JP2002522979A - System and method for synchronizing the content of a television-related product with Internet delivery information - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY A system and method are provided wherein one or more television productions are augmented with Internet broadcast television related information. The Internet broadcast television related information may include a markup language document that defines the content and functionality of the display screen. The content of the markup document may be maintained in a central database. Since information and markup language documents can be centrally managed, additional interfaces for television productions such as passive program guides, promotional video channels, and interactive guides are provided consistently across all productions. obtain. Also, the content provided on the Internet may be synchronized with the current video content displayed by the video production.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to television programming and advertising information systems.

[0002] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide a large number of channels to viewers. Conventionally, a user views a printed TV program schedule to determine a program to be broadcast at a specific time. Recently, electronic television program guides have been developed that allow television program information to be displayed on a user's television. Barker channel (ba) advertising various premier channels and pay-per-view promotions
Advertising channels such as rker channel have also been developed.

[0003] Passive electronic television program guides have been developed. Passive guides are provided on dedicated television channels. The user is presented with a scrolling or paging list of program listings to tune to that channel. The TV guide channel is a passive program guide that presents the user with a promotional video or trailer on one part of the screen and program listings on the other part.

[0004] Interactive television program guides, typically implemented on set-top boxes, allow a user to navigate through television program listings using a remote control. In a typical program guide, various groups of television program listings are displayed in predefined or user-selected categories. Program listings are typically displayed as a grid or table. Client-server based interactive guides and online interactive guides have also been developed. In a client-server based guide, program guide data is provided to the set top, typically in response to a request from the guide processed by the server at the cable system headend. In an online guide, on a personal computer or an Internet enabled set top box, a user may access a website to obtain program listings and other program related information. Another type of program guide is a hybrid passive / interactive television program guide. The hybrid guide may be based on a passive guide channel that includes a list item portion overlaid by an interactive guide portion.

[0005] The customer channel is an advertisement channel that displays a full-screen advertisement of a pay-per-view program. A bargain channel may overlay price, order, event code, and time information on such promotions and indicate to the user how to order the promoted pay-per-view program.

[0006] Each of these types of productions provides users with access to program-related information. However, each production typically has its own separate interface. Further, the functionality of a work may be limited by the configuration of the system on which the work is implemented. In a passive guide, it is not possible to provide the user with the opportunity to obtain additional program information without accessing the interactive or hybrid guide. The functionality of the interactive guide is generally limited by the amount of memory and processing power associated with the user's set-top box. The barker channel is
Typically, it does not allow users to order programs directly. Users need to order pay-per-view programs over the phone or using an impulse ordering scheme where the user must first tune to the channel on which the pay-per-view programs to be ordered are broadcast.

[0007] Online guides can be inconvenient for some users. To access program-related information, a user typically needs to boot a computer, launch a web browser, and access an appropriate website. A user with an Internet enabled set top box also needs to perform the latter two steps while watching television. Many users who do not have or are not very familiar with computers may find it inconvenient to launch a web browser, surf the Internet, and obtain program related information.

In addition, much of the television-related information displayed by each of these productions
Although the functionality of the products is very different, they are similar. There is no way to adjust the appearance and functionality of the work.

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to extend the functionality and content of one or more television productions in a television programming and advertising information system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a television programming and advertising information system in which the appearance and functionality of a plurality of television-related productions are adjusted.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a television programming and advertising information system in which changes in the source of television production data are transparent to the user.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a television programming and advertising information system in which information provided over the Internet can be synchronized with real-time video of one or more video productions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing a system in which a plurality of television-related productions are provided. One example production is a passive television, such as a TV guide channel, which presents users with video promotions, trailers, and information segments at the top of the display screen and program listings information at the bottom of the display screen. There is a program guide product. Other exemplary productions include modified barker-type productions or promotional video channels. Promotional video channels include full screen promotions, short videos (ie, videos of less than 3 minutes in length), and trailers that provide users with information about television programming, related productions, and other television-related subjects. indicate. A further exemplary production is an interactive television program guide that provides users with the opportunity to access program listings and other program related information.

[0014] These and other television productions are augmented with Internet broadcast programming related information. Such information may be formatted, for example, by one or more markup language documents. Control circuitry within the user's television equipment may be detected when the user accesses any production and may query an Internet server for any available markup language documents. The document replaces the other display screens presented by the television production,
Alternatively, a display screen that can be displayed may be defined. By utilizing the resources of the Internet, the functionality and content of these productions can be extended, otherwise not possible with the resources of standard user television equipment. Numerous new display screens and functionality may be provided, providing users with an attractive source of television-related data, for example, promoting opportunities or other advanced features.

[0015] If desired, the content and user interface of these productions can be seamlessly integrated by maintaining a single database of television-related information. A copy of the database may be maintained by multiple data sources at one or more facilities. Centrally managed content may be delivered, for example, as one or more markup language documents. Because information and markup language documents can be centrally managed, interfaces for television productions, such as passive program guides, promotional video channels, interactive guides, etc., can be presented consistently in all three productions. Further, content provided on the Internet can be synchronized with current video content displayed by the video production.

Further features, properties, and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An exemplary system 10 according to the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. Main facility 12 transmits one or more television programming related data (eg, program identifier, time, channel, title, description, category, product information, or any other suitable television programming related information) from data source 14. Any single or multiple facilities suitable for providing to the television distribution facility 16 described above may be used. Typically, the main equipment 12
Distribute data in parallel to many television distribution facilities. However, only one television distribution facility 16 is shown in FIG. 1 in order not to unduly complicate the drawing. Data source 14 obtains the data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically over a computer network or other connection, or via a storage medium) and distributes the data for distribution by main facility 12. Any suitable computer or computer-based system for converting to an electronic form.

Main facility 12 may also provide one or more video productions to television distribution facility 16. The video of the video production may be transmitted by the main facility 12 to the television distribution facility 16 in real time and distributed to the user television equipment 22 of multiple users in real time. Alternatively, the main facility 12 may transmit the video to the television distribution facility 16, where the video may be stored. Television distribution facility 16 may later distribute this video in real time to user television equipment 22 of multiple users. This approach is described in
It may be referred to as an "and forward" video distribution scheme. If desired, a combination of the above two approaches may be used. A system that provides both real-time video distribution and store-and-forward is described in, for example, US Patent Application Ser. No. 09 / 332,448 to Kern et al.
In the case of the "ney Socket No." UV-102). In this specification, the entirety of the above patent application is incorporated by reference.

The video product is, for example, a TV guide channel (TV Guide Chan).
nel), such as passive television program guide channels, promotional video channels such as barker-type channels, or any other suitable video production, thereby shortening the video (ie, video less than 3 minutes in length); Television-related information is provided to the user in the form of an advertising video such as a video trailer for advertising a television program. Short videos and trailers may be provided by video source 17. The video source 17 may be, for example, a video jukebox (a multiple compact disc or digital video disc storage system), or a video stored in any other suitable combination of hardware and software for storing such video. It may be based on a library of clips. The video may be provided in any suitable format. For example, the video signal is in the form of an analog signal using television images of the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) or the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).
It can be provided in a digital signal format such as a format.

One or more of the video productions provided by main facility 12 may include data provided by data source 14. For example, a passive program guide channel may display television program listings provided by data source 14. For example, the promotional video channel may include tagging information provided by data source 14 (eg,
Price, order, time and event code information). Television production data and video for the video production may be transmitted by the transmission system 24 to the television distribution facility 16 via the link 18. Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communication link. Video signals (eg, television programs) may also be transmitted over link 18 if desired.

Transmission system 24 may encode television production data and video for the video production, and may provide the encoded data and video to transmitter 25. Transmitter 25 is preferably a digital satellite uplink transmitter, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of transmitter. The transmission system 24 is a component object model that transmits data using, for example, an Internet-based addressing scheme and Internet-based transports and network protocols such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Internet Protocol (IP). (COM) object.
An electronic program guide system for transferring UDP packets and COM objects using the UDP / IP protocol stack is disclosed in Gol, filed June 11, 1999.
No. 09 / 332,624 to Lahon et al. In this specification, the entirety of the above patent application is incorporated by reference.

The television distribution facility 16 may be any suitable distribution facility (eg, a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility). . The television distribution equipment 16 includes a receiver 27
May have a receiving system 23 that receives video and data from a transmitter 25 using a. Receiver 27 is preferably a digital satellite downlink receiver, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial or other type of receiver.

The television distribution facility 16 may have a screen generator 28 for generating a video production display screen including video and data. Screen generator 28 may be implemented using any suitable hardware, software, or combination thereof. The screen generator 28 may be, for example, a Windows NT process running on a personal computer equipped with a Pentium II microprocessor. Screen generator 28 may generate the video production display screen using an object-oriented approach. For example, the use of COM objects may allow changes to the form and functionality of some of the functions of the system without requiring changes to other system components. Such an approach may allow one main facility 12 to provide and manage a plurality of different video productions from a central location. A screen generator that can be used to create a video production display screen for a number of video productions is described in Kern et al., US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 332,539, filed Jun. 11, 1999. ing. In this specification, the entirety of the above patent application is incorporated by reference.

The television distribution facility 16 also includes a television distribution device 2 for distributing the video product display screen and, if desired, the television programming to a plurality of users via the communication path 20.
One. Each user has user television equipment 22 for viewing video productions and television programming. Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, a cable headend modulator and any other or additional equipment suitable for transmitting television programming and video production display screens via communication path 20. .
Alternatively, the distribution device 21 may include appropriate hardware and software for distributing video in real time or substantially in real time via the Internet (for example, using M-bone). The communication path 20 is preferably
Sufficient band to allow television distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to user television equipment 22 and to transmit at least some video display screens using a single dedicated television channel. Has a width. If desired, television programming and video productions may be provided via separate communication paths.

For purposes of illustration, three types of television productions are described: passive programming television program guide channel productions, video promotion channel productions, and interactive television program guide productions. Main facility 12 may supply one or more of these or any other suitable television productions. First, an exemplary display screen in which the user interface and functionality of the product have not been extended with Internet-related television-related information will be described. An exemplary display screen in which the interface and functionality of the product has been extended with Internet-delivered television-related information will now be described in detail.

Three suitable exemplary video production display screens are shown in FIGS. 2a-2c. The video production display screen may be divided into display areas. The display area may include, for example, a video display area, a graphic display area, a text display area, and a program listings area, or any suitable combination thereof. The video display area may display video advertising material. The video display area may provide, for example, a video clip of the pay-per-view selection being promoted, such as a video clip of the movie "Terminator". The text display area may display text describing the promotional video ("tagging" information). The program listings area may display television program listings in any suitable format, such as any suitable listing, table, or grid.

