MXPA01012809A - Interactive television application system with hand-held application device. - Google Patents

Interactive television application system with hand-held application device.

Info

Publication number
MXPA01012809A
MXPA01012809A MXPA01012809A MXPA01012809A MXPA01012809A MX PA01012809 A MXPA01012809 A MX PA01012809A MX PA01012809 A MXPA01012809 A MX PA01012809A MX PA01012809 A MXPA01012809 A MX PA01012809A MX PA01012809 A MXPA01012809 A MX PA01012809A
Authority
MX
Mexico
Prior art keywords
interactive television
user
application
access
television
Prior art date
Application number
MXPA01012809A
Other languages
Spanish (es)
Inventor
Michael D Ellis
Original Assignee
United Video Properties Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Video Properties Inc filed Critical United Video Properties Inc
Publication of MXPA01012809A publication Critical patent/MXPA01012809A/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
    • H04N21/4126—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
    • H04N21/41265—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/163—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing by receiver means only
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
    • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
    • H04N21/4363—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
    • H04N21/43637—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47211—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8549—Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
    • H04N21/8586—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot by using a URL
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A hand-held application device provides users with opportunities to access television-related or other applications and to control television-related applications running on user television equipment. The hand-held application device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the television-related or other applications.

Description

INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATION SYSTEM WITH HAND APPLICATION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to interactive television application systems, and more particularly to interactive television application systems in which the television application functionality can be provided through a handheld device or it can be coordinated between a handheld device and a user's television equipment. Interactive television applications typically run in a user's cable television box. Examples of interactive television applications include interactive television program guides, e-mail, home shopping, betting and other e-commerce applications, financial applications, web TV browsers, games, and other television-based applications. The fact of running these applications typically prevents other users from watching TV programs other than the application that is running. Furthermore, the execution of these applications in a stationary platform in the cable television box prevents users from having access to the characteristics of such systems when they are far from the stationary platform. ? 4? -t laa - _á. I • »'& & - ís ..... to .......,., E _. i .. --- i-. , ... cn m «J-t. . ". ^" _ ^ ...- ... ...- ^. J- _ ._ fc. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television application system having a hand-held display device. It is an additional object of the present invention to coordinate the interactive television application functionality between an application operating on a user's television equipment and an application operating on a hand-held application device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a portable hand-held application device with a screen in accordance with that described, for example in Herrington et al, Provisional US Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 138,858, filed on June 11, 1999, and Ellis Provisional North American Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 164,648, filed on November 10, 1999, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The hand-held application device can be any suitable handheld device, such as a remote display attachment, a remote touch screen, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an electronic book or any other handheld device. The hand-held application device provides a user with access to interactive television application functionality remotely or while watching a television program. In a suitable approach, the hand-held application device can execute a client version of an interactive television application that requires application data from an application server that operates on the user's television equipment. In another appropriate approach, the hand-held application device acts as a stand-alone platform that executes an interactive application that can run independently and can communicate with a similar interactive application that operates on the user's television equipment. The hand-held application device can provide, for example, a portable electronic program guide that includes various features of interactive program guides, Internet-based program guides as well as printed program guides. Interactive television applications may include, for example, applications that provide information regarding television programming or that provide interactive features associated with television programming such as interactive television program guides, home shopping applications, television applications, bets, email, applications of financial operations. Interactive television applications may also include applications provided on the user's television equipment.
The hand-held application device can be offered to customers for free or at a very low cost, and can be supported economically by advertising. Screens or pages displayed by the device may contain passive or interactive ads. Providing the device at a very low price to the consumer will allow the device to be distributed in large volumes. This can increase the value of the device for advertisers. The users of the device do not have to live in a special area, subscribe to some type of digital or satellite cable television service, or have an Internet account, to use the device, if they wish. Once a platform of this type has been distributed, there will be continued opportunities for growth. You can download new programs. It can support marketing opportunities in the future, and offers the ability to add user characteristics at a later date, through an enhancement whether it is free or not. The hand-held application device may be of a suitable size to fit in a garment bag or bag. The device may have a touch-screen LCD-type display add-on, a two-way location interface, and may operate with standard batteries. The location interface can continuously collect data from list of television programs and .!., -.-_ < - store the data in a local memory. You can also download ads while the device is in normal use. This can be done, for example, by buying time from a national location service. The device may also have a folded cover to protect the display attachment against damage or against accidental activation. The cover opening can automatically turn on the device and activate its display screen. The first screen can be, for example, a main menu that can include interactive ads. One of the menu items can be a television guide. The selection of the guidance feature can provide a main menu of guidance, a display of program lists or another suitable guidance display. When a user selects a list, the device can display the description of a program associated with the list. Related announcements can be programmed, in which case your selection provides more information about a program, allows the establishment of reminders, or another suitable function. Ads for other products may allow a user to obtain more information or purchase a product. The portable hand-held device may include some of the features of interactive program guides, such as hourly lists, per channel, per i _ ??? Yes ^ _ category, preferred channels, or any other guide feature. You can allow the user to set reminders and make reminders appear on the device, with audio alert and display. Through a location return, for example, the device can be used to set reminders or remote program recordings. The portable device can be used to collect data. For example, it can be used to send surveys. It can also be used to gather information about audience level. With an appropriate point-of-sale device, for example, it can be used to distribute electronic coupons. The device may also include an infrared light emitter. This may allow a user to use the device as a remote control to operate an interactive guide of television programs on a television set and other entertainment equipment in the house. A location system can be used, for example, to load device type information and to download infrared codes. When used in this way, keys can be displayed on the device, and the user can touch the screen to generate commands. The keys can present sensitivity to the context, where only the keys of interest are displayed at a given moment.
The portable device can also offer other PDA-like functions, perhaps at an additional cost. For example, you can support email, calendar, contact list, web browser, calculator, or any other suitable application. It can support data services, such as news, weather, sports, traffic, or any other suitable data service. It can be used as a locator. With adequate equipment resources, the portable program guide can include advanced communication functions. For example, you can allow a user to remotely monitor the equipment that is in your home - determine if the system is on, which channel is on, etc. It can also allow the user to listen to audio from a selected television channel, or to offer audio channels. The portable device can also serve as an electronic book. Further features of the invention, its nature and numerous advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers refer to similar parts, and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an illustrative system in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2a-2f show illustrative arrangements for the interactive television application equipment and hand application device of Figure 1, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the hand application device of Figure 1, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the user television equipment of Figures 2a-2f, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 shows a more generalized schematic view of the television set of the user of Figures 2a-2f, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 shows an illustrative menu screen in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 shows an illustrative browser display in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 shows an illustrative information screen in accordance with the present invention; Figure 9 shows an illustrative pay-per-order order screen in accordance with the present invention; Figure 10 shows an illustrative remote screen in accordance with the present invention; Figure 11 shows an illustrative primary guide main menu screen according to the present i -í-, i -t niA¿ÍAí,? .. jj - j ..? .. - - -'-- • - ^ ¿-... ¿¿¿¿. ^ ..- ^ 1. _, .. _M «s .t.-.-- a» »-ii« A «c ------«, t.;. The invention shows: Figure 12 shows an illustrative display of schedules of programs according to the time according to the present invention; an illustrative special program screen according to the present invention; Figure 34 shows an illustrative home page according to the present invention; Figure 15 shows the illustrative Editor Selection page according to the present invention; and 16b show pages of illustrative lists of My Television in accordance with the present invention: Figure 16c shows an illustrative page of lists of programs by criteria in accordance with the present invention: Figure 17 shows an illustrative page of topics in accordance with the present invention: Figure 18 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing interactive television and other features of application with the hand application device of Figure 1, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 19 is a flow diagram of illustrative steps involved in the coordination of features between primary applications that operate within the equipment of interactive television application of figure 1 and complementary applications operating in the hand access device of figure 1; and Figure 20 is a flow diagram of illustrative steps involved in the provision of interactive television program guide functionality employing the hand-held device of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES An illustrative system 10 of compliance with the principles of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The system 10 may include a main installation 12. The main installation 12 provides interactive television application data from an application data source 14 to an application equipment. interactive television 17 through a communications link. There may be several main installations 12 to provide data for several applications, but only one main installation 12 is shown in Figure 1 in order to avoid overcompletion of the drawing. Preferably there are many elements or installations of interactive television application equipment 17, each linked to the main installation 12 by a respective communication link 18 even though only one element or installation of interactive television application equipment 17 is shown in the figure 1 in order to avoid a Overcompletion of the drawing. The link 18 can be a satellite link, a link through a telephony network, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a combination of such links, or any other appropriate communication link. In another suitable approach, interactive television application data may be generated by an interactive television application equipment 17, in which case the main installation 12 may be unnecessary. In another suitable approach, a main installation 12 can provide interactive television application data directly to a hand-held application device 24 through a suitable link (eg, a two-way location - frequency link), in that case All or parts of the interactive television application equipment may not be necessary. For clarity, the remaining comments will describe an approach in which a main installation 12 provides interactive television application data to one or more interactive television application equipment 17. The interactive television application data transmitted by a main facility 12 to an interactive television application equipment 17 can include any data suitable for the application supported by the main facility 12. If the main facility 12 provides interactive television program guide data such as, for example, the data may include television schedule data (eg, program identifiers, schedules, channels, titles, and descriptions) and others. data for services other than lists of television programs (for example, help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, links associated with the Internet network, associated programmatic, etc.) . Interactive television program guide data may also include unique identifiers for each showing each program, identifiers for program groups (eg, series, miniseries, program packages that may be ordered, set of networks, etc.), or any other suitable identifier. Interactive television applications may be implemented in interactive television application equipment 17 and handheld application device 24. As used herein, a "primary" application is intended to mean an interactive application that functions in an interactive television application equipment. 17. A primary application can be a server application that provides application data to a handheld application device 24 in response to one or more application communications, or it can be a version of an application that works cooperatively with a version of the application that works on a handheld application device 24. As used here, a "secondary" application is intended to refer to an application interactive application that works in a handheld application device 24. A secondary application can be a client application that obtains data from a primary application, or it can be a version of an interactive application that works cooperatively with a primary application and that obtains application data from a main installation 12. Primary and secondary applications can communicate by exchanging one or more application communications. Application communications can include any client-server or peer-to-peer communication construct (such as digital boxes for viewing by a hand-held application device 24) between the primary and secondary applications through a communications link 19. Communications can include, for example, orders, commands, messages, or remote procedure calls. Application communications can also involve complex communications between constructs of applications running on handheld application device 24 and interactive television application equipment 17.
