MXPA03003139A - Systems and methods for caching data in media-on-demand systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.

Description

PROVISIONS AND METHODS FOR STORING DATA IN INTERMEDIATE MEMORY IN PROVISIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDIA UPON REQUEST Background of the Invention The present invention relates to arrangements and methods for interactive television applications. More particularly, the present invention relates to arrangements and methods for recovering data from media not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand, from separate data sources included in an interactive television application arrangement.

Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide users with a large number of television channels. Traditionally, users have consulted printed television programming guides to determine the programs that are broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic television programming guidelines have been developed that allow information about television programs to be displayed on a user's television. Interactive television programming guides are usually implemented in signal decoders of the type that is placed on the television set (set-top boxes). Such programming guides allow the P03 / 057-UVP Users watch TV show ads in different presentation formats. For example, a user can instruct the scheduling guide to display a schedule of announcements of programs organized into a set ordered by channel and arranged by schedules. Users can also search and categorize program listings by topic (for example, movies, sports, etc.) or by title (for example, alphabetically). A user can obtain additional information about a particular program ad, and can buy a program to watch it. Some provisions of interactive programming guides may provide video advertisements provided upon request. In some provisions, video advertisements provided on demand are provided from a data source that is separate from the source it provides, advertisements and other information relating to media not supplied on demand, such as television programs. For example, a video server supplied on demand could provide the programming guide with the announcements referring to videos supplied on demand, either in band or out of band, from the data of the programming guide or the normal programming of TV. When advertisements for on-demand videos are provided in band, the programming guide must establish a connection to the video server supplied on demand (if there is no longer a connection).

P03 / 057-UVP established), and make the user stop tuning the television program that is watching to be able to recover the ads. This causes the user to lose part of the programming he is looking at. When on-demand video ads are provided out-of-band, the programming guide must also establish a connection to the video server supplied on demand (if a connection has not already been established) and retrieve the ads. In such methods, reduced bandwidth connections can cause unacceptable delays in the presentation of video ads on demand. In addition, many users frequently access the Internet to some information about the videos supplied on request, such as new announcements. Each user's team must establish a session with the server whenever information is needed. This can cause huge peak demand for resources in the distribution network. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide provisions and methods for retrieving data from media not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand from separate data sources, in a manner that reduces the undesirable consequences associated with current methods, such as interruption of the activity of watching the user's television or delays in the presentation of screens of the application.

P03 / 057-UVP Object of the Invention The present invention relates to arrangements and methods for recovering media data from separate data sources which respectively provide media data not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand. Certain illustrative functions of some embodiments of the present invention are described for example in; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 239,377, filed October 11, 2000; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 252,171, filed November 20, 2000; and Provisional US Patent Application No. 60 / 270,351, filed February 21, 2001, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As here is used, a medium not supplied upon request can be any suitable means that is provided to the users without mediating an order from them. For example, media not supplied on demand may be television programs, audio programs, or any other suitable program. A medium supplied on demand may be any means that is provided to users in response to requests by them. For example, the media supplied on demand may be videos on demand or audio media on demand, software that can be downloaded, or any other suitable media for your P03 / 057-OVP distribution upon request. The data referred to the media supplied on request and not supplied on request may be any type of data that describes the medium or is associated with the medium. For example, the data of the media not supplied upon request can be television program titles, additional information of television programs, advertisements of television programming, or information about orders for paid programs. The data of the media supplied on request can be, for example, titles or descriptions of videos on demand or software that can be downloaded (downloaded). The data of the media not supplied on demand and of the media provided on demand are retrieved from separate data sources, using for example an interactive television application such as an interactive television programming guide, or other software operating in an equipment of the home. The data of the media on demand can be provided, for example, in band or out of band from the media data supplied on request or not supplied on request. In some embodiments, the data of the media on demand can be provided in the form of a continuous or periodic data stream, using for example a method based on a carousel type arrangement. In other embodiments, the media data on demand can be provided using a method based on an arrangement P03 / 057-UVP of the client-server type. The data of the means on demand are automatically recovered and stored in buffer to reduce, for example, the latency of the provision or the interruption of the user's activity of watching television. The storage of the media data on demand can be staggered in time between the users, in order to reduce the peak loads in the network that distributes the data of the supplied media upon request. The data of the media on demand can be stored in buffer, for example periodically or when the user invokes a specific interface. In some methods, buffering can be predictive. For example, media-on-demand data, referred to functions to which a user can access from a given visual presentation, can be buffered. In other methods, the most popular media-on-demand data can be buffered. In other methods, the data that is stored in buffer memory can be customized. For example, the user activity can be monitored and the media data on demand can be stored in buffer based on the user's history. Any other type of predictive buffering can be used. The data of the media supplied on request can P03 / 057-UVP be recovered from the buffer to be presented. For example, the data of the media on demand can be retrieved from the buffer memory and presented in response to the indication by a user of his desire to access at least the data of the media supplied on request, for example in a screen that contains media ads that are provided on demand. In some embodiments, advertisements for media not supplied on demand may be displayed along with advertisements for the media supplied on demand or together with other content such as group or prominent advertisements.

Brief Description of the Drawings Other functions of the invention, its nature and various advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the analysis of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate similar parts and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative interactive television arrangement, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figures £ -6 show illustrative provisions P03 / 057-UVP of the interactive television application team from the Figure 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic and illustrative block diagram of the user's television equipment shown in Figures 2-6, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 8 is a schematic and illustrative block diagram of parts of the television equipment illustrating the user shown in Figure 7, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 9 is a process diagram illustrating the recovery, buffering and presentation of data supplied on demand and not supplied on demand from different data sources, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figures 10-11 are more detailed process diagrams of Figure 9, illustrating the recovery, buffering and presentation of data supplied on request and not supplied on demand from different data sources, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 12 shows a menu screen illustrative of the interactive television application, in accordance P03 / 057-UVP with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 13 shows an illustrative video-on-demand screen of the interactive television application, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 14 shows an illustrative screen with video advertisements of the type of video on demand in alphabetical order, presented by the interactive television application, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 15 shows an illustrative screen with individual information on films of the video on demand type, presented by the interactive television application, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 16 shows an illustrative screen of the interactive television application, containing on-demand video advertisements and television listings organized by schedules, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 17 shows an illustrative screen of the interactive television application containing video on demand advertisements and advertisements of television programs organized according to the "sports" genre, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 18 shows an illustrative screen of the P03 / 0Í7-UVP interactive television application containing video on demand advertisements and advertisements of television programs organized according to the genre "movies", in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 19 shows an illustrative screen of the interactive television application containing on-demand video advertisements and television program advertisements organiaccording to the genre "for children", in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; Figure 20 shows an illustrative screen of the interactive television application that promotes on-demand video advertisements and advertisements of television programs organiby schedule, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Description of Various Embodiments Provisions and methods for buffering media data not supplied on demand and media supplied on demand from multiple sources, for use in an interactive television application, can be based on any platform or topology of adequate hardware. Suitable hardware includes hardware such as satellite receivers, televisions with a personal computer (PC / TV), personal computers (for example, with tuner cards for television), cable set-top boxea decoders -), or any other suitable hardware.

