CA2317339A1 - Automated real-time continuous searching of closed-captioned television programming - Google Patents
Automated real-time continuous searching of closed-captioned television programming Download PDFInfo
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- CA2317339A1 CA2317339A1 CA002317339A CA2317339A CA2317339A1 CA 2317339 A1 CA2317339 A1 CA 2317339A1 CA 002317339 A CA002317339 A CA 002317339A CA 2317339 A CA2317339 A CA 2317339A CA 2317339 A1 CA2317339 A1 CA 2317339A1
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- information
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/435—Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
- G06F16/9535—Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/235—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
- H04N21/2353—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
- H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
- H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
- H04N21/8405—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors represented by keywords
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/08—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division
- H04N7/087—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only
- H04N7/088—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital
- H04N7/0884—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
- H04N7/0885—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection for the transmission of subtitles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
- H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
Abstract
systems and methods are presented that automatically continuously search closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user. Users enter information (e.g., a keyword) to be searched for preferably at a Web site.
Closed-captioned television programming is then searched in real time for the requested information.
Upon finding the requested information, the user is notified in real time by email, voice-mail, or other suitable means. The notification includes the name, broadcast time, and channel of the program in which the information was found. upon notification, users can access a video segment of, or additional textual information from, that program.
Closed-captioned television programming is then searched in real time for the requested information.
Upon finding the requested information, the user is notified in real time by email, voice-mail, or other suitable means. The notification includes the name, broadcast time, and channel of the program in which the information was found. upon notification, users can access a video segment of, or additional textual information from, that program.
Description
AUTOMATED REAL-TIME CONTINUOUS SEARCHING
Cross Reference to Related AD~~iCation This claims the benefit of United states Provisional Application No. 60/153,119, filed September 8, 1999.
Background of the Invention This invention relates to automated searching of closed-captioned television programming for io information requested by a user. More particularly, this invention relates to automated searching of closed-captioned television programming for requested information substantially as that programming is being broadcast.
Vast amounts of information ranging from world news to Cajun cooking are available today via television (TV). In many geographic areas, cable Tv or satellite TV providers offer more than one hundred television channels. Programming on most of these ao channels is broadcast 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Many channels are dedicated to a single Tv network, while others may be ehared between two or more networks that each broadcast during a different time Slot. Furthermore, many networks provide only as specialized programming, such as, for example, claseic movies., classic sitcoms, financial news, science fiction, comedy, cooking, and cartoons.
For most viewers, however, finding specific information on television (e. g., news of a particular corporate merger or of a new drug entering the market) is nearly impossible, even with today's most s sophisticated program guides. These guidcc typically provide program names, broadcast times and channels, and perhaps a general summary of the programs' content.
Accordingly, viewers are left with few alternatives.
They can review a program guide and then watch or io record selected programs hoping that one or more of those programs will include the sought after information. Or, they can tune to a particular channel oz~ which the desired information is likely to be broadcast, and then hope that it is. Or, viewers can is just channel surf arid hope Lo randomly come across a program just then broadcasting the information of interest. These options are all very time consuming and in no way guarantee that viewers will find the information they are boxing for.
ao zn view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically and contzz~uously search television programming in real time for information requested by a user.
z5 It would also be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically notify a user in real time upon finding requested information in a television program substantially as that program is being broadcast.
3o zt would further be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically continue searching for requested information in other television programming after that information has been found in a television program.
s5 It would still further be desirable to provide systems and methods that upon notifying a user of requested information found in a television program provide additional information related to the requested information.
Summar~r of the Invention s It is an object of this invention to provide systems and methods that automatically and continuously search television programming in real time for information requested by a user.
It is also an oblect of thi9 invention tn 1o provide systems and methods that autortlatically notify a user in real time upon finding requested information in a television program substantially as that program is being broadcast.
It is a further object of this invention Lo is provide systems and methods that automatically continue searching for requested information in other television programming after that information has been found in a televiWon program_ It is s ill a further object of this zo invention to provide systems and methods that upon notifying a user of requested information found in a television program provide additional information related to the requested information.
In accordance with this invention, a sy6tem i5 is provided that continuously searches closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user. =he requested information is in the form of keywords or phrases. The system notifies the user 1n real Lime upon finding a keyword or phrase.
3o in the closed-captioned television programming. the system includes a computer and software executable on the computer_ The software compares word by word each keyword and phrase to decoded closed-captioned information substantially as the decoded 3s closed-captioned information i$ received by the Sap-Ol-2000 09;4Tam From-FISH HEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.002 F-219 computer, The software notifies the user in real time upon finding a keyword or phrase in the decoded closed-captioned information.
The system preferably also includes a receiver operative Lo receive closed-captioned television programming, a closed-captioned decoder, a file server, and memory for storing decoded closed-captioned information and ueer requested information.
zo Other features of the invention preferably include notification of a successful search by, for example, email, voice-mail, message displayed on a user's television screen, or text message sent to a cel~.ular telephone or pager_ Searches for requested is information continue until the requested information is found a preset number of times. Moreover, the invention preferably prevents redundant notifications, and does not count them, when, for example, requested information is found multiple times in clvac pro:cimity 2o to each other in the tame stream of decoded closed-captioned information. The invention preferably permits users tv specify a time period when notifications of successful searches can be sent (e. g., a time period when the user is availabze to watch 25 television), and also provides users with access to additional information related to the found information. For example, the invention preferably provides users with the folloHring: additional decoded cloyed-captioned information proximate the found ao information (e_g., program dialog before and after a user s found 7teyword) ; a video segment of the program in which the requested information was found (preferably a 2-minute segment embodying the found inforrnatian); and information from one or more 35 third-party sources.
_ S _ Brief Description of the Drawinc;s The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in s conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system that automatically and to continuously searches cloeed-captioned television programming in real time in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sample screen display of an information entry page on the world Wide Web 15 (hereinafter ~Web") in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sample screen display of a confirmation Web page in accordance with the present invention;
20 FIGS _ 4A-8 are an e:.emplarir embodiment of a search database in accordance with the present invention;
F2G. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a Tv programming category database in accordance with the as present invention;
FIG_ 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a T'V
programing guide database in accordance with the present invention;
FzG. ~ is a sample screen display of a log-in 30 Web page 1n accordance with the pre~ezzt inverition;
FIG. a is an exemplary embodiment of a user profile database in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of an 3s individual user account file in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 10-12 are sample screen displays of Web pages for adding, editing, and deleting, respectively, search information from a user account file in accordance with the present invention;
s FIG. 13 is a sample email notification sent by the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a sample screen display of a web page providing additional information related to a successful search;
1o FIG. 15 is an exemplary embodiment of a publicly-traded company database in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a logic flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of software that can be executed vn the is system of FzG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and FrGS. 17A-B are a more detailed logic flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the software of FIG. 16 in accordance with the present ao invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Mariy television programs today are closed captioned, and the current trend is to close caption most, if not all, television programs in the near as future. closed-captioned television programming is ordinary television programming with captions that are typically text of spoken dialog and may be additionally or alternatively, for example, explanatory text or subtitles (e. g., foreign language text). Captions 3o appear on the screen o~ a television set or display device equipped with an appropriate decoder. Closed captioning permits hearing-impaired persons and those, in noisy environments (e. g., caverns, fitness centers, etc.) to more fully enjoy television.
Sap-Ol-2000 09:41~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.003 F-2T9 - 7 _ FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention that s automatically and continuously searches closed-captionea television programming in real time for information requested by a user. system soo receives closed-captioned television programming from a source lOZ. Source lot can be, for example, one or io more of the following_ a cable TV provider, a satellite TV provider, air-wave broadcasts of closed-captioned television programming, or any other known source of closed-captioned television programming.
System 100 includes a plurality of is receivers 104 that receive television programming from source 1o2. Each receiver 104 is tuned to receive programming on a particular television channel of source 102. Receivers 104 can be any kriowri receiver compatible with source 102. For example, if source l02 2o is a cable Tv provider, receiver 104 can be, for example, CATV Converter Model 8155 by Tziphone Electronics Enterprise Co., Ltd., of Taiwari_ Tf source sot is a satellite TV provider, receiver Zo4 can be, for eXample, Satellite Receiver Model 7M09 E57474, zs by Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or Dish Direct Silver Edition Satellite Receiver Model HIRD-Dl, by Hughes NetworK Systems, of Germantown, Maryland.
system 100 also includes a plurality of 3o closed-captioned decoders 106 coupled respectively to receivers 204_ Decoders l06 decode closed-captioned information from Lhe closed-captioned television programmsng received by receivcre 104. That is, deeoders~ 1os strip out closed-captioned information as from the received television signal and convert chat information to .text, ASCII, or other form suitable for data processing and database filing. Decoders 106 can each be, for example, a TextGrabberT'~~ by sunBelt Industries Technology Group, Inc., of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, or a Dsta Recovery Decoder Model DE
241DR, by EEG Enterprises, Inc., of Farmingdale, New York.
s Although eight receivers 104 and eight decoders 106 are shown in FIG. 1 for illuSLratlVe purposes, system 100 can include other numbers of receivers 104 and decoders 106.