Application communications can, for example, be object-based. Objects that run in the primary and secondary guides, for example, can communicate using an Object Request Broker (ORB). Interactive application data may, for example, be encapsulated as component object model (COM) objects and persist in a stream that is transmitted on a communication link 19. Application communications may also include, for example, documents in language HTML formatted markup (for example, web pages), which are exchanged between the handheld application device 24 and an Internet service system. Six illustrative arrangements for interactive television application equipment 17 and hand application device 24 are shown in Figures 2a-2f. As shown, an interactive television application equipment 17 may include a distribution equipment 21 placed in an application distribution facility 16, and user television equipment 22. The primary application may be fully implemented in the user television equipment. 22 using the arrangements of FIGS. 2a and 2b, or can be executed partially on the user television equipment 22 and partially on an application server 25 or Internet service system 61 using a suitable client-server arrangement or a processing arrangement a_a? __ i_'ntÉtTt > The distribution system of application 16 can be any suitable distribution facility and can have a distribution equipment 21. The distribution equipment 21 of Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f is a suitable equipment for providing interactive television application data to a user television equipment 22 through a link 20. The distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, a suitable transmission equipment for distributing interactive television application data in a sideband of a television channel, in the vertical extinction range of a television channel, using a digital signal in band, using a digital signal out of band, or through any other suitable data transmission technique Analog or digital video signals (for example television) from the television distribution facility 29 can also be distributed by a distribution equipment 21 to a user television equipment 22 on a communication link 20 on multiple television channels. Alternatively, videos can be distributed to the user television equipment 22 from a television distribution facility 29 to the user television equipment 22 directly. An installation of -t- - * a _, ___ a_j_ £ ^ _? _ i___ .__, "^ < J > _ ^^ J. "_, ^ _, ^ __ ^ jtfc ^ 1 ^^, __ j_ < ^ Television distribution 29 can be any suitable distribution facility (eg, a high frequency section of a cable television system, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other type suitable installation of television distribution). If desired, the television distribution facility 29 and the application distribution installation 16 can be the same installation. A communication link 20 may be any suitable communication link for distributing interactive television application data to a user television set 22. A communication link 20 may include, for example, a satellite link, a network link of telephony, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a cable data service interface specification link (DOCSIS), a digital subscriber line (DSL), a location frequency link or another radio frequency link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communication link. Typically there are multiple user television equipment elements 22 and multiple associated communication links 20, even though a single user television equipment element 22 and communications link 20 are displayed in the -J touá a _-- < aa_.t Figures 2a-2f to avoid overcompletion of the drawings. If desired, television programming and interactive television application data may be provided on separate communication links. A user television equipment 22 and a hand-held application device 24 can communicate on a communication link 19. There can be only one communication link 19, such as when a hand-held application device 24 obtains application data exclusively of the user television as shown in Figures 2a, 2c and 2e. Alternatively, there may be numerous communication links 19 such as when a hand application device 24 obtains data directly from an application distribution facility 16 as shown in Figures 2b, 2d and 2f. In another suitable approach, a hand-held application device 24 can operate completely independently and not communicate with user television equipment 22. A communication link 19 can be any suitable wired or wireless communications link through which digital communications or analog may be made between a handheld application device 24 and user television equipment 22, application distribution facility 17 or main facility 12. A communication link 19 may include, for example, a cable in JiÁ? ÁA t iitdm. series or in parallel, a dial-up telephone line, a computer network or an Internet link (for example, 10Base2, lOBase 5, lOBaseT, lOOBaseT, lOBaseF, T21, T3, etc.), an internal network link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link (for example, a 900 MHz link, a location frequency link, or another radiofrequency link), a satellite link, or any other suitable transmission link or combination of links . A communication link 19. can include a docking station that connects the handheld device 24 with the user television equipment 22 directly or through an internal network. Any suitable transmission or access scheme can be used such as standard serial or parallel communications, Ethernet, Token Ring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), [Fiber-Distributed Data Interface], Circuit-Switched Cellular (CSC) [ Circuit-switched cellular], Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), any other suitable access or transmission scheme, or any suitable combination thereof. It is contemplated that the medium and transmission scheme used will be appropriate for a particular implementation and that different means and schemes can be used in different t _? __ Já ^ í __ »-__ ^ M-a? ¡e_ ^ _ -» ^ - t_a _ «« _ i_? ta 19 communication links 19 when there are multiple communication links 19. It may be more appropriate that when you are at home, for example, a communications link 19 can be a radio frequency or infrared link instead of some of the more complicated links which are more suitable for the transmission of data in larger geographical areas. It may also be more suitable, for example, than when a hand-held application device 24 communicates directly with a distribution facility of 10 application 16, the communication link 19 is a more suitable link for data transmission in wider geographic areas, such as an Internet link. A hand-held application device 24 and a user television equipment 22 can communicate using 15 any suitable transport layer and network protocol, if desired. They can communicate, for example, using a protocol stack that includes layers of Packet Exchange in Sequences / Exchange of Inter-network Packet (SPX / IPX), Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol layers 20 (TCP / IP), AppleTalk Transaction Protocol / Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP / DDP) layers, a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) layer, or any other appropriate network layer or transport layer. A handheld application device 24 and equipment 25 user television 22 may also be part of an internal network using, for example, the Jini network protocol of Sun Microsystems. Network and transport layer protocols can be omitted from the system, if desired. Application data may be distributed by a distribution equipment 21 to a user television equipment 22 exclusively (as shown in Figures 2a, 2c, and 2e), to a user television equipment 22 and to a consumer device 22. hand application 24 together (as shown in Figures 2b, 2d, and 2f), or only to a hand application device 24, using any suitable scheme. For example, application data may be provided in a direct current or may be transmitted at an appropriate time interval (e.g., once per hour). If they are transmitted continuously, it may not be necessary to store the data locally on the user's television equipment 22 or handheld application device 24. Instead, the user television equipment 22 or the application device Hand 24 can extract data "on the fly" when required. If necessary, an application distribution facility 16 may poll a user television set 22 or a handheld device periodically for certain information (for example, payment program account information, or information regarding programs that have been acquired and viewed using locally generated authorization techniques). Application data can also be provided using a proper client-server approach or the Internet. Figure 2a shows an illustrative arrangement for an interactive television application equipment 17 and a hand-held application device 24 wherein a primary application is executed entirely on user television equipment 22. A secondary application running on a device hand application 24 obtains application data through a user television equipment 22. The secondary application can obtain application data from a primary application acting as a server through application communications sent to the user television equipment 22 through communication link 19. In another suitable approach, the secondary application can obtain application data directly from the user television equipment 22 without involving the primary application. The user television equipment 22 may, for example, receive application data as part of a continuous stream of data, periodically, or in response to a polling request from the application distribution facility 17. these types, the application data can be automatically provided to a handheld application device 24 without requiring the secondary application to request it from the primary application. A user television equipment 22 may include, for example, a bypass antenna and associated circuit that demodulates, and if necessary decodes the application data signal. The bypass antenna can send the data back to the hand-held application device 24 via communication link 19. Alternatively, a user television equipment 22 can receive application data from an application distribution facility 16 and transmitting said data to a hand-held application device 24 using any other suitable transmission scheme. In another suitable approach, application data may be stored by user television equipment 22 and transferred to a handheld application device 24. This approach may be desirable when, for example, the data transfer rates between the installation and application distribution 16 and the user television equipment 22, and between the user television equipment 22 and the hand application device 24 are not the same. Figure 2b shows an illustrative arrangement for interactive television application equipment 17 and hand application device 24 wherein the hand application device obtains application data directly from the application distribution facility 16. The installation t ^ ,,, ^., __A-J__IÍ¿., ..a_, rf--, »..? i ^, ......- .. J ^ L.Jl.ai1t, j, t , -ta. "jM - *» c) Máii: i '^^ of applion distribution 16 may have communions device 27 to provide the hand applion device 24 with access to applion data from a distribution equipment 21 A communion device 27 can be any communion device suitable for communions link 19. A communion device 27 can be, for example, a modem (for example, any suitable analog or digital modem, cellular modem, or modem for example). cable) as for example when the communion link 19 is a dial-up link by telephone or an Internet link. A communion device 27 may be a network interface card (eg, an Ethernet card, a Token Ring card, etc.), such as when the communion link 19 is a wide area network (WAN) link. or an Internet link. A communion device 27 may be a wireless transceiver (eg, a radio frequency or infrared transceiver or a suitable other transceiver), such as when the communions link 19 is an analog or digital wireless link, such as for example a loon frequency link. A secondary applion that is executed on a hand-held applion device 24 can communi with user television equipment 22 through a separate communion link 19 or can communi through - m? -j-c- »a < ai¡htit, flMj_ttSj - »..? -. ., --- j »..? ßt ..» of a communions device 27, distribution equipment 21, and communions link 20, if desired. An applion distribution facility 16 may have several communion devices 27. A communion device 27 may be used to communi with a hand-held applion device 24, and another may be used to communi with the user television equipment 22. Each communion device 27 can be for a different type of link 19 or 20. For example, a communion device 27 can be used to download applion data or otherwise to exchange access frequency communions of loon or link 900 MHz, and another communions device can be used to transmit applion data or other information or programming to the user television equipment 22 for example through a cable television link. Figures 2c and 2d show additional illustrative arrangements for interactive television applion equipment 17 and hand-held applion device 24. In Figure 2c, the primary applion is partially executed on the user's television equipment 22 (eg, an applion). client) and partially in the applion distribution facility 16 on the applion server 25. In figure 2d, the secondary applion is executed partially in a hand-held applion device 24 and partially in an applion distribution installation 16 in an applion server 