra.~tc. In order to avoid disturbing the subscriber, the set top terminal 220 does not display the Hidden Menus until the subscriber selects the appropriate aption to display a Bidden Menu. The Hidden Menus contain options that are relevant to the program selected by the viewer. For example. a I~iidden Menu nyay contain options that enable a subscriber to Inter an interactive mode or escape from the selected pm Program Overlay Menus are similar to Hidden Menus because they occur during a program and are related to the program being viewed. Flowrver. the Program Overlay Menus are displayed concurrently with the program selected by the subscriber. Most Program Overlay Menus are small enough on the screen to allow the subscriber to continue wiewtng the selected program coanfortably.
~3. ~~ta~~ed ~t Tofl T~,~nal Description "'I'hhe set top terminal 220 receives and manipulates signals from the cable headend 20~. "Ihe set top LernainaI
220 is equipped with local computer memory and the capability of interpreting the digitally compressed signal to produce aaenus for the subscriber. the remote control 900 communicates the subscriber's selections to the set top terminal 220. '3"he subscriber's selections are generally based upon menus or other prompts displayed on tht television screen.
It is preferred that the signal reaches the subscriber's home lei a compressed for~aaat and is decompressed prior to viewing. Included in the delivered program signal is information that enables equipment at the subscriber s home ' /"'' 1~~ ful.i:E3 FC:TJ't.593 11~
7'~
tn display menus far choosing particular programse Depending an the particular embodiment, the television program signal may arrive at the subscriber's home thraugh one ar more connections such as coa~dal cables, fiber cables, turisted pairs, cellular telephone connections, or personal communications netvvoris (PCfi) hookups.
The pragram contml information signal is generated by the operations center 202 and provides the netv~ork controller 21~ with data on the scheduling and description of programs, in an alternate configuration. this data is sent directly to the set top terminal 220 for display to the subscriber. In the preferred embodiment, the program control information signal is stored and modified by the network controller 214 and sent to the set top tee 220 in the form of a set top terminal control information stream (S°rTCISI. a set top terminal 220 integrates either the progxam control information signal ar the :ITTCiS with data stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220 to generate on-screen menus that assist the subscriber in choosing programs for display.
'Ebbs types of information that can be sent using the program control signal include: nuamber of program categories, names of program categories. what channels are assigned to a speciZ3c category (such as specialty channels), 2 5 naiaes of channels, names of pro~aans on each channel.
pragram start times. length of pragraxas. description of programs. menu assignment for each program. pricing.
whether there is a sample video clip for adverttsement for the programs, and any other program, menu or product information.
kith a minimal amount of information being communicated to the set top terminal 220 on a reguhur basis.

