MXPA99009372A - System for acquiring information requested by a user via a program guide selection - Google Patents

Abstract

A video decoder system operates in different configurations to request and acquire information using one or more communication links and different communication protocols. A method for acquiring information requested by a User via a program guide selection involves retrieving access data from memory (505). The access data is retrieved in response to a User selection made from options shown on a displayed program guide. A data identifier is derived from program map data associating the data identifier and the User selection (525). Information is identified in an input signal in response to the access data using the identifier. The identified information is retrieved from the input signal (530) to produce a retrieved information output and the retrieved information is formatted for display (535). The decoder may establish a Request communication link with a first device using the access data (515). In addition, the decoder may establish a communication link with another device using a communication protocol derived from an information database (520).

Description

SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING INFORMATION REQUESTED BY A USER THROUGH A SELECTION OF THE PROGRAM GUIDE This is a non-provisional application of the provisional application with Serial Number 60 / 043,539 by R.J. Logan et al., Filed on April 14, 1997.

Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of digital signal processing, and more particularly, to the acquisition of Program Guide Information, and data 'of program content, derived from multiple sources, for example Internet, cable , satellite, and terrestrial sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Home entertainment systems that combine functions of Personal Computer and Television (PC / TV systems), are becoming more and more generic communication devices, interactive with the User, from multiple sources, and from multiple destinations . These systems are required to communicate in different data formats between multiple locations for a variety of applications in response to User requests. For example, a PC / TV system can receive data from satellite or terrestrial sources that include High Definition Television (HDTV) transmissions, Multi-Point Microwave Distribution System (MMDS) transmissions, and Digital Video Transmissions (DVB). ). A PC / TV system can also receive and transmit data by means of telephone (for example, Internet) and coax (for example, cable TV), and both from remote and local sources, such as disc type players. Digital Video (DVD), CDROM, VHS, and digital VHS (DVHSMR), PCs, and many other types of sources. A number of problems in the development of this generic PC / TV entertainment system are presented. Specifically, there are problems in the communication support between multiple data sources, and in the processing of data from multiple sources. A problem also arises from the need to devise a User interface for this system that supports complex user interactive tasks, while providing a simple command interface suitable for the general public. A user interface of the PC / TV system, for example, must allow a User to see a selected program, and allow the User to operate functions such as email, telephone, Internet access, fax, and video functions -phone . These applications require communication between a PC / TV unit and a variety of both remote sources, for example a satellite service provider, and local sources, for example a DVD storage device. In addition, a PC / TV needs to process and decode data in different data formats from different devices, and display the data received to the User. These problems are solved by a system in accordance with the present invention. References in the prior art include International Publication Number 097/13368, which discloses a program guide processing system that involves using remote databases in acquiring program guide information from data sources in response to the command of the User. In addition, references of the prior art also include the article "Intercast Brings the Web to TV", January 21, 1997, PC magazine, which discloses a system for transporting a program guide in the Vertical Blanking Interval of an analog TV signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hereby, the inventors have recognized that a user interface type of program guide conveniently provides a simple and user-friendly interface for the operation by the User of functions such as electronic mail, telephone, access to Internet, fax, home control, and video-telephone functions. The User of a Program Guide for these functions also conveniently provides a single User interface for the operation by the User of multiple devices and associated functions. The inventors have further recognized that it is desirable for a video decoder system to be able to efficiently acquire the information in response to a request for information from the User, through a program guide interface. Furthermore, for a decoder system to acquire the information efficiently, it must be able to balance the limitations of data acquisition, including: (a) the required bandwidth of the communication channel, especially in the return direction from the decoder to the source of information, (b) the time of access to the information requested, (c) the burden of the service provider to collate and supply the information requested, and (d) the range of information available to be requested by a User of the decoder. - A video decoder system disclosed operates in different configurations to acquire information requested by a User through a program guide. The different configurations of the decoder request and acquire information using one or more communication links, and different communication protocols. Particular configurations may be used to reduce the required bandwidth of