25. If desired, a combination of these two approaches can be employed. An applion server 25 can use any suitable combination of equipment and programmatic to provide a primary or secondary applion based on client-server. An applion server 25 can, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide interactive television applion data in response to requests generated by a primary applion client implemented on the computer user television 22. If desired, the applion server 25 may be lod in a main installation 12, or in another loon, for example television distribution facility 29. Primary and secondary applions in these approaches may recover data of interactive television applion from the applion server 25 employing any suitable client-server based approach. The applion can, for example, passing SQL requests as messages to the application server 25. In another suitable approach, the application can invoke remote procedures that are located on the application server 25 using one or more remote procedure calls. An application server 25 can execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In another suitable approach, client objects executed by the application can communicate with server objects executed by the application server 25 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may involve using, for example, a Microsoft Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach. The primary and secondary applications can communicate with application server 25 via communications link 20 or 19 using any suitable transport layer and network protocol, if desired. They can communicate, for example, using a protocol stack that includes Sequential Packet Exchange / Network Packet Exchange (SPX / IPX) layers, Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) layers, AppleTalk Transaction Protocol / Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP / DDP), WAP, DOCSIS, or any other appropriate transport layer and network protocol. Figures 2e and 2f show Internet-based interactive television application illustrative systems. An application distribution facility 16 may, for example, include an Internet service system 61. An Internet service system 61 may employ any suitable combination of equipment and programs capable of providing interactive television application data to the primary application or secondary using an Internet-based approach (for example, using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) on a link of type Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP)). If desired, an Internet service system 61 may be located in a separate facility of the application distribution facility 16. If the primary application is implemented in user television equipment 22 of an interactive television application equipment 17 such as shown in Figure 2e, an Internet service system 61 (or other suitable equipment in application distribution facility 16 connected to an Internet service system 61) can provide interactive television application data to television equipment of user 22 through the Internet, or through application distribution equipment 21 using any suitable Internet-based approach (e.g., using HTTP on a TCP / IP link). Whether the primary application is a client-server application as shown in Figure 2e, or if the secondary application is a client-server application that obtains data directly from an application distribution facility 16, as shown in Figure 2f , the primary or secondary application can obtain interactive television application data from the Internet service system 61 through an Internet connection in a communication link 20 or 19. An illustrative arrangement for a hand-held application device 24 is shown in Figure 3. A hand-held application device 24 can be any personal digital assistant (PDA), suitable display remote, electronic book, or any other suitable portable handheld device. The functionality that said hand-held application device 24 can provide to the user may vary according to his processing circuit, communications circuit and memory. It is contemplated that a handheld application device 24 may be a hand-held PDA style device based on JAVA or that it complies with Windows CE, or that it may be enabled by any programmatic operation system suitable for handheld devices. A hand-held application device 24 can have a user interface 52, a processing circuit 54, storage 56, and communication device 58. The user interface 52 may be any suitable input or output device or system, and may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch-sensitive screen , a stylus, a speech and synthesis recognition circuit, a microphone, a speaker, buttons or keys »» --fc. t • * -r t ^ 'fti ^ manuals, keyboard, or any other equipment and programmatic input and output appropriate. The user interface 52 preferably includes a touch-sensitive screen. A touch-sensitive screen can simplify navigation between various types of interactive television applications. Remote controls through fixed buttons of program guide systems, for example, can have up to four dozen buttons between which one has to choose. These systems can be replaced by a hand-held application device 24 enabled through a touch-sensitive screen. A touch-sensitive screen of a hand-held application device 24 requires only presenting the buttons or controls that are applied to the specific screen that the user is viewing or to the specific task that the user is performing. In addition, an interface displayed on a touch-sensitive screen may change to suit the type of data entry that the user will make in the television application. For example, a keyboard can be displayed to provide a user with the opportunity to enter one or more characters, or a number pad can be displayed to simplify the numeric entries. A user interface 52 may also include a handwriting recognition programmatic suitable for execution on a handheld device. -. «-.-» -...- .., i-c.i.iii- »? In another suitable approach, a hand-held application device 24 may have a combination of push-buttons and screens. The screens can label each press button with text or graphics to indicate to the user the characteristic associated with a push button. When the user has access to different interactive applications, the screens can change based on the application to which they have access. When, for example, you have access to an interactive bet application, two screens can present "bet" and "info". When the user changes applications, for example, to an interactive program guide, the same screens may have "upper channel" and "lower channel". For each application, pressing a given pressure button results in the performance of the indicated characteristic. Control codes can be downloaded, for example, from the user television equipment 22 through a 900 MHz link, to a hand application device 24 to indicate to a hand-held application device 24 the appropriate labels and correct characteristics for each pressure button. The processing circuit 54 may include any suitable processor, such as an Intel Pentium® processor, AMD, or another microprocessor. A hand-held application device 24 may also have storage 56. The storage 56 may be any suitable memory or T tiflatátftr? All other storage devices such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, or other suitable storage for a handheld device. A hand-held application device 24 may also have a communications device 58. A communications device 58 may be any device suitable for supporting communications between a hand-held application device 24 and a user-television equipment 22 or application equipment. interactive television 17 through link 19. A communication device 58 may be, for example, a communications port (eg, a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus (USB) port), etc.) modem (for example, any suitable digital or analog standard modem, or cellular modem), a network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, a Token Ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver (for example, an infrared transceiver, radio, or any other suitable analog or digital transceiver), or another suitable communication device for a handheld device. In particular, a communications device 58 may be a location frequency transceiver. If desired, a hand-held application device 24 can have several communication devices 58. A communications device 58 can be used to communicate with a * »..__ te-clr? Fir - ?? r? ? ih? - ^? i '^ > ^ "* Tafcit-áÉ¡ --'-- ¿* • - *.» Application distribution installation 16, and another can be used to communicate with user television equipment 22. Each communication device 58 can be for a different type of link 19. For example, a communications device 58 can be used to download application data or to exchange access communications on a 900 MHz link or location frequency, and another communications device, such as for example An infrared emitter can be used to control a user television set 22 and other home entertainment equipment using infrared controls. The location frequency transmitter can be used, for example, to load device type information and to download infrared codes. When used in this way, the keys can be displayed on the device, and the user can take the screen to generate commands. The features can be context sensitive, where only the keys of interest are displayed at any given time. In operation, a hand-held application device obtains user commands from a user interface 52, processes the commands using a processing circuit 54, and sends a suitable display screen to the user at the user interface 52. When a user indicates a desire to have access to a function of the secondary application that requires the application to obtain application data, a processing circuit 54 can direct a communications device 58 to initiate a session with the user television equipment 22 or good application distribution installation 16. The hand application device can be of a suitable size to fit in a garment bag or in a bag. The device can have a touch-sensitive LCD screen, a two-way location interface, and can operate on standard batteries. The location interface can continuously collect television list data and store the data in a local memory. You can also download ads while the device is in normal use. This can be done for example by purchasing time from a national location service. The device may have a foldable cover to protect the display device from accidental damage or activation. The opening of the cover can automatically activate the device and its screen. The first screen can be, for example, a main menu, which can include interactive ads. One of the menu items can be an interactive program guide. The selection of a guide feature can bring up a main guide menu, display a list of programs or any other suitable guide screen. When a ___ ^^ ^^^^^ _ B ^ M __ ^ attMo user selects a list, the device can visually present a description of a program associated with the list. The announcements can be related to the programming, in this case the selection of said announcements can provide more information as for the program, allow the establishment of reminders, or any other suitable function. Ads for other products may allow a user to obtain more information or purchase a product. The hand-held application device can be offered to customers for free or at a very low cost, since it can be supported by advertising. Screens or pages displayed by the device may contain passive or interactive ads. By supplying the device at a very low price to the consumer, the distribution of the device in large volumes is achieved. This can increase the value of the device for advertisers. Users of the device may not have to live in a special area, subscribe to any type of digital cable or satellite service, or have an Internet account to use the service if they wish. Once a platform of this type is distributed, there are continuous opportunities for growth. You can download new programmatic. It can support future marketing opportunities and offers the ability to add , ..-___... -.- "______ _sS ^ fcj ~ B¡l_i *» > a,? -r¿in. < .H? .