The display area can be sized to occupy a predetermined portion of the screen. The display area fits, for example, the right or left quarter of the screen, the upper or lower half of the screen, the upper or lower third of the screen, the upper or lower third of the screen, the full screen, etc. It can be sized. The display area may display a promotional event corresponding to a display area type (eg, text, video program listings, etc.).

FIG. 2 a shows one suitable combination of display areas for a passive television program guide. The example video production display screen 80 may include, for example, a video promotion area 82, a text display area 84, and a program listings area 85. The video display area 82 can be sized, for example, to fit in the upper left quarter of the display screen.
The video display area 82 includes a video clip of the movie “Terminator” or the like.
Can display video clips. The text advertisement area 84 is, for example, 4
It can be sized to fit a factor of one and can be used to display tagging information about when and on which channel the "Terminator" is broadcast. The video advertising area 82 and the text advertising area 84 may be interchanged if desired.

FIG. 2 a also shows a program listing grid 88 in the program listings area 85.
Is shown. The program list item area 85 is sized to fit, for example, the lower half of the screen. The program list item grid 88 includes a number of columns 9 corresponding to program broadcast times and which may be equally spaced (eg, separated by 30 minutes).
0 and a number of rows 92, each row 92 corresponding to a different channel.
Program listings grid 88 may be continuously scrolled or may periodically change pages to display program listings for additional channels. Program listings may be displayed in a grid for each subset according to one or more organization criteria, and may be categorized in various ways. Clock 101
Can display the current time.

Another suitable exemplary video production display screen for a passive guide is shown in FIG. 2b. The passive guide display screen 81 of FIG. 2B may include, for example, a video display area 91 and a program list item area 85. The video display area can be sized, for example, to fit in the upper half of the passive guide display screen 81.

FIG. 2 c illustrates an exemplary video production display screen 8 for a promotional video channel production.
3 is shown. The advertising video channel display screen 83 may include, for example, a video display area 87 and a text display area 89. The video display area 87 can be sized to fit the full screen and, optionally, a text display area 89 overlaid thereon.
May be displayed. Video display area 87 may display advertisements, short videos, and trailers to provide users with information about television programming, related productions, and other television-related material.

The text display area 89 may be displayed when it is desired to use text information to supplement or explain the displayed video. Examples of such information may include pay per view program order information. However, there may be cases where there is no text information available for the video, or where the text information need not be displayed on the video. Such images include, for example, movie reviews, mini infomercials,
Or other similar short videos may be included.

The promotional material display screens 80, 81 and 83 of FIGS. 2 a-2 c are merely exemplary, to provide a number of different video productions on various video production display screens with different appearances. , Any suitable combination and arrangement of display areas may be used by the system 10.

Another television production that main facility 12 may provide is an interactive television program guide. For clarity, the user equipment 2 from the main equipment via the television distribution equipment 16
An interactive television program guide will be described with respect to a system configuration in which program guide data is distributed to the interactive television program guide realized on the TV program guide 2. Other suitable systems involve a configuration in which data is distributed to a program guide implemented on user television equipment 22 using other suitable distribution schemes. If desired, the interactive television program guide application may be implemented using a client-server architecture. In a client-server architecture, the main processing power for the application is provided by a server at, for example, the television distribution facility 16 or the main facility 12 (not shown), and the user television equipment 22 operates as a client processor. In the interactive environment, the distribution device 21 is a user television device 22
(Eg, pay-per-view orders, etc.). In another approach, a program guide display page may be generated at television distribution facility 16 using a high-end graphics engine or video generation equipment. The display page is then encoded and delivered to MPEG or other suitable digital format. The program guide display page may be decoded by the user television equipment 22 to generate a program guide display screen for the user to view. This type of client
A server-based program guide is described, for example, in Marsh, filed June 11, 1999.
All et al., US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 330,501. In this specification, the entirety of the above application is incorporated by reference.

The interactive television program guide may also obtain program guide data from the Internet, for example, via a cable modem and an Internet link. In yet another suitable approach, the interactive television guide may create a hybrid passive-interactive television guide, for example, by overlaying program guide data on a passive guide channel. Various architectures for interactive television program guide systems are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 357,941 to Knudson et al.
UV-114). In this specification, the entirety of the above application is incorporated by reference.

The television programming related data provided by data source 14 may include program guide data. The program guide data includes television programming data (eg, program identifier, time, channel, title, and description) and data for services other than television program listings (eg, help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, Music channel information, related internet web links,
Related software, etc.). Program guide data may be distributed by the main facility 12 to the television distribution facility 16 via a link 18. TV distribution equipment 1
6 can distribute the program guide data using the distribution device 21.

Distribution device 21 of FIG. 1 may include any device suitable for providing program guide data to user television equipment 22 via communication path 20. The distribution device 21 may use, for example, a television channel sideband, a vertical blanking interval of a television channel, an in-band digital signal, an out-of-band digital signal, or any other suitable data transmission technique. , May include suitable transmission hardware for distributing program guide data. Analog or digital video signals (eg, for television programs) may also be distributed by distribution equipment 21 to user television equipment 22, for example, via communication paths 20 on multiple television channels.

Communication path 20 may be any suitable communication path for distributing program guide data. Communication path 20 may be, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a cable modem link such as a data over cable service interface standard (DOCSIS) link, or a combination of such links. Or any other suitable communication link. Communication path 20 preferably enables television distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to user television equipment 22. Typically, there are multiple user television equipment devices 22 and multiple associated communication paths 20. If desired, television programming may be provided via a separate communication path.

The communication path 20 and the portion of the Internet link 19 that connects the user television equipment 22 to the Internet service system 61 are shown in FIG. 1 as separate links. These links may be provided via the same physical path, if desired. For example, television programming channels, video productions, and interactive program guide data can support both video and data.
It may be provided via one coaxial cable or fiber. An internet or DOCSIS link may be provided in such a coaxial cable or fiber that supports data and / or video.

Data may be transmitted by main facility 12 to television distribution facility 16 using any suitable approach. The data file may be encapsulated and transmitted as an object using, for example, a suitable Internet-based addressing scheme and protocol stack (eg, a stack using User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Internet Protocol (IP)). The system in which data is transmitted from the main facility to the television distribution facility is described in the above-mentioned June 1, 1999.
US Patent Application No. 09 / 332,624 to Gollahon et al.
No.

Before describing the exemplary program guide display screens, the exemplary configuration of the user television equipment 22 will be described to understand how the program guide display screens and other display screens may be generated. Is done. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary configuration of the user television device 22. The user television equipment 22 of FIG. 3 receives video and data from the television distribution facility 16 of FIG. During normal television viewing, the user tunes the set top box 28 to the desired television channel. The signal for that television channel is provided at video output 30. The signal provided at output 30 is typically either a radio frequency (RF) signal on a given channel (eg, channel 3 or 4), or an analog demodulated video signal, but may be a suitable digital bus (eg, For example, it may be a digital signal provided to the television 36 by a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard. The video signal at output 30 may be received by an optional secondary storage device 32.

The interactive television program guide and other applications include the set top box 28 (whether or not embedded with the operating system), the television (if the television 36 has the appropriate processing circuitry and memory). 36, TV 3
6 may be implemented on a suitable analog or digital receiver, or on a digital storage device 31 if the digital storage device 31 has suitable processing circuitry and memory. Interactive television program guides and other applications can also run cooperatively on the appropriate combination of these devices. An interactive television application system, in which a collaborative interactive television program guide application runs on multiple devices, is disclosed in US Patent Application Ser.
No. 598. This application was filed on November 5, 1998, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The secondary storage device 32 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (eg, a video cassette recorder, digital versatile disk (DVD) player, etc.). Program recording and other functions may be operated by the set-top box 28 using the control path 34.
For example, if the secondary storage device 32 is a video cassette recorder, a typical control path 34 would normally receive commands from a remote control, such as a remote control 40.
An infrared transmitter connected to an infrared receiver in a video cassette recorder may be used. Remote control 40 may be used to operate set top box 28, secondary storage device 32, and television 36.

If desired, the user may record the program, program guide data, or a combination thereof, in digital form on the optional digital storage device 31. The digital storage device 31 is a writable optical storage device (for example, a recordable D
It can be a DVD player capable of processing VD discs, a magnetic storage device (eg, a disk drive, or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. An interactive television program guide system having a digital storage device is described, for example, in Hassell et al., US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 157,25.
No. 6. This application was filed on September 17, 1998, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The digital storage device 31 may be included within the set-top box 28 or may be an external device connected to the set-top box 28 via an output port and a suitable interface. Digital storage device 31 may be included, for example, in local media server 29. If necessary, the processing circuitry within the set top box 28 formats the received video, audio, and data signals into a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Mobile Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The data obtained is stored on a suitable bus (eg, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
) Flows to the digital storage device 31 via the bus using the 1394 standard) and is stored in the digital storage device 31. In another suitable approach, MPE
The G-2 data stream or the continuous file may be received from the distribution device 21 and stored.

The television 36 receives a video signal from the secondary storage device 32 via the communication path 38. The video signal on the communication path 38 reproduces the secondary storage device 32 when playing a pre-recorded storage medium (for example, a video cassette or a recordable digital video disc), or a pre-recorded digital medium. Case may be generated by any of the digital storage devices 31 and the set-top box 2
8 and may be provided to the television 36 directly from the set-top box 28 if the secondary storage device 32 is not included in the user television equipment 22, or may be received directly by the television 36. During normal television viewing, the video signal provided to television 36 corresponds to the desired channel tuned by the user on set top box 28. The video signal may also be provided by the set-top box 28 to the television 36 when the set-top box 28 is used to play information stored on the digital storage device 31.

The set top box 28 may have a memory 44. The memory 44 includes program guide application instructions or instructions for other applications, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drive, combinations of such devices, etc., as well as program guides. It may be any memory or other storage device suitable for storing data or other data used by control circuitry 44. Set-top box 28 may also have a communication device 37 that communicates with Internet server 15 via Internet service system 61 and Internet link 19. Communication device 37 may be a modem (eg, any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), a network interface card (eg, an Ethernet card, a token ring card, etc.), or
It can be another suitable communication device. In an alternative configuration, the television 36 may have a suitable communication device 37.