communication, the access time of data acquisition, or the load of the service provider involved in the provision of the requested information. In another configuration, a decoder can communicate with a greater number of information sources to acquire a wider range of information. In a video decoder system, a method for acquiring information requested by a User by means of a selection of the program guide, involves recovering the access data from the memory. The access data is retrieved in response to a selection of the User hedía from the options shown in a program guide displayed. A data identifier is derived from the data of the program map associating the data identifier and the selection of the User. The information is identified in an input signal in response to the access data using the identifier. The identified information is retrieved from the input signal to produce a retrieved information output, and the retrieved information is formatted for visual display. In a feature of the invention, the decoder establishes a Request communication link with a first device, using the access data. In another feature of the invention, the decoder establishes a communication link with another device, using a communication protocol derived from an information database.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawing: Figure 1 shows a home entertainment decoder system, according to the invention, for communicating with a plurality of sources, and for processing the program guide information and the content data of programs. Figure 2 shows a visual display format of the Example Program Guide according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a data format, according to the invention, for packetizing Internet data to be transmitted within a data stream compatible with MPEG. Figure 4 shows a flow diagram, according to the invention, to receive the program guide information, including the selection options of the User, and to process the information received in order to form a program guide that supports Communication functions selectable by the User. Figure 5 shows a flow diagram, according to the invention, for a process to form a program guide in a video decoder from the information received from a plurality of sources. Figure 6 shows a flow chart, according to the invention, for a process to automatically acquire and collate the program guide information from a plurality of sources, and form a program guide for its display. Figure 7 shows a black and white representation of a visual display format of the Example Color Program Guide, according to the invention, showing the menu options that allow a User to compare the programs by source and attribute color. Figure 8 shows a flow chart, according to the invention, for a process to acquire information requested by a user of the video receiver, by means of a selection made from the options of a program guide displayed. Figure 9 shows a flow diagram, according to the invention, for a process to decode the incoming Internet information and the compressed video data, and form a composite video output for visual display.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a home entertainment decoder system, according to the invention, for communicating with multiple sources for the purpose of acquiring program guide information and program content data. The decoder system forms a program guide to be displayed from the acquired information and automatically collated from multiple sources. A User can initiate the functions of electronic mail, telephone, Internet access, fax, and video-telephone by selecting options from the program guide displayed. The decoder system decodes in an adaptive manner a stream of data encoded in the MPEG standard, which 'incorporates compressed program content data and Internet data representative of, for example, Hypertex-t Mark-up Language (HTML). The decoded data is formatted either as a composite video image, or as separate video images for visual display. The MPEG2 image coding standard (Moving Pictures Expert Group), referred to hereinafter as the "MPEG standard", is comprised of a section that encodes the system (ISO / IEC 13818-1). , June 10, 1994), and a section encoding the video (ISO / IEC 13818-2, January 20, 1995), hereinafter referred to as the "MPEG system standard" and "MPEG video standard" , respectively.

Although the system disclosed is described in the context of a system for receiving an MPEG-compatible signal, it is exemplary only. The principles of the invention can be applied to systems where the types of transmission channels and communication protocols may vary, or to systems where the type of coding may vary. These systems can include, for example, systems not compatible with MPEG, which involve other types of coded data streams and other methods for transporting the Program Guide information. In addition, although the system disclosed is described as transmission program processing, this is exemplary only. The term 'program' is used to represent any form of data, such as telephone messages, computer programs, Internet data, or other communications, for example. In one scenario, in the video receiver system of Figure 1, a carrier modulated with video data is received from a transmission satellite via antenna 10, and processed by unit 15. The resulting digital output signal is demodulated by the demodulator 20, and errors are decoded and corrected by the decoder 30. In this exemplary mode, the demodulated and decoded output from the unit 30 is in the form of a transport stream compatible with MPEG containing compressed video data. MPEG and Internet data encoded in HTML. The video data encoded in the MPEG standard is in the form of a packet data stream, which normally includes the data content of many program channels (for example, the content corresponding to the cable television channels 1- 125). The MPEG compliant transport stream is provided to the processor 25, which