AU2006220371A1 - Apparatus, Systems and Methods for the Control and Management of Displayed Content - Google Patents

Description

A.

o o oNO 0 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Apparatus, Systems and Methods for the Control and Management of Displayed Content Applicant: Mobilesoft (Aust) Pty Ltd The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 T.\palens\782823 (18-09-OG) formn.doc 2 IN Apparatus, Systems and Methods for the Control and Management of Displayed Content The present invention relates to apparatus, systems and methods for the 00 (o control and management of displayed content.

Display screens, such as televisions and computer monitors, are allpervasive, and are found in the home, at work, and in retail, gaming and social establishments. They may display standard television and video images, as cwell as simple information screens that may merely comprise textual data or 0 10 static images. Contemporary display systems can provide a content-rich c environment that has the possibility of enhancing many types of activity.

The present invention aims to provide novel apparatus, systems and methods for the control and management of displayed content, which in their various embodiments may provide a number of advantages.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for the control of displayed content, the apparatus receiving two or more content feeds, monitoring for one or more events related to the content in one or more of the feeds, and providing a display signal to a display screen based on the feeds, wherein the display signal is controlled based on the monitored events.

The present invention also provides a display system including a plurality of display content feeds, a display screen and a controller for controlling an image displayed on the screen, the image being based on one or more of the display content feeds, and the controller controlling the displayed image based on one or more monitored events relating to the content of one or more of the feeds.

The present invention may further provide a method for the display of content from a number of content feeds, the method including the steps of receiving two or more content feeds, monitoring for one or more events related to the content in one or more of the feeds, providing a display signal to a display device based on the feeds, and controlling the display signal based on the monitored events.

The present invention may allow for appropriate automatic display of content based on events relating to the feed content, so as to provide a visually enhanced experience. The feeds may relate to proceedings in relation to which W \provlMSDiplaySysem doc N the user wishes to interact, and the display may facilitate and encourage this interaction.

For example, the proceedings may relate to wagering and gaming events such as horse or dog race meets, and the apparatus may be configured to 00 automatically switch between race feeds based on race states. This then allows those placing bets at remote locations to watch the races in an appropriate manner, even when the races are delivered to the remote locations Sby different signal providers and on different display channels.

c For example, if one company provides a television feed for one set of a 10 races or type of race, and another company provides a televised feed for N another set of races or type of race, this can cause problems for those wishing to follow both races or both types of race, as they must constantly switch between the appropriate television channels, and must do so at the right times.

This can be problematic for betting establishments, as staff will often be busy at precisely the time that a switch-over is required, e.g. taking bets at the start of a race or paying out at the end of a race. Therefore, even though staff may only need to change channels for one monitor using a remote control, this may still cause problems vis-a-vis timing of the switchover, ability to physically switch to different channels due to locating the remote control and lack of a clear line-of-sight between the betting counters and the monitors, and mistakes made in channel selection in the rush. These problems are of course magnified the more feed channels and televisions that must be dealt with.

The present invention may instead provide an automatic event-driven switching of channels, which can remove the responsibility for changing feeds from the venue staff, and thus allow the staff to concentrate on their core duties.

The present apparatus may monitor event data that is provided separate from the feeds, e.g. through an associated data system, e.g. a data processing and/or communications system, e.g. through a betting system that betting venues use to lay bets and the like. For example, the apparatus may monitor for "start of race", "end of race" or "no more bets" data signals, and may switch between race feeds based on this data. The apparatus could also use data provided by one or more of the feeds themselves.

The apparatus may determine when and how to switch feeds based on suitable rules or relations stored in an associated memory. For example, when W\prov a \MSDispIaySystern doc N a particular race or race type is due to start, the device may determine that it 0should switch to a feed that is to televise that race or races of that type, so as to provide those wishing to bet with images of the race preparations. If however the apparatus has not yet received a signal that a race associated with a 00oo currently displayed feed channel is finished, it may delay the feed switch until after such a finish signal is received. This would for example prevent switching to another channel in the middle of a race. Where two races are in preparation, the apparatus may switch between them in a suitable manner. Priorities may cbe assigned to event types "race start" or race stop") and to content types 0 10 regional racing) so as to assess the need for switching.