Server 108 is preferably a file sexver that to receives information from one or more users 110. A
file server is a sophisticated device (oftezz a computer) that store , maintains, and manages files as users request, change, and store them. Users 11o are coupled to server 108 preferably via the Internet 112, 15 and server l08 is further preferably an HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) server that provides a Web site aL
wriich users 11.0 enter and edit information to be searched for and at which users 110 can review successful search results. Alternatively, users 110 zo can be coupled to server 1o8 directly from thair personal computers (PCs) or workstations, or via an intran.et or any other suitable network. Server 108 is preferably a computer that preferably has dual Pentium coo megahertz processors and 2 gigabytes of random 25 access memory (FtAM). Server toe preferably runs sQL
(structured query language) server software such as that offered by, for example, Microsoft Corporation, of Redmond, Washington.
Memory 114 is coupled to server 108 and 3o preferably includes databases of user information and decoded closed-captioned information. Memory 114 is preferably disk space having preferably 10o gigabytes.
of storage. AlLernaLively, memory 114 can be any other suitable storage device.
35 Computer 116 is coupled to decoders 106 and server 108 and is preferably PC-compatible having _ g _ preferably a Pentium-3 900 megahertz processor, 128 megabytes of RAM, and a l0 gigabyte hard disk.
Computer 116 preferably has at Least eight parallel input/output channels and s multi-port PCI tperipheral s component interconnect) board for receiving at least eight parallel streams of decoded closed-captioned information. The multi-port PCI board can be, for example, a CoMM +8 PCI board by Sealevel Systems, Inc., of Liberty, South Carolina. Additional computers 116 io can be coupled in parallel to receive additional parallel streams of decoded closed-captioned information from additional television channels received from source 102. Alternatively, computer 116 can be a mid-siae or mainframe general purpose computer i5 preferably having multi-processing capabilities and preferably having many more than eight input/output channels far receiving decoded closed-captioned inf ormat ion .
Computer 116 executes software 117, described ao in more detail below, that compares each stream of Qecoded closed-captioned information to the information requested by users. This comparison occurs in real time as the decoded information is received from decoders 106. When requested information is found in is the decoded closed-captioned information, software 117 notifies via server 108 the user 110 that requested the information.
System 100 preferably also includes a computer z18, similar to computer 116. Computer 118 3o includes a video capture card that receives television programming from receivers 104. The video capture card can be, for example, an Osprey'-100 by ViewCast.com, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, or a Studio DC10 Plus by Pinnacle Systems, Inc., of Pittsburgh, 35 Pennsylvania. Computer 11.8 executes software 120 that captures television programming from the video capture - to -card preferably using a Microsoft compliant visual Basic control included with software such as, for example, RealProducer Plus software by RealNetworks.com (i.e., RealNetworks, Tnc.), of Seattle, Washington.
Software 120 captures television programming from each receiver 104 in preferably about 2-minute segments, and stores each 2-minute segment in a tile that includes the date and the start and end broadcast times of the segment. Preferably these files are io stored in memory 114, with filenames preferably associated with the televieion channel or network from which the segment was broadcast. When a user's requested information is found in decoded closed-captioned information, the user can request is system 100 to download, or to display at system ioo~s Web site, a 2-minute video segment corresponding Lo the decoded closed-captioned information in which the requested information was found. Preferably, software 120 creates the 2-minute video segment by ao copying and assembling, a~ necessary, contiguous portions of stored video segments such that the requested information occurs in the created video segment preferably after about the first 15 seconds_ These video segments can be displayed using, for 2s example, RealServer software by RealNetworks.com_ System 100 operate. preferably as follows:
information is received from a user 110 preferably at system 100~s web site. A preferred embodiment of an information entry Web page 200 is shown in FIG. 2 in 3o accordance with the present invention. A user 110 preferably enters an email return address at input entry field 202. This is the address to which .
notifications of found information will be sent.
Iz~formation to be searched for is entered at input 35 entry field 204 in the form of a keyword or phrase. A
keyword is a single word or alphanumeric character iap-07-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.004 F-279 - ~,1 string. A phrase is any number o~ keywords (or alphanumeric charact~r strings) grouped together.
s (Hereinafter, the te~m "keyphrase~~ denotes both "keyword~~ and "phras~.") Alternatively, a user can provide information to system 100 by ema~.l, facsimile, telephone, or other suitable method.
system 100 preferably confirms the 1o information received from user 110 via a confirmation Web page. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary emboeiment o~
i confirmation Web page 300 in accordance with the pxesent iwrention. Confirmation Web page 30o displays the entered keyphrasi 302 and email address 304, and 15 preferably allows us~r 110 to modify received information preferab~.y via hyperlink 306, which returns user 10o Lo information entry Web page 200. A
hyperlink is a connelctian between an element (e. g., Word, phrase, or symbol) in, for example, an email, and 2o another hyperte:~cL document, file, or script (e.g., a Web site page)_ server l08 stores information received from users preferably in a database in memory 1I4. ~'TG. 4A
shows an embodiment o~ search database 400 according to 2s the present invention. Database 400 lists keywords and phraAes in columns ~02 and 404, respectively, and lists i associated email addresses in column 4os to which notifications are sgnt when keywords or phrases are found.
so System 10p preferably allows users to limit searches to one or Imore particular types yr categories of television progx~mming_ ~'7CG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a database 50o maintained by system 100, and preferably stored in memory 114, that lists various 35 program types 5o2 and categories soy that users iio can specify when entering their keyphrase_ Thus, for example, a user 110 can enter a phrase "stock market"
and limit the search foz that phrase to televi~iors ap-OT-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEA4E 5969094 T-684 P.005/021 F-279 programming categorized as news and finance.
Similarly, a user loo can limit a search to one or more program types, such as, for example, daytime soaps, talk shows, and games.
A user 110~s selection of programming types and categories is also stored in search database 400, as shown with respect to sel~cted program Categories in ~o columns 408-414 of FIG. 4B. Additional columns can be added to database 40o to indicate selected program t~rpes and other options, some of which are described below.
System 100 preferably maintains and stores in 1s memory 214 a TV programming guide database, an embodiment of which is shown in FxG. 6 in accordance wizri the present invention. Database 600 lists, for example, television networks whose programming is provided by source 102. Database 60o also lists ao titles, types, catCgvries, and broadcast times of programs broadcast by the listed television networks.
programming guide data far database &00 can be obtained from, for example, cable yr satellite TV providers or third parties.
Preferably, users can also specify a time period during which closed-captioned television programming should be searched. Fvr example, a user can specify that information regarding a particular sporting event be searched for only during the month of 3o October. System Zoo stores this search-time limitation in database 400 and then only searches for the requested information in decoded closed-captioned information received during October.
Similarly, users can preferably specify that searches for reques>red information be made in only the programming of a limited number of Tv networks or channels. For example, a user may specify that searches for "inflation° be made in only the programming Of a particular financial news actwork.
Sep-C7-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-694 P.006/021 F-2T9 system loo stores Lhis search limitation in s database 40o anal then only searches programming in aCCOrdanCe WlLh that limS.Ldt1,0I1.
In a prefezzed embodiment of the present invention, user izxformation is also preferably stored and maintained in user files that users can access s,o preferably via a password_ FzG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Web page screen in accordance w~.th the present invention at which established users can enter their password to access their files, or at which a zxew user can establish a password for future access to that is user s file .
System 1.00 preferably maintains a user profile database listing user IDs, email addresses, and passwords. User IDs are assigned by system 100 upon a user first establishing a paasword. FIG. 8 shows an ao embodiment of user profile database 800 in accordance with the present iavcation.
An embodiment of a user account file 90o in accordance with the present invention is shown in FZG. 9. Each heyphrasc entry 902 represents a separate 2s search conducted substantially simultaneously. Upon gaining access to their files, users can add, edit, or delete search information. FIGS. 10, 7.1, and 12 show respective embodiments of Web page screens 1000, 1100, ai7~8 1200 in accordance with the present invention at 3o which additions, edits, and deletions of search ~.7rlformation can be entered. Upon users modifying their account files 900, database 400 is updated according3.y.
Preferably, system 100 performs a preset number of successful searches before requiring a user 35 to request continuation of the same search. As shown iri FIG_ 9, column 9o4 represents the number of SaP-OT-2000 09;4Tam From-FISH NERVE 5969094 T-664 P.007/021 F-279 notifications remaining (i.e., the number of successful searches still to be performed). For example, system 100 will automatically continue searching for the keyword "auto analyst" until that keyword is found s three times. After the third time, system l00 preferably resets the notifications remaining counter upon the user accessing additional information provided by system loo that pertains to the last successful seareh_ This additional information is described to furthex below- Alternatively, i~f af>:ez >rhe thixd successful search users Wish Lo con>rinue >rhe same search, they can reset the notifications remaining counter by accessing their files via passcaord and then clicking on the corresponding button 906. Note that is while in this embodiment the preset number of successful searches that system 10o will perform is three, other numbers of successful searches can be preset.
System 100 preferably filters successful 2o searches, and does not count them, if they are redundant. Accordingly, redundant notifications are prevented. System 100 preferably performs three levels of filtering. First, if the same keyphrase is found within close proximity of a previous find of that 2s keyphrasc, the latter find is ignored. "Close proximity" can be defined in terms of time (e. g., within 30 seconde) or in terms of line segmente (e. g., within ZO lint segments). A line segment is about tour or five words (i.e., spoken or explanatory text words, 3o not computer words), which about equals a closed-captioned lint displayed on a TV screen.