i~'O 9~ttif2~83 PC"t"C5~3:11~ . , the set top terminal 22Q is ahle to determine the proper menu location for each program and the proper time and channel to activate for the subscriber after a menu selection.
The program control information signal and STTCIS carp be formatted in a variety of ways and the on-screen menus can be produced using many different methods. por instance. if the prograan control information signal carries no menu format information. the menu format for creating the menus can be fixed in ROM at the set top terminal 220. In the preferred embodirraent. the anenu format information is stored at the set top terminal 220 in a temporary memory device such as a RA113 or EPROM. New menu format information is sent via the program control information signal or the STTCIS to the set tUp terminals 200 whenever a I S change to a menu format is desired.
In the simplest embodiment. the menu formats remain fixed and only the text changes. In this way the program control information signal can be limited t~ primarily text and a text generator can be en~xpioyed in the set top terminal 220. Another simple embodiutent uses a separate channel foil-time tlarge band~avidthl ,ust for the menu information.
Live widen signals may be used in windows of certain stenos. These widen signals can be transmitted using the program contxol information signal or S'I'pCIS, or can be taken off channels being transnditted simultaneously with the menu display. Video for menus. pmmos or dem~s may be sent to the set top texminal 220 in strreral foraaats, inc3udlng (,) on a dedicated channel. t2D on a regular progress channel and scaled to rise. or (3) along ~erit~t the psograaaa control inforrnauon signal. liaarever. in the preferred embodiment, a large number of short promos or demo video is sent using a split screen technique on a dedicated channel. A multiple ~ , WO 9~t/li:E3 PCT'tS93~ l I7~6 z9 window technique may be used with the menus to display a description or a program and one or more video frames that assist the subscriber in selecting the program.
Figure 4 shows the basic hardware components of the set tog terminal 220. The set top terminal 220 has a tuner 6t?3. digital demodulator 6~6, decryptor 600, and demultiplexers 609. 6i6 as well as audio equipment 6I2 and a remote control interface 626 for receiving and processing signals from the remote control unit 900. An optional modem 62? allows communication 'between a microprocessor 602 and the cable headend 208. An NfSC encoder 625 provides a standard NI'8C video output.
The microprocessor 602 is capable of executing program instructions stored in memory. These instructions allow a user to access various menus by making selections on the remote control 900.
The manner in which the videa is decompressed and the menus are generated from the program control information signal or ~I'fCIS varies depending on the specific embodiment of the invenilon. Video decompressors 618 and 622 may be used if the video is compressed. The program control information signal may be demultiplexed into its component parts, and a video decompressor 6I8.
graphic decompressor, text generator and video combiner 624 may be used to la creating the menus.
in addition to the menu format information that is stored in graphics memory. tae set t~p terminal 220 also stores data tracking those pro that have been selected for viewing. 13y gathering this data, the set top terminal 220 can maintain an accurate record of all programs accessedlwatched by storing the data in EEPR~14t or 1ZAM.
Subsequently, this data can be transmitted to the cable /-".~
w ~ iii 1.1:83 PC'T 'C 593; I It.
~a headend 208, where it can be used in carrying out network cantrol and monltortng functions. Such data transmissions between the set top terminal 220 and cable headend 208 can be accomplished. for exaaaple. through upstream transmission over the cable network or over telephone lines through the use of telephone znodems. Where upstream transmission aver the cable network is used. the set top terminals 220 can cample~te data transmissions on a scheduled ~e.g., using a polling response or status report to respond to polling requests sent from the cable headend 208) or as-needed (e.g., using a random access technique) basis.
Figure 5a sho~avs the frant panel of the set top terminal 220, ~rhich includes an infrared sensor 6.30 and a series of LED displays 640. The LED displays 640 may Indicate with an icon or a letter (e.g. A-I~ the major menu currently selected by the set top terminal 220 or the channtis selected directly by a user. or menu channel selections (e.g., from 1 to 50). Furthrr displays may include current channel. tinxe, volume level, sleep time, parental lock 4serurity). account balance, use of a hardware upgrade. second channel being recorded by VCR use of the Level D music hardware upgrade in a sepagate room, and any other displays useful to a subscriber to indicate the current status of the set top terminal 22~. °1'he Ids 640 may also provide an indication of the digital audi~ channel currently tuned.
The aet top terminal 220 includes a flapped opening 635 on its front that allows the insertion of a magnetic cartridge for similar portable storage device, including optical disk. R~M. EPROM. etc. not shown). This cartridge opening 635 alloys the set top to 220 to be upgraded ~--, wp 9~il,a;g3 P~'1',~:593~1T.
~I
or reprograrnmed locally wiL'~ the use of a magnetic tape cartridge.
On the top or cover of the set top terminal 220 are located pushbutton controls 645. Any function that care be performed on the remote 900 may also be performed at the set top ternsinal 220 using the duplicative pushbutton controls 645.
Figure ab shows the back of the set top terminal 220.
which includes a pair of output terminals 650, pair of input terminals 652. pair of stereo/audio output terminals 654, satellite dish Input port 656, telephone jack 658 and an RS-422 port 660. In addition. an upgrade port 662 and a cover plate 66~ are held in place by a series of sheet metal screws.
One oi° the output terminals F50 is for a television and the other is for a '~TCR The set top terminal 220 is equipged Lo handle inco signals on one or two cables using the input terminals 652. The phone jack 658 and an RS-232 or RS-422 port 660 are provided for maintenance. trouble shooting.
reprogramming and additional customer features. In alternate embodiments, the telephone jack 658 may be used as the primary mode of com8lunication between the cable headend 208 and the set top terminal 220. This connection is possible through the local telephone, cellular telephone or a personal communications networlr (1'Crly.
a 5 The basic programming o:~ each xt top to 220 is located on ROb! within the sit top terminal 220. Random access memoay, the magnetic cartridge capability, and the expansion Bard slot 635 each allow upgrades and changts to be easily made to the set top to 220.
Iaa the preferred embodiment. the get top terminal 220 includes a hard~re upgrade port 662. in addition to expansion card slots. The hardware upgrade port 662 WO 9~t1Hi:3.3 PCT.'t:S43~ llTOo ~z accorr~modates a four-wire (or more) connection for: (I) ersor corrected. decrypted data output of the set top terminal 220. (2) a control interface. (3) decoaapressed video output, and (4) a video input port. Fn the preftrred embodiment, multiple wires arc used to perform each of the four functions. The four sets of vuires are combined in a single cable ~rith a single multipin connector.
In the preferred embodiment, mulupin connecLtons may be used for the multiwire cable. The multipin connection 662 may range from 1~8~ to DB25. A variety of small eomputer systems interface (SCSI) ports may also be provided. Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided instead of the single port depicted.
.~noth~r port 662 is used to attach the various hardware 16 upgrades described below to a set top terminal 220: The preferred embodiment has a number of haadwm°e upgrades available for use with a set top terminal 220, including: ( 1 ) a Level A interactive unit. (2) a 1 13 interactive unit. (31 a Level C interactive unit with compact disc capability. (4) a 2 0 bevel I? digital radio tuner for separate room use, and (5) a Level E information download unit. Each of these upgrades may be connected to the set top terfainal 220 unit through the upgrade port 6&2 described . 'Ihe same four wires in a single cable described earlier may be used.
25 lr'adsting set top converter boxes such as those made by Scientific Atlanta or General gnstruments are presently unequipped to handle the menu selection system of the present invention. Thus, hardware modifications arc necessary in order to use the menu selection system with 30 e~dsttng set top converter technology.
A Turbo Card addition to a set top converter is depicted in Figure 8. The ~'urbo Card ~OIl shown provides the 1~'~ 94113:83 PC't'.Z:593: t i'. .