SThe apparatus may provide multi-content display images, e.g. split screen displays, picture-in-picture displays, overlaid image displays or data casts, so as to satisfy the need to show two or more items of content at the same time.

The apparatus may combine an integrated unit that includes both a feed receiver and a switching controller. It may also be implemented as a receiver, e.g. a multi-feed digital decoder/tuner, and a separate controller that determines the required content to be displayed based on the monitored events and that instructs the receiver accordingly with regard to the feed or feeds to supply to one or more associated display screens.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may be implemented as a set of receivers, e.g. demodulators/tuners, that receive content signals, and that each output a signal for a single channel to a switching control. The switching control passes one of the single channel input signals to one or more display screens.

In this embodiment, the switching control may be a simple device that may merely switch between the input signals on the basis of instructions from a controller (such as a network device discussed above), and has the advantage of using the service providers' demodulators. It may also comprise the switching device and the controller functions. The provision of a simple switching circuit receiving signal channel feeds can provide a particularly simple add-on display control system. To provide more channel control, the controller, e.g. within or separate to the switching control, may also include functionality to mimic a remote control features of the receiver's, e.g. content service provider's demodulators. This then allows for automatic switching of the channel sent W \proaASOisplaySysern doc IN from a demodulator to the switching device, and so allows for greater flexibility in the automatic channel selection.

Automatic channel selection through the use only of a device that determines desired display content and then mimics the remote control of a 00 display screen would also be a possibility, but would require consistency of display screen types and control signalling or the use of generic or multiple and Rdifferent mimicking controls for each venue.

The apparatus may be provided at each individual venue or may be provided remote from the venues. In one embodiment, a multi-feed receiver, or S 10 single feed receivers and a switching device, may be provided at a venue and a Scontroller may be provided remote from the receiver or receivers, e.g. so as to service a number of receivers, e.g. through instructing them over a suitable communications network, such as a LAN, WAN or the Internet. In another embodiment, the whole apparatus could be remote from a venue. In this latter case, the content of the feeds input to the apparatus could be re-broadcast to the venue monitors in a suitably transmitted display signal on a preset broadcast channel or channels. The display screens could then display content from this channel. Suitable encryption may then be required to maintain the integrity of the signal against copyists.

The apparatus may receive regular updates to the criteria/rules for switching between feeds. The rules may for example be supplied to venue based controllers from a central control, e.g. through a suitable communications network, such as the Internet. This allows the rules to be updated regularly, e.g. for each day's racing fixtures or to reflect a venue's changing needs.

The feeds may take a number of different forms, not all of which need to have events associated with them. Thus, some feeds may be used to provide fill content whilst no display of racing or the like is needed or is not available.

The feeds may be live, delayed or pre-recorded television feeds, or could be computer-generated feeds, e.g. relating to computer gaming system displays, such as Keno or bingo. The feeds may be encrypted or free-to-air, and may take any other suitable form. If some are encrypted, the receiver may include suitable decryption protocols.

W :provBMSDisplaySyaem doc IN The feeds could be sourced from local or remote content storage, and 0 0could be digital content stored in suitable digital storage, such as a hard disc, DVD or the like, as well as in analogue form.

The apparatus may determine the occurrence of a monitored event by 00 monitoring data from a data system, e.g. management, processing, and/or communications systems, associated with the subject matter of one or more of Rthe feeds. Thus, for example, where the feeds relate to race meets, the data management system may be a betting system that betting establishments use to lay bets and receive odds and the like from a central control. In one C 10 preferred form, a feed switching controller is provided by an intelligent network Sdevice, e.g. a router, switcher or gateway device, which can be programmed to monitor the data that it switches over the management system, and that can run a decision process to determine whether the data indicates that an event has occurred.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides display control apparatus including: a receiver for receiving feeds from two or more content sources, including a feed from televised proceedings; and a monitor for monitoring for one or more events related to the proceedings; wherein the receiver automatically switches between the feeds based on the occurrence of one or more of the monitored events.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides display control apparatus including: a receiver for receiving feeds from two or more content sources, one being a live feed of televised proceedings; and a controller for monitoring for the occurrence of one or more events related to the proceedings by monitoring data provided through another system, e.g. a (digital) feed from an outside source, e.g. a wagering or gaming system, associated with the televised gaming proceedings; wherein the controller switches between the feeds based on the occurrence of one or more of the monitored events.