Second, if the same kcyphrasc i.s foursd in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information more than a preset number of times within a preset time 3~ period, those occurrences of that keyphrase exceeding those limits axe ignored. For example, system 1DO will Sap-07-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.008/021 F-279 ignore more than three occurrences of a keyphrase found in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information within 30 minutes of each other.
The third filtering that system 200 s preferably performs is a user specified "stvp/repeats"
filtering. zf a found keyphrase appears to have been found in a repeat of the same program in which that kevphrase was recently found te_g_, within the last two days), that fi>«.d would be ignored if the usex so >_o specified_ '~5top/repeaLS° information is stored for each user in column 422 of database 400_ system loo preferably allows users who do not wish to be notified around the clock of successful searches to specify a time period during which they can ss be notified of successful searches. For example, a user may specify that notifications, both real time and thoBe indicating yr summarizing previous successful searches prior to the specified time period, be sent between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM daily, which is when that 2o u2er generally has time to review previous search results and is available to watch television should that user be notified of a TV program being broadcast that includes information requested by the user.
System 100 uses software 117 to find user 2s requested information. Software 117 compares user requested information (i.e., keyphraees) with decoded closed-captioned information. Software 117 takes line segments of decoded closed-captioned information, breaks the segment up into its individual words, and 3o stores those words in an array in RAM or other temporary storage. Each word is then separately compared to each word of each keyphrase stored in system 100.
Upon finding requested information in decoded ss closed-captioned information, system loo notifies the user preferably by email. 7?IG. 13 shows an exemplary Sap-Gl-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-684 P.009/021 F-279 - 1.6 -embodiment of an email 1300 used to notify a user of a successful search in accordance with the present invention. Alternatively, users can be notified by facsimile, voice-mail, a message displayed on their Tv s screen (e.g., in the form of a banner or other type of suitable overlay), a message displayed on their computer screen (e.g., in the form of a ticker-tape-style display), a text message sent to a cellular telephone or pager, or any ocher suitable 1o method.
Notifieazions preferably include the name, broadcast time, network, and channel of the TV program in which the requested information was found, and preferably a brief portion or snippet of zs closed-captioned text surrounding the occurrence of the requested information. 3~n email notification also preferably includes a hyperlink 1602 to a Web page that provides additional closed-captioned information from the program in which the requested information was so found. This additional information is preferably proximate the requested information.
FIG. 14 shows an e::emplary embodiment of an additional information Web page 1400 that a user can access after notification of a successful search. The z5 user's keyphrase 1402 is preferably highlighted in some manner so that the user can easily see where in the additional information the keyphrase appears.
Alternatively, other means of providing access to additional closed-captioned information can be so provided. For example, users can call a specified telephone number to either listen to a recording of the additional information or order a hardcvpy. Or, users can receive additional information by email or facsimile.
3s SYStem 100 preferably provides users with access to related information from sources other than.
Sep-07-2000 09:48am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.010/021 F-279 P
the program in which the requested information was found. For example, ey~tem 100 preferably compares information to be searchcd for with names of companies whose Mock i~ publicly traded. System 100 preferably s maintains a database 1500 of publicly-traded companies, ae shown in FIG, 15, to which a user's requested information is compared. Zf a user's requested information includes the name of a publicly-traded company listed in database 1500, then the emazl zo notifying the user of a successful search preferably also includes a hyperlink to one or more sources at which that user can obtain, fox eXa>nple, current stock market or other financial information about that company.
i5 System 10o preferably maintains a notifications database that includes a record of every email notification sent to users, and of ev~ry user s access of the additional information provided by system 100_ Tnese records are useful for, among other 2o things, marketing purposes.
system 10o preferably also maintains a captioning database that includes a copy of all decoded closed-captioned information received over a period of time. This period of time is dependent upon the amount as of storage available for storing the decoded closed-captioned information. Preferably, each stream of decoded closed-captioned information (typically from a particular television channel) is stored separately.
F2G. 16 represents an exemplary embodiment of 3o software 117 in accordance with the present invention.
Software 117, executable on computer 116, includes the following functions: eesrchcr 2602, optional replicator 1604, and notifier 1606 . Notifier 1606 preferably includes email notifier 2608, TV
3s notifier 1610, and miscellaneous notifier 1612. ?hese functions can'be encoded ss follows: a single computer Sap-07-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEA4E 5969094 T-684 P.O11/021 F-279 program, four modules or subroutines of a single computer program, tour separate programs appropriately linked together, or any other program or group of programs executable on computer 116. Moreover, if software 117 is encoded as separate programs, each program preferably can be executed in parallel on separate computers 116 (or on separate processors of a multi-processor computer 116) appropriately linked together such that system loo operates properly. Each Zo computer 116 can be customised (with respect to, e_g_, processor speed, hard disk and R.AM capacities, e>;e.) to effectively and efficiently execute its respective portion of software 117 in accordance with system 100 operation and zeal-time performance objectives.
Searcher 1602 SearCi',7.es an incoming stream of decoded closed-captioned information in real time for keyphrases entered by users_ Each word of the decoded closed-captioned information is compared with each word of each user's keyphrase. A separa~ee duplicate 2o searchex 1602 executes in parallel for each str~am of decoded closed-captioned information received from a decoder 1o6. Each stream typically represents programming from a single television channel. Upon f~.nding a keyphrase, searcher 1602 creates appropriate zs notification data.
Replicator 1604 is invoked if the number of users requiring notification of a successful find of the same information exceeds a predefined limit.
Replicator 1604 launches one or mare additional 3o searchers 16028 as needed to continue processing the found keyphrase (e. g., checking individual user files atzc3 creating appropriate notifications) . Each searcher 16028 preferably processes noti~ications for each user having requested the same found keyphrase.
35 Searchers 16028 may be functionally the same as searcher 1602 or, alternatively, may include only the Sap-Ol-2000 09:48am From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-694 P.012/021 F-279 notifications processing capability of searcher 2602.
The found keyphrase and associated user data are passed to searchers 16028 from searcher 1602 through replieator 1604. Upon completing its notifications s processing, each searcher 16o2R self-terminates.
Searchers 16028 allow searcher 1602 to continue real-time searching of incoming streams of decoded closed-captioned information.
Notifier 1606 preferably notifies users of zo successful finds by email. Email notifier lsoe scax~.s an email database for records that need to be transmitted to users. Each sent email has a corresponding record in the database. Email notifier 2608 retrieves all pending records iri the is email database and processes each one iz~dividually_ As each record is processed ar7~d emailed, the record is updated accordingly. Optionally, and Where appropriate, email notifier 1608 adds advertising to the email_ Preferably, email noLifier 1608 can execute zo on a separate computer 116_ ,fi~,dditionally or alternatively to email notifications, TV noLifier 1610 notifies users by overlaying or displayixsg a notification on the user s television screen. TV notifier 1610 processes 25 xl~tificatioa data created by searcher 1602 (e.g., TV
program information and appropriate addressing information) and transmits the notification accordingly.
Similarly, tniscellaneoua notifier 1612 so notifies users by methods other than email or television, such as, for example, by sending a text message to a pager or cellular telephone (capable of receiving such a message). Miscellaneous notifier 1612 also preferably includes a ticker-tape program that 35 user$ can download to their computer. Notifications SaP-07-2000 09:48am From-FISH HEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.013/021 F-279 - ZO -sent to a user's computer appear on the compute=rs screen as a Lieker-cape-style message, FzG. 17 represents a more detailed exemplary embodiment of searcher 1602 in accordance with the s pxesent invention. At 1702, searcher 1602 processes preferably one 3.ine segment of decoded closed-captioning. That line is broken up into individual words and stored in a segment array, The segment array is preferably stored in RAM or other io temporary storage and includes the words of at least three line segments.
At 1704, searcher 1602 retrieves a keyphxase from search database 400 and stores it in RAM or other temporary storage. Keyphrases are retrieved preferably is sequentially per user, If the keyphrase is a keyword, searcher 1602 preferably first checks the keyword to ensure that it is not meaningless. For example, keywords such as "the" and "it" occur >=oo frequently in closed captioning to be of any value as a keyword and 2o are thus ignored. (Such words, however, may be of value in a phrase, and thus phrases are not checked).
At mob, searcher l6oz compares a decoded closed-captioned word to a keyphrase. If the keyphrase is a keyword, a word-co-word comparison is made. If 25 the keyphrase is a phrase, then searcher 1602 compares that phrase with about three closed-captioned line segments, depending on the length of the phrase.
If the closed-captioned information (~..a,, word or line Segments) does not match the keyphrase at so 27oa, searcher zsoz retrieves another keyphrase, provided that the prior keyphrase was not the last one in database 400 (this is checked at 2710). If the prior keyphrase was the last one, then the oldest line segment stored in Lhe segment array is cleared and a 3s new line segment is processed (broken, up into individual words and stored in the segment array).
Sep-07-2000 09:46om From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.014/021 F-279 - ~1 -zf the closed-captioned information matches a keyphrase, searcher 1602 checks at 1712 whether the number of users requesting searches of that keyphrase exceeds a preset number. If it does, searcher 1602 notifies replieator 1604 to help with notifications processing. Note that searchers 16028 preferably perform 1714, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1722, 1724, 1726, and 1728.
At 1714, searcher 1602 determines whether a io user is authorized to receive a notification by checking that userls notifications remaining counter-If authorized, an alert flag is set. If not, searcher 1602 returns to 1710.