additional functionality needed to utilize the aaenu system with existfng set tog converter technology. 'T=he primary functions the "Ilubo Card 700 adds to the set top converter are ttze interpreting of prograal control information signals, 5 generating of menus. sequencing of menus, and. ultimately.
the ability of the viewer to select a channel through the menu system without entering any channel identifying information.
The turbo card also provides a method for a remote location.
such as the cable headend 208, to receive information on 10 programs watched and control the operation of the set top converter and Turbo Card ?0~. The programs watched information and control commands may be passed fram the cable headend 208 to the Turbo Card ?00 using telephone tines.
15 The primary components of the 'I~ubo Card ?00 are a PC chip C~J ?02, a FICA graphic controller 704. a video combiner ?. logic circuitry 708, NTSC encoder ? 10. a receiver ? 12, demodulator ? 14~ and a dialer ? lfi. The Turbo Card ?00 operates by receiving the prograsa control 20 infox°mation signal from the cable headend 208 through the co cable. "I~e logic Mrcuitry ?08 of the 'turbo Card ?00 receives data, infrared commands, and aymmchronizauon si from the set top coaver~r. Menu selections made by the viewer on the remote control 900 are received by the set 25 top converter°s I~ equipment and passed through to the Card ?00. ?he harbo Card ?AO interprets the ~ signal and determines the program (or menu) the viewer has selected. 'E'he TSirbo Card ?00 modl8es the 1R command to send the program selection information to the set top 30 converter 221. The modified IFt cozsmand contains the channel information needed bar the set top converter. Using the phone line and dialer ? 16, the Tuyebo Card ?00 is able to w0 4~i~IitE3 PC'Tlt:S93111~
transmit program access information to the cable headend 208.
In the preferred embodiment. program access information is stored at each set top terminal 220 until it is 5 polled by the network controller 214 using a pollfng request message format as sho~arn in Figure ?a. This frame format 920 consists of six fields, namely: [I) a leading slag 922 at the beginning of the message. ~2) an address field 924. t3) a subscriber region designation 926. (4) a set top terminal 10 identifier 926 that includes a polling, eommand/response for P/17 bit 930. f 5) an information field 932, and (fi) a trailing flag 934 at the end of the message. Figure ?b shows a response frame format 920' (similes to t&e frame format 920 end, therefore. commonly numbered with the frame depicted 15 in Figure 7a, but with the prime indicator added for clarity) for information comaaunicated bar the set top terminal 220 to the network controller 214 in response to the polling request of Figure ?a.
The eight-bit flag sequence 922 that appears at the 20 beginning and end of a frame is used to establish and maintain synchronization. Such a sequence typically consists of a °01111110' bit-stream.. The address field 924 designates a 4-bit address for a given set top terminal 220.
'the subscriber region designation 92S is a 4-bit Geld ttaat 25 indicates the geographical region iaa vrhich the subscriber's set top tern~ainal 220 is housed. 'The set top terminal identifier 928 is a 16-bit field that uniquely identifies each set top t 220 ~rith a 15-bit designation followed by an appended P/F bit 930. Although 6eId size is provided by this 30 example. a wariet~r of sizes cap, be used with the present invention.

w'O 9~ul.t_33 FC('.'Li5g3VI
3~
The h/F bit 930 is used to eoanznand a polling response from the set tog terminal 2215 addressed, as described below.
The response frame format 92~° also provides a variable-length information field 932° for other data transmissions.
such as information on system updates. '8'he frame format 920' ends with an 8-bit flag (or tra,illng flags 934' that is identical in format to the leading flag 922°° as set forth above.
C?ther frame formats (e.g.. I1~1'EGl Twill be apparent to one skilled in the art and can be easily adapted for use with the system.
As sun~mari~ed above. images or progxams may be selected for display by sequencing tl~.rough a series of menus.
Figure 8 is an example of one possible structure for a series of menus. Generally, the sequence of menus is structured with an intraductory menu, a home menu, various mayor menus and a multitude of submenus. 'The submenus can include promo menus and during pm menus. For example, at the home menu portion of the sequence of ~aenus and corresponding softavare routines. a subscriber may select one of the major menus and start a sequence of menu displays.
Alternatively, a subscriber may go directly to a major menu by depressing a menu select button on :'emote control 900.
At any time during the menu sequence. the subscriber may depress a major menu button to move into another series 2 5 of menus. In this vray. a subscriber may move from major menu to major menu.
'The various software subroutines e~ceeuted by the microprocessor X602 allow a subscriber to sequence the menus. navigating through the various menus of the present 3~ invention. A subscriber may sequence back through menus or return to the home menu arith a single touch of the home menu button on remote 9~.

WO 9~i11i2a3 PCT.T.;593='IP°~ .