- Mt user characteristics later, as an improvement either free or against a payment. An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 22 is shown in Figure 4. A user television equipment 22 of Figure 4 receives an analog video or digital video stream from a distribution facility at input 26. Data from the application distribution facility 16 are also received at the entrance 26. When the television is normally viewed, the user tunes the cable television box 28 to a desired television channel (analogue or digital). The signal for this television channel is then provided to a video output 30. The signal supplied to the output 30 is typically either a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predefined channel (eg, channel 3 or 4), or either a demodulated analog video signal, but it can also be a digital signal provided to the television 36 on an appropriate digital bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), (not shown)). The video signal at the input 30 is received by an optional secondary storage device 32. A primary application or a primary application client can be executed in a cable television box 28, on a television 36, in a storage device optional digital 31 (if the television 36 or the optional digital storage device 31 has a suitable memory and processing circuit) or in an appropriate analog or digital receiver connected to the television 36. An interactive television application may also be executed from Cooperatively in both the television 36 and the cable television box 28. Interactive television application systems in which a cooperative interactive television program guide application is executed in various devices are described, for example, in the Application of Ellis North American Patent Serial No. 09 / 186,598, filed on Nov. 5 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A secondary storage device 32 may be any suitable type of digital or analog program storage device or player (e.g., a record player, a digital versatile disc player (DVD), etc.). The program register and other features can be controlled through a cable television box 28 using a control link 34. If the secondary storage device 32 is a VCR, for example, a typical control link 34 includes the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver in the _________ ____ £ VCR that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as a remote control 40. A handheld application device 24 can be used to control a cable television box 28, a secondary storage device 32, and television 36 A hand-held application device 24 may for example have several modes of operation to operate as an interface for applications and to control user television equipment 22 as a remote control. A hand-held application device 24 may be programmable based, for example, on the devices in the user television set 22. The user may for example select device types from a suitable display screen. In another suitable approach, a hand-held application device 24 may download configuration information from an application (e.g., an interactive television program guide) executed on user television equipment 22. Any other suitable approach may also be used. . If desired, the user may record programs, application data, or a suitable combination thereof in digital form in an optional digital storage device 31. The user may also programmatically download to a digital storage device 31 as of the Internet or some other means. A device digital storage 31 can be an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a DVD player capable of handling DVD discs on which it can be written), a magnetic storage device (for example a disk drive) or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television application systems in which program guides have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al. US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 157,256, filed September 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The digital storage device 31 can be located in a cable television box 28 or it can be an external device connected to a cable television box 28 through an output port and an appropriate interface. If necessary, the processing circuit in the cable television box 28 formats the video, audio and data signals received in a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the MPEG-2 standard of the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) or the standard of the Joint Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG). The resulting data is channeled to a device The digital storage 31 through an appropriate bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard of the Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)) is stored in a device. digital storage 31. In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or a series of files can be received from the distribution equipment 21 and stored in a digital storage device 31. For example, files from registered programs by the user using a remote media server in a television distribution facility 29 can be stored. Such digital files can be reproduced for the user when desired. The television 36 receives video signals from a secondary storage device 32 through a communication path 38. The video signals in the communication path 38 can be generated either by a secondary storage device 32 when playing a pre-recorded storage medium (for example, a VCR or a digital video disc in which it can be recorded), by a digital storage device 31 when a pre-recorded digital video is played (for example, a video for a program that was recorded by the user in a remote media server or in the user's home), can be transferred through the box cable television 28, can be supplied directly to the television 36 through the cable television box 28 if a secondary storage device 32 is not included in the user television equipment 22, or they can be received directly by the television 36. During a normal television viewing session, the video signals provided to the television 36 correspond to the desired channel tuned by the user through the cable television box 28. Video signals can also be provided to the television 36 by the cable television box 28 when the cable television box 28 is used to reproduce information stored in a digital storage device 31 or when the cable television box 28 is used to decode a digital video stream, or digital files transmitted from the television distribution facility 29. A box cable television 28 can have communication device 37 to communicate directly with the application server 25 or an Internet service system 61 via a communication link 20, or with a hand-held application device 24 through of a communication link 19. A communication device 37 can be, for example, a communications port (eg, a serial port, a port in - £ _ _ ^ ________! parallel, a universal serial bus port (USB), etc.), modem (for example, any suitable analog or digital standard modem or cellular modem), a network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, a Token Ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver (for example, an infrared transceiver, a radio transceiver or another suitable analog or digital transceiver), or another suitable communication device. A television 36 may also have said suitable communication device if desired. In particular, a communications device 37 can be a location or 900 MHz frequency transceiver. If desired, the cable television box 28 can have multiple communications devices 37. A communications device 37 can be used to communicate with the application distribution facility 16, and another may be used to communicate with a hand-held application device 24. Each communications device 37 may be for a different type of link 20. For example, a communications device 37 may be used to download application data or to otherwise exchange access communications through a 900 MHz location or link frequency, or another communications device may be used to control a user television equipment 22 using infrared controls . a Ajfc- - - ^ - »•.» - - "a. TG _-ITT 1? »-. < ---. ^ +? ¿T ?? ^ ~ ^^ * '* - * - ^' ^ - z- < ^ Me? Rlt ~ ?? £? ~ • * • *** - - ifftMk-á A more generalized mode of user television equipment 22 of Figure 4 is shown in Figure 5. As shown in the figure 5, interactive application data from an application distribution facility 16 (Fig. 1) are received by a control circuit 42 of the user television set 22. The functions of the control circuit 42 can be provided by employing the cable television box of figure 4. Alternatively, these functions can be integrated in an advanced television receiver (for example, a digital television receiver or a high-definition television (HDTV) receiver), a computer television personal (PC / TV) or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements can be used. A user television set 22 of FIG. 5 may have a secondary storage device 47, a digital storage device 49, or any suitable combination thereof for programming recordings. A secondary storage device 47 and a digital storage device 49 may be omitted if desired. A secondary storage device 47 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a VCR, a digital versatile disc).
(DVD), etc.). Program recording and other features can be controlled through a control circuit 42. A digital storage device 49 can be, for example, an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a DVD player). that can handle DVD discs on which it can be recorded), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. A memory 63 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk drive, combination of such devices, etc. , suitable for storing primary application instructions and application data for use by the control circuit 42. A user television equipment 22 of Figure 5 may have a communications device 51 to support communications between a user television equipment 22 and an application server 25 or Internet service system 61 through a communication link 20, or between a hand-held application device 24 via communications link 19. A communication device can be, for example, a communications port (for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a bus port). in universal series (USB), etc.), a modem (for example, any suitable cellular or analog standard or digital standard modem), a network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, a Token Ring card, etc.). ), a wireless transceiver (eg, an infrared transceiver, radio transceiver, or other suitable digital analog transceiver), or another suitable communications device. In particular, a communications device 51 can be a 900 MHz transceiver or location frequency. If desired, a user television equipment 22 may have numerous communications devices 51. A communications device 51 may be used to communicate with an application distribution facility 16, and another device may be used to communicate with a communication device. handheld application 24. Each communication device 37 can be for a different type of link 20. For example, a communications device 51 can be used to download application data or otherwise exchange access communications through a link Two-way cable, 900 MHz link or location frequency, and other communications device can be used to provide television programming, application data, or other information to a hand-held application device 24 a .---- * --_ «_, ---- • - * ...» -.-----. *. ^ .._. ^^ .. ^ t_Wt__¡ through a 900 MHz or infrared link. The primary and secondary applications can be any suitable application including, without limitation, a home shopping application, a web browser, a list of activities to be performed, a bet application, or any other application. For clarity, the present invention will be illustrated in relation to a system in which an interactive television program guide application is implemented in an interactive television application equipment 17 and a hand-held application device 24. In a suitable arrangement for such a system, program guide data are distributed from a main installation to an interactive television program guide implemented in the user television equipment through an application distribution facility. In another suitable arrangement, the interactive television program guide application can be implemented using a client-server architecture where the primary processing power for the application is provided through a server located such as, for example, in a distribution facility application 16 or main installation 12 (for example, a program guide server 25), and a user television equipment 22 acts as a client processor in accordance with that illustrated in Figures 2c and 2d. In another alternative arrangement, the program guide application can obtain program guide data from the Internet, as illustrated in Figures 2e and 2f. Program guides typically limit a user's ability to select interactive objects on a screen by requiring objects to be selected by positioning a highlighted region or cursor over objects. For example, when a user is inside a column of program lists, the user can not indicate up or down the column to select an interactive object. In addition, the user may have to perform several key operations to navigate from one object to another. In touch-sensitive screens such as for example the preferred display device of the hand-held application device 24, however, any area can be selected, thus providing the user with an increased ability to access interactive objects. A hand-held application device 24 may, for example, display a modeled menu based on a menu displayed on the user television equipment 22 by an interactive application. The user can select a particular menu option with a single action without having to perform, as in the case of a regular remote control, several operations with keys to place a highlighted region.
The portable hand-held device may include many of the features of interactive program guides such as lists by hour, by channel, by category, preferred channels, or other guiding features. You can allow the user to set reminders and make reminders appear on the device, with audio alert and display. Through a location return as for example, the device can be used to set reminders or remote recordings. The portable device can be used to collect data. For example, it can be used to send surveys. It can also be used to collect audience level information. With an appropriate point-of-sale device, for example, it can be used to distribute electronic coupons. A secondary program guide executed on a handheld device 24 can obtain program guide data directly from an application distribution facility 16 (e.g., distribution equipment 21, application server 25, or utility service system). Internet 61), from a primary program guide application executed on the user television equipment 22, or using a combination of these approaches. Whatever the approach used, the secondary program guide application executed on a device j -.___.- k- * .. --- * - * -. -_ ».---- ..