The present invention may also be seen as supplementing a data system, e.g. data management/processing/communications system, with a display system that displays appropriate content to users of the system based on significant events relating to an enterprise, e.g. a business process, associated with the data system. This can have the advantage that transaction W provs\MSDiplaySystem doc IN data and the like can be transferred efficiently over data communication lines, whilst display content, which may be data dense, may be transmitted (-i separately, e.g. on higher bandwidth lines, e.g. on satellite or other digital feeds.

The displayed content may be synchronised with separate transaction events of 00oo the data system or associated enterprise.

This can allow for more content rich displays than might otherwise be provided by transmitting content using the data communication lines, whilst also ensuring that suitable content is played.

(-i In embodiments of the present invention, the displayed content may relate to advertisements or other information that can be tailored to specific circumstances. For example, in a retail establishment, advertisements may be displayed based on the current status of stock as monitored by a stock control process. In this example, the display content may be stored as a number of separate content portions, e.g. a set of advertisements each relating to a particular product or the like, and these may be supplied to a display in accordance with a set playlist. A controller may then alter this playlist based on events monitored by the stock control system, e.g. the receipt of a large supply of a product may prompt advertisements to the product to have greater priority, e.g. displayed immediately or more often, whilst if some stock has run out, then no advertisements may be shown to that product or advertisements to specific alternatives to that product may be shown instead.

Accordingly, the present invention may be seen from a further aspect as providing a display system including a plurality of sources of display content, a controller for integrating content from the plurality of sources, and a display screen for displaying the integrated content, wherein the controller monitors a data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and provides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

The controller may be formed in part from a communications network unit of the data system. The controller may modify a playlist that determines display of content from the content sources on the display screen, or may switch between two or more data content feeds.

The present invention also extends to apparatus for the control of displayed content, the apparatus accessing data content from two or more W AprovsaMSDieplaySyalem.doc N sources and integrating the data into an output content display signal to a (display screen, wherein the apparatus monitors a data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and provides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of 00 monitored events.

The present invention further extends to a method of controlling the display of content from a number of content sources, the method including the Ssteps of: accessing data content from two or more content sources, integrating Sthe data into an output content display signal to a display screen, monitoring a C 10 data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and 0 c-I providing content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides a display system including a plurality of sources of display content, a controller for integrating content from the plurality of sources, and a display screen for displaying the integrated content, wherein the controller monitors a data system associated with an enterprise for the occurrence of events of the enterprise related to the display content, and provides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

The present invention can be seen as integrating and displaying together or separately content from various sources, the integration be based on events associated with the displayed content or the location in which the content is being displayed or some other monitored event with which the display is associated.

The present invention may advantageously be implemented as a retrofit/up-grade to existing data systems.

It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features mentioned of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below, as appropriate.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

W:\provaMSDisplaySy.ten doc IN In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a control algorithm that may be run by a 00oo controller of the Fig. 1 system; Figure 3 is a block-diagram of a more general content display system; R Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another content display embodiment; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram similar to Fig. 1, but showing an alternative embodiment of content display control apparatus.

SReferring to Fig. 1, a display and wagering system 10 is shown for servicing a plurality of remote betting venues The actions/proceedings from a first race meeting A are broadcast live by a first content/television provider, e.g. via a satellite connection 30, whilst the proceedings from a second race meeting B are broadcast live by a second content/television provider, e.g. via a satellite connection Data relating to wagering and race information, e.g. course condition, horse and rider history, odds and the like, may be compiled and determined by a central control 50 that may include e.g. a wagering information unit 60 for providing general wagering information and a wagering engine 70 for receiving and managing bets and assigning wins. Portions of this data, e.g. the general wagering information, odds and the like, may also be broadcast to the venues e.g. via a satellite connection 80, either separately to the image signals from the meetings A and B or included in the same signals. For example, the central control 50 may receive image signals from the meetings A and/or B and then retransmit them with added data.