At 172,6, the found keyphrase is filtered for Zs redundancy. =f the keyphrase is found to be redundant, the alert flag is turned off and searcher 1602 returns to 1710. Searcher 1602 preferably performs two levels of redundancy filtering. The first level ignores a found kcyphrase if that keyphrase had been previously 2o found within a preset number of line segments (e.g,, 20 line segments). The second level of filtering ignores s found keyphrase if that keyphrase had been found in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information more than a preset number of times (e. g., three) within 25 a preset time period (e. g_, 3o minutes).
Searcher l6oz preferably performs at user request a third level of filtering intended to prevent notifications of requested information found in the same TV program that may have baen broadcast at so different Limes. To perform this filtering, system 100 maintains a da>rabase of the last five email notifications per user per found keyphrase. This database includes decoded closed-captioned line segments proximate the found keyphrase. If a user ss requests this filtering, searcher 1602 takes a preset number of closed-captioned line segment words from Sap-77-2000 09:49am Fram-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-694 P.015/021 F-279 - ~a -before and after the currently found keyphrase (e. g., about eight words before and about eight words after, preferably not including articles such as ~a" and T'the"), and compares them to about the same number of s line segment words before and after each of the last five occurrences of that keyphrase found for that user.
Zf the words from the current find match the words from any of the last five by s preset percentage, that current find is considered to be from a repeated TV
io program and is ignored. The preset percentage can range, for example, from 60~ to 100%.
At 2718, search database 400 is checked to determine whether the user had selected a particular category, type, channel, or 'TV network of programming is to search. If so, the TV program in wYlieh the requested information is found is checked_ If that Tv program does not match what the user selected, the alert flag is turned off and searcher l6oZ returns tv 1710.
za AL 1720, searcher 1602 checks the search database ~k00 Lo de>=ermine whether a particular time period for notifications was specified. If a time per7~od was specified and the current keyphrase find is not within that >_ime period, this find and its 2s associated information is stored for notification to that user during the specified time period.
~,t 1722, search database 400 is checked to determine what type of notification was requested (e_g., email, TV, voice-mail, etc.).
3o At 1724, searcher 1602 determines the TV
program title from the TV programming guide database in accordance with the channel, date and broadca:~t time of the closed-captioned programming in which the rec~ucsted information was found. Searcher 1602 then stores this 35 information in the notifications datsbasc.
SaP-07-2000 09:49am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.016/021 F-279 - a3 -Notifications are prepared at 1726. If an email notification was requested, the email is setup as follows: the subject of the email is assigned in accordance with the keyphrase. If the keyphrase is a s phrase, spaces are replaced with rn7eb browser compliant ~~0. If the keyphrase is a keyword, any ampersands contains therein are replaced with X26_ Trie user's email address ie thcn assigned. If the email address is improperly formatted (e. g., incorrectly io entered by the user), searcher 1602 reformats the address to point to s Jystem 100 administrator account.
A snippet of the closed-captioned information (e. g., about six line segments) is included in the email. The following email rxotification informa>riori is stored in O.s the notifications database. sezzL date, sent time, sent flag, recipient user address, television channel on which the information was four>.d, start and end positions of the captioning text from the captioning database for that channel, keyphrase, television so program name, current captioning line, prior captioning line, and Internet URL address to wher~ this notification can be viewed on the Internet.
The email notification information is then compile~i._ Th~.s includes preferably formatting the 2s email with H2ML (hypertext markup language), storing the headex, storing the snippet of olosed-captioned text that surrounds the keyphrase, and storing any email trailers, such as, for example, a note informing the use7c that this notification is the user's last 3o unless they reset the notifications remaining counter.
The compiled email information, which is now a.recvrd, ~.s inserted in ,axe, email tabl~ for email notifier 1608 to retrieve and send out.
After the email is sent, the record of this 3s notification stored in the notifications database is updated. This database preferably always includes the Sap-OT-2000 09:49~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.O1T/021 F-279 - zg -last five emails for each keyphraee sent to the same user.
At 1728, the nOLl.fiCations remaining counter is decreased by one_ Searcher 1602 then returns s to 1710.
Optionally, system 100 also performs searches of closed-captiox~,ed television programming for predetermined system keyphrases, arid maintains a database of successful searches. Such a system io keyphrase database is useful, for marketing purposes (e_g_, Lo show a potential user how many times and in what television programs a keyphraee of likely interest had been found). Searching for and maintaining a database of successful searches of predetermined system 15 keyphraseg can also be useful for creating or enhancing stored lists of, for eaarnple, publicly-traded companies, sports teams, and celebrities. These lists may be of interest to certain types of users (e.g "
advertisers looking for a celebrity current7,y in Zhe ~o spotlight). Such lists may also be used to provide additional historical information to usexs requesting related searches. For example, a user requesting a search of a particular publicly-traded company can be provided with s historical record of Zel.evision 2s programs that recently discussed a publicly-traded competitor of that company.
Software 117 performs system 3ceyphrase searches substantially identical to, or similar to, user requested keyphrase searches, including redundancy so filtering. Upon finding a system keyphrase, the information preferably stored in the system keyphrase database includes: TV program name, date, broadcast time, television channel, keyphrase, preferably two lines of text from the keyphrase match (e. g., current 35 line segment and prior l~.ne segment), start position in the captioning database for the current channel, and Sap-07-2000 09:49am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.O18/021 F-279 end position in the captioning database for the current channel.
In sum, system 100 advantageously searches closed-captioned television programming automatically and continuously in real time for information requested by users. System loo aBvantageously notifies those users in real time upon finding their requested information. In other words, system loo preferably receives, 8ecodes, and compares closed-captioned Zo television programming with information received fzvm users, and notifies those users of successful searches in real time such that in many cases, users may tune to the >relevision program in which the requested information was found while that program is still being is broadcast.
Thus it is seen that systems and metho$s axe presented that automatically and continuously search closed-captioned television programming in real trims for requested information. One skilled in the art will ao appreciate that the present invention can be practices by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and noL of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.
Cross Reference to Related AD~~iCation This claims the benefit of United states Provisional Application No. 60/153,119, filed September 8, 1999.
Background of the Invention This invention relates to automated searching of closed-captioned television programming for io information requested by a user. More particularly, this invention relates to automated searching of closed-captioned television programming for requested information substantially as that programming is being broadcast.
Vast amounts of information ranging from world news to Cajun cooking are available today via television (TV). In many geographic areas, cable Tv or satellite TV providers offer more than one hundred television channels. Programming on most of these ao channels is broadcast 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Many channels are dedicated to a single Tv network, while others may be ehared between two or more networks that each broadcast during a different time Slot. Furthermore, many networks provide only as specialized programming, such as, for example, claseic movies., classic sitcoms, financial news, science fiction, comedy, cooking, and cartoons.
For most viewers, however, finding specific information on television (e. g., news of a particular corporate merger or of a new drug entering the market) is nearly impossible, even with today's most s sophisticated program guides. These guidcc typically provide program names, broadcast times and channels, and perhaps a general summary of the programs' content.
Accordingly, viewers are left with few alternatives.
They can review a program guide and then watch or io record selected programs hoping that one or more of those programs will include the sought after information. Or, they can tune to a particular channel oz~ which the desired information is likely to be broadcast, and then hope that it is. Or, viewers can is just channel surf arid hope Lo randomly come across a program just then broadcasting the information of interest. These options are all very time consuming and in no way guarantee that viewers will find the information they are boxing for.
ao zn view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically and contzz~uously search television programming in real time for information requested by a user.
z5 It would also be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically notify a user in real time upon finding requested information in a television program substantially as that program is being broadcast.
3o zt would further be desirable to provide systems and methods that automatically continue searching for requested information in other television programming after that information has been found in a television program.
s5 It would still further be desirable to provide systems and methods that upon notifying a user of requested information found in a television program provide additional information related to the requested information.
Summar~r of the Invention s It is an object of this invention to provide systems and methods that automatically and continuously search television programming in real time for information requested by a user.
It is also an oblect of thi9 invention tn 1o provide systems and methods that autortlatically notify a user in real time upon finding requested information in a television program substantially as that program is being broadcast.
It is a further object of this invention Lo is provide systems and methods that automatically continue searching for requested information in other television programming after that information has been found in a televiWon program_ It is s ill a further object of this zo invention to provide systems and methods that upon notifying a user of requested information found in a television program provide additional information related to the requested information.
In accordance with this invention, a sy6tem i5 is provided that continuously searches closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user. =he requested information is in the form of keywords or phrases. The system notifies the user 1n real Lime upon finding a keyword or phrase.
3o in the closed-captioned television programming. the system includes a computer and software executable on the computer_ The software compares word by word each keyword and phrase to decoded closed-captioned information substantially as the decoded 3s closed-captioned information i$ received by the Sap-Ol-2000 09;4Tam From-FISH HEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.002 F-219 computer, The software notifies the user in real time upon finding a keyword or phrase in the decoded closed-captioned information.
The system preferably also includes a receiver operative Lo receive closed-captioned television programming, a closed-captioned decoder, a file server, and memory for storing decoded closed-captioned information and ueer requested information.
zo Other features of the invention preferably include notification of a successful search by, for example, email, voice-mail, message displayed on a user's television screen, or text message sent to a cel~.ular telephone or pager_ Searches for requested is information continue until the requested information is found a preset number of times. Moreover, the invention preferably prevents redundant notifications, and does not count them, when, for example, requested information is found multiple times in clvac pro:cimity 2o to each other in the tame stream of decoded closed-captioned information. The invention preferably permits users tv specify a time period when notifications of successful searches can be sent (e. g., a time period when the user is availabze to watch 25 television), and also provides users with access to additional information related to the found information. For example, the invention preferably provides users with the folloHring: additional decoded cloyed-captioned information proximate the found ao information (e_g., program dialog before and after a user s found 7teyword) ; a video segment of the program in which the requested information was found (preferably a 2-minute segment embodying the found inforrnatian); and information from one or more 35 third-party sources.