Hand application 24 can provide a user with the opportunity to coordinate the functions of the primary guide with the functions of the secondary guide, thus extending the interactivity of the primary and secondary guides. The display of the hand-held application device 24, preferably a touch-sensitive screen, becomes an integrated part of the device on the screen. A complementary interactivity between the primary and secondary guides can be provided for various program guide functions without interrupting the activity of watching television. For example, the user can browse through channels and schedules, have access to program information, request pay-per-view programs, set reminders, and block programs with the handheld application device 24. In the case of other functions, in which the user is involved such as establishing preferred channels, viewing more than one channel at a time, or establishing global locks by the parents, the screen of a hand-held application device 24 can be converted without interruption into a Remote control that allows the user to navigate through a primary guide display screen to perform the function. A handheld application device 24 may provide independent access to program guidance or other interactive television application features if desired. t_-a? i- *, -_t ", tt_. _. ^ > .., _,,, - -. ^.,.,.,,,,.,,,.,,,.,.,.,.,. Figure 6 shows an illustrative menu screen 601 that can be displayed by a hand-held application device 24 when, for example, the device 24 is booted in. A menu screen 601 can include a number of icons 603 which indicate secondary applications having coordinated functionality with primary applications that are executed on user television equipment 22. A menu screen 601 may also include icons 605 indicating other applications that are executed exclusively on handheld application device 24, if desired, a user can have access to a secondary program guide application for example by tapping the television guide icon with a finger or a stylet. Figure 7 shows an illustrative display screen for browsing 701 that can be displayed by a prog guide secondary branch executed in a hand-held access device 24. The display screen for browsing 701 may be displayed, for example, at startup, or after the user has selected an appropriate icon from the menu screen 601. The Browsing screen 701 may include a browse area 703 in which a program title 715 is displayed for the channel being scanned 717 and time segment 719. The browsing area 703 may also include a time of dissemination of the program associated with the list, and its classification. The current time 711 and channel 713 can also be displayed. A user can browse through program listings for other time segments and channels by touching arrows 721 to the right, to the left, up and down. A user can tune the scanned channel for example by touching panel 717. When a user touches panel 717, the secondary program guide can exchange one or more application communications with the primary guide via a communications link 19 indicating to the primary guide that the user has expressed the desire to tune into a particular channel. The primary guide can cause the user television equipment 22 to tune to the indicated channel. In another suitable approach, a hand-held application device 24 can be programmed to change the channel on the television 36 using the cable television box 28 (Figure 4). The controls on the display screen for browsing 701 can also be used to perform another suitable function. The user can touch time 719 or channel 717 for example to enter a list screen by time or by channel. In another suitable approach, the user can touch the sheet 719 and the hand-held application device 24 can present a numerical keypad or a list of separate hours, for example, by time segments of a half hour, in order to provide the user with the opportunity to indicate a time for which the user wishes to browse lists. In response to the fact that the user has touched channel 717, a hand-held application device 24 may have a numeric keypad or a list of channels to offer the user the opportunity to indicate a channel for which the user wishes to browse lists. Browsing screen 701 may include selectable advertisements 705. Selectable advertisements 705 may include, for example, text and graphic advertisements for a program or other television or non-television related products or services. When a user selects a selectable advertisement 705, the sub-guide may present information (for example, payment order information per event, program information, etc.) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement. The secondary guidance can, for example, cause the user television equipment 22 to tune to a prearranger-type channel in which a preview for an announced pay-per-view program is displayed. Alternatively, the secondary guide may use one or more application communications to indicate to the primary guide that the user has selected an advertisement for a pay-per-view program. The primary guide can then tune the user television equipment 22 to the associated hawker channel. While the preening channel is being - r-'fílTitlf ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ¿k displayed on the user television equipment 22, secondary guide may provide a user with the opportunity to request the payment program event. The display to browse 701 may also include a logo 707 to give the user the opportunity to access a primary guide program that runs on a computer interactive television application 17. The user can touch an icon output 709 to return the hand application device 24 to its default state (e.g., turn it off, return to the main menu screen 601, etc.). If desired, the browse screen 701 may include other suitable controls for flipping lists. A display screen for browsing 701 may include, for example, controls for the next program, the previous program, the next hour, the previous time, the next day, the previous day, and the current time. When selecting channels, the browse display screen 701 may include, for example, the following and previous preferred program buttons to allow the user to indicate the desire to browse lists for preferred programs. Any other suitable control can also be used. Figure 8 shows an illustrative information screen 801 that the secondary program guide can display when, for example, the user touches a program title 715 from a display screen to browse 701 of Figure 7, or when the user selects a selectable advertisement information 705. A screen 801 may include information 803 about the program indicated by the selected list. An information screen 801 may also include selectable advertisements 705, the current time 711, the current channel 713, logo 707, and exit icon 709. When the user has access to the information screen 801 by selecting a selectable advertisement 705, only the selected selectable ad can remain on the screen. Secondary program guide may provide the user the opportunity to access other features family programming guide for the program indicated from the information display 801, such as tuning the program (control touching 807). The secondary guide can provide the user with the opportunity to set reminders. The user can set a reminder for the program indicated, for example, touching the reminder control 809. When the user sets a reminder using a hand application device 24, the secondary guide can coordinate with the reminder primary guide. The secondary guidance can, for example, indicate to the program for which the reminder is set to the primary guide by the íi.i? ^ s¡? yya? la? mu? ^ É * ie ^ d exchange of one or several application communications through the link 19. At an appropriate time (for example, ten minutes before the start of the program ), the secondary guide can display a reminder in a hand-held access device 24 and the primary guide can display a reminder in the display device 45 (figure 5). To conserve memory in a handheld application device 24, reminders can be established by the secondary guide with the primary guide and not stored by the secondary guide. When the reminder is visualized by the primary guide, the primary guide can exchange one or more application communications with the secondary guide indicating that a reminder is pending for a given program. The secondary guide can display a reminder accordingly. The hand-held application device 24 can provide the user with the opportunity to set the time when a reminder is displayed. The user can schedule reminders for example, between one and fifteen minutes before the availability of a program. If desired, reminders may be provided by a handheld application device 24 and user television equipment 22 at different hours set by the user or by default. In another approach, reminders can be provided only through one of the device's _____ «____________ $ _______ handheld application 24 and user vision equipment 22. The sub-guide can provide the user with the opportunity to block by parents or unlock program titles, channels, audience levels or time periods. The user can indicate the desire to block by the parents a program indicated or one of its attributes (for example, title, classification, channel, etc.), for example by touching the lock control 811. The blocking or unblocking of A program title, channel, classification, or period of time can be a complicated function in some program guides from the perspective of user interaction. When a user indicates the desire to block or unblock a program title, channel, classification or time period, the secondary program guide can exchange one or more application communications with the primary program guide indicating to the primary guide that the The user wants to block or unblock a given program title, a given channel, a given rating, or a given period of time. The secondary guidance can then become a remote control that allows the user to navigate within a control display screen by the primary guidance parents. In guides where parental control of a program is not very complicated, the secondary guide can provide the user with the opportunity to block or unblock a program by title, channel, ? 4__¿_í_ß_, gender, classification, for example. The secondary guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to change a control code by the parents. When a user changes a control code from the parents, the secondary guidance can the primary guide to change the code and the new code, using one or more application communications. The primary guide can then change the control code by the parents accordingly. If desired, an information screen 801 may include a control of additional features in addition to or in place of the controls 807, 809 and 811. In response to a user touching a control of additional features, the hand-held application device 24 may provide controls for additional features. Additional feature controls may include, for example, pay order control per event, other start time controls, or any other appropriate control. The secondary guidance running on a hand-held application device 24 can provide the user with the opportunity to request pay-per-view programs. A user may indicate the desire to order a pay-per-view program by, for example, playing a selected advertisement 705 that advertises a pay-per-view program. Figure 9 shows an illustrative pay-per-order order screen. As in the case of other display screens presented by the sub-guide or hand-held application device 24, a pay-per-event order screen may include the brand logo 707, an exit control 709, the current time 711, and the current channel 713. A pay-per-call order screen 901 may also include an order information 907. an order information 907 may include the title of the selected program, the start time 911 for the selected option, the price, a brief description, the classification of the pay-per-view program and any other suitable information. A pay-per-order order screen 901 may also include selectable advertisements 705. An individual selectable advertisement 705 may be displayed when, for example, the user has access to a pay-per-call order screen by selecting a selectable advertisement. The individual selectable ad may not be actionable. When a user has access to the screen for example by selecting a pay-per-view program title, two selectable ads 705 can be displayed. When a user selects one of the two selectable advertisements 705, the sub-guide may display a program information screen for an advertised program. When screen 901 is initially displayed, the time .- *. - - -, ..-.- Mfcjfc. ^ ||| j || 911 presentation for the pay-per-view program can start at the next available start time 913. The user can see additional start times, for example, by touching the left arrow 903 or right arrow 905. When the user selects a time of different start 913, the sub-guide can display an order information 907 for the selected start time. The secondary guide can provide the user with the opportunity to navigate within the primary guide and access features of the primary guide using a handheld application device 24. A user can indicate the desire to access the primary guide eg by touching the logo 707. Figure 10 shows an illustrative remote display 1000. Remote display 1000 may include, for example, a 707 logo, selectable listings 705, current time 711 and current channel 713. When a user selects the 707 logo from a screen remote 1000, the secondary guidance can instruct the primary guidance to display a program list screen on the display device 54 (figure 5). The remote screen controls 1000 can be based and displayed in accordance with the screen displayed by the primary guide or another application, the option is highlighted in a primary application screen ? -L-i..4 ¡í. _.,: J.