Those wishing to wager on a race may do so at the track or throughout the various venues 20. Cashiers enter bets through wagering/betting terminals that are connected to the central betting control 50 via a communications network 100, such as the Internet or a private network such as a WAN or LAN.

The system includes appropriate network devices 110 and 120, such as routers/switchers/gateways, which control the flow of data across the network, and can run applications and the like. These network devices may for example W:\provlASDisplaySystem doc N execute various protocols and translate between different data formats and protocols so as to ensure compatibility between components of the network.

The betting terminals 90 will communicate with the central control 50 to advise on bets placed, and the central control 50 will calculate and assign wins, 00 generate odds and the like, and issue commands and race status data, such as "no more bets", "race start", "race finish" and the like.

Although a betting system could function based on this structure alone, the addition of display screens 130, e.g. televisions or other types of monitor, to show images from the actual race meetings A and B provides a significant S 10 increase in interest, engenders excitement and provides information on race Nconditions, horse appearance and the like to those betting.

These screens 130 would normally each be associated with a receiver, such as a tuner or decoder, which receives and decodes a signal from one or the other of the content provider services. This requires a separate screen and receiver for each content provider service, and the need to continually show both feeds.

Alternatively, a screen 130 receives content for both race meets A and B through a single tuner/decoder, e.g. on different channels of the same content provider service signal. This however also creates problems due to the need to switch channels at appropriate times, and is compounded by the fact that channel/station switching is often needed at the start of a race or the like, which is when staff are often fully occupied with the taking of final bets.

In accordance with the present embodiment, each venue 20 includes apparatus 140,150 for switching automatically between various race-meet feeds 160. These feeds may be separate signals from different content providers or separate channels on the same content provider signal. The switching is controlled based on events associated with the proceedings at the racemeetings A and B, so that the embodiment can be seen in one aspect as providing automatic switching of the displayed content of multiple feeds based on an events-driven control associated with events occurring in relation to the subject matter of the feeds.

The switching apparatus may take any suitable form. In the shown embodiment, this switching apparatus includes a multi-channel tuner/decoder 140 and a controller 150, the latter being provided by suitable programming of W Apov.\MSDislaySystem.doc IDthe network device 110. The apparatus could however be provided as a single device. (-i e( The tuner/decoder 140 receives the race feeds 160 through the same or a) separate service provider signals, and passes one or the other of them to the 00 screens 130 based on instructions from the controller 150. The controller 150 monitors the betting information and wagering information from the central R control 50 (and any other supplemental information deemed necessary), and instructs the tuner/decoder 140 based on events relating to the two racemeetings A and B and on sets of instructions and rules stored in an associated C 10 memory or database 170.

The rules for switching may take a number of forms, and events may be prioritised so that one event takes precedence over another. For example, a race in progress may take priority over a race about to begin, and switching to a new race may be prevented until a currently displayed race is finished. Also, if two races clash, one race may take precedence over another. Priority may therefore be based on the type of event and/or the type of content.

Time-switching may also be a part of the system, e.g. to change feeds based on a racing schedule or the like. This may be overridden by eventsswitching, to take account of changes in schedules and the like.

In venues 2 that utilise more than one screen 130, the database 170 may include information as to which screens should receive which content. For example one group of screens may receive content from a first set of feeds, whilst another group may receive content from a different set of feeds. For example, one screen 130 may be dedicated to regional racing content.

The supply of different content to different screens 130 may be achieved by the receiver providing several outputs (physical or virtual) and by associating each screen 130 or group of screens with a particular output channel. For example, each screen 130 may be associated with a particular output port of the receiver 140 or a particular signal channel from a single port.

The present system releases venue staff to continue to serve customers, free from the need to control the racing screen 130. It also allows customers to watch the appropriate action from the race meetings without disruptions due to staff mistakes or the like.

W :proVSDisplaySytom.doc IStaff may, however, override the automatic switching control, should for example the control malfunction or should the venue require display of another Sfeed. This may be achieved by limiting the switched content to one or more dedicated channels of each screen. The venue staff can then switch to those 00oo channels when automatic switching is required, and can switch to standard channels when an override is required. The feeds that are switched between Smay be repeated in their own separate channels so that the override may be to this content.