An introductory menu screen 1000 automatically appears upon power-up and initialization of the set top terminal 220. From this intTOductory menu screen 1000, the set top terminal software will normally advance the subscriber to the home menu screen 1010. "i'he home menu 1010 is the basic menu that the subscriber return to in order to male the first level of viewing decisions. When the set top terminal software is displaying the home menu 1010.
the subscriber is able to access any television programming option. The software allows programming options to be entered through cursor movement on the screen and directly by button selection on the remote control 904.
in the normal progression through the menu screens.
the software will forward the subscriber to a mayor menu screen 1020 in response to ttxe subscriber's remote control 900 selection or highlighted r selection from the home menu screen 1014. The selections displayed on the home menu 1010 are for large categories of programming options.
Following flee mayor menu 1020, the subscriber may navigate through one or more suba~enu screens 1054 from which the subscriber foray choose one particular program for vig. For most progr g selections, the user will proceed from the home menu i0i4 to a mayor menu 1020 and then to one or more submenus 105~. ~iowever, for certain pro g options or functions of the set top terminal 220. the user may ship one or more menus in the sequence.
The During Program l9~enus 1244 are submenus enabled by the set top to software only after the subxriber has selected a televialon program. ?hese menus provide the subscriber with adtiltional functionality and/or additional Information while viewing a selected program. The 1~ 0 9.ir IL83 PCT 'L;S93r 1170_ 3i During Prc gram Menus 12~~ sequence can be further subdivided ins ~ at least two types of menus. Hidden Menus 138~ and Prograrra tDverlay Minus 1390.
'~o avoid disturbing a subscriber during viewing of a 5 program, the Hidden Menus 1384 are not shown to the subscriber but instead 'reside'" at the set top terminal 220 microprocessor fi02. 'The microprocessor 602 awaits a button entry either from the remote control 900 or set top terminal 220 buttons before executing or displaying any 10 Hidden Menu 1380 options. "the set top terminal software provides the subscriber with additional functions such as entering an interactive mode or escaping from a selected program through use of l~iidden Menus 1380.
Program Overlay Menus 1390 are similar to Hidden I5 Menus 1380. However, the Proann C?verlay Menus 1390 are overlayed onto portions of the displayed video and not hidden. The software for the FJrogram averlay Menus 1390 allows the subscriber to continue to watch the selected television program With audio but places graphical 20 Information on a portion of the television screen, Most Program tweriay Menus 1390 are graphically generated to cover small portions of video. Some O<rerlays 1390 which are by their nature more important than the program being viewed will overlay onto greater portions of the video.
2 5 lrxamples of types of overlay menus 1390 Include lVotiBcation Menus 1392 and Co lion Menus 1394. In the pxtferred e~nbodi~n.ent, the software for the Prograia Overlay Menus 1390 controls the reduction or scales down the lentire) programs video and redirects tlxe video to a portion of the 30 screen.
Submenus provide the cost of vieroving the program and the program's length in hours and minutes. From the Y~'~ 94~1~a3 ~1"t593: t 1?v"
3~
subznerius. the subscriber i:~ given at least three options: (li to purchase a program. (2) to return to the previous menu.
and (3) to press "go~ and return to regular TV. The subscriber may also be given other options such as previewing S the program.
Using an on-screen menu approach to program selection, there is nearly an unlimited number of menus that can be shorn to the subscriber. The memory capability of the sex top terminal 220 and the quantity of information that is 10 sent using the program control inforanation signal are the only limits on the number of menus and amount of information that can be displayed to the subscriber. The approach of using a series of menus in a siaaple tree sequence is both easy for the subscriber to use and simply implemented 15 by the set top terminal 220 and remote control deviee 900 with cursor anovement. A user interface software programmer will find manor obvious variations from the preferred embodiaaent described.
'rhe set top terminal 220 generates and creates menus 20 using, in part. Information stored irz Its graphics memory. A
background graplzltcs flIe 800 will store menu backgrounds and a logo graphics Ale gill store any necessary logos. A
menu display and cursor graphics file will store iaenu display blocks and cursor highlight overlays as well as any other 25 miscellaneous flees needed to build the menus. Using this method of storing xaenus. flees menus can be changed by reprogr g the graphics memory of the set top terminal 220 through Instructions from either the neivrork controller 214 or operations center 202.
30 'ITse microprocessor 602 performs the steps required to create a menu using stored Information. ~'he microprocessor B02 fetches a background file. logo file. menu . , r.-, wo ssrmta3 w.LSS3; i c~"~
display and cc~rsor file in most instances. The microprocessor 602 fetches text from long-term, intermediate-Lerm, or short~term storage depending on where the text is stored. Using a video combiner (or like device). the stored information is combined with video and the entire image is sent to the teievlsion screen for display.
In the preferred embodiment, a graphics contraller is used to assist the sit top terminal 220 in generating menus.
P~Ienu generaitan by the set top terminal 220 begins with the building of a ma'or menu screen, which includes background graphics for that nna~or anenu. The background graphics may include an upper sash across the top of the screen and a lower sash across the bottom of the screen. The background graphics may be generated from the background graphics Ale 800 in the memory files of Lhe graphics memory (preferably EEPI~i7rii). In addition, logo graphics away be generated.
Such graphics typically include an Icon windaw, a cable connpany logo. a channel coBapany logo. and two 'go'" buttons.
Preferably. the text for each ~aayor menu is generated separately by a text generator tn the set top terminal 220.
Those portions of the text that geneiahy remain the same for a period of weeks ar months may be stared in EEPIZ~M or ether local storage. Text which changes on a regular basis.
such as the movie titles (or other program selections). is transmitted to the set top terminal 220 by either the operations center 202 or the netwark controller 214 of the cable headend 208. In this manner. the cable headend 208 may change the program selections available on any major menu 3 020 by modifying the program control information signal sent by the operations center 202 and transmitting any changes using the SiTCIS.

VVo 9~iil.i:d3 1'C:T T:593 P o I~ay. date and bane information are added to each mayor razcr~u. 'This information is sent from the operations center 202, the cable headend 208 tsignal processor 209 or network controller 214). the uplink site. or generated by the 5 set top terminal 220 internally.
The creation and display of program deseription submenus is performed by the set top terminal 220 in a manner similar to that described above. Each subalenu may be created in parts and couibfned before bring sent to the 10 television screen. Preferably. background graphics and upper and lower sashes are used. Likewise, a video window and halfmstrip window can be generated from information tn storage on the EEPROM.
In addition to graphics and text. some submenus 15 include windows that show video. ;such video may be still or moving pictures. Still pictures may be stored in a compressed format (such as JPEG; at tale set top terminal 220. t~ideo stills may be transmitted by the operations center 202 through the program control inforaaation signet from 2 0 time to tirzxe.
Moving video picture is obtained directly from a current video feed as described above. Depending on video window size. this may require lmatlipulation of the video si , including scaling dowrn the size of the video and 25 redirecting the video to the portion of the menu screen which is within the video arindow of the menu. Alternatively.
the video may bt obtained from a split screen el. Such a method involves the ux of split screen video techniques to send r~aultipie video clips on a single channel at a given ttme.
30 The set top terminal 220 r~rould scale the picture, if necessary, and redirect it to the correct position ore the screen; using known scaling and positioning techniques.