responds to commands from the remote control unit 125. The processor 25 communicates with other data sources, including the storage device 90, and either the server Internet data 83, or Internet connection service 87 (for example, America On-lineMR). The program guide information is automatically acquired and checked from the input transport stream and the storage device 90, and the server 83, or the connection service 87. The acquired information is merged by the processor 25. to form a program guide for exhibiting, which incorporates selection options that allow a User to initiate the functions of electronic mail, telephone, Internet access, fax, and video-telephone, among others, for example. The program guide to be displayed is also formed to include information not displayed from multiple sources, to identify and assemble the individual data packages that constitute the programs that are selected to be seen or heard by the User. This information is used to retrieve the content of selected programs from multiple sources. The processor 25 decompresses the compressed video input data in an adaptive manner, and decodes the HTML Internet data to provide a composite video image formatted to be displayed in the unit 75. The processor 25 also provides coded data outputs for storage in the storage medium 105 by means of the storage device 90, and provides coded data to other devices (not shown to simplify the drawing) by means of the modem 80 and the telephone lines. A User of the video receiver initiates functions, including the functions of electronic mail, telephone, Internet access, fax, and video telephone, and the display and storage of selected programs by selecting options from the program guide displayed. . A User selects an option displayed with a cursor, using the 12S remote control unit. The commands from the remote control 125 are passed through the interface 120 to the controller 115 inside the processor 25. The unit 115 controls the operation of the elements of the processor 25, and responds to the remote control unit 125 with commands, using a bidirectional data bus and control signals C. The controller 115 controls the functions of the individual elements inside the processor 25, setting the control register values inside these elements, with the control busbar C. The processor 25 also supports the storage and retrieval of data from the storage medium 105 by the storage device 90. The storage device 90 is a DVD-type device, and means 105 comprises a multi-disk stack unit containing a plurality of disks in this exemplary embodiment. Considering Figure 1 in detail, a carrier modulated with video data received by the antenna 100, is converted to a digital form, and processed by the input processor 15. The processor 15 includes a radio frequency (RF) tuner and a intermediate frequency (IF) mixer, and amplification stages to convert the incoming video signal down to a lower frequency band. The processor 15 also includes an analog-to-digital convert to digitize the converted signal downward, in order to produce a signal suitable for further processing. The resulting digital output signal is demodulated by the demodulator 20, and is decoded and the errors are corrected by the decoder 30. The output from the decoder 30 is further processed by the unit 45 of the processor 25. The data provided to the unit 45 are in the form of a packet transport data stream that complies with MPEG, as defined in the MPEG 2.4 system standards section, and includes the program guide information and the data content of one or more channels of programs. The processor 25 acquires and collates the program guide information automatically from the input transport stream and the storage device 90, and either the Internet data server 83 or the Internet connection service 87 (e.g. , America On-lineMR). The individual packets that comprise the content of particular program channels, or the Program Guide information, are identified by ~ their Packet Identifiers (PIDs) contained within the header information. In response to the control signal C, the unit 45 selects the transport stream from the unit 30, or in a reproduction mode, a data stream recovered from the storage device 90 by means of the storage interface 95. In normal operation, without reproduction, the individual packets comprising the program guide information are identified by the unit 45 in the transport stream from the unit 30, and assembled using the packet identifiers, which are previously determined and stored in an internal memory of the controller 115. The unit 45 couples the Packet Identifiers, of the input packets in the transport data stream from the decoder 30, with the Packet Identifier values previously loaded in the control registers inside the unit 45 by means of the controller 115. Accordingly, the information packets of the guide of Satellite transmission programs (SPG) in the transport stream through unit 45 without additional PID information. The controller 115 acquires a complete SPG, having access to and assembling the PSG packets that are identified and captured by the unit 45. The PID information that enables the controller 115, in conjunction with the unit 45, to identify the data packets comprising individual programs, is called a map of programs or channels. The program map associates the PIDs with the data streams in individual packages that constitute a program and that are part of the SPG. The SPG may also contain additional information, for example, package assembly information, supporting retrieval of program guide data from the incoming transport stream. The controller 115 also configures the unit 45 using the control signal C to select the data packets comprising the DVD program guide information (DPG) derived from the DVD storage device 90, via the interface 95. The unit 45 couples the PIDs of the input packets in the packet data stream from the interface 95, with the PID values previously loaded in the