SThe prioritisation and other switching rules may be varied by updates from the central control 50. These changes may e.g. reflect daily changes in N the organisation of races or a change in how a venue wishes to access the feeds.

In another embodiment, the switching controller 150 may be provided at the central control 50 or at a network level that oversees a number of venues. It may then send instructions to the receivers 140 via the communications network 100. The switching controller could for example be implemented by program code in a network device 120 of the central control, which would then have a database 230 of venues and screens and the rules for switching for each of them.

The content switching may take a number of forms, e.g. a screen may switch completely between feeds, or may be provided with content from two or more feeds, e.g. overlaid or as a split-screen or as a picture-in-picture effect.

These images may be generated in the tuner 140 prior to supply to a screen 130, so that the screen merely displays the content as if a normal fullscreen picture. Alternatively, the necessary feeds may be supplied to a screen 130 and the screen 130 may then appropriately combine and display the content, e.g. through a screen-generated split screen, overlay or picture-in-picture effect.

The screen's display format may be set beforehand, e.g. as a picture-in-picture display, or it may receive instructions from the switching apparatus 140,150, e.g. by the simulation of the screen's remote control.

The tuner/decoder may receive other feed signals apart from those from the race-meetings. For example, the tuner may receive a feed 180 from a gaming system 190, e.g. from a Keno or Bingo system or the like. In the same manner as with the race betting system, the gaming system 190 may link with W :pr ov SDisplaySyst e doc IN the venue cashier terminals 90 via the communications network 100, so as to manage bets, e.g. the picking of Keno numbers, bingo cards or the like, and the various outcomes may be provided as both data via the data communications network 100 and as displayed results via the broadcast feed 180 e.g. from a 00 satellite connection 200.

This arrangement for example allows the displayed gaming results to be rich in content, e.g. provided as images of live draws or enhanced displays with video and the like, whilst not requiring the transfer of large amounts of data on cthe bet management communications network 100. It also enables a single screen 130 to display both racing content and gaming content without conflict, c e.g. with gaming content shown at appropriate points in the race coverage, e.g.

between races.

Generally, gaming content may be given lower priority than racing content, as it may be delayed without undue concern. Racing content may also be delayed if necessary to avoid a conflict, but is preferred where possible to be live. When a delay is necessary, the tuner may buffer or otherwise store the content temporarily, e.g. in a local storage device, such as a hard disc.

The present embodiment also allows other feeds to be provided, such as entertainment, advertising, general information or the like, without the danger of missing vital events in the proceedings of most interest, i.e. the racing content.

These other feeds may be based on e.g. local data sources 210, e.g. stored on video, DVD or a hard disc, or remote data sources 220 provided over the communications network 100. It may also be that these other data sources will sometimes take precedence over the televised signal, and switching rules may reflect this.

Fig. 2 shows one possible flowchart for the control of displayed content.

Thus, an embodiment of the present invention may be put into effect by the controller 150 running software that incorporates a subroutine executing in the manner shown in the flowchart or in some other similar manner.

At step S1, the controller 150 monitors traffic on the betting management system to await a monitored event. These monitored events may be listed in the database 170. On occurrence of a monitored event, this is logged in step S2, and, in step S3, the system calls a set of rules associated with a first screen or group of screens. The system then determines in step S4 whether a change WAp roalMSDisplaySystAem.doc N in content feed is required based on the screen rules and the logged events. If a change is required, then, at step S5, the controller 150 issues a change command to the receiver 140, e.g. to change the feed passing to a particular output port associated with the first screen. If no change is required, or once 00O the change instruction has issued, the controller determines at step S6 whether there are any further screens or screen groups to check, and, if so, returns to step S3 and, if not, returns to step S1.

The routine may vary from the form shown, and may include other steps, cas required.

C 10 Fig. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment that has more general Napplication. In Fig. 3, the system 300 includes a set of content sources 310 that may take any suitable form and may be provided in one or more of a number of different formats, a controller 320 for switching between the content sources 310 and possibly providing any necessary format conversions, and a display 330 for displaying the content. The controller 320 receives event signals 340 that could relate to either the subject matter of the content or to a change in status of the venue at which the display is provided or could relate to a change in status over a number of associated venues or a network. The events may be captured through monitoring of a data system, e.g. control, processing, and/or communications systems, associated with the venues. Based on the event signals, the content controller 320 integrates content from the sources 310 and displays them separately or together on the display screens 330. The switching between content may be carried out based on rules and other switching criteria in a database 350.