A more general embodiment of the user television equipment 22 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit unit 42 of the user television equipment 22 receives the program guide data from the television distribution facility 16 (FIG. 1). The functionality of control circuitry 42 may be provided using the set-top box configuration of FIGS. 2a and 2b. Alternatively, these functions are provided by state-of-the-art television receivers, personal computer televisions (PC / TV)
, Or in any other suitable configuration. If desired, a combination of such configurations can be used.

User television equipment 22 may also have a secondary storage device 47 and a digital storage device 49 for recording programs. Secondary storage device 47 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (eg, a video cassette recorder, a digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.). Program recording and other functions can be operated by the control circuit unit 42. Digital storage device 49 may be, for example, a writable optical storage device (eg, a DVD player capable of processing recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. .

User television equipment 22 may also have memory 63. Memory 63 includes program guide application instructions and program guide data used by control circuitry 42, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drive, combinations of such devices, and the like. Can be any suitable memory or other storage device.

The user television equipment 22 of FIG. 4 also has an Internet service system 61 between the program guide or other application and the Internet server 15 and a communication device 51 that supports communication via the Internet link 19. obtain. Communication device 51 may be a modem (eg, any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), a network interface card (eg, an Ethernet card, a token ring card, etc.), or other It can be a suitable communication device.

The user operates the user television device 22 with the user input device 46. The user input device 46 includes a pointing device, a wireless remote control,
It may be a keyboard, touchpad, voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television, the user operates the control circuit unit 4.
2 to display the desired television channel on the display device 45.
To access the features of the interactive television program guide, advanced video productions, or other television-related productions, the user may use the user input device 46 to enter appropriate commands. For example, to access the features of the interactive television program guide, the user may instruct the program guide to generate a main menu or other desired program guide display screen for display on display device 45.

The program guide may provide a user with an opportunity to access program guide functions through a main menu. A main menu screen, such as the exemplary main menu screen 100 of FIG. 5, may include a menu 102 of the selectable program guide function 106.
If desired, the program guide functions 106 are arranged by function type.
For example, in the menu 102, the program guide functions 106 are arranged in three columns. The column named "TV Guide" is for features related to list items,
The column labeled "MSO Showcase" contains multiple system operators (MSO
) For services related functions, the column labeled “Audience Services” is for functions related to Viewer Services. If the user selects that function from menu 102, the interactive television program guide may generate a display screen for the particular program guide function.

Main menu screen 100 may also include other screen elements such as active display element 112. Active display element 112 may be any graphic, animation, interactive graphic or animation, video clip, or other suitable display element. Active display element 12 may display, for example, a brand logo, a video currently being distributed as part of a video production, or any other suitable television-related graphic or video. The current time may be displayed in the clock display area 116. In addition, if the program guide supports the messaging feature,
A suitable indicator, such as indicator graphic 118, may be used to indicate to the user that mail from the cable operator is waiting for the user.

The interactive television program guide may provide the user with access to any number of functions indicated by the selectable functions 106. For simplicity, only an illustrative portion of such possible functions are described to illustrate the principles of the present invention. The interactive television program guide provides, for example, a user with an opportunity to view television program listings.
The user may indicate that he / she wants to view the program listings, for example, by positioning highlight area 151 at the desired program guide function 106. Alternatively, the program guide may present a program listing when the user presses an appropriate key on remote control 40 (eg, a “List” key). If the user indicates that he / she wants to view the television program listings, the program guide generates an appropriate program listings screen to display on display device 45 (FIG. 4). The program listings screen may be overlaid on top of the program that the user is watching or may be overlaid on a portion of the program in “browse” mode.

The program listings screen includes one or more groups of program listings or a list of program listings arranged according to one or more placement criteria (eg, by time, by channel, by program category, etc.). obtain. The program guide, for example,
By channel, multiple categories (movie, sports, children's, etc.) may provide the user with an opportunity to view the listings, or may allow the user to search listings by title. The program listings may be displayed using any suitable list, table, grid, or other suitable display configuration. If desired, the program listings screen may include selectable advertisements, production brand logo graphics, service provider brand graphics, a clock, or any other suitable indicator or graphic.

The user may indicate that he / she wants to view program listings by time, by channel, or by category, for example, by selecting selectable function 106 from menu 102. The program guide may display the program listings on the appropriate program listings screen of user television equipment 22. FIG. 6 shows the display of the program list items by time. The program listings screen 130 of FIG. 6 may include a highlight area 151 that highlights the current program listings 150. The user enters the user input device 46
By inputting an appropriate command in the above, the highlight display area 151 can be positioned. For example, if the user input device 46 has a keypad, the user may position the highlight area 151 using the “up” and “down” arrow keys, or other suitable keys. The user may select a list item, for example, by pressing an "OK" or "Info" key, or by pulling a trigger. Alternatively, a touch screen, trackball, voice recognition device, or other suitable device may be used to move highlight area 151 or select program listings without using highlight area 151. . In another approach,
The user may speak to the voice request recognition system to enter a television program listing. These methods of selecting program listings are exemplary only and may be used in advanced video productions. Any other suitable approach of selecting program listings or interacting with television-related applications using user television equipment 22 may be used if desired.

The user presses the “up” or “down” arrow on the remote control 40 or the “page up” or “page down” key, for example, to display the time bar 111.
May be viewed further in the time slot shown in FIG. The user can also view the upcoming 24-hour listing or the previous 24-hour listing by pressing the "Tomorrow" or "Previous Day" key on remote control 40, respectively. If there are no listings that start exactly 24 hours apart in the indicated direction, the program guide may choose a program that starts either closer or farther from the 24 hour point. The user may view program listings in other time slots, for example, by pressing the “right” and “left” arrows on remote control 40.

FIG. 7 shows display of program list items for each channel. The user may scroll up and down to view program listings for additional time slots, and scroll left and right to view program listings for other channels. If desired, the date on which the program listing is displayed may be included in display area 147 along with the channel number, as shown.

The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to view program listings categorized by category. The user may, for example, press a special category key (eg, “movie”, “sports”, “for children”, etc.) on the remote control 40 and select a selectable category function from the main menu screen 100 (FIG. 5); Alternatively, any other suitable approach may be used to indicate that the program listings by category are to be viewed. FIG. 8a is an exemplary program listings screen showing movie listings. FIG. 8b is an exemplary program listings screen showing program listings for sports related programming. FIG. 8c is an exemplary program listings screen showing program listings for children's programs.

Program listings in a list, such as list 129 in FIGS. 8a-8c, may be divided into predetermined time slots, such as 30 minute time slots. During each time slot, a separator 128 may be displayed to indicate to the user that the user has scrolled or paged the program listings from one time slot to the next. For example, in FIG.
The user scrolls from the program list item of M to the time slot of 12:00 AM. If desired, the next weekday may be displayed. 8a-8c, for example, the user may select 1: 00P from the program listings of the 12:30 PM time slot.
Scroll to M time slot program listings. As the user scrolls through the list items, highlight region 151 may skip separator 128. An interactive guide system that displays separators in a list of list items is described, for example, in the above-referenced Knudson et al., U.S. patent application Ser.
UV-114).

A program listings display screen, such as the screens of FIGS. 6, 7, 8a, 8b, and 8c, may include various other screen elements. The program listings display screen may include, for example, graphics, a clock, a message indicator, or any other suitable screen element.

The system described so far is a system in which a plurality of separate television-related products are provided to a plurality of users for display on user television equipment.
Three exemplary productions have been described: passive program guide productions, promotional video channel productions, and interactive television program guide productions. Each production includes television related information (eg, television programming related data, program guide data, etc.)
It has one or more display screens.

The content and functionality of each of these productions can be extended with Internet broadcast television related information. The content and user interface of these productions can be integrated by maintaining a single database of television-related information. Copies of this television-related information may be maintained at one or more facilities (eg, main facility 12) by multiple data sources. If desired, the display screen of each of these productions has a similar appearance so that the user may not be aware of the particular source of the television related information being presented.

The main equipment 12 in FIG. 1 transmits television-related data from the data source 14 to the main equipment 1.
2 may be distributed to the user television equipment 22 via the Internet server 15 and the Internet link 19. If desired, multiple Internet servers 15 may be used. The Internet server 15 may be located at the main facility 12, remote from the main facility 12, or a combination thereof. Remote Internet server 15 may communicate with main facility 12 via the Internet or any other suitable communication path. Internet server 15 may be any combination of hardware and software suitable for providing television programming related data from an Internet site, such as a website. The Internet server 15 is, for example, a file transmission protocol (FTP)
) May be provided in a file that is transmitted using Preferably, the Internet server 15 represents the web page containing the television programming related data using, for example, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and renders the web page to a suitable Internet-based protocol or combination of protocols (eg, (Via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) over a Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Control Protocol (TCP / IP) link).

The user television equipment 22 can access the Internet server 15 via the Internet service system 61 and the Internet link 19. Internet service system 61 may use any suitable combination of hardware and software that can provide Internet access to user television equipment 22. Internet service system 61 if desired
May be located in a facility separate from the television distribution facility 16.

The control circuitry 42 (FIG. 4) of the user television equipment 22 can be programmed to extend the display screen and functionality of various productions using any approach appropriate for each type of production. For a video production, such as a passive program guide with video, or a promotional video channel, the control circuitry 42 overlays an interactive web page on the display screen of the production to display the format of the hybrid passive / interactive production. Can be created.

[0068] Television distribution facility 16 may distribute the identifier to user television equipment 22 to identify that a given television channel (analog or digital) is associated with a particular production. The identifier can be any suitable approach (in-band, out-of-band, continuous,
(Periodic, on request, etc.). If the user tunes to a particular video production, for example, control circuitry 42 may detect the identifier and query Internet server 15 for one or more markup language documents. Query for current channel, user, system 1
The address of the user television equipment 22 in 0, the date and time, or any other suitable information may be identified.

In an alternative approach, the video production may be extended by appropriate hardware and software at the television distribution facility 16. The screen generator 28
For example, Internet delivery information may be obtained via Internet service system 61 or receiving system 23, and a video production display screen having Internet delivery information may be generated. The extended display screen can be distributed by the distribution device 21 to the user television device 22. Since this approach cannot add interactive functionality to the video production, the memory and processing requirements of the control circuitry 42 tend to decrease.

For interactive television program guide productions, control circuitry 42 may store Internet-delivered markup language documents in memory 63. Each document may, for example, include a screen identifier in its header and is indexed in memory 63 by the screen identifier. The interactive television program guide may be constructed, for example, to consult memory 63 each time a user accesses a different display screen. The program guide may determine whether there is an alternative markup language document corresponding to the screen that the user accesses, and if so, may display the screen defined by that document. The control circuit unit 42 may query the Internet server 15 for a markup language document each time the user indicates that he wants to access the display screen. If no markup language document is available, the interactive guide may display its default style screen and appropriate content. If desired, many markup language documents can be preloaded and stored in memory 63 simultaneously. Alternatively, if fewer markup language documents are stored in memory 63, more markup language documents may be retrieved using a universal resource locator (URL), if necessary. The number of preloaded markup language documents depends, for example, on the amount of available memory in memory 63.