control registers inside the unit 45 by the controller 115. Controller 115 acquires a complete DPG by accessing and assembling the DPG data packets that are identified and captured by unit 45. A similar process is followed in the acquisition of Internet program guide (IPG) information, from the Internet server 83 or from the Internet connection service 87, by means of telephone line communication via the modem 80. In the acquisition of the IPG, analogous or identical data identifiers are coupled in the PIDs used in the acquisition of SPG or DPG, with the identifiers previously loaded by the controller 115. The coupling function can be performed either inside the unit 80, or by means of the 115. The process for acquiring the program guide information is explained in more detail in the description of Figures 4 to 6. The information SPG, DPG, and IPG acquired by the controller 115 is merged by the processor 25 to form a program guide for exhibiting, which incorporates selection options that allow a User to initiate functions of electronic mail, telephone, Internet access, fax, and videophone. In the fusion of the data, the information SPG, DPG, and IPG acquired, is checked in two levels of hierarchy called topic and topic, and the redundant program guide information is eliminated. A theme, for example, may include categories such as movies, sports, weather, arts, documentaries, news, and so on. A topic is a category within a topic, for example, a movie subject category can have topics, including comedy, suspense, horror, science fiction, romance, adult entertainment, and so on. Different or additional levels of hierarchies can be used in the collation of SPG, DPG, and acquired IPG information, involving criteria such as ownership of the viewer's age, the establishment of the period, for example contemporary or historical, reviewers' evaluations, and so on. A number of problems are presented in the comparison of the SPG, DPG, and IPG information. The SPG, DPG, and IPG information, which is from different sources, can categorize the programs by different topics and topics, and can use a different classification hierarchy. In addition, the SPG, DPG, and IPG data may use conflicting, redundant, or incompatible PIDs, or other data identifiers to identify individual data items that comprise a particular channel content or program guide. The controller 115 creates a master set of topics and topics that map the SPG, DPG, and IPG information into a corresponding category of the master set. For example, the master set may contain a topic-ema that encompasses 'comedy-movies' where both the DPG topic-topic of 'parody-films' and the topic IPG-Internet theme of 'both' are mapped. movies-synopsis index '(an index of web pages). In the comparison of the information in the guide, the controller 115 determines the categories of topics and topics of the data in SPG, DPG, and IPG from the subject-specific codes previously determined. The codes of the topics and topics of SPG, DPG, and IPG, together with the equivalence mapping information to convert the codes of one service provider, to those of another, are acquired ajoartir of the SPG or data entry defined by the User to the processor 25, or are previously stored in the internal memory inside the controller 115. The controller 115 assembles the SPG, DPG, and IPG packets collated according to the categories defined by the master set of topics and topics . The SPG data, Assembled DPG, and IPG are stored by the controller 115 in the internal memory for use in forming a composite program guide for display. The controller 115 also forms the non-displayed information compatible with MPEG, associated with the composite program guide displayed. Information not displayed includes the composite program map, conditional access, and network information. This non-displayed information is required to support the identification, assembly, and decoding of the packages comprising the composite program guide and the associated program content. The conditional access information governs the access to the programs based on the right of the User. The information of the network defines the physical parameters of the network, such as the frequencies of the satellite transmission channel and the transponder channels, for example. The controller 115 forms the composite program map information for the composite program guide that maps the topics and topics of SPG, DPG, and IPG into the master set of topics and topics. The composite program map also associates the data identifiers (for example, the PID values) with the data streams in individual packets that constitute the programs "listed in the composite program guide." The composite program map information may also include a dedicated indicator to denote that a particular program has information of associated Internet web pages available In the formation of the composite program map information, the controller 115 examines the information of SPG, DPG, and IPG for omissions, redundancies, and conflicts of the data identifiers The controller 115 renumbers the existing data identifiers, and creates new data identifiers, as required, to produce the MPEG-compatible program map information, both for the guide information of programs checked as the content of associated programs.The controller 115 also forms in Conditional access training compatible with MPEG and network information from the corresponding information received in the SPG, DPG, and IPG data. The conditional access information includes data such as cryptic codes that govern access to programs that depend on the right of the User. The network information defines the physical parameters of the network, such as the frequencies of the satellite transmission channel, the transponder channels, and the Internet access parameters associated with the composite program guide for display. The composite program map, the conditional access, and the network information support the