-, __. _ £ __ ££ __3 __ ^ gi ^ a ^^ gi ^? Bfc É idt particular, the content or type of information is displayed on a primary application screen, or any other suitable characteristic, group of characteristics or appropriate content. The user can navigate within a primary guidance display screen for example by touching arrows 1003. Navigation within a program guide display screen using a hand-held application device can be performed within any primary guidance display screen. For purposes of illustration, navigation within the primary guide main menu screen and within the primary guide program list screen are discussed. An illustrative primary guide main menu screen 100 is shown in FIG. 11. The main menu screen 100 may include a menu 102 of selectable program guide features 106. If desired, guide and program features 106 may be organized. in accordance with the type of characteristic. In menu 102, for example, program guide features 106 have been organized into three columns. The column marked "TELEVISION GUIDE" is to present lists of related features, the column marked "MSO SHOWCASE" is for related characteristics of a multiple system operator (MSO), and the column marked "TELEVIDENT SERVICES" is for t ___? - and -. A.A-- ^^^^^^ Majg ^ H ^ Éaajjgijet characteristics related to a viewer. The interactive television program guide may generate a display screen for a particular program guide feature when a user selects this feature from the menu 102. A main menu screen 100 may include one or more selectable advertisements 108. Selectable advertisements 108 may include, for example, text and graphics that advertise pay-per-view programs or other programs or products. When a user selects a selectable advertisement 108, the program guide may display information (eg, pay-per-event information) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement. Pure text advertisements may be presented, if desired, in accordance with that illustrated by selectable banner 110. A main menu screen 100 may also include other screen elements. The program guide product brand can be indicated, for example, by using a product brand logo graphic, for example a product brand logo graphic 112. The identity of the television service provider can be presented, by example, using a logo of a service provider logo such as the logo of service provider 114. The current time «-» - .. can be displayed in the clock display region 116. In addition, a suitable indicator such as an indicator chart 118 can be used to indicate to the user which mail the cable operator is waiting for a user if the program guide supports Message delivery functions. In addition, a television e-mail reminder can allow the user to know when they have e-mail messages waiting for them from an Internet e-mail account, Intranet, or another computer-related e-mail account. The user can correspond interactively with its corresponding using, for example, a virtual keyboard displayed on a hand-held application device 24, voice commands received and processed by a hand-held application device 24, or an appropriate input device connected to a hand-held application device 24 or user-television equipment 22 (e.g., a wireless keyboard). A user may select a feature 106 for example by positioning an enhanced region 120 on the feature. The user may place an embossed region 120 for example by touching arrows 1003. As a user touches an arrow 1003, the sub-guide may indicate the desired action (i.e., placement of an embossed region 120) to the primary guide using one or more communications of application. The primary guide can receive the application communications and place an enhanced region 120 on the display device 45 accordingly. When the user has placed an embossed region 120 into a desired feature, the user can select the feature by touching for example OK 1005 on the hand-held application device 24. The sub-guide can indicate to the primary guide that the user has selected a feature using one or several application communications. The primary guide can receive the application communications and perform the desired function. A user may, for example, wish to see program listings using the primary guide by, for example, selecting a feature "per hour". Alternatively, the user may indicate the desire to see a list of programs by, for example, selecting the hourly option from the main menu screen of primary guide 100. The secondary guide may indicate the desired characteristic to the primary guide using one or more communications from application, and the primary guide can display a program list screen. The primary guide can place a program list screen on a program that is being viewed by a user or on a part of the program in a program mode. i ttgf-_Wr «- * 'i r_íí? n - JÉJ-J-É-Éliíi1 .ajila. --- e-te, - .. _____ - ^ -.--i i -j "i liiÉl I ll? L?" read "browse" Program listings can be displayed using any suitable arrangement of list, table, grid, or other suitable display arrangement. If desired, program listings screen may include selectable advertisements, product brand logo graphics, service provider brand graphics, clocks, or other suitable indicator or graphic element. Figure 12 illustrates the display of program listings by time. The program list screen 130 of FIG. 12 may include an enhancement region 151 which enhances the current program list 150. A user may place the enhanced region 151, for example, by touching the arrow 1003. A user may tune to a program for example by highlighting its position in the list and touching "OK" 1005. A user can see additional lists for the time segment indicated in time bar 111 for example, by touching arrows 1003 to move the highlighted region 120 upwards or below beyond the beginning or end of the list. A user can see program list for other time segments, for example, by touching the right-hand arrows and left-hand arrows 1003. In this example, a hand-held application device may include other controls appropriate for program list screen 130, such as page up, page down, day after, previous day, or any other -ato -... adequate control. The secondary program guide can provide a user with the opportunity to navigate within the primary program guide in other ways. The secondary guide can provide the user with the opportunity to establish channels as favorite channels in the secondary guide, the primary guide or both guides. The user can for example navigate between lists set as preferred by touching "FAV" 1007. Alternatively, the sub-guide can reclassify program lists with the preferred channels in the most prominent or most convenient position according to what is displayed in an application device of hand 24 or user television set 22. The user can return to a previous primary guidance display screen for example by touching "LAST" 1009. The user can return to the primary guide 100 main menu screen for example by touching "MENU". "1011. The user can return to watch television by playing" EXIT "709. A user can indicate the desire to see program information for a particular list for example by placing the highlighted region 150 on the list and touching" INFO "1013 Other illustrative controls may be visualized by the secondary guide in the hand-held application device 24 when a user re raises a program list from within a list screen or another _______________ ______________ display screen can include controls to: set a reminder, block a program, request a program if it is a pay-per-view program, see other hours of program start, or ask for merchandise related to the program such as a CD of the soundtrack, a videotape of the program, or clothes that bear the brand of the program. The primary guide may also provide the user with the opportunity to view a list of channels as shown on the display of illustrative special programs 231 of FIG. 13. The sub-guide may change the display on the hand-held application device to display controls that They are suitable for a screen of this type. The secondary guide can display, for example, a subscription control to subscribe to a channel, a control of setting preferred programs to establish a channel as preferred, a blocking control to block a channel, and an information control to provide information on a channel. The sub-guide may also provide the user with the opportunity to define which objects are always displayed on a hand-held application device 24. The user may select, for example, a help control that invokes a context-sensitive help, a message marker. noting that the hand-held application device 24 or the user television equipment has received an electronic mail, a video cassette button, a DVD button or an off button that turns off all the user television equipment 22 as well as devices connected to user television equipment 22. The functionality of the primary guide may be extended or co-ordinated with the secondary guide for other characteristics related to suitable program guides. The secondary guide may provide the user with the opportunity to use a hand-held application device 24 for example to send and receive electronic mail (in relation to the guide, such as promotional messages from the cable television operator, or unrelated). with the guide, such as personal messages); buy goods; participate in a televised auction; ask for subscriptions service such as HBO; pay a cable TV bill; make a financial transaction for someone at a different address (for example, rent a pay-per-view movie for another person, or make any other financial transaction based on guides); conduct Internet-based e-commerce (for example, order merchandise, participate in an online auction or auction, etc.), or browse the Internet. These and other features may be incorporated into a handheld access device 24 as a device t-i-aj-a-- tai-ÍÍÉ_-l? á independent if you wish. Another function that can be coordinated between the primary guide and the secondary guide using a hand-held application device 24 is the control of an image-in-picture (PIP) display. A PIP display is a small partial screen video window of a channel video superimposed on top of another channel video that is displayed on the full screen. Using the browse function of the secondary guide, the user can browse channels and program titles on a handheld device and application 24 and watch the same channels on the PIP, while other viewers can continue to watch the channel tuned on the main screen . The secondary guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to request movie, commercial, television and other downloaded videos between the PIP window, using the hand-held application device 24. The secondary guide (or another programmatic one running on a handheld device 24) can also provide the user with the opportunity to control the PIP in a videoconference between several people. For example, in a three-party videoconference, the user can switch lists between the two other users' locations by touching appropriate controls on a handheld application device 24. in a bipartite videoconference, for example, l »Ís'. LÁÍt íH¿ "t -... -Éá-Bj-Utj».,. yy. ..y ..... ... and. ... and ^ yyry. i ^ t ^ ^. ^, ^ ....... -_ ^ _ »,. ^^^ -.". ^ - ^ __¿¿fa-¿d ^ A-É the user can use a hand-held device 24 for toggling between the locations of the participants in the PIP display A hand-held device 24 may have a suitable processing circuit for viewing a video A video signal may be channeled, for example, as an MPEG-2 compliant data stream to a hand-held application device 24 for viewing.Video displays can also be piped to a hand-held application device 24 as a user browses through program listings using the sub-guide. In this approach, the video display can include video for a program that has its list displayed and that is being broadcast at the time of the leafing action.If system resources do not allow the channeling of the video, shots can be transmitted from the application equipment d interactive television 17 to a hand-held application device 24 for viewing. In another suitable approach, highly compressed videos can be used to take into account the limitations of bandwidth. The use of highly compressed videos may also be desired when, for example, the resolution of the handheld device display 24 could not support a high resolution video. Other applications can be executed exclusively in a hi? ¿ái - ^ - tl? -i_ ?? .-i .... a-_t ^ _iL. ^, -... c. -iaa-íi-jfaA .. hand-held application device 24. A hand-held application device 24 can execute, for example, an online program client guide. A user may indicate the desire to have access to an online program guide by, for example, playing an online television guide from a menu screen 601 (Figure 6). When a user indicates the desire to have access to an online program guide, a handheld application device 24 can activate a standard Internet browser device and access an appropriate website. Alternatively, the proprietary web browser or another programmatic remote access can be activated in order to access a Web site or another proprietary site that provides access to the web for a handheld device. Figure 14 shows an illustrative start page 1401 for a handheld access device website. When a user selects a hypertext link 1403 or another suitable type of anchor, a handheld access device 24 can download a hypertext markup language (HTML) page using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). Any other suitable protocol can be used. In another suitable approach, a hand-held access device 24 can use a suitable programmatic remote access such as a programmatic access Remote Windows (RAS) client to download screen shots or screen shot commands, from a server (ie, an Internet server that provides access to the Internet from a remote client access). Figure 15 shows an illustrative page that the hand access device 24 can display when, for example, a user selects an anchor "Editor Selections". Figures 16a and 16b show illustrative pages that a hand-held application device 24 can display when, for example, a user selects the My Television List anchor 1403. As shown, the online client guide, web browser, or another access application that is executed in a hand-held application device 24 may provide the user with the opportunity to view lists of programs classified according to one of several criteria selected by the user. When a user selects criteria, the online client guide, web browser, or another Internet access application can retrieve lists of programs for the selected criteria and display the lists as shown in Figure 16c. If desired, lists of programs can be downloaded based on the user's portal code, cable system, satellite service, or other suitable criteria, in such a way that the user can see lists of programs for programs available to the user and for the jfy - * .. -_-._. appropriate time zone. Users can also receive the opportunity to limit the lists by time, gender, preferred programs or other suitable criteria. The online client guide, web browser, or other access application running on a handheld application device 24 can also provide the user with the opportunity to view information regarding the application. Figure 17 shows a theme page that the hand-held application device 24 can display for example when a user selects a wireless anchor on TVG 1403, or another suitable anchor, from a home page 1401 of Figure 14. Figures 18-20 are flow charts of illustrative steps involved in providing independent or coordinated features in hand-held device 24. The steps shown in Figures 18-20 are illustrative and in practice can be performed in any order suitable. Figure 18 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing interactive television and other application features with handheld application device 24. In step 1800, application data such as interactive television application data or data for other applications, they are provided to a handheld application device 24. The data can be provided directly from '..,., 4 -.l. ?????? -l ?;ai ^. -t- - -_yn ~ _- the main installation 12 to a hand-held application device 24, starting from the main installation 12 to a hand-held application device 24 through interactive television application equipment 17, or directly from the interactive television application equipment 17 (i.e., data originating from application equipment interactive television 17). The interactive television application data may include any data suitable for interactive television or other applications. Interactive television applications may include, for example applications that provide information related to television programming or that provide interactive features associated with television programming such as interactive television program guides, home shopping applications, email, bets and applications for financial transactions. Interactive television applications may also include applications provided in user television equipment 22. As illustrative examples, a home shopping applications and financial transaction applications may be interactive television applications when features of these applications are provided through the computer. user television. The characteristics of these applications can be provided with a television programming related to the characteristics. A home shopping application can provide, for example, purchasing opportunities for products and services presented in a home shopping television channel. The hand-held application device 24 receives the interactive television application data (step 1810) and provides the user with the opportunity to access the television-related application with the hand-held access device 24 (step 1820). The interactive television application can be executed as a stand-alone application, such as a client requesting data from a server (for example a server in a main installation 12 or an interactive television application equipment 17), or in a cooperative manner with a primary application running within an interactive television application equipment 17. In step 1830, a hand-held application device 24 can provide the user with the opportunity to access other applications such as, for example, functions of type PDA For example, it can support email, calendar, contact lists, ability to browse the web, calculator, etc. It can support data service, for example news, weather, sports, traffic or other suitable data services. Such applications can also . { provided as stand-alone or as server applications running on a user television equipment 22 and which are accessed through a hand-held application device 24. A hand-held application device 24 can be used as a pager. With adequate equipment resources, the portable program guide can include advanced communication functions. For example, you can allow a user to remotely monitor the equipment at your home - determine if the system is on, which channel is activated, etc. It can also allow a user to listen to audio from a selected television channel, or to offer audio channels. Figure 19 is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in the coordination of features between primary applications running within the interactive television application equipment 17 and complementary applications running on a handheld access device 24. In the step 1900, a main installation 12 or interactive television application equipment 17 provides application data to a primary application running on an interactive television application equipment 17. The primary application may be an interactive television application or it may be not be related to programming ----- «--__ É -_-.