_ S _ Brief Description of the Drawinc;s The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in s conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system that automatically and to continuously searches cloeed-captioned television programming in real time in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sample screen display of an information entry page on the world Wide Web 15 (hereinafter ~Web") in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sample screen display of a confirmation Web page in accordance with the present invention;
20 FIGS _ 4A-8 are an e:.emplarir embodiment of a search database in accordance with the present invention;
F2G. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a Tv programming category database in accordance with the as present invention;
FIG_ 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a T'V
programing guide database in accordance with the present invention;
FzG. ~ is a sample screen display of a log-in 30 Web page 1n accordance with the pre~ezzt inverition;
FIG. a is an exemplary embodiment of a user profile database in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of an 3s individual user account file in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 10-12 are sample screen displays of Web pages for adding, editing, and deleting, respectively, search information from a user account file in accordance with the present invention;
s FIG. 13 is a sample email notification sent by the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a sample screen display of a web page providing additional information related to a successful search;
1o FIG. 15 is an exemplary embodiment of a publicly-traded company database in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a logic flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of software that can be executed vn the is system of FzG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and FrGS. 17A-B are a more detailed logic flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of the software of FIG. 16 in accordance with the present ao invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Mariy television programs today are closed captioned, and the current trend is to close caption most, if not all, television programs in the near as future. closed-captioned television programming is ordinary television programming with captions that are typically text of spoken dialog and may be additionally or alternatively, for example, explanatory text or subtitles (e. g., foreign language text). Captions 3o appear on the screen o~ a television set or display device equipped with an appropriate decoder. Closed captioning permits hearing-impaired persons and those, in noisy environments (e. g., caverns, fitness centers, etc.) to more fully enjoy television.
Sap-Ol-2000 09:41~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.003 F-2T9 - 7 _ FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention that s automatically and continuously searches closed-captionea television programming in real time for information requested by a user. system soo receives closed-captioned television programming from a source lOZ. Source lot can be, for example, one or io more of the following_ a cable TV provider, a satellite TV provider, air-wave broadcasts of closed-captioned television programming, or any other known source of closed-captioned television programming.
System 100 includes a plurality of is receivers 104 that receive television programming from source 1o2. Each receiver 104 is tuned to receive programming on a particular television channel of source 102. Receivers 104 can be any kriowri receiver compatible with source 102. For example, if source l02 2o is a cable Tv provider, receiver 104 can be, for example, CATV Converter Model 8155 by Tziphone Electronics Enterprise Co., Ltd., of Taiwari_ Tf source sot is a satellite TV provider, receiver Zo4 can be, for eXample, Satellite Receiver Model 7M09 E57474, zs by Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or Dish Direct Silver Edition Satellite Receiver Model HIRD-Dl, by Hughes NetworK Systems, of Germantown, Maryland.
system 100 also includes a plurality of 3o closed-captioned decoders 106 coupled respectively to receivers 204_ Decoders l06 decode closed-captioned information from Lhe closed-captioned television programmsng received by receivcre 104. That is, deeoders~ 1os strip out closed-captioned information as from the received television signal and convert chat information to .text, ASCII, or other form suitable for data processing and database filing. Decoders 106 can each be, for example, a TextGrabberT'~~ by sunBelt Industries Technology Group, Inc., of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, or a Dsta Recovery Decoder Model DE
241DR, by EEG Enterprises, Inc., of Farmingdale, New York.
s Although eight receivers 104 and eight decoders 106 are shown in FIG. 1 for illuSLratlVe purposes, system 100 can include other numbers of receivers 104 and decoders 106.
Server 108 is preferably a file sexver that to receives information from one or more users 110. A
file server is a sophisticated device (oftezz a computer) that store , maintains, and manages files as users request, change, and store them. Users 11o are coupled to server 108 preferably via the Internet 112, 15 and server l08 is further preferably an HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) server that provides a Web site aL
wriich users 11.0 enter and edit information to be searched for and at which users 110 can review successful search results. Alternatively, users 110 zo can be coupled to server 1o8 directly from thair personal computers (PCs) or workstations, or via an intran.et or any other suitable network. Server 108 is preferably a computer that preferably has dual Pentium coo megahertz processors and 2 gigabytes of random 25 access memory (FtAM). Server toe preferably runs sQL
(structured query language) server software such as that offered by, for example, Microsoft Corporation, of Redmond, Washington.
Memory 114 is coupled to server 108 and 3o preferably includes databases of user information and decoded closed-captioned information. Memory 114 is preferably disk space having preferably 10o gigabytes.
of storage. AlLernaLively, memory 114 can be any other suitable storage device.
35 Computer 116 is coupled to decoders 106 and server 108 and is preferably PC-compatible having _ g _ preferably a Pentium-3 900 megahertz processor, 128 megabytes of RAM, and a l0 gigabyte hard disk.
Computer 116 preferably has at Least eight parallel input/output channels and s multi-port PCI tperipheral s component interconnect) board for receiving at least eight parallel streams of decoded closed-captioned information. The multi-port PCI board can be, for example, a CoMM +8 PCI board by Sealevel Systems, Inc., of Liberty, South Carolina. Additional computers 116 io can be coupled in parallel to receive additional parallel streams of decoded closed-captioned information from additional television channels received from source 102. Alternatively, computer 116 can be a mid-siae or mainframe general purpose computer i5 preferably having multi-processing capabilities and preferably having many more than eight input/output channels far receiving decoded closed-captioned inf ormat ion .
Computer 116 executes software 117, described ao in more detail below, that compares each stream of Qecoded closed-captioned information to the information requested by users. This comparison occurs in real time as the decoded information is received from decoders 106. When requested information is found in is the decoded closed-captioned information, software 117 notifies via server 108 the user 110 that requested the information.
System 100 preferably also includes a computer z18, similar to computer 116. Computer 118 3o includes a video capture card that receives television programming from receivers 104. The video capture card can be, for example, an Osprey'-100 by ViewCast.com, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, or a Studio DC10 Plus by Pinnacle Systems, Inc., of Pittsburgh, 35 Pennsylvania. Computer 11.8 executes software 120 that captures television programming from the video capture - to -card preferably using a Microsoft compliant visual Basic control included with software such as, for example, RealProducer Plus software by RealNetworks.com (i.e., RealNetworks, Tnc.), of Seattle, Washington.
Software 120 captures television programming from each receiver 104 in preferably about 2-minute segments, and stores each 2-minute segment in a tile that includes the date and the start and end broadcast times of the segment. Preferably these files are io stored in memory 114, with filenames preferably associated with the televieion channel or network from which the segment was broadcast. When a user's requested information is found in decoded closed-captioned information, the user can request is system 100 to download, or to display at system ioo~s Web site, a 2-minute video segment corresponding Lo the decoded closed-captioned information in which the requested information was found. Preferably, software 120 creates the 2-minute video segment by ao copying and assembling, a~ necessary, contiguous portions of stored video segments such that the requested information occurs in the created video segment preferably after about the first 15 seconds_ These video segments can be displayed using, for 2s example, RealServer software by RealNetworks.com_ System 100 operate. preferably as follows:
information is received from a user 110 preferably at system 100~s web site. A preferred embodiment of an information entry Web page 200 is shown in FIG. 2 in 3o accordance with the present invention. A user 110 preferably enters an email return address at input entry field 202. This is the address to which .
notifications of found information will be sent.
Iz~formation to be searched for is entered at input 35 entry field 204 in the form of a keyword or phrase. A
keyword is a single word or alphanumeric character iap-07-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.004 F-279 - ~,1 string. A phrase is any number o~ keywords (or alphanumeric charact~r strings) grouped together.
s (Hereinafter, the te~m "keyphrase~~ denotes both "keyword~~ and "phras~.") Alternatively, a user can provide information to system 100 by ema~.l, facsimile, telephone, or other suitable method.
system 100 preferably confirms the 1o information received from user 110 via a confirmation Web page. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary emboeiment o~
i confirmation Web page 300 in accordance with the pxesent iwrention. Confirmation Web page 30o displays the entered keyphrasi 302 and email address 304, and 15 preferably allows us~r 110 to modify received information preferab~.y via hyperlink 306, which returns user 10o Lo information entry Web page 200. A
hyperlink is a connelctian between an element (e. g., Word, phrase, or symbol) in, for example, an email, and 2o another hyperte:~cL document, file, or script (e.g., a Web site page)_ server l08 stores information received from users preferably in a database in memory 1I4. ~'TG. 4A
shows an embodiment o~ search database 400 according to 2s the present invention. Database 400 lists keywords and phraAes in columns ~02 and 404, respectively, and lists i associated email addresses in column 4os to which notifications are sgnt when keywords or phrases are found.
so System 10p preferably allows users to limit searches to one or Imore particular types yr categories of television progx~mming_ ~'7CG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a database 50o maintained by system 100, and preferably stored in memory 114, that lists various 35 program types 5o2 and categories soy that users iio can specify when entering their keyphrase_ Thus, for example, a user 110 can enter a phrase "stock market"
and limit the search foz that phrase to televi~iors ap-OT-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEA4E 5969094 T-684 P.005/021 F-279 programming categorized as news and finance.