assembly, decode, and display the content of programs available from the satellite, storage, and Internet server sources, as well as the guide composite programs. The controller 115 also includes additional link data in the composite program map not shown, conditional access, and network information. The additional link data supports the functions selectable by the User, such as the functions of electronic mail, telephone, Internet access, fax, video-telephone, channel tuning, recording programs, and home control. The home control functions can support the user's control of lighting, air conditioning, heating, and burglar alarm operation, for example. The additional link data associates the access data, both with the data identifiers (for example, PIDs) of the requested data, and with the menu options selectable by the User in the composite program guide displayed. Access data includes identification codes, communication protocol codes, conditional access codes, Internet access codes, for example URL codes for the web page and access to e-mail, as well as telephone and fax numbers. The access data makes it possible for the processor 25 to communicate with external devices. In order to generate the composite program guide for visual display, the controller 115 retrieves the previously assembled and collated SPG, DPG, and IPG packet data stored in the internal memory. The controller 115 converts the retrieved data to pixel data, and formats the converted data for storage in the pixel representative memory map contained in the visual display processor 70. In addition, the controller 115 creates selectable menu options by the User (for the selection by the User of email, fax, etc.) in the form of pixel data to be incorporated into the pixel memory map of the unit 70. The controller 115 stores the pixel data SPG, DPG, and IPG formatted, together with the pixel data of the option generated in the pixel map of unit 70, to form the. program guide composed for visual display. The composite program guide, combining the SPG, DPG, and IPG data, and the options selectable by the User, is formatted to be compatible with the link data in the program guide information not shown. For example, an option selectable by the User of the guide displayed (for example, for a telephone function) is associated, both with the access data for the function (for example, a telephone number), and the data identifiers (for example, the PIDs for the data packets of the messages). The visual display processor 70 converts program guide data stored and formatted into conventional luminance and chrominance components.The luminance and chrominance components, together with the time data provided by controller 115, are processed by the processor 70 in a conventional manner to form an NTSC signal to be displayed on the NTSC 75 compliant image playback device, eg, a television or video monitor, the processor 70, in another embodiment, can provide The RGB output data to be displayed by a RGB compatible playback device or a high definition TV.

The controller 115, in conjunction with the processor 55, forms a data stream compatible with MPEG of compressed video and audio data containing the composite program guide and the program content. The processor 55 separates the system information, including time, error, and synchronization information from the data stream from the unit 45, and bypasses it to be used by the controller 115. The controller 115 applies the system information in the control processor 55, to provide program guide data and composite programs resynchronized and collated together with the. synchronization and error indication information, for use in the following decompression of program content data by the decoder 65. The data of the composite program guide provided by the processor 55, combines the SPG, DPG, and IPG data. and the options selectable by the User, in a manner compatible with the link information of the program map as described above. The program content data provided by the processor 55, are decompressed by the MPEG decoder 65, to provide video pixel data and audio output data to the processor 70. The visual display processor 70 processes the video pixel data. and the audio output data to be suitable to be reproduced by unit 75 as described above.

Figure 2 shows a composite program guide shown as an example. The features of the 833-850 menu show the services and functions of the program. The features of menu 833 and 835 show the program channels that can be invoked and displayed by highlighting the corresponding menu feature using a User selection control, such as a cursor directed to remote control. If a User enhances the feature 833 with the cursor, that is, selects the menu option 833, for example, the processor 25 tunes to the television channel 107 (A &EMR), and displays it in the unit 75, using the -information of the program guide not exhibited compound to determine the activated function and the associated tuning information (channel frequencies, etc.). In a similar manner, if a User enhances feature 837, processor 25 tunes to receive FM radio channel 13 for audio output on unit 75. By enhancing features 840-850, corresponding to e-mail functions , telephone, fax, and DVD recording / playback, respectively, come to display specific menus of additional functions, providing additional selection options for the User. These function-specific menus can provide a User with the ability to edit, store, and delete access information, including, for example, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, Internet addresses, credit card numbers, and credit information. Additional conditional access. If a User enhances the characteristics of the menu 860-870, specific function tasks are initiated. After a User has highlighted the 860 feature, for example, an additional menu is displayed, asking the User to enter an email message to be sent to John Smith at home, via an e-mail address.