--- rrrT .-- T f" '"f_-T television. In step 1910, the primary application provides application data to a secondary application running on a handheld access device 24 using, for example, one or more access communications. In step 1920, the secondary application running on a handheld application device 24 provides a display of interface controls coordinated with the characteristics of the primary application. For example, the interface controls may correspond to the navigation characteristics of the primary application. The illustrative remote display 1000 of Figure 10, for example, includes navigation arrows 1003 corresponding to navigation features of an interactive television program guide running on a user television set 22. The user interface also includes controls for interactive guide features, such as preferred programs, last program, additional information, and menu. In a home compare application, for example, user interface controls may include similar navigation controls and may include other controls for home shopping features such as acquisition, information, placing items on desired lists, or any other suitable home shopping feature. In a home-based brokerage application, for example, user interface controls may include similar navigation controls and may include other controls for features such as stock purchase, stock sales, additional information, or any other suitable characteristic . In a web browser application, for example, similar navigation controls and other controls for example for backward, forward, beginning, bookmark, or any other suitable feature may be provided. In a betting application, for example, user interface controls may be provided to bet, provide additional information about betting opportunities, or any other suitable feature. The interface controls can be coordinated with the characteristics of the secondary application using the data provided by the primary application. In this way, user interface controls can be dynamically configured based on the primary application. If desired, a library of standard controls can be stored by the hand-held application device 24 such that the user has a consistent interface in the primary applications. Specialized controls for particular primary applications can be downloaded, if desired. Another example of coordinating interface controls with features of a primary application is through the provision of primary application content in handheld application device 24. In an interactive program guide application, for example, a handheld access device 24 can displaying a television schedule when, for example, the user browses lists while viewing a program on the user television equipment 22. In step 1930, the secondary application controls the functionality of the primary application based on the user controls selected by the user as indicated on the handheld application device 24. This can be achieved, for example, by exchanging one or more access communications with the primary application. In the example of Figure 10, the user can select an arrow 1003 to place an enhanced region 120 or 151 of Figures 11 and 12. In a shopping application from home, for example, the primary application can initiate a sequence of acquisition in response to the selection by the user of an acquisition control in a handheld application device 24. In a stock market application, for example, the primary application may sell shares in response to the selection by the user a sales control in a hand-held application device 24. In a web browser, for example, the system can return to a web page that was held j_k__É_¡j __¡¡_ £ _______:, -.,. to-_J-i: -_ iM > . access previously in response to the selection by the user of a backward control. Figure 20 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing interactive television program guide functionality using a handheld application device 24. In step 2100, program guide data is provided to a handheld application device 24. The data can be provided directly from the main installation 12 to a hand-held application device 24, from the main installation 12 to a hand-held application device 24 through interactive television application equipment 17 or directly from interactive television equipment 17 (i.e., data originating from an interactive television application equipment 17). In step 2110, a hand-held application device 24 provides the user with the opportunity to browse program lists. This can be achieved independently, as a client in relation to a primary server application running on a portion of interactive television application equipment 17, or cooperatively with a primary application running on a portion of a computer. interactive television application 17. A hand-held application device 24 or a user-television equipment 22b may provide a television schedule in response to the selection by the user of a flipped list (step 2115). In step 2120, a hand-held application device 24 can provide the user with the opportunity to set reminders. Reminders may appear on an access handheld device 24, with audio alert and display (step 2125). Through a location return, for example, the device can be used to set remote reminders with an interactive television program guide found on user television equipment 22. In step 2130, an application device for 24 hand can provide the user with the opportunity to pay pay-per-view program. A user may indicate the desire to order pay-per-view programs for example by selecting lists on a hand-held application device 24, selecting advertisements on a hand-held application device, or performing another suitable function. Paid-for-event programs may be provided on a hand-held application device 24, or may be provided on a user television equipment 22 (step 2135). In step 2140, a hand-held application device 24 can provide the user with the opportunity to view additional programming information. A user can .á -cJ -._- 4-t? i ___--- - -A * --- indicate the desire to see additional programming information for example by selecting a list of programs, selecting an advertisement (for example, as shown) in Figure 9), or select another suitable control. The additional information may be provided in a hand-held application device 24, or it may be provided in a user television equipment 22 (step 2145). The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. ift ___ i ____ r - ^ --- "• * • ___ a___i. jj-j. .-.! -

Claims (1)

  1. CLAIMS A method for providing a user with access to an interactive television application with a hand-held application device (24), comprising: supplying interactive television application data, wherein the interactive television application data includes lists of programs (150) and additional programming information (803, 907); receive interactive television application data with a handheld application device (24) having one or more touch sensitive controls; providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the interactive television application data supply comprises the provision of interactive television application data from a main facility (12) for reception by the hand-held application device (24). ). The method defined in claim 1, wherein the provision of television application data lf .rt__ i - »- 3: - S.I-V ---.-». interactive comprises the provision of interactive television application data from an interactive television application equipment (17) for reception by the hand-held application device (24). The method defined in claim 1, wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (15); and providing the user with the opportunity to access interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using touch-sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to browse program listings (150) using the touch sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 4, further comprising supplying a television program associated with a program list thumbed through the hand-held device (24). The method defined in claim 1, wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); Y I bid > A-i __- »* '-_ * -_,. ..-__ & __._.... .-, _ »» .__, ___, _, "_____, _ ____, j__jjfc____« --- J ^ - ~ ._a_ÍI_haa-_ > »_-__ - ___ to provide the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to set a reminder using touch-sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising supplying the reminder in the hand access device (24) in accordance with the provisions of the user. The method defined in claim 1, wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using touch-sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to request a pay-per-view program using the touch sensitive controls. 9. The method defined in claim 1, wherein: ¡Jfa___ -fc-la - * -. ~ --J_) to -.___ fc -._ .. c_t _._.._. The interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using touch-sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to access programming information. additional (809, 903) for a television program using the touch sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising: receiving the interactive television application data with the user television equipment (22) for use by a primary application; and coordinate touch sensitive controls with characteristics of the primary application. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the coordination of the touch-sensitive controls with characteristics of the primary application comprises the exchange of one or more access communications between the hand-held application device (24) and the user television equipment. (22) The method defined in claim 10 wherein the interactive television application is a guide of , ._-_- «-.-_-, interactive television program, a home shopping application, a stock exchange application from home, a betting application from home, or an email application related to television. The method defined in claim 10, further comprising: providing interactive application data for a non-television application; receive the interactive application data with the hand-held application device (24); and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive application data with the handheld access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the interactive application is a calendar, a contact list, a web browser, a calculator, a list of activities to be performed. The method defined in claim 10 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs; --._- -f ... Hf,. coordinate touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application, including the coordination of touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to browse program listings using the controls sensitive to touch. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the television supply associated with a list of programs thumbed through the hand-held application device (24). The method defined in claim 15 further comprising: providing at least one access communication to the user television equipment (22) wherein the at least one access communication indicates to the user television set (22) a list of program leafed (151); and provide a television program associated with a list of programs viewed (151) on the computer .-_._, _-_? «_ Fc." _- "_-- tfc -, --_ > - .-.,? M- ,. > rtt-- «_? _ ih > l.- .. user television (22) in response to the at least one access communication. 18. The method defined in claim 10 wherein: the interactive television application is a guide to interactive television programs; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); coordinate the touch-sensitive controls with characteristics of the primary application, which includes the coordination of touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to set a reminder using the sensitive controls touch. 19. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising supplying the reminder in the hand-held application device (24) in accordance with that established by the user. 0. The method defined in claim 10 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); coordinate touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application, including the coordination of touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls, which includes providing the user with the opportunity to request a pay-per-view program using touch-sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 20 further comprising: providing at least one access communication to the user television equipment (22) wherein the at least one access communication indicates to the user television equipment a payment program per event requested by the user using the hand-held application device (24); and provide the requested pay-per-view program on the user television equipment (22) in response to _- - < ÍiÉI_a «-». «- - Ja-. -.yxJMi & > - tic-i ... the at least one access communication. The method defined in claim 10 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; coordinate touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application, including the coordination of touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the handheld access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls, which comprises providing the user with the opportunity to access additional programming information. (803, 907) for a television program using the touch sensitive controls. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the interactive television application data supply comprises the provision of interactive television application data from a main facility (12) for reception by the hand-held application device (24). ). The method defined in claim 10 wherein the interactive television application data supply comprises the provision of interactive television application data from an interactive television application equipment (17) for reception by the application device of hand (24). A system for providing a user with access to an interactive television application with a hand-held application device (24), comprising: a device for providing interactive television application data, wherein the interactive television application data includes lists of programs and additional programming information (803, 907); a device for receiving the interactive television application data with a hand-held application device (24) having one or more touch-sensitive controls; a device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls. The system defined in claim 25 wherein the device for providing interactive television application data comprises a device for »_- .....-, -..., ..___;" ataa_j _ ^ "? _" 'A -? __. providing interactive television application data from a main facility (12) for reception by the hand-held application device (24). The system defined in claim 25 wherein the device for providing interactive television application data comprises a device for providing interactive television application data from an interactive television application equipment (17) for reception by the user. hand application device (24). The system defined in claim 25 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the handheld access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to browse program lists. using the touch sensitive controls. 9. The system defined in claim 28 further comprising a device for providing a ..-,. ".-. TO_- . ____-- .to-- . - »- -. - _ ~ c - • --fft- - flfrpijHfcfci television program associated with a list of programs scrolled on the hand-held device (24). 30. The system defined in claim 25 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs; and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the handheld access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to set a reminder using touch sensitive controls. 31. The system defined in claim 30 further comprising a device for providing the reminder in the hand access device (24) in accordance with that established by the user. 32. The system defined in claim 25 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs; and the device to provide the user with opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch-sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to request a pay-per-view program using the sensitive controls. touch. 33. The system defined in claim 25 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch-sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to access information. of additional programming (803, 907) for a television program using the touch sensitive controls. 34. The system defined in claim 25 further comprising: a device for receiving the interactive television application data with the user television equipment (22) for use by a primary application; and a device for coordinating touch sensitive controls with characteristics of the primary application. l _.__ i »^ -'---. 35. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the device for coordinating the touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application comprises a device for exchanging one or more access communications between the hand-held application device (24) and the television equipment of user (22). 36. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide, an in-home shopping application, a wagering application from home, an application of stock exchange transactions from the home, or an email application related to television. 37. The system defined in claim 34 further comprising: a device for providing interactive application data for a non-television application; device for receiving the interactive application data with the hand-held application device (24), and a device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the controls sensitive to touch. ,?? í : _j ___ A _aÉ ___ 84, _-___. to M -t-t4t-i 38. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the interactive application is a calendar, contact list, network browser, calculator, or list of activities to be performed. 39. The system defined in claim 34 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); the device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application comprises a device for coordinating touch sensitive controls, with features of the interactive television program guide; and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the handheld access device (24) using the touch sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to browse program lists. (150) using the touch sensitive controls. The system defined in claim 39 further comprising a device for providing a television program associated with a list of programs viewed in the application device of hand (24). 41. The system defined in claim 39 further comprising: a device for providing at least one access communication to the user television equipment wherein the at least one access communication indicates the user television equipment (22) a list of programs viewed (150); and a device for providing a television program associated with a list of programs viewed (151) on the user television equipment (22) in response to the at least one access communication. 42. The system defined in claim 34 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); the device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application comprises a device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the device to provide the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the access device Handheld (24) using the touch sensitive control comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to set a reminder using the touch sensitive controls. 43. The system defined in claim 42 further comprising a device for providing the reminder in the handheld access device (24) in accordance with that established by the user. 44. The system defined in claim 34 wherein: the interactive television application is a guide to interactive television programs; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); the device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application comprises a device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the touch-sensitive controls comprises a device to provide the user with the opportunity to request a program of pay per event using touch-sensitive controls. i-i --- l ._. J '- ^ -.- ^ - ^ _. t ._.-._ cJ-il »-» - -__! íi__ 45. The system defined in claim 44 further comprising: a device for providing at least one access communication to the user television equipment (22) wherein the at least one access communication indicates the user television equipment (22) a pay-per-event program ordered by the user using the hand-held application device (24); and a device for providing the requested pay-per-view program in the user television equipment (22) in response to the at least one access communication. 46. The system defined in claim 34 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the primary application comprises a device for coordinating touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the device for providing the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television application data with the hand-held access device (24) using the controls sensitive to the _.-- i .-!. * .---. * _. «. J. -_ - _.-._. . The touch comprises a device for providing the user with the opportunity to access additional programming information (803, 907) for a television program using the touch-sensitive controls. 47. The system defined in claim 34, wherein the device for providing interactive television application data comprises a device for providing interactive television application data from a main facility (12) for reception by the application device. of hand (24). 48. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the device for providing interactive television application data comprises a device for providing interactive television application data of an interactive television application equipment (17) for reception by the device. hand application (24). 49. A system for providing the user with access to an interactive television application with a hand-held application device (24); comprising: a first communication device configured to provide interactive television application data, wherein the application data of interactive television include lists of programs as well as additional programming information (803, 907); and a hand-held application device (24) comprising: a second communication device configured to receive the interactive television application data; a user interface having one or more touch-sensitive controls that provide the user with the opportunity to access the interactive television and application data; and a processing circuit configured to (i) instruct the second communication device to receive the interactive television application data, and (ii) instruct the user interface to display the touch sensitive control or the various touch sensitive controls. 50. The system defined in claim 49 wherein the first communication device is in a main facility (12). 51. The system defined in claim 49 wherein the first communication device is in the interactive television application equipment (17). 52. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: .--- * > - *, ^, 1t the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); and touch-sensitive controls are additionally configured to provide the user with the opportunity to browse program lists. 53. The system defined in claim 52 wherein: the second communication device is further configured to receive a television program associated with a list of programs viewed (151); and the user interface is further configured to display the television program in the hand-held application device (24). 54. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); and touch-sensitive controls are additionally configured to provide the user with the opportunity to set a reminder. 55. The system defined in claim 54 wherein the hand access device (24) is further configured to instruct the user interface to provide the reminder in accordance with that established by the user. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); and touch-sensitive controls are additionally configured to provide the user with the opportunity to request a pay-per-view program. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to access additional programming information (803, 907) for a television program. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: the system further comprises a primary application that is executed at least partially on the user's television equipment (22); the first communication device is within the user television set (22) and is additionally configured to receive data from 1 interactive television application for use by the primary application; and the processing circuit is further configured to coordinate the touch sensitive controls with characteristics of the primary application. . The system defined in claim 58 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to instruct the second communication device to exchange one or more access communications with the user television equipment (22). . The system defined in claim 58 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide, an in-home shopping application, a wagering application from the home, an application for stock exchange transactions from the home, or an email application related to television. . The system defined in claim 58 further comprising: the first communication device is further configured to provide interactive application data for a non-television application; the second communication device is J. __¿gs ^ _ ^ additionally configured to receive the interactive application data; and the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to access the interactive application data. 62. The system defined in claim 61 wherein the interactive application is a calendar, contact list, web browser, calculator, or list of activities to be performed. 63. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); the processing circuit is further configured to coordinate the touch-sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to browse program lists. 64. The system defined in claim 63 wherein: the second communication device is further configured to receive a television program associated with a list of programs viewed (151); and the user interface is further configured to display the television program in the hand-held application device (24). 65. The system defined in claim 64 wherein: the first communication device is in user television equipment (22); the processing circuit is further configured to instruct the second communication device to provide at least one access communication to the second communication device, wherein the at least one access communication indicates the user television equipment (22). ) a list of programs viewed (151); and the user television equipment (22) is further configured to provide a television program associated with a list of programs viewed (151) in response to the at least one access communication. 66. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data includes lists of programs (150); the processing circuit is configured additionally to coordinate the touch sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to set a reminder. 67. The system defined in accordance with claim 66 wherein the hand-held application device (24) is further configured to instruct the user interface to provide the reminder in the hand access device (24) in accordance with what is established by the user. 68. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the interactive television application data include lists of television programs (150); the processing circuit is further configured to coordinate the touch sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to request a pay-per-view program. ___ t _? __. ~.-J-i-c-l -..- »-_-» k. 69. The system defined in claim 68 wherein: the first communication device is in the user television equipment (22); the processing circuit is further configured to instruct the second communication device to provide at least one access communication to the user television equipment (22), wherein the at least one access communication indicates the television equipment user (22) a pay-per-event program requested by the user using the hand-held application device (24); and the user television equipment (22) is configured to provide the requested pay-per-view program in response to the at least one access communication. 70. The system defined in claim 58 wherein: the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide; the processing circuit is further configured to coordinate the touch sensitive controls with features of the interactive television program guide; and the touch sensitive controls are further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to have access to additional programming information (803, 907) for a television program. 71. The system defined in claim 58 wherein the first communication device is in a main facility (12). 72. The system defined in claim 58 wherein the first communication device is in an interactive television application equipment (17). 73. The system defined in claim 49 wherein: the first communication device is further configured to provide the interactive television application data on a 900 MHz link; and the second communication device is further configured to receive the interactive television application data on the 900 MHz link.
MXPA01012809A 1999-06-11 2000-06-07 Interactive television application system with hand-held application device. MXPA01012809A (en)

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