P03 / 057-UVP In some embodiments, an interactive television application such as an interactive television programming guide, an application for home shopping or another suitable interactive television application may operate on said hardware. Illustrative arrangements of interactive television programming guide are described, for example, in U.S. Patent 5,589,892, Knee et al, and in the United States patent application Knudson et al, Serial No. 09 / 357,941, filed July 16. of 1999, which are incorporated herein by reference. Provisioning guidelines for the client-server type are described, for example, in the US patent application Ellis et al, Serial No. 09 / 374,043, filed on August 13, 1999, which is incorporated in full into the present as a reference. The online programming guide provisions are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Boyer et al, Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed September 18, 1997, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. . An illustrative arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The main facility 102 can provide the interactive television equipment 106 with media data not supplied on request, through the communication channel P03 / 057-UVP 108. The source 124 of data not supplied upon request, pertaining to the main facility 102, can be any suitable computer or suitable arrangement based on a computer, intended to generate, store or obtain data from means not supplied upon request (for example, manually from an operator, electronically through a computer network or other connection, or by means of storage means) and to give the data an electronic form for distribution by the main facility 102. In some embodiments, the data source 124 of media not supplied upon request can also provide data for the application. In other embodiments, the main facility 102 may have multiple data sources intended to provide media data on demand, media data not supplied upon request, and other data for the application. In some embodiments, the data sources of the application may be located in separate facilities of the main facility 102, such as in the local information service 110, and its media data may be provided to the main facility via the via of communication 114 for its location and distribution. The local information service 110 may contain the local data source 112. The local data source 112 may be any suitable computer or suitable arrangement based on a computer, intended to generate, store or store data.

PO3 / 057-UVP obtain local data (for example, manually from an operator, electronically through a computer network or other connection, or by means of storage media) and give the data an electronic form for distribution by the main facility 102.

The local information service 110 can be any suitable installation for obtaining data specific to a localized region, and for supplying the data to the main facility 102 via the communication channel 114. The local information data can include, for example, advertisements local, local sports information, local news information, or other appropriate local information. The local information service 110 may be, for example, a local weather station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that distributes information with local news, or any other suitable information provider. The main installation 102 can accumulate the data of the programming guide and the local information data and distribute it to the interactive television equipment 106. The communication paths 108 and 114 can be satellite communication channels, fiber optic communication routes, routes wired communication, communication channels by coaxial cable, communication channels by radiofrequency, electromagnetic communication routes, microwave communication routes, communication channels P03 / 057-UVP by light wave, Internet communication routes, a combination of such routes, or any suitable means of communication. If desired, video signals could also be transmitted on lanes 108 and 114. The main facility 102 can transmit to the interactive television set 106 media data not supplied upon request and other data for the application, using any suitable method. For example, the main facility 102 may distribute the media data not supplied on request, periodically, continuously, or at any other suitable frequency. In some methods, the media data can be distributed in the form of files, packages or in the form of a data stream. The arrangements in which data is transmitted from a main facility to television distribution facilities, using said method, are described for example in the US patent application Gollahon et al, Serial No. 09 / 332,624, filed on June 11. of 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. There may be numerous units or facilities of interactive television equipment 106, although in Figure 1 only one is shown to avoid complicating the drawing too much. The source 123 of media data supplied on request can provide the interactive television set 106, via the communication link 130, with data of P03 / O57-UVP media on demand, such as information on video on demand (for example, titles of videos on demand, information on genres of videos on demand, additional information on videos on demand, and information on orders), information on audio on demand (for example , audio-on-demand titles, additional information on audio on demand, and order information), interactive video games or other information relating to the application, sports results, sports statistics, or other appropriate information about media on demand. The source 128 of media data supplied on demand may be any suitable computer or suitable computer-based arrangement, intended to generate, store or obtain such media data supplied upon request (eg, manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or by means of storage media) and to give the data an electronic form for distribution. The source of media data supplied on demand may also provide media supplied on demand, such as on-demand videos, audio media, or application software. The communication path 130 can be a satellite communication path, a fiber optic communication path, a wired communication path, a coaxial cable communication path, a radiofrequency communication path, an electromagnetic communication path, P03 / 057-UVP a microwave communication path, a light wave communication path, an Internet communication path, a combination of such pathways, or any suitable means of communication. Way 130 can be provided on request. In other embodiments, the media-on-demand data may be provided to the main facility 110 for transmission to the interactive television equipment 106. For example, the media data on demand can be generated in the supplied media data source. on request (not shown), transmitted to the main installation 102 and transmitted to the television distribution facility 116 (illustrated in Figures 2-6) of the interactive television equipment 106, via the communication channel 108. Interactive television can be implemented in interactive television equipment 106. Illustrative arrangements of interactive television equipment 106 are shown in Figures 2-6. The interactive television application, such as an interactive television programming guide, another guide application, web browser, or other suitable interactive television application, may work in the user's television equipment 122, using the arrangements of Figure 2 or Figure 4, or may partially operate in the television equipment of the user.

P03 / 057-UVP user and partially in other components of the interactive television equipment 106, using a suitable arrangement of the client-server type or of the distributed processing type, such as those shown in Figure 3 or Figure 5. The distribution facility 116, which illustrated in Figures 2-6, can be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a terminal of a cable system, a satellite distribution facility, a broadcast distribution facility, or any other suitable type of distribution facility ), and the distribution equipment 118 may have. Typically, numerous distribution facilities 116 may be included in Figures 2-6. The distribution equipment 118 of Figures 2-6 may be suitable equipment for providing television equipment 122. of the user, via communication path 120, media data (ie media data supplied on request and media data) s not supplied upon request) and other application data. In Figure 6, the distribution equipment 118 can provide media data, such as data from the programming guide, to the personal computer 140, through the Internet service system 134 and the appropriate communication channels 136 and 138. The distribution equipment 118 of Figures 2-6 may include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for distributing media data and other application data.

P03 / 057-UVP in the sideband of a television channel, in the vertical suppression interval of a television channel, using a digital signal in band, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by means of any other suitable data transmission technique . Analog or digital signals corresponding to the media not supplied on demand and the media provided on request (for example, television programs, on-demand movies, music on demand, etc.) can also be distributed by the distribution equipment 118 to the equipment television 122 of the user, via communication 120, on multiple television channels. In some embodiments, information about the media can be provided in the form of synchronous metadata. The synchronous metadata is data that is distributed to the television set 122 of the user, illustrated in Figures 2-5, or to the personal computer 140 of Figure 6, logically at the same time as the medium with which they are associated. For example, synchronous metadata can be provided contemporaneously with the media not supplied on demand or the media supplied on request, or before the media data, but with information that associates them with the media (for example, identifiers, routes). , or any provided in band, out of band, using a method based on carousel, using a method based on a client-server arrangement, using storage located in buffer, using a combination of these methods, or using any other suitable method. Metadata can include other types of data. The metadata distributed to the television set 122 of the user, which is illustrated in Figures 2-5, or to the personal computer 140 of Figure 6, may include, for example, commands indicating the equipment installed in the user's home (or client applications that work on the computer) that a specific action will be executed (for example, superimposing a visual indicator on the media on request). The metadata can include a directory that indicates segments of the media data supplied on demand. In some methods, the metadata can be used as markers within the data of the media not supplied on request and supplied on request. For example, the data may include actor interviews, breakthroughs, selected scenes from a movie, music videos, or any other appropriate segment of media data. The data segments can be provided together with media data supplied on demand or not. Synchronous metadata that are distributed to interactive television applications are described, for example, in the US patent application.