.--, 110 9iuli?~E3 PC:'!"~:593: t E71.
~I
Additional circuitry may he required in tire set top tertainal 220 to perform adequate scaling and repositioning.
To avoid the need for redirecting video into the portion of the screen which houses the video window. masking and 5 menu graphics may be used to cover the portions of the channel video that are not needed. This masking technique allows the split screen video to remain in the same portion of the screen that it is trazysmftted by the operations center 202. The masking is then adjusted to cover the undesired 10 portions of the screen. These masks are stored in the background graphics file similarly to other background files for menus.
"Ihe split screen video technique anay also be used for proanoting television programing. Since a great number of 15 short video Clips may be sent continuously, full or partfal screen prarnottonals (or informationals) may be provided to the subscriber. ',Pith this large quantity of proasottonal video:
the subscriber is given the opportunity to "graze' through new movie or television programxaing selections. The 20 subscriber simply grazes from promotional video to promotional video until the desire~k television program is discovered.
pro~axx~ Control Ir~°o~;~Slanal 'Throughout tht present application, the term 25 'program control inforaaation" is being used t~ indicate control information coming from the cable headend 208 to the set top to 220, whether it is sent directly from the ~perat~ona Center Zt32, processed by the network controller ~ 14 and then forwarded to the set top box. or transmitted 30 aver telephone lines.
a pro control inforaaation signal generated by the ~p~rations Center 202 provides data on the scheduling t~0 9.lul.s~33 Pf.'i'~Z:5~3:1 and description of programs to tk~e network controller 2I4 or. in an alternate configuration. directly to the set top terminal 220 for display to the subscriber. In the preferred embodiment. the program control information signal is stored and modified by the netv~ork controller 2I4 and sent to the sct top terminal 220 in the form of a set top terminal control information stream (~I'I°CIS). This configuration is required to accommodate differences in individual cable systems and possible differences in. set top terminal devices.
I0 The set top terminal 220 .integrates either the prograal control inforxzlation signal or the set top terminal control information stream together with data stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220. to generate on-screen displays for assisurrg the subscriber in choosing proglama.
The goal of the menu driven program selection system 200 is to allow the subscriber to choose a program by touring through a series of menus. organized generally as degicted in Figure 8, utilizing the remote control 900 for' cursor movement. The fla~al choice in the series of menus gill 2 0 identify one particular channel and one time for activation of that channel, ed with a channel and activation time Lhe set top to 220 can display the selected program an the television for the wfea~sr. To achieve this goal a simple embodiment assigi~s an intelligent alpha-numeric code to each program. This alpha-numeric code identifies the category of the program. the menu in which the program should be displayed. its transmission time(s). and the position on the menu that the prog~aa~ should be displayed.
In this simple exxabodiment. the program control information, including menu codes. is sent continuously from the C3perations Center 242 to the network controller 21~.
and ultimately to the sct top te:xntrzal :220. For ezample. four 1~'~ l~Iti~3 PCT.Z.S93~ 11TH

hours worth of programming information can be sent via the program control information signal continuously as shown in Table fir.
Table A shows the basic pro~amming information that 5 may be seat to the set top terminal X20. The program descriptions shown are coded abbreviations. For example. C
for comedy. N for news, a for sports. A for cartoons. and Tx for Lent. If there is a textual description for a program. such as a movie, the description may be given following that 10 program's coded description or array be communicated following the four hours' worth of programming information.
As is shown in the coded listing. pragram descriptions for programs greater than a half hour tn length need not be repeated (each half hour?. The video description code 15 inforsrxs the set top terminal ~2fl of whether there !s still or live video available to advertise the pr~ogx°am.
For example. a sporting progress may be assigned a code of X35-~J I ~ 19~-1600-3.~5-IViichtgan St. ds. USC. 'The letter I~ would assign the pro to category B, sports. The 20 second alpha-numeric character number 3 would assign the program tc~ the third menu of the sports categoay. The third character of the code, number , assigns the program to the fifth program slot on the third taenu. The next six characters. 0 y /0 y /94, represent the date. The following fear 25 characters. 1600 represent the start time which !s Poll~wed by the length of the pro and the program name. This entry represents a sports show. a college football game.
which will be aired at 4:001'M orr New Years day 1994r 1i'O 91114:33 PCT.~;S93iI1'°~

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description. The third column contains corresponding field type 9nformation. Field type information typically consists of an unsigned integer; hours. :minutes and seconds; months.
day and year; and ASCII character identifier.
TABT1: B
Field ~ ~ ~ Field a ~ ~
~
~