Similarly, a user loo can limit a search to one or more program types, such as, for example, daytime soaps, talk shows, and games.
A user 110~s selection of programming types and categories is also stored in search database 400, as shown with respect to sel~cted program Categories in ~o columns 408-414 of FIG. 4B. Additional columns can be added to database 40o to indicate selected program t~rpes and other options, some of which are described below.
System 100 preferably maintains and stores in 1s memory 214 a TV programming guide database, an embodiment of which is shown in FxG. 6 in accordance wizri the present invention. Database 600 lists, for example, television networks whose programming is provided by source 102. Database 60o also lists ao titles, types, catCgvries, and broadcast times of programs broadcast by the listed television networks.
programming guide data far database &00 can be obtained from, for example, cable yr satellite TV providers or third parties.
Preferably, users can also specify a time period during which closed-captioned television programming should be searched. Fvr example, a user can specify that information regarding a particular sporting event be searched for only during the month of 3o October. System Zoo stores this search-time limitation in database 400 and then only searches for the requested information in decoded closed-captioned information received during October.
Similarly, users can preferably specify that searches for reques>red information be made in only the programming of a limited number of Tv networks or channels. For example, a user may specify that searches for "inflation° be made in only the programming Of a particular financial news actwork.
Sep-C7-2000 09:47am From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-694 P.006/021 F-2T9 system loo stores Lhis search limitation in s database 40o anal then only searches programming in aCCOrdanCe WlLh that limS.Ldt1,0I1.
In a prefezzed embodiment of the present invention, user izxformation is also preferably stored and maintained in user files that users can access s,o preferably via a password_ FzG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Web page screen in accordance w~.th the present invention at which established users can enter their password to access their files, or at which a zxew user can establish a password for future access to that is user s file .
System 1.00 preferably maintains a user profile database listing user IDs, email addresses, and passwords. User IDs are assigned by system 100 upon a user first establishing a paasword. FIG. 8 shows an ao embodiment of user profile database 800 in accordance with the present iavcation.
An embodiment of a user account file 90o in accordance with the present invention is shown in FZG. 9. Each heyphrasc entry 902 represents a separate 2s search conducted substantially simultaneously. Upon gaining access to their files, users can add, edit, or delete search information. FIGS. 10, 7.1, and 12 show respective embodiments of Web page screens 1000, 1100, ai7~8 1200 in accordance with the present invention at 3o which additions, edits, and deletions of search ~.7rlformation can be entered. Upon users modifying their account files 900, database 400 is updated according3.y.
Preferably, system 100 performs a preset number of successful searches before requiring a user 35 to request continuation of the same search. As shown iri FIG_ 9, column 9o4 represents the number of SaP-OT-2000 09;4Tam From-FISH NERVE 5969094 T-664 P.007/021 F-279 notifications remaining (i.e., the number of successful searches still to be performed). For example, system 100 will automatically continue searching for the keyword "auto analyst" until that keyword is found s three times. After the third time, system l00 preferably resets the notifications remaining counter upon the user accessing additional information provided by system loo that pertains to the last successful seareh_ This additional information is described to furthex below- Alternatively, i~f af>:ez >rhe thixd successful search users Wish Lo con>rinue >rhe same search, they can reset the notifications remaining counter by accessing their files via passcaord and then clicking on the corresponding button 906. Note that is while in this embodiment the preset number of successful searches that system 10o will perform is three, other numbers of successful searches can be preset.
System 100 preferably filters successful 2o searches, and does not count them, if they are redundant. Accordingly, redundant notifications are prevented. System 100 preferably performs three levels of filtering. First, if the same keyphrase is found within close proximity of a previous find of that 2s keyphrasc, the latter find is ignored. "Close proximity" can be defined in terms of time (e. g., within 30 seconde) or in terms of line segmente (e. g., within ZO lint segments). A line segment is about tour or five words (i.e., spoken or explanatory text words, 3o not computer words), which about equals a closed-captioned lint displayed on a TV screen.
Second, if the same kcyphrasc i.s foursd in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information more than a preset number of times within a preset time 3~ period, those occurrences of that keyphrase exceeding those limits axe ignored. For example, system 1DO will Sap-07-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.008/021 F-279 ignore more than three occurrences of a keyphrase found in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information within 30 minutes of each other.
The third filtering that system 200 s preferably performs is a user specified "stvp/repeats"
filtering. zf a found keyphrase appears to have been found in a repeat of the same program in which that kevphrase was recently found te_g_, within the last two days), that fi>«.d would be ignored if the usex so >_o specified_ '~5top/repeaLS° information is stored for each user in column 422 of database 400_ system loo preferably allows users who do not wish to be notified around the clock of successful searches to specify a time period during which they can ss be notified of successful searches. For example, a user may specify that notifications, both real time and thoBe indicating yr summarizing previous successful searches prior to the specified time period, be sent between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM daily, which is when that 2o u2er generally has time to review previous search results and is available to watch television should that user be notified of a TV program being broadcast that includes information requested by the user.
System 100 uses software 117 to find user 2s requested information. Software 117 compares user requested information (i.e., keyphraees) with decoded closed-captioned information. Software 117 takes line segments of decoded closed-captioned information, breaks the segment up into its individual words, and 3o stores those words in an array in RAM or other temporary storage. Each word is then separately compared to each word of each keyphrase stored in system 100.
Upon finding requested information in decoded ss closed-captioned information, system loo notifies the user preferably by email. 7?IG. 13 shows an exemplary Sap-Gl-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-684 P.009/021 F-279 - 1.6 -embodiment of an email 1300 used to notify a user of a successful search in accordance with the present invention. Alternatively, users can be notified by facsimile, voice-mail, a message displayed on their Tv s screen (e.g., in the form of a banner or other type of suitable overlay), a message displayed on their computer screen (e.g., in the form of a ticker-tape-style display), a text message sent to a cellular telephone or pager, or any ocher suitable 1o method.
Notifieazions preferably include the name, broadcast time, network, and channel of the TV program in which the requested information was found, and preferably a brief portion or snippet of zs closed-captioned text surrounding the occurrence of the requested information. 3~n email notification also preferably includes a hyperlink 1602 to a Web page that provides additional closed-captioned information from the program in which the requested information was so found. This additional information is preferably proximate the requested information.
FIG. 14 shows an e::emplary embodiment of an additional information Web page 1400 that a user can access after notification of a successful search. The z5 user's keyphrase 1402 is preferably highlighted in some manner so that the user can easily see where in the additional information the keyphrase appears.
Alternatively, other means of providing access to additional closed-captioned information can be so provided. For example, users can call a specified telephone number to either listen to a recording of the additional information or order a hardcvpy. Or, users can receive additional information by email or facsimile.
3s SYStem 100 preferably provides users with access to related information from sources other than.
Sep-07-2000 09:48am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.010/021 F-279 P
the program in which the requested information was found. For example, ey~tem 100 preferably compares information to be searchcd for with names of companies whose Mock i~ publicly traded. System 100 preferably s maintains a database 1500 of publicly-traded companies, ae shown in FIG, 15, to which a user's requested information is compared. Zf a user's requested information includes the name of a publicly-traded company listed in database 1500, then the emazl zo notifying the user of a successful search preferably also includes a hyperlink to one or more sources at which that user can obtain, fox eXa>nple, current stock market or other financial information about that company.
i5 System 10o preferably maintains a notifications database that includes a record of every email notification sent to users, and of ev~ry user s access of the additional information provided by system 100_ Tnese records are useful for, among other 2o things, marketing purposes.
system 10o preferably also maintains a captioning database that includes a copy of all decoded closed-captioned information received over a period of time. This period of time is dependent upon the amount as of storage available for storing the decoded closed-captioned information. Preferably, each stream of decoded closed-captioned information (typically from a particular television channel) is stored separately.
F2G. 16 represents an exemplary embodiment of 3o software 117 in accordance with the present invention.
Software 117, executable on computer 116, includes the following functions: eesrchcr 2602, optional replicator 1604, and notifier 1606 . Notifier 1606 preferably includes email notifier 2608, TV
3s notifier 1610, and miscellaneous notifier 1612. ?hese functions can'be encoded ss follows: a single computer Sap-07-2000 09:48~m From-FISH NEA4E 5969094 T-684 P.O11/021 F-279 program, four modules or subroutines of a single computer program, tour separate programs appropriately linked together, or any other program or group of programs executable on computer 116. Moreover, if software 117 is encoded as separate programs, each program preferably can be executed in parallel on separate computers 116 (or on separate processors of a multi-processor computer 116) appropriately linked together such that system loo operates properly. Each Zo computer 116 can be customised (with respect to, e_g_, processor speed, hard disk and R.AM capacities, e>;e.) to effectively and efficiently execute its respective portion of software 117 in accordance with system 100 operation and zeal-time performance objectives.
Searcher 1602 SearCi',7.es an incoming stream of decoded closed-captioned information in real time for keyphrases entered by users_ Each word of the decoded closed-captioned information is compared with each word of each user's keyphrase. A separa~ee duplicate 2o searchex 1602 executes in parallel for each str~am of decoded closed-captioned information received from a decoder 1o6. Each stream typically represents programming from a single television channel. Upon f~.nding a keyphrase, searcher 1602 creates appropriate zs notification data.