P03 / 057-UVP provisional No. 60 / 239,521, filed on October 11, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The communication path 120 of FIGS. 2-5 and communication paths 136 and 138 of FIG. 6 may have sufficient bandwidth to allow the distribution facility 116 or another distribution facility to distribute television programming to the television equipment 122. of the user, which is illustrated in Figures 2-5, or to the personal computer 140 of Figure 6. There are multiple units of the user's television equipment 122 that are associated with the communication channels 120 in Figures 2-5, although In these figures a single unit of the television equipment 118 of the user and of the communication channel 120 is shown, in order to avoid complicating the drawings too much. Similarly, there could be multiple personal computers 140 and multiple associated communication paths (Figure 6), although in Figure 6 only a personal computer 140 and a communication channel 138 are shown, to avoid complicating the drawing too much. If desired, the media data not supplied on request and media supplied on request can be provided by separate communication channels. Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement of interactive television equipment 106 in an interactive application arrangement based on an architecture of the P03 / 057-UVP client-server type or distributed type. The interactive application provisions in Figure 3, based on a client-server or distributed-type architecture, can process media data not supplied upon request, media data supplied on demand, any suitable combination thereof, or any other type adequate data. In some embodiments, the media data source 124 not supplied on demand (Figure 1) can be a server that provides media data not supplied upon request through the communication paths 108 (Figure 1) and 120 (Figure 2) to a client application implemented on the user's television equipment 122 (Figures 3-5). The distribution equipment 118, as shown in Figure 3, can include the server 132. The server 132 can use any suitable combination of hardware and software to provide an application based on a client-server architecture. The server 132 may execute, for example, a suitable database engine (for example, the Microsoft SQL Server) and provide data not supplied upon request, data on demand, or a combination thereof, to a client application implemented on the user's television equipment 122. For example, the server 132 may request or receive media data supplied on demand, from the source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1). In other methods, the team P03 / 057-UVP The user's television can request or receive media data supplied on request, from the source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1). If desired, the server 132 could be located in the main facility 102 or elsewhere, such as the terminal of a cable system, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of installation of television distribution. A client application can recover from the server 132 the data for the application, using any suitable method based on a client-server disposition. The client could direct the server 132, for example, orders in SQL (structured query language) in the form of messages. In another suitable method, the client application could invoke remote procedures residing on the server 132, using one or more remote procedure calls. The server 132 can execute statements in SQL for such invoked remote procedures. In another suitable method, the client objects executed by the application can communicate with the server objects executed by the server 132, using for example an object order routing interface (ORB). Figures 4-5 show illustrative arrangements of interactive television applications, based on PO3 / 057-UVP Internet. As shown in Figure 4, the distribution facility 116 may include, for example, the Internet service system 134. The Internet service system 134 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of providing the application with data. relative to it, using an Internet-based method (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).) If desired, Internet service system 134 could be located in a facility that is separate from the distribution facility. 116, as shown in Figure 5. In those embodiments in which the interactive television application is implemented in the user's television equipment 122, pertaining to the interactive television equipment 106, as illustrated in Figure 4, the system of Internet service (or other suitable equipment located in the distribution facility 116 and connected to the Internet service system 134) can provide the television equipment 122 of the user with media data not supplied upon request, media data supplied upon request and other data relating to the application, through the Internet, or through the distribution equipment 118, using the Transfer Protocol of Hypertext (HTTP) through a type of the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP). In those embodiments in which the application of P03 / 057-UVP Interactive television implemented in the interactive television equipment 106 is an application based on a client-server architecture, as shown in Figure 5, the server 132 can obtain from the Internet service system 134 media data supplied on demand and other data related to the application. However, the application can also obtain data relating to the application from the Internet service system 134 through an Internet connection. In other embodiments, the media data source 124, not supplied upon request, the source 128 of media data supplied on demand, or a combination thereof, may provide the user's television equipment with media data or other data related to the media. the application, through the Internet service system 134. In another suitable arrangement, the distribution equipment 118 may include a computer equipment or other suitable hardware in which a first part or version of the interactive television application is implemented. A second part or version of the application can be implemented on the user's television equipment 122. The two versions or parts of the interactive television application can communicate using any "peer-to-peer" communication scheme (eg, message transmission, remote function calls, etc.) and execute functions of the application P03 / 057-UVP interactively distributive between the distribution facility 116 and the user's television equipment 122.

In Figure 6 there is shown another suitable arrangement in which an online application, such as an online programming guide, can be implemented in an interactive television set 106. The online programming guide arrangements are described, for example , in the application of US patent Boyer et al, Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed on September 18, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The user may have the personal computer 140 in which a client application or a web browser is implemented. The personal computer 140 may be connected to the Internet service system through the way 138, and the distribution facility 116 may be connected to the Internet service system 134 through the way 136. The Internet service system 134 it can be a communication network or a computer network and can use any suitable combination of computer hardware and software suitable to provide a server application or online website. The Internet service system 134 is presented as a system that obtains data relating to the application from the distribution facility 116. In other suitable methods, the Internet service system 134 may obtain information from other provisions such as, for example, example, installation P03 / 057-UVP main 102 (Figure 1), local information service 110 (Figure 1), source 124 of media data not supplied on demand (Figure 1), source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1), or any other adequate source of data for the application. An illustrative arrangement of the television equipment 122 of the user is shown in Figure 7. In some embodiments, the user's television equipment 122 may receive, at input 200, video or a stream of digital video and digital data from the distribution facility 116 (Figures 2-6), such as a distribution facility programs or some other suitable distribution facility. In some embodiments, the television set 122 of the user can receive video or a stream of digital video and digital data directly from the main facility 102 (Figure 1). In some embodiments, the television equipment 122 of the user may receive media data not supplied on demand from the media data source 124 not supplied on demand (Figure 1), media data supplied on demand from the data source 128 media supplied on demand (Figure 1) or any combination of that data. In still other embodiments, the media data not supplied on demand, the media data supplied on demand, or a combination thereof, may be transmitted to the distribution facility 116 (FIGS.

P03 / 057-UVP 2-6) from a plurality of media data sources, so that the distribution facility 116 can transmit to the user equipment 122 the data of the media supplied on request and not supplied on demand. During normal television viewing activity, a user may tune the signal decoder 202 to a desired television channel. The signal from that television channel can then be supplied in the video output 218. The signal supplied in the output 218 is typically a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predefined channel (eg, channel 3 or 4) or a demodulated analog video signal, but may also be a digital signal supplied to the television 212 by an appropriate digital bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) (not shown)) . The video signal at the output 218 can be received by the optional secondary storage device 210. The interactive television application can be executed at the decoder 202, on the television 212 (if the television 212 has adequate processing and memory circuits). , in an appropriate analog or digital receiver connected to the television 212, or in a secondary storage device 208 (if the secondary storage device 208 has adequate processing and memory circuits). The application of P03 / 057-UVP Interactive television can also work cooperatively in a proper combination of these devices. The interactive television application arrangements in which a cooperative interactive television programming guide application works on multiple devices, are described for example in the U.S. patent application. Ellis et al, Serial No. 09 / 186,598, filed on November 5, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The secondary storage device 210 can be any suitable type of storage device or analog or digital program player (eg, a cassette recorder (VCR), a personal video recorder (PVR), a digital versatile disc player (DVD) , etc.) . The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the decoder 202, using the control channel 216. If the secondary storage device 210 is a cassette recorder or a personal video recorder, for example, a typical control channel 216 may involve the use of an infrared transmitter connected to the infrared receiver located in the recorder, which normally accepts commands from a remote control such as the remote control 214. The remote control 214 can be used to control the decoder 202, the secondary storage device 210. and the television 212.

P03 / 057-UVP At least a part of the data supplied on request can be stored intermediately in the memory 204. In some embodiments, the media data not supplied on request and other data relating to the application can also be stored intermediate in the memory 204. If desired, a user could record programming (eg, movies, television shows, sporting events, any combination thereof, etc.) in digital form, in the digital storage device 208. The digital storage 208 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 recorded), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or a digital tape), or any other digital storage device. The interactive television programming guide provisions having digital storage devices are described, for example, in the U.S. patent application. Hassell et al, Serial No. 09 / 157,256, filed September 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The digital storage device 208 can buffer media data supplied on demand.