1 Eveni Type Unsigined 1 = YC'hl Int 2 = Pay-Per-view 3 ~ Re . TV

2 Event ID Unsi ed Int t: Iobai Channel Unsi ed ID Int 4 Price (in Cents) Unsi ed Int Start Time I-iH:MM:SS

8 End Time IIIH:MM,;SS

Start Date MMODD/YY

8 End Date _ _ IDD/YY

P-Ic~n ASCIIZ

10 Name ASCIIZ
_ ( 1 1 ~ ASCIIZ
description Table C shows an exaiuple Ewent.Dat data file. In particular. Table C shows two data streams corresponding to two event types. The first data stream identifies a YCTVTM
event in the first field. The second field designates the event ID. which is 123 in this example. The third field includes the global channel ID number two. The fourth field indicates the cost of 50 cents for this event. 'I&e 8Rh and sixth fields indicate the respective start arid end times of x:00 AMI to 3:00 P1UI, respectively. The seventh and eighth fields show the corresponding start and end dates. designated as 8125/9 and 8/2?/93, respectively. Field nine indicates the P-icon set to PHS.PCJt graphics file. Finally, fields ten and eleven indicate the name and description of the events selected. which in this case are Sssame StrcetT~ and T~. The second data stream in the E~rent.Dat e~ple WQ !-111 '.4.83 PC'f 'L:593:11: _ .
~6 shov~rn in Table C includes analogous information for Terrain toT~', which is designated tn field one as a pay-per-wew event.
T' C
S Evtat.Dat Eample 'The program eontroi information signal and STTCIS
can be formatted in a variety of ways ;gad the on-screen luenus can be produced in maaxy different ways. For instance.
if the program control information signal carries no menu format inf~rzaation, the ~aenu format far creating the menus can be faxed in ROM at the set top terminal. °Z"his method allows the program control information signal to Barry less information but has the least tlexibflity since the menu for~raats can not be changed without physically swapping the 2 0 ROM.
in the preferred embodiment, the menu farmat information is stored at the set top terminal 220 in temporary memory either in a RAM, FL.RSH ROM. EEPROM
or EPROM. This con8guratton provides the desired Qexibility 2S in Lhe menu format while :till Limiting the amount of information needed to be communicated via the program control infoa~nation signal. New menu format information can be sent via the prograaa control information signal or the STTCIS to the set top terminals 220 each time there is a 30 change to a menu.
F'rogsaan access informatton for each program vratehed is stored at the set top terminal 220 until it is polled by the net~rorlc controller Z 14~ for information retrieval using the program control information signal or STTCIS. 'I'his W'o 9~U1~Y83 ~CCT'.t'S93;11'Ot 4?
Information retrieval Can be accomplished by using the po111ng request message and response formats. 920 and 920' respectively, as shown. and Figures ?a and ?b, and described above, but any suitable polling request and response message 5 forrr~,at may be used to interrogate each set top terminal 220 sequentially. one by one. The set top terminals 220 are identified by a unique address and set top terminal identi9er.
it is preferred that the set top terminal 220 tx°ansmit inforrnation and messages to the network controller 214 only ' 10 when given permission by the netrovor k controller 214 to do so.
Where. for exaumple. specialty programs have been accessed since the previous poll, the set top terminal 220 is given permission to transasit a polling response 920° in the 15 form of a status report that includes any such access information. The network controller°s control receiver toot shownl is tasked with the receipt of set top terminal polling responses or status reports. These status reports generally Include information that allows the network controller 214 to 2 0 track a subscriber°s program access history.
Figure 'Tb shows an example of frame format 920° for the status reports received from the set top terminals 220 during the polling cycle. This frame farmat is identical to the polling request message format 920 and. as described.
25 includes: ~1) a leading flag 922' at the beginning of the message. (2) an address field 924°. (3) a subscriber region designal.lVn ~~'s ~~) a set top terminal identifier 928°
that includes a palling coramandlresponse (or PIF~ bit 930°.
(51 an information field 932°, and ~6) a trailing flag 934' at 30 the end of the iaessage.
The infoz~taauon field 932' re variable in length so that the status of an Indeterminate number of programs, W O l~It l~3 ~"G'T ~..; 593.11 a'~8 represented at 931, accessed can be included irs the frame.
In this way. the control message length of the polling request message is minimal since the nei~rork controller 21~ does not to ansmit sueh access information. After a polling 5 response by a given set top terminal 220, however, the control message length increases in proportion to the nura~ber of programs accessed.
During transmission. the P/F bit is used to carry out the polling function. In particular. the P/F bit is set to a ' 1' 10 position to coananand a polling response from the set top terminal 220 whose address is~ identi#ied in the frame. The set top terminal 220 addressed must respond to the command in the carne P/F bit also set to the ' I' position.
The response will include the ;number of programs accessed I5 and their corresponding event identification numbers as shown in Figure Tb at 93'l. In eases where the set top terminal 220 has not accessed any programs since the previous polling cycle, the set top terminal 220 responds with the P/F bit set to '1' and the programs access block 20 denoting zero programs accessed.
In between polling cycles, the program control information continues Lo supply the set top terminals 220 with menu information, in the simplest embodiment. the menus ~.ced and only the text changes. Thus. the 25 program control information signal can be limited to primarily text and a teat gentrator can be employed in the set top terminal 220. °t'lais simple eiabodiment keeps the cost of the set top terEninal 220 low and limits the bandwidth necessary for the program control information. Another 30 simple embodiment uses a separate channel full-time (large bandaridth) ~uat for the menu information. 'This separate channel e~ould facilitate the rapid doamloading of nerx , Wo 9.t~1.12d3 PCT'i593rt1?.