The system 300 may be used in a number of different implementations, for example whenever it is desired to display context-specific information. The system may be used in betting and wagering systems, such as discussed above, and may be used in advertising displays, e.g. in retail establishments, where the display system may be coupled to the stock control system. In this case, events such as changes in stock, e.g. new stock, use-by-date approaching, or out-of-stock signals, and amounts of stock, may be used to drive the advertisements displayed. For example, if a product line is out-ofstock, advertisements to that product are prevented from being displayed, and possibly also an alternative to the out-of-stock product is provided instead.

W AprovsaMSDiplaySystem doc IProduct priorities may be varied, e.g. to ensure that a product obtains greater Cexposure than another or the like.

e In such systems, the content may be provided e.g. as one or more continuous feeds or may be obtained as separate content elements that are run o00 together according to a playlist, with the playlist being modified, as necessary.

Other systems would be the provision of information, such as stock Smarket trading, with events including the commencement of trading of a stock, the passing of a price or other trading threshold and the like.

c Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a further embodiment in which an C 10 independent display system or sub-system 400 is integrated with a main data c system 410 that may be associated with an enterprise, e.g. some type of business process.

The data system 410 may e.g. provide various forms of data control and transaction control, and, for example may be a betting or gaming network or a stock control network or the like. A plurality of identifiable events 420 may take place in relation to the system 410, and the system 410 may include a communications network 430 over which data is transferred between a number of system nodes 440, that may include various network devices 440a and terminal devices 440b.

The display system 400 monitors for events 420, and automatically integrates the output from a number of display content sources 450 using a controller 460 that supplies selected content to one or more displays 470 on the basis of the monitored events 420.

The display system 410 thus complements the data system 410, and is able to provide context-specific information to the environment of the display screens that is relevant to situations e.g. pertaining at the screen venues.

The controller 460 may in some embodiments be provided partly in the data system 400 through the programming of a network device 440a or a terminal 440b to monitor the data and issue commands to a switching unit in the place of the controller 460.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment, similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with similar devices provided with the same reference numerals.

This embodiment utilises a number of separate receivers 410, e.g.

demodulators, for each content provider's signal 160. These receivers 410 W\provmMSDisplaySystendoc 16 Ieach provide a single channel output that is fed to a switching device 420 associated with one or more display screens 130. The switching device 420 is e controlled by a switching controller 150, which again can be a network device of the wagering system that is programmed to monitor the data on the system and 00 determine when selected events occur and whether content change is required.

The switching device 420 in this case merely switches its output between one of the single channel inputs, and does not include multi-tuner functionality or the tc, ability to generate picture-in-picture signals or the like. It may however still c receive feeds from other sources, such as a gaming feed or a local or remote source 210, 220 of some other description. In order to increase the number of c service provider 160 channels that may be switched between, the switching controller 150 (or switching device 420) may also include functionality to mimic remote control signals of the receivers 410, so as to change the single channel output to a different channel.

It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the present invention, and that, in the light of the above teachings, the present invention may be implemented in software, firmware and/or hardware in a variety of manners as would be understood by the skilled person.

W:\rp MSDplaySyslem.doc

Claims (37)

1. Apparatus for the control of displayed content, the apparatus: Creceiving two or more content feeds; 00 monitoring for one or more events related to the content in one or more of the feeds; and providing a display signal to a display screen based on the content feeds; wherein the display signal is controlled based on the monitored events. IND

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content feeds include a feed c or feeds related to one or more televised proceedings, and wherein the display signal is controlled based on the occurrence of events during the proceedings.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feeds include one or more of a live feed, a televised feed, a broadcast feed, and a continuous feed, or combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the display signal switches from providing content from one feed to providing content from another feed based on monitored events.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display signal provides content combined from two or more feeds based on monitored events.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the display signal provides content having a picture-in-picture, a split-screen picture or a picture overlay effect.