Initiating and maintaining an Internet session between the control circuitry 42 and the Internet server 15 is preferably transparent to the user. The control circuit unit 42 includes, for example, a web browser from which “chrome” has been removed,
That is, it can be programmed with a permanently constructed or temporarily commanded web browser so as not to display the normal web navigation interface to the user. This allows the user television equipment to provide information and interactive information based on markup language documents without the user knowing that the enhanced functionality is provided in a different manner than the normal display screen is provided. It is possible to display a passive guide display screen, an advertising video channel display screen, an interactive television program guide display screen, etc., including functions. The control circuitry 42 detects the video production identifier (e.g., from in-band signals), initiates an Internet connection via the appropriate cable modem circuitry, activates a chromeless web browser, and One or more markup language documents may be downloaded. In addition, since the markup language document is centrally managed, the document-based features added to the video productions and features added to the interactive guide based on the document will be consistent between productions. Can be presented.

[0072] Any suitable markup language may be used. A markup language document may be defined using a markup language such as, for example, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DHTML), or Extensible Markup Language (XML). An electronic program guide system in which the program guide display screen layout and functionality are updated using a markup language is described, for example, in Lemmons et al., US patent application Ser.
No. 358. This application was filed on January 8, 1999, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 9a illustrates how a markup language document may define a display screen of a television production, such as the passive program guide shown in FIG. 2a. In practice, the markup language document may be continuous from top to bottom, and the attributes of the display item may immediately follow the display item tag. However, the markup language document 300 has a left portion 302 to more clearly illustrate the principles of the present invention.
And having a right portion 304. The portion 302 of the markup language document 300 shows how the display element identifier 330 can be tagged 306. A portion 304 of the markup language document 300 shows how display element attributes can be grouped using the markup language document and assigned using tags.

As shown in FIG. 9A, display element attributes 310 and 312
15, and 317. Each display element can be assigned to a set of attributes. Markup language document 300 may tag display element identifier 330 with tag 306. Tags 306 are generally labeled T1, T2, and T3 to indicate which display elements are being tagged (display element 1, display element 2, and display element 3, respectively). The tag 306 may, for example, indicate where the display element is located on the display screen, its size, and what style (eg, color, font special effects, etc.) attributes 310 (eg, A1, A1,.
A2, A4, A5, A7, and A8) are associated from the set. To generate a display screen, such as screen 308, the interactive program guide may parse the markup language document, extract style and layout information, and generate a display screen accordingly.

FIG. 9a also shows that the functionality of the television production is in Markup Language Document 3
00 is used to show how it can be defined. A program guide (or other production) is pre-programmed with a number of actions. Portion 304 of markup language document 300 may be used to select an appropriate action from those actions for a particular display element. Related actions include, for example, an action of displaying information on a specific display screen when the user selects a display element, an action of adjusting to a specific video production when the user selects a display element, and a video production function. An action to perform (eg, order an item, order a pay-per-view program, set a reminder, etc.) or any other suitable action may be included. Attribute 312 may be included in sets of attributes 313, 315, and 317 to indicate the selected action. A display item may have multiple associated actions (eg, menus), but only one attribute 312 is shown for each set to prevent over-complicating the drawing. The action is Figure 9a
Can be assigned to the display element 314 using the tag 306, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 b shows how the display features of display screen 308 can be changed or reconfigured using different markup language documents, such as markup language document 340, by reconfiguring display element 314 and changing the style. Indicates if it can be modified. As shown, the markup language document 340 includes a tag 3
06 may be used to assign a set of attributes to a display item. The control circuit unit 42 (
Or the software running on the control circuit 42) interprets the markup language document 340, from the set, the new or changed attributes 310 '.
, Using the tag 306, for example, the display screen 3 having the display element 314 ′.
08 'is generated. As shown, display screen 308 'is replaced with display screen 30 of FIG. 9a.
8, display element 314 may be deleted, resized, and repositioned. Display elements may also be changed or added in style (not shown). Accordingly, the first display screen 308 can be generated by the control circuit 42 using the first markup language document (300), and the display screen (308) can be generated using the second markup language document (340). ') May be modified (eg, the position, size, and style of display element 314 are changed) or may define a completely new display screen.

FIG. 9 b also shows how different actions of display elements can be assigned using a markup language document. When comparing sets 313 and 317 of FIG. 9a with sets 313 ′ and 317 ′ of FIG. 9b, different actions may be included in the set, as shown. Sets 317 'and 313'
A new action may be indicated, as indicated by, and the previously indicated action is skipped. In addition, actions may be selected for different display elements, as shown in set 313 '(eg, A7 moves from set 317 in FIG. 9a to set 313' in FIG. 9a).

New actions may be added using an Internet delivery applet, such as an ActiveX component, a Java applet, an executable, or any other suitable interpretable or executable module. The markup language document may be supplemented with, for example, a Java applet stored and executed by a Java virtual machine executing on the control circuit unit 42. The use of Internet technology and the use of Internet resources can potentially provide a large amount of information and functionality that was not previously available to a video production. The ability to provide a consistent user interface to the production allows for a seamless transition between the productions and makes the source of video production information transparent to the user.

As an overview, by first accessing the production, the user can gain advanced content and functionality of the video production. Control circuit unit 42 (control circuit unit 4
2), for example, by detecting the production identifier in the data stream, obtaining that identifier from an interactive guide, or using any other suitable approach. It may be possible to determine which production the user has accessed. After that, the control circuit unit 42 starts the web browser,
Initiate an Internet session via an Internet link 19 (FIG. 1) with one or more Internet servers 15. By way of example, reference to the Internet server 15 is intended to mean one or more Internet servers 15.

While the user accesses the video production, the Internet session may last for a predetermined amount of time before the display screen is displayed, or any other suitable duration. Control circuitry 42 may query Internet server 15 for any additional television-related information of the production. Internet server 15 may provide such information, for example, in the form of a markup language document that may indicate the functionality of the content of the further video production. The information provided may be synchronized with the current display of the video production. For example, if the promotional video channel production is broadcasting a video clip of an interview with an actor, additional information may include an information screen that provides the user with the actor's bio and cinematography.

Synchronization between the content of the Internet delivery television-related information and the display of the video production is
This can be achieved by using any suitable scheme. The markup language document is stored, for example, by the Internet server 15 and includes a time, date,
And indexed by video production. When querying the Internet server 15 for television related information, the control circuitry 42 may provide the current time, date, and identifier of the accessed video production to the Internet server 15. Alternatively, each video production display screen can be uniquely identified. If the user performs an activity that requires the display of additional screens or more information, control circuitry 42 may provide a display screen identifier associated with the activity to Internet server 15. In either approach, the Internet server 15 uses the information provided to compose a relational database query, such as a standard query language (SQL) query, extracts the desired information, and converts that information into a markup language document. The user television equipment 22 may again be provided with the markup language document for formatting and display by the control circuitry 42.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b are flowcharts of exemplary paths between video productions that may be provided by extending the content and functionality of the video productions, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. For illustration, the description of FIGS. 10a and 10b begins at a reference point at which a user accesses a promotional video channel production (step 1000).
. In response, control circuitry 42 may query Internet server 15 for any additional television-related information for the promotional video channel production (step 1010). In the absence of further information, the control circuitry may provide the user with access to the original form of the promotional video channel production, for example, as shown in FIG. 2c (step 1020).

If the Internet server 15 has further information, the control circuit unit 42
Information may be obtained to enhance the content and functionality of the promotional video channel production, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 (step 1030). Instead of the non-interactive text display area shown in FIG. 2c, the expanded promotional video channel production may have an interactive overlay 500. In the example of FIG. 11, the promotional video channel production is currently playing a video preview of the movie "Stargate". Therefore, the television-related information provided by the Internet server 15 may include the program list item information of the movie “Stargate” displayed on the overlay 500. Overlay 500 may be, for example, a markup language document that displays the title of the movie being previewed, the channel on which the movie is viewed, and the airtime. Overlay 500 may also display the current time.

The overlay 500 may be displayed on the screen for a predetermined amount of time after the user has tuned to the promotional video channel, and then removed from the screen using any suitable approach. Overlay 500 may, for example, "slide" off the screen from right to left and disappear. Overlay 500 may reappear, for example, if the user presses an arrow key on remote control 40, or if some other real-time event occurs that is related to the promotional video channel production channel. The promotional video channel production may, for example, interrupt a movie review and present a commercial or other advertisement. Overlay 500 may be displayed again by control circuitry 42 after the advertising video channel production returns to movie critique. Integrating the display of the overlay 500 with such real-time events can be achieved using any suitable approach. For example, the control circuit unit 4 indicates that a commercial is being reproduced.
The indicator shown in FIG. 2 may be distributed in-band on the channel of the promotional video channel production.

The functionality of a promotional video channel production may be extended, for example, by providing the user with an opportunity to view program listings and other information about programs promoted by the promotional video channel production. For example, if the user selects the "other programs" function 510, the control circuitry 42 may not have downloaded the screens or overlays necessary to provide the user with an opportunity to view more information, for example, If not stored in memory 63 (not shown), Internet server 15 may be queried for further information. For more information,
Hereinafter, the screen is referred to as an “other program” screen, and is controlled by the control
2, a markup language document defining a menu screen may be included (step 1040).

Another exemplary program screen 1201 is shown in FIG. Another program screen 1201 is:
For example, it may include an active display element that displays a still image of the last frame indicated by the promotional video channel production, or a video currently being broadcast on that channel. Control circuitry 42 may also play audio from the promotional video channel production.

Another program screen 1201 may show a plurality of selectable functions 106 that a user may select to access enhanced content and functions of a video channel production. The user can select, for example, by selecting its selectable function 106 for all advertised programs or for advertised programs of a particular genre (eg, movie, action, comedy, sports, game program, etc.). Access program listings. The user may also access other video productions, such as passive program guides, from other program screens 1201. The user may return to the promotional video channel production by selecting the appropriate selectable function. The other program screen 1201 is displayed on the interactive television program guide main menu screen 102 (FIG. 5) to better facilitate a seamless transition from one video production to another. It can be designed to be similar.