P03 / 057-UVP The digital storage device 208 may be contained in the decoder 202 or it may be an external device connected to the decoder 202 through an output port and an appropriate interface. If necessary, the decoder processing circuit 202 gives a digital file type format to the received video, audio and data signals. The file format can be an open file format such as the MPEG-2 standard of the Group of Experts in Moving Images (MPEG) or the standard of the Joint Group of Experts in Photography (MJPEG). The resulting data can be transferred to the digital storage device 208 through an appropriate bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)), and then stored in the digital storage device 208. In another suitable method, a data stream or series of MPEG-2 files can be received from the television distribution equipment 122 (Figures 2-6) and stored. The television 212 can receive video signals from the secondary storage device 210 via the communication path 220. The video signals on the communication path 220 can be generated either by the secondary storage device 210 when reproducing a medium of pre-recorded storage (for example, a video cassette or a digital video disc in P03 / 057-UVP which can be recorded), can be generated by the digital storage device 208 when it reproduces a pre-recorded digital medium, can be passed directly from the decoder 202, can be directly supplied to the television 212 from the decoder 202, if the secondary storage 210 is not included in the user's television set 122 (Figures 2-5), or can be received directly by the television 212. While watching television normally, the video signals supplied to the television 212 may correspond to the desired channel in which the user has tuned the decoder 202. The video signals can also be supplied to the television 212 by the decoder 202 when said decoder 202 is used to reproduce information stored in the digital storage device 208.

The decoder 202 may include the memory 204. The memory 204 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a "flash" memory, a unit of hard disk, a combination of such devices, etc., which are suitable for storing instructions and data of the application, for use by the interactive application. At least a part of the data not supplied on request, the data supplied on request, or a combination thereof, P03 / 057-UVP can be automatically stored intermediate in memory 204. Storing media data supplied on demand in buffer can reduce or eliminate the latency in the presentation of media data on demand in television 212, and can reduce the load of resources in a distribution network, depending on the way in which the provision is implemented. The decoder 202 may include a communication device 206 to communicate directly with the distribution equipment 118 (Figures 2-6), the server 132 (Figures 3 and 5), the Internet service system 134 (Figures 4-6) or , in some embodiments, the source 124 of media data not supplied on request (Figure 1) or the source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1), by suitable communication channels. The communication device 206 can be a modem (eg cable modem, telephone modem, digital subscriber line modem (DSL), integrated services digital network modem (ISDN), or any suitable analogue or digital modem), network interface (for example, an Ethernet card, etc.), or other suitable communication device. The communication device 206 may also be a personal computer with an Internet connection, for example in the arrangement shown in Figure 6. The television 212 may also incorporate such an appropriate communication device, if desired. In a method P03 / 057-UVP Alternatively, the user's television equipment 122 (Figures 4-5) can communicate with the Internet service system 134 (Figures 4-5) through the distribution equipment 118, using an appropriate return path. Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrative of parts of the user's television equipment shown in Figure 7, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The data 200 for the application, coming from the distribution facility 116 (Figures 2-6) can be received by the control circuit 300 of the user's television set 122 (Figures 2-5) or the personal computer 140 (Figure 6). ). The functions of the control circuit 300 may be integrated into an advanced television receiver, a television with a personal computer (PC / TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such provisions may be used. The user's television equipment 122, which is illustrated in Figure 8, may also include a secondary storage device 314 and a digital storage device 312 for recording media. The secondary storage device 314 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a cassette recorder (VCR), a personal video recorder (PVR), a versatile disc player).

P03 / 057-UVP digital (DVD), etc.). The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the control circuit 300. The digital storage device 312 can be, for example, an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a DVD player capable of handling DVD discs that can be burned), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. In some embodiments, the digital storage device 312 may buffer media data supplied on demand. The user's television equipment 122 may also include the memory 302. The memory 302 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a memory ". flash ", a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., which are suitable for storing instructions and data relating to the application, for use by the control circuit 300. The memory 302 may also store data from media supplied on request, stored intermediately, for use by the interactive television application. The user's television equipment 122, which is illustrated in Figure 8, may also include a P03 / 057-UVP communication device 310 to support communications between the equipment 122 and the distribution equipment 118 (Figures 2-6), the server 132 (Figures 3 and 5), the Internet service system 134 (Figures 4-6) or, in some embodiments, the source 124 of media data not supplied on request (Figure 1) or the source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1), by suitable communication means. The communication device 310 can be a modem (eg, catalemodem, telephone modem, digital subscriber line modem (DSL), integrated services digital network modem (ISDN), or any suitable analogue or digital modem), network interface (eg, an Ethernet card, signal ring card, etc.), or other suitable communication device. A user can control the operation of the television equipment 122 of the user with the device 304 for data entry by the user. The device 304 may be a pointing device, a wireless remote control, a keyboard, a touch-pointing device, a speech recognition system, or any other device suitable for data entry by the user. To watch television, a user instructs the control circuit 300 to display a desired television channel on the display device 308. The display device 308 may be P03 / 057-UVP any suitable television or monitor, or other suitable visual presentation device. To access the functions of the application, the user instructs the application to generate a main menu or another screen that is desired, for display on the visual presentation device 308. To access the sound, a user can give instructions to the control circuit 300 to provide audio means in the audio device 306. The audio device 306 may be part of the display 308, or it may be separated from it. Figure 9 is a process diagram illustrating process 400 for recovering data from multiple data sources and storing them in buffer memory, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. As shown, in step 402 the data not supplied on demand can be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied upon request. For example, in some embodiments, an interactive television application can retrieve data not supplied on demand from source data source 124 not supplied on demand (Figure 1), either directly or through the distribution facility 116 ( Figures 2-6) and adequate communication routes. It may not be necessary for the user's equipment 122 (Figures 2-5) or the personal computer 140 (Figure 6) to request data not supplied P03 / 057-UVP upon request to a data source. In effect, a source of media data not supplied on demand could periodically send data not supplied on demand to the television set 122 of the user (Figures 2-5) or to the personal computer 140 (Figure 6). In some embodiments, data not supplied on demand can also be stored in buffer memory. In step 404, the media data supplied on demand can be automatically retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand. For example, the television equipment 122 of the user can retrieve data supplied on request from source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1), either directly or through the distribution facility 116 and suitable communication channels. It may not be necessary for the user's equipment 122 to request data supplied on request to a data source. In effect, a source of media data supplied on demand could periodically send data supplied on demand to the user's television set 122 or to the distribution facility 116. In step 406, the media data supplied on demand can be automatically saved in buffer in the user's television equipment, after being retrieved from the source of media data supplied upon request. Information about media P03 / 057-UVP supplied on request can be stored intermediately, for example, in memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8) or in digital storage device 208 or 312. Storage of media data supplied on request in buffer can be staggered in time between users, in order to reduce the peak loads in the network that distributes the media data supplied on demand. For example, the distribution facility 116 (Figures 2-6) may distribute to the user's television equipment 122 (Figures 2-5) or the personal computer 140 (Figure 6) buffer programs from the data source 124 media not supplied on demand (Figure 1) or source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1), and television equipment 122 of the user or personal computer 140 indicate to the interactive television application when they will be buffered media data supplied on request. In some embodiments, the media data supplied on demand may be buffered in a predictive manner, in order to further reduce latencies. For example, the media data supplied on request to which it is commonly accessed, or to which the user is likely to access, such as the functions to which a user can access from a computer, can be buffered.