Replicator 1604 is invoked if the number of users requiring notification of a successful find of the same information exceeds a predefined limit.
Replicator 1604 launches one or mare additional 3o searchers 16028 as needed to continue processing the found keyphrase (e. g., checking individual user files atzc3 creating appropriate notifications) . Each searcher 16028 preferably processes noti~ications for each user having requested the same found keyphrase.
35 Searchers 16028 may be functionally the same as searcher 1602 or, alternatively, may include only the Sap-Ol-2000 09:48am From-FISH NEAUE 5969094 T-694 P.012/021 F-279 notifications processing capability of searcher 2602.
The found keyphrase and associated user data are passed to searchers 16028 from searcher 1602 through replieator 1604. Upon completing its notifications s processing, each searcher 16o2R self-terminates.
Searchers 16028 allow searcher 1602 to continue real-time searching of incoming streams of decoded closed-captioned information.
Notifier 1606 preferably notifies users of zo successful finds by email. Email notifier lsoe scax~.s an email database for records that need to be transmitted to users. Each sent email has a corresponding record in the database. Email notifier 2608 retrieves all pending records iri the is email database and processes each one iz~dividually_ As each record is processed ar7~d emailed, the record is updated accordingly. Optionally, and Where appropriate, email notifier 1608 adds advertising to the email_ Preferably, email noLifier 1608 can execute zo on a separate computer 116_ ,fi~,dditionally or alternatively to email notifications, TV noLifier 1610 notifies users by overlaying or displayixsg a notification on the user s television screen. TV notifier 1610 processes 25 xl~tificatioa data created by searcher 1602 (e.g., TV
program information and appropriate addressing information) and transmits the notification accordingly.
Similarly, tniscellaneoua notifier 1612 so notifies users by methods other than email or television, such as, for example, by sending a text message to a pager or cellular telephone (capable of receiving such a message). Miscellaneous notifier 1612 also preferably includes a ticker-tape program that 35 user$ can download to their computer. Notifications SaP-07-2000 09:48am From-FISH HEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.013/021 F-279 - ZO -sent to a user's computer appear on the compute=rs screen as a Lieker-cape-style message, FzG. 17 represents a more detailed exemplary embodiment of searcher 1602 in accordance with the s pxesent invention. At 1702, searcher 1602 processes preferably one 3.ine segment of decoded closed-captioning. That line is broken up into individual words and stored in a segment array, The segment array is preferably stored in RAM or other io temporary storage and includes the words of at least three line segments.
At 1704, searcher 1602 retrieves a keyphxase from search database 400 and stores it in RAM or other temporary storage. Keyphrases are retrieved preferably is sequentially per user, If the keyphrase is a keyword, searcher 1602 preferably first checks the keyword to ensure that it is not meaningless. For example, keywords such as "the" and "it" occur >=oo frequently in closed captioning to be of any value as a keyword and 2o are thus ignored. (Such words, however, may be of value in a phrase, and thus phrases are not checked).
At mob, searcher l6oz compares a decoded closed-captioned word to a keyphrase. If the keyphrase is a keyword, a word-co-word comparison is made. If 25 the keyphrase is a phrase, then searcher 1602 compares that phrase with about three closed-captioned line segments, depending on the length of the phrase.
If the closed-captioned information (~..a,, word or line Segments) does not match the keyphrase at so 27oa, searcher zsoz retrieves another keyphrase, provided that the prior keyphrase was not the last one in database 400 (this is checked at 2710). If the prior keyphrase was the last one, then the oldest line segment stored in Lhe segment array is cleared and a 3s new line segment is processed (broken, up into individual words and stored in the segment array).
Sep-07-2000 09:46om From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.014/021 F-279 - ~1 -zf the closed-captioned information matches a keyphrase, searcher 1602 checks at 1712 whether the number of users requesting searches of that keyphrase exceeds a preset number. If it does, searcher 1602 notifies replieator 1604 to help with notifications processing. Note that searchers 16028 preferably perform 1714, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1722, 1724, 1726, and 1728.
At 1714, searcher 1602 determines whether a io user is authorized to receive a notification by checking that userls notifications remaining counter-If authorized, an alert flag is set. If not, searcher 1602 returns to 1710.
At 172,6, the found keyphrase is filtered for Zs redundancy. =f the keyphrase is found to be redundant, the alert flag is turned off and searcher 1602 returns to 1710. Searcher 1602 preferably performs two levels of redundancy filtering. The first level ignores a found kcyphrase if that keyphrase had been previously 2o found within a preset number of line segments (e.g,, 20 line segments). The second level of filtering ignores s found keyphrase if that keyphrase had been found in the same stream of decoded closed-captioned information more than a preset number of times (e. g., three) within 25 a preset time period (e. g_, 3o minutes).
Searcher l6oz preferably performs at user request a third level of filtering intended to prevent notifications of requested information found in the same TV program that may have baen broadcast at so different Limes. To perform this filtering, system 100 maintains a da>rabase of the last five email notifications per user per found keyphrase. This database includes decoded closed-captioned line segments proximate the found keyphrase. If a user ss requests this filtering, searcher 1602 takes a preset number of closed-captioned line segment words from Sap-77-2000 09:49am Fram-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-694 P.015/021 F-279 - ~a -before and after the currently found keyphrase (e. g., about eight words before and about eight words after, preferably not including articles such as ~a" and T'the"), and compares them to about the same number of s line segment words before and after each of the last five occurrences of that keyphrase found for that user.
Zf the words from the current find match the words from any of the last five by s preset percentage, that current find is considered to be from a repeated TV
io program and is ignored. The preset percentage can range, for example, from 60~ to 100%.
At 2718, search database 400 is checked to determine whether the user had selected a particular category, type, channel, or 'TV network of programming is to search. If so, the TV program in wYlieh the requested information is found is checked_ If that Tv program does not match what the user selected, the alert flag is turned off and searcher l6oZ returns tv 1710.
za AL 1720, searcher 1602 checks the search database ~k00 Lo de>=ermine whether a particular time period for notifications was specified. If a time per7~od was specified and the current keyphrase find is not within that >_ime period, this find and its 2s associated information is stored for notification to that user during the specified time period.
~,t 1722, search database 400 is checked to determine what type of notification was requested (e_g., email, TV, voice-mail, etc.).
3o At 1724, searcher 1602 determines the TV
program title from the TV programming guide database in accordance with the channel, date and broadca:~t time of the closed-captioned programming in which the rec~ucsted information was found. Searcher 1602 then stores this 35 information in the notifications datsbasc.
SaP-07-2000 09:49am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.016/021 F-279 - a3 -Notifications are prepared at 1726. If an email notification was requested, the email is setup as follows: the subject of the email is assigned in accordance with the keyphrase. If the keyphrase is a s phrase, spaces are replaced with rn7eb browser compliant ~~0. If the keyphrase is a keyword, any ampersands contains therein are replaced with X26_ Trie user's email address ie thcn assigned. If the email address is improperly formatted (e. g., incorrectly io entered by the user), searcher 1602 reformats the address to point to s Jystem 100 administrator account.
A snippet of the closed-captioned information (e. g., about six line segments) is included in the email. The following email rxotification informa>riori is stored in O.s the notifications database. sezzL date, sent time, sent flag, recipient user address, television channel on which the information was four>.d, start and end positions of the captioning text from the captioning database for that channel, keyphrase, television so program name, current captioning line, prior captioning line, and Internet URL address to wher~ this notification can be viewed on the Internet.
The email notification information is then compile~i._ Th~.s includes preferably formatting the 2s email with H2ML (hypertext markup language), storing the headex, storing the snippet of olosed-captioned text that surrounds the keyphrase, and storing any email trailers, such as, for example, a note informing the use7c that this notification is the user's last 3o unless they reset the notifications remaining counter.
The compiled email information, which is now a.recvrd, ~.s inserted in ,axe, email tabl~ for email notifier 1608 to retrieve and send out.
After the email is sent, the record of this 3s notification stored in the notifications database is updated. This database preferably always includes the Sap-OT-2000 09:49~m From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.O1T/021 F-279 - zg -last five emails for each keyphraee sent to the same user.
At 1728, the nOLl.fiCations remaining counter is decreased by one_ Searcher 1602 then returns s to 1710.
Optionally, system 100 also performs searches of closed-captiox~,ed television programming for predetermined system keyphrases, arid maintains a database of successful searches. Such a system io keyphrase database is useful, for marketing purposes (e_g_, Lo show a potential user how many times and in what television programs a keyphraee of likely interest had been found). Searching for and maintaining a database of successful searches of predetermined system 15 keyphraseg can also be useful for creating or enhancing stored lists of, for eaarnple, publicly-traded companies, sports teams, and celebrities. These lists may be of interest to certain types of users (e.g "
advertisers looking for a celebrity current7,y in Zhe ~o spotlight). Such lists may also be used to provide additional historical information to usexs requesting related searches. For example, a user requesting a search of a particular publicly-traded company can be provided with s historical record of Zel.evision 2s programs that recently discussed a publicly-traded competitor of that company.