The user positions the highlight area 151 at a desired selectable function using the arrow keys of the remote controller 40 and presses the “OK” key of the remote controller 40, for example.
A particular selectable function 106 may be selected. If the user selects a selectable function 106, such as a selectable "drama" function, the control circuitry 42 may still download the screens or overlays needed to provide the user with an opportunity to view more information, for example. If not, and not stored in memory 63 (not shown), Internet server 15 may be queried for further information. In this example, the additional information may include a program listing for the drama program. The control circuitry 42 may display program listings for the selected genre in a program listings screen, such as the exemplary program listings screen 1301 of FIG. 13 (step 1050).

A program listings screen for a video production, such as the program listings screen 1301 of FIG. 13, may be used to keep the user from transitioning from an interactive television program guide to a video production. , May be designed to be similar to the program listings screens of FIGS. However, the program listings screen for the video production may be slightly different than the interactive listings program listings screen, for example, if a slightly different look or function is desired. Designing multiple television productions to complement each other in the system may provide a viewing and interactive television experience that enhances the user's interest and loyalty to the type of production.

The listings for the advertised program can be in any suitable arrangement (organiziz
ation) criteria. FIG. 13 shows a list item display by time.
The list items can be re-categorized and displayed by the circuit unit 42. Text display area 1303 may display a short description of the currently highlighted list item. In this example, the user sets the emphasis area 151 to “The Rainmak”.
er "on the list item. If desired, the next broadcast time and program rating may be displayed. Although FIG. 13 shows an exemplary program listings screen for drama pay-per-view programs, the listings screen may be used to display listings of any suitable category and a listing of all categories Items can be displayed. If desired, the list item may be a video on demand (V
OD) Can be associated with program videos in the library. The user may select a listing and watch the program on demand.

Another exemplary additional function that may be provided by extending a television production with Internet-distributed television-related information is to provide additional program information, for example, if the user indicates that he or she wants to do so. . The user may indicate that he / she wants to view further program information, for example, by displaying a program list item screen (eg,
6-8c) or from within a program listings screen (eg, screen 1301 in FIG. 13) that expands the video production. When the user indicates that he / she wants to view the program information, the control circuit unit 42 stores, for example, a screen or an overlay necessary for providing the user with an opportunity to view further information has not been downloaded yet and is stored in the memory 63. If not (not shown), the Internet server 15 may be queried for further information. In this example, the additional information may include the program information (step 1060) that the control circuit unit 42 displays on the program information screen. An exemplary program information screen 1401 is shown in FIG.
It is shown in FIG.

The program information screen 1401 of FIG. 14 provides the user with a consistently visible navigation tool for navigating between video productions and additional screens provided via the Internet server 15. Shows an exemplary navigator 1403 that may be displayed in a television production display screen. Navigator 14
03 may, for example, watch program information, access a screening room, purchase a product, access a passive program guide, access a promotional video channel production, or any other suitable It may provide the user with an opportunity to take action. The user can select, for example, the selectable function 106 in the highlight display area 151.
Such a function can be performed by selecting. The program information screen 1401 may include, for example, a still image of the program associated with the selected listing, and may play the audio of the video production that the user entered on the program information screen 1401. Program information screen 1
401 may also include, for example, a short description of the program associated with the listing, the program's title, rating, airtime, and any other suitable information. The user can use the arrow keys on the remote control 40 to move the user to the right or left, for example.
You may watch additional undisplayed time slots of the program.

The user can also access the screening room from the program information screen 1401. The screening room is a display screen on which video clips of the program are displayed. The user can, for example, select a screening room function 106 on the screen.
If the selection indicates that the user wants to access the screening room, the control circuitry 42 may (e.g., download any screens or overlays necessary to provide the user with the opportunity to view the screening room and corresponding clips). (If not, and not stored in memory 63), the Internet server 15 may be queried for further information. In this example, the additional information may include a video clip about the screening room. Video clips may be downloaded in any suitable digital video format, such as the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 format. The control circuit unit 42 may display the video clip on the user television device 22 as a screening room display screen (step 1070 in FIG. 10b).

An exemplary screening room display screen 1501 is shown in FIG. The user may play a video preview by, for example, pointing right or left with an arrow and selecting a listed video clip. If more than one video clip is available for a program, there may be more than one listing, but only one is shown to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. The control circuit unit 42 decodes the clip,
And hardware, software, or a suitable combination thereof for displaying the clips on the user television equipment 22.

Another exemplary function is to provide a user with an opportunity to purchase programming related products. The programming related product may be, for example, related to a program displayed by the video production when indicating that the user wants to view available products. For example, the user may indicate that he / she wants to view available products by selecting the selectable product function 106 from the navigator 1403.

After indicating that the user wants to view the available products, the control circuit unit 42 may, for example, download the screen or overlay required to provide the user with an opportunity to view the available products. If not, and not stored in the memory 63 (not shown), the Internet 15 can be queried for further information.
In this example, further information is displayed on the product screen by the control circuit unit 42 (see FIG. 1).
0b, step 1080) product information (eg, product description, available sizes, colors,
Price, etc.). An example product display screen 1601 is shown in FIG.

The product display screen 1601 may provide a user with an opportunity to order a promoted product. In the example product display screen 1601, for example, the user
By positioning one above the desired field and pointing right or left with an arrow,
The color, size, and amount of the Stargate T-shirt can be specified. If the user selects the on-screen order function, control circuitry 42 may order the product using any suitable approach. The control circuit unit 42 can provide, for example, order information to the Internet server 15. Internet server 15 may then send the product request to promotion facility 10 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the control circuit unit 42
Order information may be provided to television distribution facility 16 via communication path 20. Television distribution facility 16 may then provide the merchandise request to promotion facility 10. In yet another suitable approach, control circuitry 42 may issue a product request to promotion facility 10 directly over the Internet. Promotional facility 10 may include any computer hardware or software suitable for receiving a product request, ordering a product, shipping a product to a user, and billing the user.

The product request includes information necessary for ordering a product based on the type of ordering method used. The request may include, for example, a product identifier, a user identifier or account number, or other suitable information. The product request may include, for example, user information that the promotional facility 10 may use to issue a bill for the product. Alternatively, the television distribution facility 16 may issue a bill to the user for the product of the user's next statement, and the promotion facility 10 may only ship the product.

The communication path 9 may be any communication path suitable for transporting a product request from the Internet server 15, the user television equipment 22, or the television distribution facility 16 to the promotion facility 10. Communication path 9 may include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communication link. The communication link 9 is shown only when it is connected to a television distribution facility 16 to prevent the drawing from becoming too complicated.

Returning to the description of FIG. 16, the active display element 1603 may initially display, for example, a picture of a provided product (eg, a T-shirt). If desired, the active display element 1603 may be selectable. User active display element 160
In response to the selection of 3, the control circuitry 42 may provide the user with a further overview or overview of the ordered items. The further overview or overview may be stationary, animated, or video. In this example, control circuitry 42 may display a rotating picture of the T-shirt in response to the user's selection of a picture of the T-shirt, so that the user can see both sides of the T-shirt. .

If desired, control circuitry 42 may prompt the user to confirm the order before recording the order. The control circuit unit 42 may, for example, present a list of orders to the user and display an order confirmation screen that provides an opportunity to cancel, confirm, or change the order (step 1090 in FIG. 10b). An exemplary order confirmation screen 1701 is shown in FIG.
It is shown in FIG.

Another feature that may be provided as part of the extension of the television application is to provide the user with an opportunity to order pay-per-view programs. The user may indicate that he / she wants to order the pay-per-view program, for example, by pressing the “order” key on remote control 40 or other suitable key if the pay-per-view program is being promoted by a video production. FIG. 10a shows an exemplary flow diagram of a path for providing a user with an opportunity to order a pay-per-view program from within a video production, in this example, a promotional video channel production. If the user indicates that he / she wants to order a pay-per-view program, the control circuitry 42 may, for example, store the screen or overlay needed to provide the user with the opportunity to view further information in the memory 63 if the screen or overlay has not yet been downloaded. If not (not shown), the Internet server 15 may be queried for further information. In this example, the additional information may include pay-per-view order information (eg, price, title, and broadcast time) that control circuitry 42 displays on the pay-per-view order screen.

For illustration, a video production, such as a promotional video channel production, may currently promote “Tomorrow Never Dies”, as shown in FIG. As an example, the user may select the pay-per-view program “Tomorrow Never”.
The desire to order “Dies” can be indicated, for example, by pressing the “OK” key on the remote controller 40. If the user indicates they want to order a pay-per-view program,
Control circuitry 42 may query Internet server 15 for additional information, such as pay-per-view order information.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate an exemplary WOW indicator 1405 that may be displayed on the overlay 500 when there is a special offer, such as a special promotion opportunity that depends on the user ordering a pay-per-view program. The WOW indicator is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, it may be selectable. As further information is delivered via the Internet, special promotional opportunities are created at any time and at any suitable frequency, and display screens that allow the user to view available products or make pay-per-view orders are displayed on the display screen. It can be presented to the user upon access.

The control circuitry 42 may use any suitable approach to determine whether a WOW offer is available. The control circuit unit 42 may detect, for example, a WOW indicator transmitted as an in-band signal on a channel that carries the video product. Another suitable approach is to use WOW in the information provided to the control circuitry 42.
An internet server 15 may be included to indicate that the offer is available. W
After the control circuitry 42 detects that the OW offer is available, the control circuitry 42, as shown in FIG. 18, changes the WOW overlay 500 to indicate to the user that the WOW offer is available. May be displayed (step 1995).

If the user indicates that he wishes to order a pay-per-view program from within overlay 500 of FIG. 18, control circuitry 42 may display overlay 500 of FIG. 19 (step 2000). A user may order a pay-per-view program and a corresponding WOW offer, for example, by selecting the airtime of the advertised pay-per-view program from overlay 500 of FIG. In response to this, the control circuit unit 4
2 may prompt the user to confirm the order of the WOW offer, as shown in FIG.

Alternatively, the user may indicate that he wants to query the WOW offer without ordering the WOW offer or the advertised pay-per-view program. The user may, for example, select the selectable WOW indicator 1405 in FIG. In yet another approach, the user may indicate that he or she wishes to view more information about the advertised pay-per-view program, for example, by selecting a further information feature 1903 that is selectable. In response, the control circuit 42 (if necessary)
Further information is downloaded and the further information is displayed on the program information screen 21 of FIG.
01 (step 1060). The user may then indicate that he / she wants to query the WOW offer, for example, by selecting a selectable merchandise feature 106.