graphics far the system and would enhance response time when text and other data information needs to be changed.
In the preferred embodirrzent, the basic building blocks or templates of the on-screen rraenu displays will be stored in graphics memory consisting of nonvolatile RAIvi, FLt~SH ROM.
EPROM, or preferably. EEPROM. as shown as 620 in Figure 9a. Referring to Figure 4, with the information from the graphics memory 620, the microprocessor 602. graphics decompressor fi22, a text generator (not shown in Figure 4.
I0 but incorporated if necessary), and video combiner 624 wtll build a menu screen.
The memory files of the graphics memory are preferably categorized into three categaries, background graphics 80~, logo graphics 820, and menu and display graphics 850, as shown in Figure 3a.
The background graphics file 800 will store menu backgrounds such as: universal main menu baclsgcounds 804.
universal submenu backgrounds 808, prosao backgrounds 812 and custom menu formats 816. 'fhe logo graphics file 820 will store any necessary logos such as: Your Choice °I'V'~'~ logos 824. Network logo files 828. cable system Iogo files 832.
studio sago files 836, and graphic elements file 840. The menu dfsplay and cursor graphics file 850 will store menu display bloeks 854 and cursor highlight overlays 858. as well avs any ether miscellaneous files needed to build the menus.
Using this method of storing menses discussed above.
the menus can be changed by reprogra~mtng the graphics memory 620 of the set top terminal 220. To revise the entire: design of displayed memos, the network con~oller 2I4 or operations center 202 instructs the EEPROIV! 620 to be erased and reprogrammed with new menu templates. To change one menu foraaat or logo. the network controller 214 ~'~ ~1"i'~ 1'C'r t..'S93~ 11'0~~
~0 or operations center 202 instructs dust the one location in rraemory to be erased and rewritten. Obviously. this menu reprogramming can also be done locally (at the set top terminal 2201 by a sezvicemen.
5 As shown in Figure 9a" each memory subfile is further divided into various memory blocks. F'or example, the background graphics file 800 contains the universal main menu backgrounds 804. The universal main menu backgrounds memory 804 includes memory units UM1 860.
10 UM2 862 and U~P'3 863. Similarly, the logo graphics Hle 820 and menu display and curser graphics file 850 contain individual subBle memory blocks (for example, studio logo file 836 has memory block SL1 864: menu displaty blocks 854 has memory menu display block PfDr 8C~).
15 Figure 9b shows the hierarchical storage of text transn~xitted &~om the cable headend 208. Although text may be continuously transmitted ~rith the video sigraals to set top terminals 220. text may also be transrc~itted intermittently.
In such a case, the tent is stored in the set top terminal 220.
20 Preferably, the text is transmitted and stored in a compressed format using known techniques. Additionally.
the text is preferably stored in graphics memory 620 within Lhe set top terminal 220.
1'~epen upon the use of the text. it will be stored in 25 one of three portions of memory. Information sent ovith the tart arfll either direct the text to a particular portion of memory, or Include iln,formation as to the priority of text.
The microprocessor 602, part of the set tap terminal hardware represented at block 880, enay then direct the trxt 30 to the appropriate memory location for storage.
If the text 19 to be used frequently and over a long period of tiaae a long term storage 8T5 will be used. If the H~ O 9~tIl.8:.a3 PCd'.1 S93.1 I 1 ~I
tent will be used for a shorter period of time (for example. a month), the text will be directed to an interanediate storage area 87'7. If the text is to be used almost immediately. or for a short period of time (ior example. within a few days) the 5 text is dirteted to a short term storage area 879. The microprocessor 602 locates the appropriate text required for a particular menu and retrieves it from the appropriate portion of memory 620. The Lead is output from the ~aphics memory 6Z0 to the text generator 621. Text generated froaa I ~ the text generator 621 is thereafter directed to text/graphics video combiner 62~.
Figure 9c shows the steps performed by the microprocessor 602 for creating a menu based upon a series of over3ay screens. These instructions are stored in memory i 5 vrrith~ the seat top terminal 220 in a screens data file. 'The screens data 51e instructs the microprocessor 602 on the Iacation of each graghics tale on the screen. An example screens data file is shown in Table 13, wherein the screens data file specifies menu data positioning in terms of, for 2~ example. x and y pixel positions, height and width, color codes and fonts. Alternatively. instructions or routines may be transmitted from the operations center Z02 to be stored in memory within the individual set top terminals 220.

1i 0 9~i11 i2d3 PCT L'S93 11'1.

T
- Callo~ng ata es t main caenu The are or ~

S eea amp Lt a ascription ~ _ -' Sc:rit:.~:r~ mzt~n menu.
~MAiN am eau a t v~r o or o nr ont STR ' i,e t ' 1 14. Ff PU

10TR1N 'MAIN M N ' JusL3ty X Y Hglit w~ _._ 'LEFT' I ? ' 00 YLR _ ___ C9t~t~1E.j7c3 us ae 'o or 8Co or one Y i-!c wd z 'zs a . a z ITEVt'~YC'P~tYOtJR CH~I~E

2Q- us a or o r ont X Y kit wd ITVi (5S ,__ I ' I 1 ' 1 P '30'420 f ' PPi~' A -iTE:rt 25 As shown at block 373 in figure 9c. initially the microprocessor t60~ instructs the tuner 603 to select a channel. 'I~ae channel is decompressed. error corrected and decrypted, if necessary. If the vsdeo is to be reduced in size, so as to be placed within a video ~srindow. or is a split screen 30 video ~lndar~r ~r'hteh must be enlarged, the video is scaled to the appropriate size. Additionally. the video may be required to be redirected to a portion of the television screen.
accomplished by creating a series off' offsets for each pixel location of the video.

t WO 9~lllt2s.~ 1~'~2593:113v Graphics must also be used to create a menu in most instances. As shown in block 882. the microprocessor 642 must fetch a barkground file, a logo file, and a menu display and cursor file in most instances. Each of these files is decompressed 883, and then combined, block 886.
Slmflarly. the microprocessor 602 must fetch text. as shown in block 884. Depending upon the memory location of the teact, the microprocessor 602 will fetch the text from long-term, intermediate-term, or short-term storage, as described above. Based upon this memory retrieval. the text is generated. block 885, and combined with the videa of any), with as many screens of a decompressed graphics as are necessary. and any text, block 88fi. The image or portions of the image are stored in the video combiner tfor example.
combiner 62~ of Figure 4l until alt overlays are received.
Thereafter. the entire iaaage is sent, under direction of another routine, to be displayed on the television screen. as represented by display block 888.
The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (14)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A menu-driven cable television selection system offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the system comprising:
an operations center for packaging the plurality of television programs and for generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
means, located at each cable headend, for distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations;
means, connected to the distributing means, for monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations;
means, located at the plurality of subscriber locations, for receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend;
means, connected to the receiving means, for storing computer program instructions;
a means, connected to the storing means, for sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying means uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal;
a subscriber interface for choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing, generating and displaying of the menus, using the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing, generating and displaying means;
means for generating and storing the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered;
means, at each of the subscriber locations, for transmitting the programs watched data to each cable headend; and means, located at each cable headend and connected to the monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the programs watched data from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.