7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus receives event information from an information source separate from the content feeds. Wkp vlMSDiosptaySystem doc IN

8. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus receives event information from a data processing system, the displayed content complementing the data processing system. 00

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus receives event information from a wagering system, one or more of the feeds relating to a contest or contests on which wagers are placed.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claim, wherein the apparatus receives a command signal indicating the occurrence of an event.

11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus receives data relating to monitored events and analyses the data to determine whether an event has occurred.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus outputs a display signal to each of two or more display monitors, the display signals being separately controlled based on the monitored events.

13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus supplies more than one display signal to a display monitor.

14. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claim, wherein the apparatus determines the content of the display signal based on a predetermined set of rules relating to the monitored events and the content feeds.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus determines the content of the display signal based on a set of priorities, the priorities including priorities based on event types and/or priorities based on content types.

16. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeds include one or more feeds from a gaming system. W.provalSDisplaySyste doc 19 IN

17. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeds 0 0include one or more feeds that provide gaming results.

18. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus 00 includes a multi-feed receiver for receiving multiple feeds and for generating a display signal, and a separate controller for monitoring for events and for Rinstructing the receiver.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the apparatus includes C 10 two or more receivers, each associated with separate feeds, and a switching N device for receiving a receiver signal from each receiver and for switching its output between the receiver signals.

The apparatus of claim 19, including a controller for controlling the switching device to switch between receiver signals.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 or 20, wherein the controller is remote from the receiver or switching device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller instructs a plurality of receivers or switching devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, 20, 21 or 22, wherein the controller is a communications network device programmed to monitor data on the network and issue instructions based on the data monitored.

24. A display system including a plurality of display content feeds, a display screen and a controller for controlling an image displayed on the screen, the image being based on one or more of the display content feeds, and the controller controlling the displayed image based on one or more monitored events relating to the content of one or more of the feeds.

A method for the display of content from a number of content feeds, the method including the steps of receiving two or more content feeds, monitoring WAp SDi&pySyt= doc INO for one or more events related to the content in one or more of the feeds, 0 Sproviding a display signal to a display device based on the feeds, and Scontrolling the display signal based on the monitored events. 00 oo

26. Display control apparatus including: a receiver for receiving feeds from two or more content sources, one being a feed for televised proceedings; and a monitor for monitoring for one or more events related to the c proceedings; INO 10 wherein the receiver automatically switches between the feeds based on Sthe occurrence of one or more of the monitored events.

27. Display control apparatus including: a receiver for receiving feeds from two or more content sources, one being a live feed of televised proceedings; and a controller for monitoring for the occurrence of one or more events related to the proceedings by monitoring data provided through another system associated with the televised gaming proceedings; wherein the controller switches between the feeds based on the occurrence of one or more of the monitored events.

28. A display system including a plurality of sources of display content, a controller for integrating content from the plurality of sources, and a display screen for displaying the integrated content, wherein the controller monitors a data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and provides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

29. The display system of claim 28, wherein the controller is formed in part from a communications network unit of the data system. The display system of claim 28 or 29, wherein the controller modifies a playlist that determines display of content from said content sources on said display screen.

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31. The display system of claim 28 or 29, wherein the controller switches Sbetween two or more data content feeds. oo 00

32. Apparatus for the control of displayed content, the apparatus accessing data content from two or more sources and integrating the data into an output content display signal to a display screen, wherein the apparatus monitors a data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and Sprovides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

33. A method of controlling the display of content from a number of content sources, the method including the steps of: accessing data content from two or more content sources, integrating the data into an output content display signal to a display screen, monitoring a data system for the occurrence of events related to the display content, and providing content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

34. A display system including a plurality of sources of display content, a controller for integrating content from the plurality of sources, and a display screen for displaying the integrated content, wherein the controller monitors a data system associated with an enterprise for the occurrence of events of the enterprise related to the display content, and provides content from one or more of the sources to the display screen based on the occurrence of monitored events.

Apparatus for the control of displayed content substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs. 1 to

36. A display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs. 1 to

37. A method for the display of content substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs. 1 to W:\pmvsrSispaySystom.doc