P03 / 057-UVP given screen. In other methods, data from the most popular supplied media upon request can be buffered. In other methods, the data that is stored in buffer memory can be customized. For example, user activity can be monitored and media data supplied on demand can be buffered based on the user's history. Any other type of predictive buffering can be used. In step 408, the data of the media on demand can be retrieved from the buffer memory and presented in response to the indication by a user of his desire to access at least the data of the media supplied on demand. For example, media data supplied on demand may be displayed on a screen containing only media data that is provided on demand, such as a screen with video on demand advertisements. In other methods, the media data supplied on request may be displayed together with the data of the media not supplied upon request, other data relating to the application, or any combination of the same. In step 410, the media data not supplied on request can be presented in response to the indication by a user of his desire to access at least the data of the media not supplied on demand. By P03 / 057-UVP For example, media data not supplied on demand can be displayed on a screen containing only media data that is not provided on demand, such as a screen with television program advertisements. In other methods, the media data not supplied on request may be displayed together with the data of the media supplied on demand, other data relating to the application, or any combination thereof. Figures 10-11 are process diagrams illustrating process 500 for providing data not supplied upon request and data supplied on request, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In step 502, intended to display television programs, television programming may be presented, for example on the user's television equipment 122 (Figures 2-5) or on the personal computer 140 (Figure 6). In some embodiments, the equipment 122 (Figures 2-5) can continuously verify the data entered by the user (for example, commands from the remote control 214 which is illustrated in Figure 7). The test 504 for viewing media information can determine whether a user has indicated his desire for the interactive television application to display media information. Media information may consist of offers of media not supplied upon request, offers of media supplied upon request, a combination of such offers, or any informationP03 / 057-UVP adequate about the media. If the user does not select to enter the interactive television application, in step 502 the television program will continue to be presented. If the user selects an option to view the media information in the 504 test, a menu of the interactive television application may be displayed (eg, the 600 screen shown in Figure 12). After a user has selected to view media information, the test 506 can determine whether the corresponding media data is in the buffer of the interactive television application arrangement (e.g., in memory 204, in the storage device digital 208, in the secondary storage device 210, etc., which are illustrated in Figure 7). In some embodiments, the media data that is stored in the buffer can be media data supplied on demand. If the requested data is not in the buffer memory, in step 512 it can be determined if there is a connection between the interactive television application arrangement (for example, the user's television equipment illustrated in Figures 2-5) and a data source that can provide the requested media data (eg, distribution facility 116, media source 124 not supplied upon request, source 128 of media data supplied to PO3 / 057-UVP order, etc., which are illustrated in Figures 1-6). If in test 506 it is determined that the requested media data is in the buffer, in step 508 the data can be recovered. In some embodiments, media data which is commonly accessed, or which is likely to be accessed, may be buffered to minimize the latency in the display of media data, and to reduce the load about the resources of the transmission provisions. For example, media data supplied on request relating to functions to which a user can access from a given screen can be buffered. In other methods, data from the most popular supplied media upon request can be buffered. In other methods, the data that is stored in buffer memory can be customized. For example, user activity can be monitored and media data supplied on demand can be buffered based on the user's history. Any other type of predictive buffering can be used. Thereafter, the test 510 can determine whether it is necessary to recover more media data from a data source (e.g., the source 124 of media data not supplied on demand or the source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1). )) in order to exhibit the P03 / 057-UVP medium requested by the user. In some embodiments, the data (of media) to which it is commonly accessed or to which it is likely to be accessed may be retrieved, in order to minimize the latency in the presentation of the media data. If it is determined that the media data does not need to be retrieved, in step 518 the requested data (e.g., television program advertisements, on-demand video advertisements, interactive video game announcements, on-demand audio announcements, information) of time, etc.) may be displayed or otherwise provided to the user. If it is determined that the media data needs to be retrieved from a data source, the test 512 can determine whether a connection has been established between the interactive television application arrangement (e.g., the user equipment 122 illustrated in Figures 2-5, the personal computer 140 illustrated in Figure 6, etc.) and a data source (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand which is illustrated in Figure 1). In step 514 a connection can be established if there is no pre-existing connection. In some embodiments, the communication device 206 (Figure 7) can be used to establish a connection between the user's television equipment 122 and the distribution facility 116, via a suitable communication channel. After having established a P03 / 057-UVP connection in step 514, in step 516 the media information can be retrieved from a data source (Figure 11) and displayed in step 518 (Figure 11). In some embodiments, the information retrieved may consist of media data supplied upon request. As illustrated in Figure 11, the test 520 can continuously verify whether the user wishes to return to the television program. In some embodiments, the user's television equipment 122 (Figures 2-5) may receive from the remote control 214 an indication of the user to return to television programming, as illustrated in Figure 7. If the user does not wish to return to the program of television, in step 518 the media information could continue to be displayed. If the user selects to return to television programming, in step 522 the television program could be displayed. In some embodiments, information about media and television programming can be displayed at the same time. Figure 12 shows an illustrative menu screen 600 of an interactive guidance application, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the display 600 may include group advertisements 602, a prominent advertisement 604, the 606 viewer service options, the 60T program advertisement options, the 610 display cabinet options P03 / 057-UVP cable, and highlight region 612. Group 602 advertisements may be used to advertise, for example, programs, products or promotions for a user. In some embodiments, users may select group 602 advertisements in order to obtain more information regarding the program, product or promotional offer. In some embodiments, advertisements 602 may also be directed, for example, to a user's habits in terms of watching television, the selections he makes, the purchases he makes, or using any suitable criteria for directing notices. Group announcements may appear on the screens shown in Figures 12-19. The highlighted advertisement 604 can be used to advertise, for example, a special event or promotion. In some embodiments, users may select the featured notice 604 for more information regarding the event or special promotion. In some embodiments, advertisement 604 may also be directed, for example, to a user's habits in terms of watching television, the selections he makes, the purchases he makes, or using any suitable criteria for directing notices. Featured ads can appear on screens for the presentation of the advertisement, they may have been stored er. buffer at the moment in which the notice was presented and made available for selection by the user, or based on any other suitable criterion. The screen ?' it may also contain options 606 of services to the viewer. Suitable customer service options 606 may include an option to access functions or personal vi recorder information, an option to access messages (e.g., e-mail messages, messages provided by the e-mail service provider). television, etc., an option to adjust the parental control settings of the parents (for example, channels: blocked ratings, etc.), an option to prepare the programming guide or the user's equipment for operation, one operate to exit the screen 6:, c any option to adjust The i'r screen may also contain the ad 606 program announcements, the 608 options may include an option to view announcements of programs organized by genre (eg , sports, for children, etc.), or organized in any other suitable way.The options 608 den also include an er ::;, to look for programs of interest (for example mplo, using keywords, based on the search for a title, based on the ? ?? -? ? which are illustrated in Figures 12-19. In response to the selection by a user of an advertising 602 or 604 that promotes media or products not supplied upon request, the interactive application can recover from memory, for example, information related to the program or product, by establishing of a client / server session between the user's equipment 122 and the source 124 of media data not supplied on request (Figure 1). In response to the selection by a user of a 602 or 604 advertising that promotes media that is provided on demand, the interactive application may determine, for example, whether the data relating to the media supplied on demand that is advertised has been stored in buffer memory and, if so, recover from the buffer the information about the media provided on request and display that information in a suitable presentation. When the data of the on-demand media that is advertised is not buffered, the interactive television application may, for example, establish a live / server session between the user's equipment 122 and the media data source 128. supplied on request (illustrated in Figure 1) and then retrieve the data for presentation. The data of the media supplied on request may have been stored in buffer based on a plan P03 / 057-UVP search for an actor, etc.). The cable showcase options 610 can include, for example, the option of advertisements for video on demand programs, the option of program advertisements of the type "pay per view program" (pay-per-view), the option of advertisements of special channels, the option of announcements of musical channels, the option of announcements of programs for adults, or any other suitable option. The highlighted region 612 may be used to indicate the selection of an option by the user on the display 600. In some embodiments of the invention, the decoder 202 (FIG. 