If the user indicates that he wants to order pay-per-view programs and WOW offers, or if he indicates that he wants to query WOW offers, the control circuitry 42 obtains further information (if needed) and obtains WOW information. Show offer screen (
Step 2010 in FIG. 10b). An exemplary WOW offer screen 2201 is shown in FIG. The WOW offer screen 2201 may show, for example, the price, whether the offer depends on pay-per-view program purchases, and a short description of the offered product.
It may indicate an offer. After retrieving the offer, the user (eg, “Continue”
The control circuitry 42 may obtain further information (if necessary) and respond by displaying a merchandise screen (step 1080 in FIG. 10b).

FIG. 23 shows an exemplary modified merchandise screen 2301 that informs the user that the offer is a WOW offer and provides the user with the opportunity to place an order or cancel. After the user places an order, control circuitry 42 may obtain additional information (if necessary) and display a modified order confirmation screen such as order confirmation screen 2401 of FIG. 24 (FIG. 10b). Step 1090).

After the user has ordered the pay-per-view program and, if not required, but desired, the WOW offer, the control circuitry 42 (if currently being broadcast) places the user on the channel on which the pay-per-view program is carried. Or return the user to the video production for which the pay-per-view program was ordered, indicating a "thank you" indicator 2503, as shown in FIG. 25 (step 2025). The “thank you” indicator 2503 is displayed for a predetermined period of time, and can be removed from the display by the control circuit unit 42 thereafter.

FIG. 26 illustrates an exemplary overlay 500 when no WOW offers are available that the control circuit 42 may display to provide a user with an opportunity to order a pay-per-view program. For illustrative purposes, the currently promoted program is "Star
"Ship Troopers". The control circuit 42 displays the overlay 520 of FIG. 26 after indicating that the user desires to order the advertised pay-per-view program, for example, by pressing "Order" or other suitable key on the remote control 40. (Step 2020). Overlay 520 may provide the user with the opportunity to obtain more information about pay-per-view, order pay-per-view, or return to a video production, in this example, a promotional video channel production. If the user orders a pay-per-view program, for example, by selecting order function 106, control circuit 42 will tune to the channel on which the user is carrying the pay-per-view program (if currently being broadcast). Or
Or, the pay-per-view program may return the user to the ordered video production and display a “thank you” indicator 2503 (FIG. 25) (step 2025). A "thank you" indicator 2503 may be displayed for a predetermined period of time and then the control circuit 42
Can be removed from the display.

The user may also be offered the opportunity to set a reminder for his pay-per-view order. When a user places or confirms a pay-per-view order,
In response, for example, control circuit 42 may obtain additional information from Internet server 15 (if needed). This additional information may include, for example, an identifier unique to the program, and the broadcast time. Further information may also include a reminder setting window displayed on user television equipment 22 by control circuit 42 (step 2030).

FIG. 27 shows an exemplary reminder window 2701. The reminder window 2701 can provide the user with an opportunity to confirm the contents of the order, obtain detailed information on the ordered pay-per-view program, and set a reminder for the pay-per-view program. The user may indicate that a reminder setting is desired, for example, by selecting a “Yes” function 106. Reminders can be set using any suitable approach. For example, control circuit 42 may provide Internet server 15 with an identifier specific to the ordered pay-per-view program and an address specific to user television equipment 22. At an appropriate time prior to the broadcast of the pay-per-view program, Internet server 15 may send the message to user television equipment 22 using any suitable protocol, such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Control circuit 42 may receive the message, determine that it is a reminder (eg, from the header information of the message), and display the reminder on user television equipment 22 (step 2040).

In another approach, Internet server 15 may provide reminder information to an interactive television program guide, at least partially implemented on set-top box 28. When the control circuit 42 obtains further information for a guide from the Internet server 15, the Internet server 15 retrieves the reminder information and sends the reminder information to the control circuit 42 based on the unique address of the user television equipment 22, for example. Can provide information. At the appropriate time, the program guide may display a reminder on user television equipment 22 (step 2040).

FIG. 28 shows an exemplary reminder. The reminder 2801 may indicate to the user that the ordered pay-per-view program will begin, and may prompt the user to tune to the channel on which the pay-per-view program was loaded. If the user selects the "Yes" function 106, the control circuit 42 may, for example, tune to that channel. A “thank you” indicator, such as the “thank you” indicator 2503 in FIG. 25, may be displayed if desired.

[0116] Orders can be rejected. The user may have, for example, a parental control setting with a television production that prevents ordering. Alternatively, the parental control code may not be set and the order may be rejected because the pay-per-view program does not match the default parental control setting. Another reason an order may be rejected may be that there is an order conflict.

[0117] Control circuit 42 may use any suitable approach to determine that the order has been rejected. The control circuit 42 may store a list of ordered pay-per-view programs and their broadcast times, and may look up the broadcast times of the ordered programs. The control circuit 42 may also store a list of parental control settings to which the control circuit 42 can compare for programs that the user wants to order. Alternatively, the interactive television program guide may monitor pay-per-view orders and issue appropriate commands to control circuit 42 to display an order reject window. If there is a conflict or other situation that requires rejection of the order, the control circuit 42 returns to the order rejection window 2 shown in FIG.
An order reject window such as 901 may be displayed (step 2050).

FIG. 30 shows another example of synchronizing Internet delivery television-related information and video product video. The promotional video channel may, for example, periodically display program listings, such as pay-per-view program listings. Control circuit 42 may obtain (or have already obtained) program listings information for the listed pay-per-view programs and display that information as overlay 500. In this embodiment,
"As Good As It Gets" is listed first, and the overlay 500 displays its program listing information. For example, when the user presses the down arrow, the control circuit 42 responds to “Tomorrow Never Di”.
program listings information for "es" or "Starship Troopers" may be displayed.

What has been described above with reference to FIGS. 11-30 is that the video production of the advertising video channel type is augmented by Internet related television related information.
5 is a description of an exemplary method that may be ented). Passive guide video productions are also
It can be extended in a similar way. For illustrative purposes, the passive guide video production is described with reference to an extension with some of the screens and overlays similar to those shown in FIGS.

When the user tunes to the passive guide channel, the control circuit 42 responds accordingly.
May detect that the user has tuned to the passive guide channel and may query the Internet server 15 for additional television-related information for the passive guide video production (step 3000). In the absence of further information, the control circuit 42 may provide the user with access to, for example, the original form of the passive guide fabrication shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b (step 3010).

If the Internet server 15 has more information, the control circuit 4
2 may obtain the information and may, for example, extend the content and functionality of the passive guide fabrication shown in FIGS. 31a and 31b (step 3020). Additional information may include, for example, an interactive program listing grid defined by one or more markup language documents. The control circuit 42 may overlay a bidirectional grid 3201 on the passive program listing grid of FIGS. 2a and 2b. A user may navigate in grid 3201 by, for example, pressing an up, down, left, or right arrow to place highlight area 151 over a program listing. The user may access additional information about the highlighted list item, for example, by pressing an “information” key on remote control 40. When indicating that the user desires access to more information, the control circuit 42 may obtain further information from the Internet server 15 (if necessary) and may access the program information screen 14 of FIG.
A program information screen for the selected program, such as 01, may be displayed (eg, step 1060 of FIG. 10a).

The user may also watch a preview of the program associated with the listing.
The expanded passive guide may indicate that the program has an available preview, for example, by tagging a program listing with an icon, such as a camera icon 3103. The user indicates that he / she wants access to the preview by pressing the “OK” key on the remote control 40, for example, when the list item having the camera icon 3103 is highlighted by the highlight area 151. obtain. In response, control circuit 42 may obtain additional information from Internet server 15 (if necessary) and display a screening room as shown in FIG. 15 (eg, step 1070). From the screening room, the control circuit 42 may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to view a preview, access a product screen and order a product (eg, steps 1080 and 1090), or access a promotional video channel. If the program listings are for a pay-per-view program, control circuit 42 may order pay-per-view programs (eg, steps 1995 and 2020) and, if desired, set reminders (eg, step 2030). Opportunities may be provided to the user.

The interactive television program guide may also be extended with Internet broadcast television related information. For clarity, the content below is based on a system in which the control circuitry of the user television equipment 22 extends the functionality of the interactive program guide display screen content. Other approaches can also be used. In a guide based on a client-server, such as the system described in Marshall et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 330,501, filed Jun. 11, 1999, the guide display screen is:
It can be changed by appropriate hardware of the television distribution facility 16.

The control circuit 42 may, for example, overlay the guide screen with the screen defined by the Internet delivery markup language document, or obtain further information and provide that information to the guide to display on the program guide display screen. Can be displayed. The control circuit 42 may detect that the user has accessed the interactive guide and query the Internet server 15 for further information (step 4000). If there is no further information, the control circuit may provide the user with access to the original form of the interactive guide screen, such as the main menu screen 100 of FIG. 5 (step 40).
10).

If the Internet server 15 has more information, the control circuit 42 can obtain that information and extend the content and functionality of the interactive guide production. For example, the main menu 102 of FIG. 5 provides the interactive guide user with an opportunity to access pay-per-view program listings by time and by title. In response to indicating that the user desires to view the pay-per-view program listings, in response, control circuit 42 may obtain further information, such as program listings data (if needed), such as in FIG. A list item screen such as a program list item screen 1301 may be displayed. From the program listings screen, the user views additional program information (eg, step 1060) and orders pay-per-view programs (eg, step 19).
95 and 2020), purchase goods (eg, steps 1080, 1090, and 2010), preview a program (eg, step 1070), or access other enhanced features such as any other suitable features. I can do it.

Additional features may also be accessed from a program guide display screen that provides users with access to similar features. The interactive guide may provide the user with an opportunity to order a pay-per-view program, for example, by highlighting a pay-per-view program listing and then pressing an “order” key on remote control 40. In response, control circuit 42 may display an order overlay, for example, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 26 (eg, steps 1995 and 2020), and provide the user with an opportunity to order pay-per-view programs. The interactive guide is also available from a further program information screen,
Pressing the "goods" function may provide the user with an opportunity to order program-related goods. In response, the control circuit 42 may, for example, display a merchandise screen and provide the user with an opportunity to confirm the order (eg, steps 1080 and 1090).
). These features are merely exemplary, and any number of program guide features may be expanded or added as desired, utilizing Internet resources.