2. The system of claim 1, capable of modifying the data on the program control information signal using network control data stored at the cable headend to produce a modified program control information signal, wherein the monitoring and controlling means comprises:
means for storing the network control data;
means for interpreting data from the program control information signal to determine the program identification and menu locations;
means for modifying the interpreted data based on the stored network control data; and means for creating the modified program control information signal based on the modified interpreted data.

3. The system of claim 1, capable of polling each subscriber location for the programs watched data, wherein the gathering means comprises:
means for extracting data from the program control information signal to determine the program identification and menu locations;
means for creating a polling request message that requests the reporting means to send the programs watched information to the cable headend; and means for processing the reported programs watched information.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing means comprises:

means for storing the reported programs watched information to produce stored programs watched data;
means for accessing the stored programs watched data;
means for determining the programs most frequently watched based on the stored programs watched data;
means for correlating advertisements that correspond to those programs most frequently watched to produce targeted advertisements;
means for sending the targeted advertisements to the distributing means for packaging and distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations.

5. The system of claim 3, capable of generating and maintaining account and billing information for each subscriber, wherein the processing means comprises:
means for storing the reported programs watched information to produce stored programs watched data;
means for accessing the stored programs watched data;
means for producing the account and billing information based on the stored programs watched data.

6. A method for offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the method comprising the steps of:
packaging the plurality of television programs;
generating the program control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;

distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber locations;
monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations;
receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from each cable headend;
storing computer program instructions;
sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying uses the stored computer program instructions and the programming data carried by the program control information signal;
choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing of the menus, storing the stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing step;
generating and storing the programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered;
transmitting the programs watched data to each cable headend; and gathering the programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.

7. A menu-driven television program selection system, comprising:
an operations center, comprising:
a processor that receives a plurality of television programs and processes the plurality of television programs;
a storage device that stores data including digital and analog television programs, and video; and a computer-assisted packager that packages the digital programming and selected stored data and provides a program control information signal carrying programming data on the packaging;
a cable television headend comprising:

a distributor that distributes the packaging and the program control information signal to a plurality of set top terminals;
a processor that monitors and controls each set top terminal;
and a headend receiver for gathering the compiled programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of set top terminals; and a plurality of set top terminals, each comprising:
a receiver that receives the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from the cable television headend;
a memory that stored computer program instructions;
a processor that sequences, generates and displays menus using the stored computer program instructions and the program control information signal, and generates and stores programs watched data using chosen menu options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs;
a subscriber interface for choosing options on the menus, wherein the chosen options effects the sequencing of the menus using the stored computer program instructions by the processor; and a transmitter that transmits the programs watched data to each cable headend.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of subscriber locations, each of the plurality of subscriber locations including at least one of the set top terminals, and wherein the set top terminal includes program instructions to interpret the program control information signal to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the cable headend is a remote reception site and wherein:

the processor is connected to the distributor and monitors and controls each set top terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations;
the memory is connected to the receiver; and the processor is connected to the memory, wherein the processor uses the programming data carried by the program control information signal.

10. The system of claim 7, capable of modifying the data on the program control information signal using network control data stored at the cable headend to produce a modified program control information signal, wherein the monitoring and controlling means comprises:
means for storing the network control data;
means for interpreting data from the program control information signal to determine the program identification and menu locations;
means for modifying the interpreted data based on the stored network control data; and means for creating the modified program control information signal based on the modified interpreted data.

11. The system of claim 7, capable of polling each subscriber location for the compiled programs watched data, wherein the gathering means comprises:
means for extracting data from the program control information signal to determine the program identification and menu locations;
means for creating a polling request message that requests the transmitter to send the programs watched information to the cable headend; and means for processing the reported programs watched information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing means comprises:
means for storing the reported programs watched information to produce stored programs watched data;

means for accessing the stored programs watched data;
means for determining the programs most frequently watched based on the stored programs watched data;
means for correlating advertisements that correspond to those programs most frequently watched to produce targeted advertisements;
means for sending the targeted advertisements to the distributing means for packaging and distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations.

13. The system of claim 11, capable of generating and maintaining account and billing information for each subscriber, wherein the processing means comprises:
means for storing the transmitted programs watched information to produce stored programs watched data;
means for accessing the stored programs watched data; and means for producing the account and billing information based on the stored programs watched data.

14. A menu-driven cable television selection system comprising:
an operations center capable of (i) packaging a plurality of television programs, (ii) generating a program control information signal, and (iii) transmitting the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to a cable headend;
a cable headend capable of (i) distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal to a set top terminal at a subscriber location, and (ii) monitoring and controlling the set top terminal; and the set top terminal at the subscriber location, capable of (i) receiving the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control information signal from the cable headend, (ii) sequencing, generating and displaying menus using the program control information signal and computer program instructions stored at the set top terminal, (iii) receiving a choice of an option on the menus, (iv) generating and storing programs watched data, and (v) transmitting the programs watched data to the cable headend.