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (FIG.?) An order of the user to move the highlighted region 612 within the screen 600 or within any of the screens illustrated in Figures 12-20. In response to the selection, by a user, of the VOD option (video on demand) shown on screen 600 of Figure 12, the interactive guidance application may present the user with a screen such as the 620 screen of Figure 13. As shown, the VOD screen 620 may include various options that allow the user to view advertisements of VOD-type programs organized by different genres. Genre options may include: option 622 for movie listings in alphabetical order, option 624 for new releases, P03 / 057-UVP option 626 of specials, option 628 of choice of programs on cable, option "soon" 630, option 632 for saving movies, option 632 only for adults, option 636 for family, option action 638, option drama 640, the option comedy 642, the option children 644, the option suspense 646, the classic option 648, or any other suitable option. In some embodiments, the different genre options may be supplied-to-order media data, which has been retrieved from a source of data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand which is illustrated in the Figure 1) and then stored in buffer memory. For example, the labels of presentation options and other related information may be buffered when the user accesses the 600 screen (Figure 12) or selects the VOD 612 option, periodically or at other appropriate times. If the user selects, for example, option 622 of movie advertisements in alphabetical order on screen 620, in response to this action the interactive television application may display screen 650 of Figure 14, in which video options They are listed in alphabetical order. As shown, the display 650 may include a display area 652 of an alphabetic section, arrows 654 for an alphabetic section, list arrows 656, movie listings 658 and the region P03 / 057-UVP highlighted 660. During the generation of the displays, the interactive television application can examine its buffer (e.g., memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data of the supplied media Upon request, in this example the video titles on demand, have been stored in buffer memory. For example, if the movie title data is commonly accessed in alphabetical order or is likely to be accessed, the interactive television application layout may have retrieved the data and automatically saved it in buffer when the user accessed screen 620 (Figure 13). In another example, the layout can buffer the first titles (eg, an advertisement page) in each alphabetical section. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. Otherwise, the interactive television application may retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of media data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). In the region 652 the alphabetic section corresponding to the films covered by the screen 650 can be displayed. In some embodiments, the 650 screen can P03 / 057-UVP only part of the video-on-demand offerings are shown, as indicated by arrows 654. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) a user command to navigate to forward or backward in the alphabetical list. Similarly, the decoder 202 may receive from the remote control 214 a user command to navigate through the video advertisements 658 of the video-on-demand type (Figure 14). In some embodiments, the arrangement can retrieve and buffer detailed information of each of the titles displayed on the screen, each time the screen is updated in order to display a different set of titles that are provided on demand. This can allow the layout to display detailed information about the option when the user selects it, without having to wait for the data to be retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand. The user may select a movie title of the video-on-demand type, from the advertisements 658, using the highlighted region 660. In some embodiments, the user may be presented with a screen with a movie of the video-on-demand type, such as the screen 670 which is illustrated in Figure 15. Screen 670 of Figure 15 may include title 672, which may be the title of the selected advertisement of a film of the P03 / 057-UVP video type on demand. The rating 674 may indicate to the user the rating of the movie of the selected video-on-demand type (eg, G, PG, PG-13, etc.) - Broadcast time 676 may indicate the extension of the video type option to selected order, for example in hours and minutes. The cost 678 can indicate the cost of viewing the selected video-on-demand option. In some embodiments, a user can accept the costs and see the selected title, by choosing the "Yes" button 680. Alternatively, the user can desist from requesting the title of the video-on-demand type, by selecting the "No" button 682. In Some embodiments, the user can select an option to preview the selected video-on-demand option (for example, watch a clip, preview, or other promotional segment of the video) before making a decision regarding the purchase . Information zone 684 can provide information related to the selected video-on-demand option, including title, release date, rental period, period in which it can be viewed, film summary, actor / actress names, names of the producers, name of the production studio, or any other suitable information. In some embodiments, the information presented on the screen 670 may be retrieved from the buffer, such that the information related to the selected option may P03 / 057-UVP be presented when the user selects it. The title, the rating, the cost, the broadcast time, the release date, the rental period, the period in which it can be viewed, the summary of the film, the names of actors / actresses, the names of the producers , the name of the production studio, or any other suitable information, can be previously stored in buffer and then retrieved to be presented when the user indicates his desire to see a certain option of video on demand. In this way, the user does not suffer the delays that could be associated with the recovery of the data from a source of media data supplied on demand. In some embodiments, the interactive television application arrangement may combine on-screen advertisements of video-on-demand programs with advertisements of television programs. In the screen 700 of Figure 16, for example, advertisements for 702 programs can be organized by schedules. The interactive television application may display the screen 700 in response, for example, to the selection, by a user, of the "by schedules" option from options 608 of the program advertisements (Figure 12). During the screen generation process, the interactive television application can examine its buffer (e.g., memory 204 (Figure 7) P03 / 057-UVP or the memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data of the media supplied on request, in this example the video-on-demand titles 704, have been stored in buffer memory. For example, if the user commonly accesses the ads corresponding to specific time slots or if the user is likely to access them, and if in those time slots specific VOD titles are going to be promoted, the interactive television application layout You may have retrieved the data and automatically stored it in buffer memory when the user accessed screen 600 (Figure 12) or when the user selected the option "by schedules" 608 (Figure 12) or at some previous time. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. Otherwise, the interactive television application can retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of media data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). The media data not supplied on request, relating to the advertisements of television programs 706, can be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied on request (for example, the source 124 of media data not supplied on demand (FIG. 1)) . In this example, program announcements 706 do not P03 / 057-UVP supplied upon request correspond to programs that can be issued at the time indicated in zone 708 (for example, 12:30 PM in the example of Figure 16). Arrows 710 may indicate to the user that there may be program announcements that are available at other times. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the advertisements offered at different times. Video-on-demand media indicated by program advertisements 704 may be available to be viewed upon request at the time indicated in zone 708, or at any other time, in a true method with means provided upon request. Ads of video-on-demand programs can be provided on screen 700 to promote these offers. There may be more advertisements for television programs and advertisements for video-on-demand programs that enter the 700 screen. Arrows 712 may indicate to the user that there are more advertisements that can be accessed by scrolling. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the program announcement list 702. As the user scrolls through additional pages of ads corresponding to a period of time, or P03 / 057-UVP announcements corresponding to other periods of time, additional announcements of programs that are not provided upon request and program announcements that are provided upon request may be retrieved from the buffer or from a remote server. When the screen 700 or any other screen shown in Figures 12-20 is presented, the interactive television application may continue to play the audio track of the television program or other medium, supplied on demand or not, that is currently tuned . As an alternative, the interactive television application can reduce the length of the video track and display it at the same time as any of the screens. In another alternative, the data supplied on request or the data not supplied on request can be superimposed on top of the video track. Opening a session with the supplied media server or another server might require that the interactive television application use the tuner of the signal decoder, thus losing audio or video. Therefore, it is highly convenient to recover data from the buffer memory for the most common screens, and for any screen that simultaneously displays video and program announcements. On screens that show both ads for programs that are not provided to requested as program announcements on demand, the user does not You could expect to lose the video connection, and even less you might want to suffer a delay in the recovery of the ads for the programs that are provided on demand. Figure 17 shows an illustrative screen 720 of the interactive television application, in which the advertisements 724 of the video-on-demand programs and the 726 advertisements of television programs can be organized according to the "sports" genre, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The interactive television application may display the screen 720 in response to the selection, by a user, of the "sports" option among program announcement options 608, on screen 600 of Figure 12. During the process of screen generation, the interactive television application can examine its buffer memory (for example, memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data of the media supplied on demand, in this example titles 704 video on demand, have been saved in buffer. For example, if the user commonly accesses the ads corresponding to sports media or if the user is likely to access them, the interactive television application provision may have recovered the data and automatically stored them in buffer when the user accessed to screen 600 (Figure 12) or when the user selected the option "sports" 608 (Figure 12) or at some previous time. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. Otherwise, the interactive television application can retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of media data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). The media data not supplied on request, relating to the advertisements of television programs 706, can be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied on request (for example, the source 124 of media data not supplied on demand (FIG. 1)) or from the local buffer. The arrows 730 can indicate that a user can scroll through the schedules to view program announcements. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the program advertisements 722 at different times. In some embodiments, the display 720 may not display all of the 726 television and 724 video-on-demand advertisements available. As indicated by arrows 732, a user can scroll through advertisements for sports programs 722 at a certain time, shows in the time zone, 728.

In embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive commands from the user 214 from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) to scroll through the program advertisements 722. Figure 18 shows an illustrative display 750 of the interactive television application. , wherein the advertisements 754 of the video-on-demand programs and the 756 television program advertisements, corresponding to the combined advertisements 752, are organized according to the genre "movies", in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . The interactive television application may display the screen 750 in response, for example, to the selection, by a user, of the "movies" option among program advertisement options 608, on screen 600 of Figure 12. During the screen generation process, the interactive television application can examine its buffer (e.g., memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data of the media supplied on demand , in this example the titles 754 of video on demand, have been stored in buffer memory. For example, if the user commonly accesses advertisements for movies or if the user is likely to access them ^ the television application provision interactive may have recovered the data and have them automatically stored in buffer when the user accessed screen 600 (Figure 12) or when the user selected the option "movies" 608 (Figure 12) or at some previous time. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. Otherwise, the interactive television application can retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of media data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). The media data not supplied on request, relating to the advertisements of television programs 756, can be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied on demand (for example, the source 124 of media data not supplied on request (FIG. 1)) or from the buffer memory. The combined ads 752 can be organized according to the schedule. Zone 758 may indicate the time at which the programs included in the combined advertisements 752 may be issued. Arrows 760 may indicate that a user may scroll through schedules to view combined advertisements for different schedules. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) user commands to view combined advertisements 752 for different times indicated in the area 758. In In some embodiments, it may be that screen 756 does not show all 756 television and video-on-demand 754 advertisements that are available for the time indicated in zone 758. Arrows 762 may indicate that there are more advertisements. available. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the combined advertisements 752. Figure 19 shows an illustrative display 800 of the interactive television application, wherein the advertisements 804 of the video-on-demand programs and the 806 television program advertisements, corresponding to the combined advertisements 802, are organized according to the "children's" genre, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention . The interactive television application may display the screen 800 in response, for example, to the selection, by a user, of the "child" genre option among program announcement options 608, on the 600 screen of the Figure 12. During the screen generation process, the interactive television application can examine its buffer (e.g., memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data from the media supplied on request, in this example the titles 804 video on demand, have been P03 / 057-UVP saved in buffer memory. For example, if the user commonly accesses advertisements for children's programs or if the user is likely to access them, the interactive television application provision may have retrieved the data and automatically stored it in buffer when the user accessed screen 600 (Figure 12) or when the user selected the option "for children" 608 (Figure 12) or at some previous time. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. Otherwise, the interactive television application can retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of media data supplied on demand (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). The media data not supplied on request, relating to the advertisements of television programs 806, can be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied upon request (eg, the source 124 of media data not supplied on request ( 1)) or from the buffer memory. The 802 combined ads can be organized according to the schedule. Zone 808 may indicate the time at which the programs included in the combined advertisements 802 that are displayed on screen 800 may be broadcast. Arrows 810 may indicate that a user can P03 / 057-UVP Scroll through the schedules to see different ads combined. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the times indicated in the zone 808 to view different combined advertisements. In some embodiments, the arrows 812 may indicate that there are more advertisements for television and video-on-demand programs that can be viewed by the user. In some embodiments, the decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands from the user to scroll through the combined advertisements 802. The announcements present on the screens (for example, on the screens that are illustrated in Figures 12-20) provided by the interactive television application arrangement may have a color code or be visually distinguished in some other way, in order to clarify what type of programming is being offered. For example, on screen 800 of Figure 19, the video on demand options 804 may be red to indicate that the options are movies, and the 806 television program options may be displayed in orange, to indicate that the Options are normal television programs for children. Figure 20 shows a recommended screen 820 that can be provided to promote programs of the type P03 / 057-UVP video on demand and television programs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The interactive television application may present a screen such as the screen 820 of Figure 20 in response, for example, to the selection / by a user, of option 628 of choice of cable programs, in accordance with the Figure 13. During the screen generation process, the interactive television application can examine its buffer (e.g., memory 204 (Figure 7) or memory 302 (Figure 8)) to determine whether the necessary data of the supplied media Upon request, in this example, video-on-demand titles have been stored in buffer. For example, if the user commonly accesses the ads corresponding to the choice of cable programming or if the user is likely to access them, the interactive television application arrangement may have recovered the data and automatically stored it in buffer memory when the user accessed screen 620 (Figure 13) or when the user selected the option "cable programming choice" 628 (Figure 13) or at some other previous time. When the data has been buffered, the interactive television application can retrieve the information to present it. If not, the interactive television application can retrieve the media data supplied on demand from a source of P03 / 057-UVP media data supplied on request (e.g. source 128 of media data supplied on demand (Figure 1)). Media data not supplied on demand, relating to television program advertisements, may be retrieved from a source of media data not supplied on demand (eg, source 124 of media data not supplied on demand (Figure 1). )) or buffer memory. The screen 820 of Figure 20 may contain the cable programming choice options 822, which are programming announcements that are being promoted by the operator of a distribution facility (eg, the distribution facility 116 illustrated in FIGS. Figures 2-6) or another appropriate entity. The operator may wish to promote popular offers in terms of video on demand, programs on special channels, paid programming, special events, normal television programs, or any appropriate programming. Combined 822 ads can be organized according to the schedule. Zone 826 may indicate the schedule of advertisements 822. Arrows 828 may indicate that a user may scroll through schedules to view different combined advertisements. Arrows 830 may indicate that there are more advertisements available in addition to those shown on screen 820. In some embodiments, decoder 202 (Figure 7) may receive from the P03 / 057-UVP remote control 214 (Figure 7) commands the user to scroll through the combined advertisements 822, using the highlighted region 824. In any of the screens illustrated in Figures 12-20, icons may be incorporated into the advertisements. As illustrated in Figure 20, a check icon 832 can be used to indicate that a payment program of the type "pay per view program" (pay-per-vie) has been requested or that a reminder has been set for a program of that guy. As illustrated in Figure 20, a verification icon can be used to indicate that a video-on-demand program has been purchased. The lock icon 834 can be used to indicate when a program has been blocked using the parental control functions provided by the programming guide. When the user selects "Search" from program advertisement options 608, on screen 600 of Figure 12, the interactive television application may allow the user to perform a program advertisement search, based on keywords, the title of the program. program, actors, etc. The interactive television application can search both data not supplied on demand and data supplied on demand that correspond to media that meet the specified search criteria. The results of both searches can be combined in a single screen, and the titles P03 / 057-UVP of both types of media can be intermixed. If desired, the interactive television application could limit the search to the data that is currently stored in buffer so as to allow a faster search. As an alternative, the user can be given the option to search either only in the buffer or to search all available data in the buffer, the media server provided on request and the media server not provided on demand. Thus, provisions and methods have been provided for recovering data from media not supplied upon request and media supplied on demand. Those skilled in the art will note that the present invention can be implemented by means of other embodiments than those described herein, which are presented for illustrative rather than limiting purposes, and the present invention is limited only by the following claims .