Software 117 performs system 3ceyphrase searches substantially identical to, or similar to, user requested keyphrase searches, including redundancy so filtering. Upon finding a system keyphrase, the information preferably stored in the system keyphrase database includes: TV program name, date, broadcast time, television channel, keyphrase, preferably two lines of text from the keyphrase match (e. g., current 35 line segment and prior l~.ne segment), start position in the captioning database for the current channel, and Sap-07-2000 09:49am From-FISH NEAVE 5969094 T-684 P.O18/021 F-279 end position in the captioning database for the current channel.
In sum, system 100 advantageously searches closed-captioned television programming automatically and continuously in real time for information requested by users. System loo aBvantageously notifies those users in real time upon finding their requested information. In other words, system loo preferably receives, 8ecodes, and compares closed-captioned Zo television programming with information received fzvm users, and notifies those users of successful searches in real time such that in many cases, users may tune to the >relevision program in which the requested information was found while that program is still being is broadcast.
Thus it is seen that systems and metho$s axe presented that automatically and continuously search closed-captioned television programming in real trims for requested information. One skilled in the art will ao appreciate that the present invention can be practices by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and noL of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.
Claims (45)
1. A system that continuously searches closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user, said system comprising:
a computer having a processor, random access memory, hard disk, and at least one input/output port operative to receive information to be searched for from a user and to receive decoded closed-captioned television programming; and software executable on said computer to compare said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said decoded closed-captioned information is received by said computer and to notify said user in real time of finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information.
a computer having a processor, random access memory, hard disk, and at least one input/output port operative to receive information to be searched for from a user and to receive decoded closed-captioned television programming; and software executable on said computer to compare said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said decoded closed-captioned information is received by said computer and to notify said user in real time of finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said received information comprises a keyword.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said software compares each word of said decoded closed-captioned information to said keyword.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein after finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information, said software continues to compare said received information to decoded closed-captioned information received after said requested information is found.
5. The system of claim 4. wherein said software does not notify said user of a subsequent find of said received information when said subsequent find is within close proximity of a previous find of said received information.
6, The system of claim 5 wherein said close proximity is a time period of less than about 30 minutes.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein said close proximity is about 20 line segments of said decoded closed-captioned information.
8. The system of claim 2 wherein said received information and said decoded closed-captioned information comprises words of text, said software comparing each text word of said received information to each text word of said decoded closed-captioned information.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said random access memory has at least about 50 megabytes of storage, said hard disk has at least about 5 gigabytes of storage, and said processor operates at at least about 500 megahertz.
10. A system that continuously searches closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user, said system comprising:
a receiver operative to receive closed-captioned television programming;
a closed-captioned decoder coupled to said receiver, said decoder operative to decode closed-captioned information from said closed-captioned programming;
a file server operative to receive information to search for from a user, said server having a processor;
memory coupled to said server, said memory operative to store said received information and said decoded closed-captioned information;
a computer coupled to said decoder and to said server, said computer having a processor, random access memory, and hard disk; and software executable on said computer to compare said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said closed-captioned information is decoded by said decoder and to notify said user in real time of said received information found in said decoded closed-captioned information.
a receiver operative to receive closed-captioned television programming;
a closed-captioned decoder coupled to said receiver, said decoder operative to decode closed-captioned information from said closed-captioned programming;
a file server operative to receive information to search for from a user, said server having a processor;
memory coupled to said server, said memory operative to store said received information and said decoded closed-captioned information;
a computer coupled to said decoder and to said server, said computer having a processor, random access memory, and hard disk; and software executable on said computer to compare said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said closed-captioned information is decoded by said decoder and to notify said user in real time of said received information found in said decoded closed-captioned information.
11. The system of claim to wherein said received information comprises a keyword.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein said user is notified by email of received information found in decoded closed-captioned information.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein said computer random access memory has a capacity of at least about 6g megabytes, said computer hard disk has a capacity of at least about l0 gigabytes, and said computer processor operates at at least about 800 megahertz.
14. The system of claim 10 wherein said server is a hypertext transfer protocol server.
15. The system of claim 10 wherein said server processor operates at at least about 800 megahertz.
16. The system of claim 10 wherein said memory is a disk drive.
17. The system of claim 10 wherein said memory has at least about 80 gigabytes of storage.
18. The system of claim 10 further comprising:
a second computer coupled to said receiver and to said computer, said second computer having a processor, random access memory, a hard disk, an input/output port operative to receive television programming, and a video capture card; and software executable on said computer to capture and stare segments of received closed-captioned television programming.
a second computer coupled to said receiver and to said computer, said second computer having a processor, random access memory, a hard disk, an input/output port operative to receive television programming, and a video capture card; and software executable on said computer to capture and stare segments of received closed-captioned television programming.
19. A method of searching closed-captioned television programming in real time for information requested by a user, said method comprising:
(a) receiving information to search for;
(b) receiving closed-captioned television programming;
(c) decoding closed-captioned information from said closed-captioned programming;
(d) comparing said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said closed-captioned information is decoded; and (e) notifying said user in real time of finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information.
(a) receiving information to search for;
(b) receiving closed-captioned television programming;
(c) decoding closed-captioned information from said closed-captioned programming;
(d) comparing said received information to said decoded closed-captioned information substantially as said closed-captioned information is decoded; and (e) notifying said user in real time of finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information.
2o. The method of claim 19 wherein said received information comprises a keyword.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein said receiving information comprises receiving information via the Internet.
22. The method of claim 19 further comprising storing said decoded information in a database.
23. The method of claim 19 further comprising storing segments of received closed-captioned television programming in a database.
24. The method of claim 19 further comprising selecting closed-captioned programming received during a particular time period with which said comparing is to occur.
25. The method of claim 19 wherein said closed-captioned television programming is categorized, said method further comprising selecting closed-captioned programming of a particular category with which said comparing is to occur.
26. The method of claim 19 wherein said closed-captioned television programming is provided by a plurality of television networks, said method further comprising selecting closed-captioned programming of a particular television network with which said comparing is to occur.
27. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying comprises notifying said user via the Internet.
28. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying comprises notifying said user by email.
29. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying comprises notifying said user by facsimile.
30. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying includes a program name and channel on which said received information was found.
31. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a user with access to additional information related to said received information found in said decoded closed-captioned information.
32. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying comprises providing a hyperlink to enable a user to obtain additional decoded closed-captioned information proximate said received information found in said decoded closed-captioned information.
33. The method of claim 19 further comprising displaying a video segment corresponding to decoded closed-captioned information in which said received information was found.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein said video segment comprises about 2 minutes of video.
35. The method of claim 19 further comprising comparing said received information to names of companies whose stock is publicly-traded.
36. The method of claim 19 wherein said received information includes a name of a publicly-traded company and said notifying comprises providing a hyperlink to enable a user to obtain financial information pertaining to a said publicly-traded company.
37. The method of claim 19 wherein said notifying further comprises:
specifying a time period when said notifying can occur; and notifying said user during said specified time period of real-time finds of said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information and of finds of said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information prior to said specified time period.
specifying a time period when said notifying can occur; and notifying said user during said specified time period of real-time finds of said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information and of finds of said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information prior to said specified time period.
38. The method of claim 19 further comprising maintaining said received information in a file modifiable by said user.
39. The method of claim 19 further comprising preventing said notifying from occurring after a first occurrence of said notifying upon finding said received information again in said decoded closed-captioned information in close proximity to a previous find of said received information.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein said close proximity is a time period of less than about 30 minutes.
41. The method of claim 39 wherein said close proximity is a about 20 line segments of said decoded closed-captioned information.
42. The method of claim 19 wherein said comparing comprises comparing each word of said decoded closed-captioned information with each word of said received information.
43. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving an email address to which notifications are to be sent upon finding said received information in said decoded closed-captioned information.
44. The method of claim 19 wherein said decoding, comparing, and notifying occurs in real-time as said cloned-captioned television programming is received.
45. The method of claim 19 further comprising repeating (a) - (e) at least once.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US15311999P | 1999-09-08 | 1999-09-08 | |
| US60/153,119 | 1999-09-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2317339A1 true CA2317339A1 (en) | 2001-03-08 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002317339A Abandoned CA2317339A1 (en) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-09-07 | Automated real-time continuous searching of closed-captioned television programming |
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|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2317339A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2358938A (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7168084B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2007-01-23 | Sedna Patent Services, Llc | Method and apparatus for targeting virtual objects |
| US9286294B2 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2016-03-15 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content suggestion engine |
| US7908628B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2011-03-15 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content coding and formatting |
| US7793326B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2010-09-07 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator |
| US20030028884A1 (en) * | 2001-08-03 | 2003-02-06 | Swart William D. | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content availability notification system and method |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US5481296A (en) * | 1993-08-06 | 1996-01-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Apparatus and method for selectively viewing video information |
| DK1361751T3 (en) * | 1996-12-10 | 2009-10-05 | United Video Properties Inc | Internet television programquide system |
| WO1999041684A1 (en) * | 1998-02-13 | 1999-08-19 | Fast Tv | Processing and delivery of audio-video information |
| US6480819B1 (en) * | 1999-02-25 | 2002-11-12 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Automatic search of audio channels by matching viewer-spoken words against closed-caption/audio content for interactive television |
-
2000
- 2000-09-07 CA CA002317339A patent/CA2317339A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-09-07 GB GB0021979A patent/GB2358938A/en not_active Withdrawn
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|---|---|
| GB0021979D0 (en) | 2000-10-25 |
| GB2358938A (en) | 2001-08-08 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20040907 |