[0127] Desirably, the display screen that extends the interactive guide is designed to have a similar appearance to the guide in order to make data delivery over the Internet and extension of the guide easier for the user to understand. For example, a program listings screen displaying pay-per-view program listings may be downloaded as a markup language document that looks like a program guide listings screen. The downloaded screen may include a camera icon 3103 to indicate to the user that a video preview is available. FIG. 32 shows that, for example, the list item screen of FIG.
Here is how it can be extended in this case. If the user selects a listing with the camera icon 3103, in response, for example, the control circuit 42 may provide the user with an opportunity to view a preview from the screening room (eg, step 1070).

Another feature of the invention is to use a television-related production to deliver programming-related reminders along with the items ordered by the user. This feature of the invention may be used in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with the opportunity to order merchandise, such as, for example, the guides described in connection with FIGS. Such a system may include a set-top box-based client-server and an Internet-based program guide. This feature is also illustrated in FIG.
a-31b may be used in connection with other television-related productions that provide users with the opportunity to order merchandise, such as the advanced video productions described above.

The merchandising facility 10 of FIG.
May have a computer 3 and a printer 5 for printing programming related reminders for delivery with the goods delivered to the user. In one suitable approach, a product request provided to promotion facility 10 may include an identifier of a program associated with the ordered product. The product request for order shown in FIG. 16 may identify, for example, “Stargate SG-1” as a related program. The product request for order shown in FIG. 23 is, for example, “Tomo
"row Never Dies" as a related program. Computer 3, if desired, may have a copy of the database stored by data source 14 and query the database for programming information related to the indicated program. The computer 3 may, for example, instruct the printer 5 to print a reminder indicating the broadcast time of the relevant program (eg, “Stargate SG-1” or “Tomorrow Never Dies”) for the current month. This reminder can be delivered with the ordered goods.

Another suitable example may be a reminder bundled with food ordered by a user using a television-related product. The WOW offer may include, for example, free pizza in a pay-per-view order. When a user orders pay-per-view, a product request may be provided to promotion facility 10 by Internet server 15, television distribution facility 16, or user television equipment 22. The product request may indicate the ordered pay-per-view program. In this embodiment, promotion facility 10 may include a pizza franchise computer system that forwards orders to franchisees in the area. The local merchant may print the appropriate reminder and deliver the reminder along with the pizza.

FIG. 33 illustrates a flowchart of exemplary steps involved in providing a user with an opportunity to purchase a product and providing a reminder, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The steps shown in FIG. 33 are merely exemplary and may be performed in any suitable order. The user is provided with an opportunity to order a product using the television-related product at step 3301. The television-related production may be an interactive television program guide, an advanced video production, or other suitable production. After the user orders the item, the television-related production may generate an item request (step 3310).

The item request may be delivered to the promotion facility 10 using any suitable approach (step 3320). The control circuit 42 may provide the request to the promotion facility 10 via a suitable link, such as, for example, a telephone dial-up, Ethernet, Internet, or DOCSIS link. Alternatively, the television distribution facility may deliver the request to the promotion facility 10. In yet another approach, Internet server 15 may receive a product request from user television equipment 22 or television distribution facility 16 and provide the request to promotion facility 10. The sales promotion equipment 10 prints the reminder (step 33).
30), the reminder may be delivered to the user (step 3340).

The reminder may be delivered with the ordered item or at some other suitable opportunity. The reminder may be delivered before the ordered item, for example, when the item is out of stock. The reminder may be delivered after the product, for example, much earlier than when the program associated with the product is broadcast, when the product is delivered.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2a illustrates an exemplary display screen of a passive interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 2b illustrates an exemplary display screen of a passive interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 2c is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display screen of a promotional video channel production.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary user television equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the example user television equipment of FIG. 3, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary main menu screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 8a illustrates an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 8c illustrates an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 9a is a diagram illustrating how different markup language documents are used to define display screen content and functionality according to the present invention.

FIG. 9b is a diagram illustrating how different markup language documents are used to define display screen content and functionality according to the present invention.

FIG. 10a is a flowchart of an exemplary path between video productions provided by extending the content and functionality of the video productions according to the present invention.

FIG. 10b is a flowchart of an exemplary path between video productions provided by extending the content and functionality of the video productions according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display screen of an expanded promotional video channel production according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary additional program screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a program list item screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program information screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screening room screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary merchandise screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an exemplary WOW indicator showing available special promotion opportunities to a user.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary WOW indicator showing available special promotion opportunities to a user.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation overlay according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program information screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary WOW offer screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary modified merchandise screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order “thank you” indicator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary pay-per-view order overlay according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates an exemplary reminder window according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary reminder according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary order reject window according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of an expanded exemplary video production display screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 31a illustrates the exemplary passive guide display screen of FIG. 2a expanded according to the present invention.

FIG. 31b illustrates the expanded exemplary passive guide display screen of FIG. 2b, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an exemplary extended program listings screen of an interactive television program guide, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of exemplary steps involved in providing a user with an opportunity to purchase an item and providing a reminder, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] August 30, 2000 (2000.8.30)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007] Online guides can be inconvenient for some users. To access program-related information, a user typically needs to boot a computer, launch a web browser, and access an appropriate website. A user with an Internet enabled set top box also needs to perform the latter two steps while watching television. Many users who do not have or are not very familiar with computers may find it inconvenient to launch a web browser, surf the Internet, and obtain program related information. For example, PCT International Publication WO 97/13368 discloses an interactive program guide system that provides user access to information in a remote database, such as a database on the Internet.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An exemplary system 103 according to the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. Main equipment 12
Converts one or more television programming related data (eg, program identifier, time, channel, title, description, category, merchandise information, or any other suitable television programming related information) from data source 14. It can be any single or multiple facilities suitable for providing to distribution facility 16. Typically, main facility 12 distributes data in parallel to multiple television distribution facilities. However, only one television distribution facility 16 is shown in FIG. 1 in order not to unduly complicate the drawing. Data source 14 obtains the data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically over a computer network or other connection, or via a storage medium) and distributes the data for distribution by main facility 12. Any suitable computer or computer-based system for converting to an electronic form.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The promotional material display screens 80, 81 and 83 of FIGS. 2 a-2 c are merely exemplary, to provide a number of different video productions on various video production display screens with different appearances. , Any suitable combination and arrangement of display areas may be used by the system 103.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0068] Television distribution facility 16 may distribute the identifier to user television equipment 22 to identify that a given television channel (analog or digital) is associated with a particular production. The identifier can be any suitable approach (in-band, out-of-band, continuous,
(Periodic, on request, etc.). If the user tunes to a particular video production, for example, control circuitry 42 may detect the identifier and query Internet server 15 for one or more markup language documents. Query for current channel, user, system 1
The address, date and time, or any other suitable information of the user television equipment 22 in 03 may be identified.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b are flowcharts of exemplary paths between video productions that may be provided by extending the content and functionality of a television production, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. For illustration, the description of FIGS. 10a and 10b begins at a reference point at which a user accesses a promotional video channel production (step 1000).
). In response, control circuitry 42 may query Internet server 15 for any additional television-related information for the promotional video channel production (
Step 1010). In the absence of further information, the control circuitry may provide the user with access to the original form of the promotional video channel production, for example, as shown in FIG. 2c (step 1020).

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2a illustrates an exemplary display screen of a passive interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 2b illustrates an exemplary display screen of a passive interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 2c is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display screen of a promotional video channel production.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary user television equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the example user television equipment of FIG. 3, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary main menu screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 8a illustrates an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 8c illustrates an exemplary program listings screen of an interactive television program guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 9a is a diagram illustrating how different markup language documents are used to define display screen content and functionality according to the present invention.

FIG. 9b is a diagram illustrating how different markup language documents are used to define display screen content and functionality according to the present invention.

FIG. 10a is a flowchart of an exemplary path between video productions provided by extending the content and functionality of a television production, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10b is a flowchart of an exemplary path between video productions provided by extending the content and functionality of a television production, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display screen of an expanded promotional video channel production according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary additional program screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a program list item screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program information screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screening room screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary merchandise screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an exemplary WOW indicator showing available special promotion opportunities to a user.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary WOW indicator showing available special promotion opportunities to a user.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation overlay according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary program information screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary WOW offer screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary modified merchandise screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order confirmation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary order “thank you” indicator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary pay-per-view order overlay according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates an exemplary reminder window according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary reminder according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary order reject window according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of an expanded exemplary video production display screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 31a illustrates the exemplary passive guide display screen of FIG. 2a expanded according to the present invention.

FIG. 31b illustrates the expanded exemplary passive guide display screen of FIG. 2b, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an exemplary extended program listings screen of an interactive television program guide, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of exemplary steps involved in providing a user with an opportunity to purchase an item and providing a reminder, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] September 4, 2000 (200.9.4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR , BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN , IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Foller, Madeline A. United States Oklahoma 74136, Tulsa, South Indianapolis 7429 (72) Inventor Fitz Wilson, E. Fontana USA Oklahoma 74137, Tulsa, East 109 TH Place 5434 (72) Inventor Boyer, Franklin E. United States Oklahoma 74020, Cleveland, Lake Shore Drive 191 (72) Inventor Demars, Timothy B. United States Oklahoma 74136, Tulsa, South Hudson Avenue 7724 (72) Inventor Williamson, Steven Sea. United States Oklahoma 74012, Broken Arrow, S.E. Elder Avenue 2720 (72) Inventor Harrington, W. Benjamin United States Oklahoma 74107, Tulsa, W. 20 Tea H Street 725 (72) Inventor Marshall, Cony Tea. United States Oklahoma 74401, Muskogee, S.E. Woodland Road 2991 F-term (reference) 5C064 BA07 BB07 BC07 BC18 BC23 BC27 BD02 BD08 BD09