P03 / 057-UVP

Claims (79)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for recovering data for use in an interactive television application arrangement in which a source of media data not supplied upon request provides media data not supplied upon request and a source of media data supplied on demand provides data on media supplied on request, where the data sources of the media supplied on request and the means not supplied on demand are separated, characterized in that it comprises: recovering, from the source of data of media not supplied upon request, the data of the media not supplied upon request; automatically recover, from the source of media data supplied upon request, the data of the media supplied on request; automatically store the media data supplied on demand in buffer; displaying the data of the media provided on request, coming from the buffer memory, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media supplied upon request; and displaying the data of the means not supplied upon request, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media not supplied upon request. P03 / 057-UVP
2. 2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data not supplied on demand, which have been retrieved, are television program announcement data.
3. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which have been retrieved, are data of the sort.
4. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is software data of the interactive television application.
5. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is video ad data on demand.
6. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is audio ad data on demand.
7. 7. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is interactive video game advertisement data.
8. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which has been recovered, is time data.
9. 9. The method of claim 1 ^ character Zctclo because the media data supplied on demand, which has been recovered, are sports statistics.
10. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the data of supplied media on demand, which have been retrieved, are data from the stock exchange 11.
11. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data from media not supplied upon request.
12. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the media supplied on request.
13. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises retrieving data from media supplied on demand, from the source of media data supplied on request, in response to the selection, by a user, of an announcement of a medium supplied upon request.
14. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises determining whether the data of the media supplied on request is stored in a buffer memory.
15. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises determining whether the media data supplied on demand needs to be retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand.
16. 16, The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises determining whether a connection exists P03 / 057-UVP between the interactive television application arrangement and the source of media data supplied upon request.
17. 17. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises establishing a connection between the interactive television application arrangement and the media data source supplied on demand.
18. 18. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises retrieving data from media supplied on demand from multiple sources of media data supplied on demand.
19. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises buffering the media data supplied on demand from multiple sources of media data supplied on demand.
20. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises simultaneously displaying media data not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand.
21. 21. A provision for implementing the method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: means for recovering, from the source of media data not supplied upon request, the data of the means not supplied upon request; means to recover automatically, from the source of P03 / 057-UVP media data supplied upon request, the data of the media supplied on request; means for automatically buffering the data of the media supplied on request; means for displaying the data of the media provided on request, coming from the buffer memory, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media supplied on request; and means for displaying the data of the media not supplied on request, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media not supplied upon request.
22. 22. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the non-supplied-upon-order media data retrieved are data from television program lists.
23. 23. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the retrieved supplied-to-order media data is gender data.
24. 24. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is software data of the interactive television application.
25. 25. An action in accordance with the claim 21, characterized in that the supplied media data Upon request, which have been recovered, are video ad data on demand.
26. 26. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is audio ad data on demand.
27. 27. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is interactive video game advertisement data.
28. 28. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been recovered, are time data.
29. 29. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been recovered, are sports statistical data.
30. 30. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which have been recovered, are data from the val- ves bag.
31. 31. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises means for providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the means i
32. 32. An arrangement according to the claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises means for providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the media supplied on request.
33. 33. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises means for recovering media data supplied on request, from the source of media data supplied on request, in response to the selection, by a user, of a announcement of a medium supplied on request.
34. 34. An arrangement in accordance with the claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises means for determining whether the data of the media supplied on request are stored in a buffer memory.
35. 35. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises means for determining whether the media data supplied on demand needs to be retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand.
36. 36. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises means for determining whether there is a connection between the interactive television application arrangement and the source of media data supplied on demand.
37. 37. A provision according to claim rr T. »-., ¾ (i ( establish a connection between the application provision interactive television and the source of media data supplied on request.
38. 38. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises means for recovering media data supplied on request from multiple sources of media data supplied on request.
39. 39. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises means for storing data or media supplied on demand from multiple sources of media data supplied on request.
40. 40. An arrangement according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises means for simultaneously displaying media data not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand.
41. 41. A provision for implementing the method of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: a communication device for communicating with the data source3 of supplied media upon request and with the media data source not supplied upon request; a buffer memory; a visual presentation device; a device for data entry by the user; a control circuit programmed to: directing the communication device to recover, from the source of data of means not supplied upon request, the data of the means not supplied on request; automatically directing the communication device to retrieve, from the source of media data supplied upon request, the data of the media supplied on request; automatically store the media data supplied on demand in buffer; in response to the reception, from the device for entry of data by the user, of an indication of the user to access at least the data of the supplied media upon request, to direct the visual presentation device to display the data of the means supplied on request, which are stored in the buffer memory; and in response to the reception, from the device for data entry by the user, of an indication of the user to access at least the data of the means not supplied upon request, to direct the visual presentation device to display the data of the media not supplied upon request.
42. 42. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data does not television programs.
43. 43. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the retrieved supplied on-demand media data is gender data.
44. 44. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is data of the software of the interactive television application.
45. 45. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which has been retrieved, is video ad data on demand.
46. 46. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is audio ad data on demand.
47. 47. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been retrieved, is interactive video game advertisement data.
48. 48. An arrangement in accordance with the claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been recovered, are time data.
49. 49. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been retrieved, are statistical data. sports
50. 50. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been recovered, are data from the stock exchange.
51. 51. An arrangement in accordance with the claim 41, characterized in that it also comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the means not supplied upon request.
52. 52. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that it further comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the media supplied on request.
53. 53. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits determine whether the media data supplied on demand are stored in the buffer memory.
54. 54. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits determine whether the media data supplied on request needs to be retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand.
55. 55. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits determine whether there is a connection between the communication device and the supplied media data source. upon request.
56. 56. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits establish a connection between the communication device and the media data source supplied on demand.
57. 57. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits retrieve media data supplied on demand from multiple sources of media data on demand using the communications device
58. 58. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits store data of media supplied on demand from multiple media data sources supplied on demand in the buffer.
59. 59. An arrangement according to claim 41, characterized in that the control circuits simultaneously display media data not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand in the display device.
60. 60. A computer readable medium for retrieving data for use in an interactive television application arrangement in which a source of media data not supplied upon request provides media data not supplied to a tfe source. media data supplied on demand provides data of media supplied on request, where the media data sources supplied on request and not supplied on demand are separated, where the medium is encoded with instructions that can be read by computer to implement the method according to any of claims 1 to Characterized in that it comprises: recovering, from the source of data of means not supplied upon request, the data of the means not supplied on request; automatically recover, from the source of media data supplied upon request, the data of the media supplied on request; automatically store the media data supplied on demand in buffer; displaying the data of the media provided on request, coming from the buffer memory, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media supplied upon request; and displaying the data of the means not supplied upon request, in response to an indication, by the user, of accessing at least the data of the media not supplied upon request.
61. 61. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data does not add recovered, are program ad data TV .
62. 62. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which have been recovered, are gender data,
63. 63. A means that can be read by computer, of according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which has been recovered, is data of the software of the interactive television application.
64. 64. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which has been recovered, is video ad data on demand.
65. 65. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which has been recovered, is audio ad data on demand.
66. 66. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which has been recovered, is interactive video game advertisement data.
67. 67. A medium that can be read by computer, according to the claim, media data supplied on demand, which have recovered, they are data of the time.
68. 68. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on request, which have been recovered, are sports statistical data.
69. 69. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that the media data supplied on demand, which have been recovered, are data from the stock exchange
70. 70. A medium that can be read by computer , according to claim 61, characterized in that it also comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the means not supplied upon request.
71. 71. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that it also comprises providing metadata, simultaneously with the data of the media supplied on request.
72. 72. A computer-readable medium according to claim 61, characterized in that it further comprises retrieving data from media supplied on request, from the source of media data supplied on request, in response to the selection, by a user, of an advertisement of a medium supplied upon request.
73. 73. A medium that can be read by computer, It also includes determining if the data of the media P03 / 057-UVP supplied on request are stored in buffer memory.
74. 74. A computer-readable medium according to claim 61, characterized in that it further comprises determining whether the media data supplied on request needs to be retrieved from the source of media data supplied on demand.
75. 75. A computer-readable medium according to claim 61, characterized in that it further comprises determining whether there is a connection between the interactive television application arrangement and the source of media data supplied on demand.
76. 76. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that it also comprises establishing a connection between the interactive television application arrangement and the media data source supplied on demand.
77. 77. A computer-readable medium, according to claim 61, characterized in that it further comprises retrieving data from media supplied on demand from multiple sources of media data supplied on demand.
78. 78. A means that can be read by computer, according to claim 61, characterized in that it also comprises buffering the data of media supplied on request from multiple sources. P03 / 057-UVP media data sources supplied on request.
79. 79. A computer-readable medium according to claim 61, characterized in that it also comprises simultaneously displaying media data not supplied upon request and media data supplied on demand. RF, RUMEN provide provisions and methods to recover data from media ::: no 31.1m.i11 i: ..; ti adn: -; , / j could and gives or of supplying means; upon request, having the data provided by separate data sources. The data of the media supplied n order can aor. airiictcenados in memory i n o rrnedia in order to reduce the advances of the i i 6n and the charge on 1; ¡r; cj de-; dist.r iJoution. P03 / 057-UVP