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. A system (103), wherein a television-related production provided to a user is extended with Internet-delivered television-related information, the system comprising (103) an Internet-delivered television-related information and information for the television-related production. A main facility (12) configured to provide the Internet related television-related information, and an Internet server (15) configured to distribute the Internet delivered television-related information; A television distribution facility (16) configured to receive the information for the production and distribute the information for the television-related production, and user television equipment (22), Configured to obtain delivery television-related information from the Internet server (15); The information of the order is configured to receive from the television distribution facility (16),
Displaying a display screen containing the Internet-delivered television-related information, as well as the information for the television-related production, as if the Internet-delivered television-related information were part of the television-related production. User television equipment wherein the display screen is configured to make the user unaware of the fact that the Internet-distributed television-related information is being delivered via the Internet separately from the information for the television-related production. (22) A system (103), characterized by: 2. The television-related production is an interactive television program guide; the Internet-delivered television-related information includes additional program information; and the user television equipment (22) provides information to the user for more information about the program. The system of claim 1, further configured to display a program information screen in response to indicating a desire to access the program information, wherein the program information screen (1401) comprises the further program information. 3. The screening room display screen (1501) when the Internet delivery television-related information includes a video clip, and the user television equipment (22) indicates that a user desires to view the video clip. The system of claim 1, further configured to display the video clip. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet delivery television-related information includes merchandise information, and wherein the user television equipment is further configured to display the merchandise information on a merchandise display screen. The described system. 5. The Internet broadcast television-related information includes information related to a special promotion opportunity, and the user television equipment (22) has the information related to the special promotion opportunity available. And is further configured to display the information associated with the special promotion opportunity in response to indicating that the user desires to refer to the special promotion opportunity. The system of claim 1, wherein 6. The Internet delivery television-related information includes pay-per-view order information, and the user television equipment (22) displays the pay-per-view order information and provides a user with an opportunity to order a pay-per-view program. The system of claim 1, further configured. 7. The Internet broadcast television-related information includes reminder information, and the user television equipment (22) is further configured to display a reminder based on the reminder information. System. 8. A system (103) for providing a user with an opportunity to order television-related goods using a television-related product having at least one display screen, the system (103) being configured to display the display screen. And at least one of the display screens
A user television device (22) configured to provide a user with an opportunity to order a product using one of: a user television device (22) configured to provide the user with a product ordered by the user; A promotional facility (10) configured to provide the user with a reminder indicating a program associated with the product. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the promotion facility (10) is further configured to provide the user with a reminder along with an item ordered by the user. 10. The promotion facility (10) according to claim 8, wherein the promotional facility (10) is configured to provide the user with a reminder before providing the user with the goods ordered by the user. system. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the promotional facility (10) is configured to provide the user with a reminder after providing the user with the item ordered by the user. . 12. A system (103) wherein a client-server based interactive television program guide is extended with Internet broadcast television related information.
) A main facility (12) configured to provide the Internet broadcast television related information and program guide data; and an Internet broadcast television configured to receive the Internet broadcast television related information. An Internet server (15) configured to distribute relevant information; and a television distribution facility (16), a receiving system (23) configured to receive the program guide data and Internet-delivered TV-related information. A screen generator (28) configured to generate an interactive television program guide display screen in response to a request by an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment; The TV program guide display screen is displayed on the Internet together with the program guide data. The television-related information includes the Internet-distributed television-related information as if it were part of the interactive television program guide, so that the display screen displays A screen generator (28) that does not make the user aware of the fact that it is delivered separately from the information for the television program guide, and for displaying the program guide display screen by the interactive television program guide client. Distribution device (2) configured to distribute to a user television device (22).
1) and a television distribution facility (16), comprising: (1) a system (103). 13. A method for use in a system in which a television-related production provided to a user is extended by Internet-delivered television-related information, the television-related information and information for the television-related production. Providing the television-related information via a first link (19) including an Internet link; and transmitting the information for the television-related production to a second link (18). And displaying, on the user television equipment, a display screen displaying the television-related information together with the information for the television-related product, wherein the display screen comprises the television-related information. As if it were part of the television-related product, the display screen shows that the television-related information delivered via the first link is To, the said information for said television related artifacts do not notice the user of the fact that are delivered separately, characterized the steps, the method. 14. The television-related production is an interactive television program guide, wherein distributing the television-related information via a first link (19) including an Internet link comprises distributing further program information. Displaying on the user television equipment a display screen displaying the television-related information with the information for the television-related production, wherein the user desires access to further information about the program. , The program information screen (
14. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying 1401), wherein the program information screen includes the further program information. 15. The method of distributing the television-related information via a first link (19) including an Internet link, wherein the television-related information delivered to the Internet includes a video clip. And displaying a display screen displaying the television related information on the user television equipment (22) together with the information for the television related product indicates that the user desires to view the video clip. 14. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying the video clip on a screening room display screen (1501) in response to the video clip. 16. The Internet-related television-related information includes merchandise information, and distributing the television-related information via a first link (19) including an Internet link includes distributing the merchandise information. And displaying a display screen for displaying the television-related information on the user television device (22) together with the information for the television-related product on the user television device (22). 14. The method of claim 13, comprising: 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the Internet broadcast television-related information includes information related to a special promotional opportunity, and via a first link (19) including an Internet link. Distributing the television-related information includes distributing the information related to a special promotion opportunity; and the method further comprising: determining that the information related to the special promotion opportunity is available. Presenting a display screen on the user television equipment (22) for displaying the television-related information, together with the information for the television-related production, to the user television equipment (22), further comprising the step of presenting the information to the user. Displaying the information in response to indicating that the user desires the special promotion opportunity query. 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the Internet-distributed television-related information includes pay-per-view order information and distributes the television-related information via a first link (19) that includes an Internet link. The step of distributing the pay-per-view order information, the step of displaying a display screen displaying the television-related information on the user television equipment (22) together with the information for the television-related production, Displaying pay-per-view order information; the method further comprises providing a user with an opportunity to order the pay-per-view program. 19. The Internet-related television-related information includes reminder information, and distributing the television-related information via a first link (19) including an Internet link includes distributing the reminder information. And displaying a display screen for displaying the television-related information on the user television device (22) together with the information for the television-related product includes displaying a reminder based on the reminder information. The method of claim 13, wherein: 20. A method for use in a system that provides a user with an opportunity to order television-related goods using a television-related product having at least one display screen, the method comprising: Providing a user with an opportunity to order a product using at least one of: providing a product ordered by the user to the user; and a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user. Providing to the user. 21. Providing the user with a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user includes providing the user with a reminder along with the product ordered by the user. 21. The method of claim 20. 22. Providing the user with a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user, wherein the step of providing the user with the product ordered by the user comprises: Including providing a reminder to
The method according to claim 20. 23. Providing the user with a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user comprises providing the user with the product ordered by the user after the step of providing the user with the product ordered by the user. Including providing a reminder,
The method according to claim 20. 24. A method for use in a system in which a client-server based interactive television program guide is extended with Internet broadcast television related information, the method comprising: transmitting the Internet broadcast television related information and program guide data. Providing an interactive television program guide display screen in response to a request by an interactive television program guide client implemented on the user television equipment (22). The display screen includes the Internet broadcast television-related information, as well as the program guide data, as if the Internet broadcast television-related information were part of the interactive television program guide. Television-related information is transmitted to the interactive television via the Internet. Making the user not aware of the fact that it is being delivered separately from the information for the program guide; and displaying the program guide display screen to the user television equipment for display by the interactive television program guide client. Distributing to 22). 25. A system (103) wherein the television-related product provided to a user is extended with Internet-delivered television-related information, the system providing the television-related information and information for the television-related product. Means (1
4), means (15) for delivering the television-related information via an Internet link, means (24) for delivering the information for the television-related product, and means (22) for distributing a display screen. The display screen includes the television-related information and the information for the television-related product as if the television-related information were part of the television-related product. Means (22), wherein a screen does not make a user aware of the fact that the television-related information is being delivered via the Internet, in addition to the information for the television-related production. System (103). 26. The television related product as claimed in claim 15, wherein the television related product is an interactive television program guide, and
) Includes distributing further program information, wherein said means (22) for displaying a display screen including said television-related information and said information for said television-related production comprises: 26. The system of claim 25, including means for displaying a program information screen in response to indicating that access to information is desired, wherein the program information screen (1401) includes further program information. 27. The means for distributing television-related information via an Internet link, wherein the Internet-delivered television-related information includes a video clip.
Including distributing the video clip, wherein the means for displaying a display screen including the television-related information and the information for the television-related production comprises: a user desiring to view the video clip. Is displayed in the screening room display screen (1501).
26. The system of claim 25, comprising means for displaying at: 28. The means (15) for delivering the television-related information via an Internet link, wherein the Internet-related television-related information includes merchandise information.
Includes means for distributing the product information, and the means (22) for displaying a display screen including the TV-related information and the information for the TV-related product includes a product display screen (1601). 26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for displaying at). 29. The system according to claim 25, wherein the Internet related television related information includes information related to a special promotional opportunity, and the means for distributing the television related information via an Internet link. (15)
Comprises means for distributing the information related to a special promotion opportunity, wherein the system further comprises means for indicating to a user that the information related to the special promotion opportunity is available; The means (22) for displaying a display screen containing television-related information and the information for the television-related product, the information relating to the special promotion opportunity, and the user wishing to refer to the special promotion opportunity. A system that includes means for displaying in response to indicating that the user is doing so. 30. The means (15) for distributing the television-related information via an Internet link, wherein the Internet-delivered television-related information includes pay-per-view order information.
Means for distributing said pay-per-view order information; means (22) for displaying a display screen containing said television-related information and said information for said television-related product; means for displaying said pay-per-view order information. 26. The system of claim 25, comprising: means for providing the user with an opportunity to order the pay-per-view program. 31. The means for distributing television-related information via an Internet link, wherein the Internet-related television-related information includes reminder information.
Includes means for distributing the reminder information, and wherein the means (22) for displaying a display screen including the television-related information and the information for the television-related product generates a reminder based on the reminder information. 26. The system of claim 25, including means for displaying. 32. A system (103) for providing a user with an opportunity to order television-related goods using a television-related product having at least one display screen.
Means for providing a user with an opportunity to order a product using at least one of the display screens; means for providing the user with a product ordered by the user; Means for providing a reminder to the user indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user (103). 33. The means for providing to the user a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user includes the means for providing a reminder to the user with the product ordered by the user. 33. The system of claim 32. 34. The means for providing to the user a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user, the means for providing to the user the product ordered by the user to the user. 33. The system of claim 32, including means for providing a reminder. 35. The means for providing to the user a reminder indicating a program associated with the product ordered by the user, the method comprising: providing the user with the product ordered by the user; 33. The system of claim 32, comprising means for providing a reminder. 36. A system (103) in which a client-server based interactive television program guide is extended with Internet broadcast television related information.
Means for providing the Internet delivery television-related information and program guide data (15); and providing an interactive television program guide display screen to a request by an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment. Means for responding and generating, wherein the interactive television program guide display screen includes the Internet delivery television related information together with the program guide data, wherein the Internet delivery television related information is a part of the interactive television program guide. The display screen may notice to the user the fact that, in addition to the information for the interactive television program guide, the Internet-delivered television-related information is being transmitted via the Internet. Means, and the program guide display screen is displayed on the interactive television program guide client. And wherein the means for delivering to the user television equipment for display by cement, the system (103).