Internet retrieved from the information of the non-exhibited composite program guide. In a similar way, in response to a User enhancing feature 865, for example, controller 115 (Figure 1) retrieves Jean's home telephone number from internal memory, using information from the non-exhibited composite program guide . In addition, the controller 115 establishes telephone communication, through modem 80, with Jean at home, by dialing the telephone number of Jean's home. Also, after a User enhances feature 870, for example, the movie 'Star Wars' is shown again from the DVD 90 unit (Figure 1). The communication between the processor 25 and the DVD unit 90 is established with the access data retrieved from the memory inside the controller 115, using the information of the program guide not shown. In addition, the program guide may include one or more icons, such as icon 873 (Figure 2) that illustrates a home, for example, to indicate whether Internet information is available, such as a 'home page' for a particular program. In addition, icon 873 of Figure 2 may change color, for example, from white to green, to indicate that Internet information is available for a particular program. Alternatively, the 873 icon may be an icon that pops up, which appears as an indication that Internet information is available for a particular program. The displayed program guide can be formed to enable a User to request Internet information about a particular program by enhancing the program followed by the highlighting of the jump icon, for example. The home page icons that are present when Internet information is available can also be located inside or adjacent to the program icons, for example the 859 icon. In addition, the home page icon may change color after that the User selects the information by highlighting the home page icon. Although Internet information can be retrieved by highlighting a web page icon, such as icon 857 in Figure 2, this is for example only. The recovery of Internet information can also be initiated in a variety of other ways. A User can retrieve the available Internet information related to a program, highlighting a program icon, such as' Seinfeld ™, using the 859 icon, followed by the enhancement of the Internet 810 icon, for example. After the User selects a function from the composite program guide, the controller 115 (Figure 1) determines and applies the access data associated with both the request and response operations involved in the selected function. The controller 115 determines the access data required for the request and response operations from the pre-formed composite program map, the conditional access, and the network information. The processor 25 acquires information, such as the data from the web page, in response to a request from the User, in a number of ways, including, for example: a) in a first configuration, the processor 25 has access to the data of the web page that is continuously transmitted in the satellite transmission received from the decoder 30, b) in a second configuration, the processor 25 acquires the data of the web page that is transmitted in the satellite transmission received from the decoder 30, in response to a request for information to a service provider by means of the telephone line, and c) in a third configuration, the processor 25 requests the information and receives the response information on the same communication link, for example, on the link telephone with the server 83.

First Configuration of the Processor 25 In the first configuration, the data of the web page selected by a User by means of the program guide displayed, are continuously transmitted inside the transport data stream introduced to the processor 25 from the decoder 30. In In this configuration, the information of the composite program map contains previously determined PID values for the requested web page. Accordingly, the data of the requested web page is retrieved from the incoming transport stream using the composite program map information without the need for the controller 115 to communicate with a service provider via the 80 modem. Configuration, the web information available to a User is limited to the specific information that a service provider continuously transmits to the processor 25 using the dedicated transmission bandwidth. However, this configuration is simple and offers quick access to the web page (because the web data can be stored locally in the encoder by the service provider). This configuration also minimizes the burden of the data acquisition service provider, and eliminates the need for the processor 25 to communicate the web page request information to a service provider. The information on the web page, encoded in HTMLMR and JavaMR, is put into packages, and is formatted in an encoder by the service provider to be incorporated into the MPEG transport data stream for transmission. Figure 3 shows a data format, according to the invention, for packetizing Internet data to be transmitted within a data stream compatible with MPEG. The encoder forms a sequence of HTMLMR / JavaMR web pages (705-720 of Figure 3), in uncompressed packets, with auxiliary information and HTMLMR / JavaMR data (725). The auxiliary information includes PID values, a packet count value, and the size of the individual web page (e.g., number of bytes or pixel size of the image). The auxiliary information may also include: an indicator to indicate that a particular transport packet contains information from the web page; a start code; a web page identification code; an error correction code, and an appropriate time parameter to synchronize the Internet information of the web page with an associated video or audio program. The web page indicator can be used to facilitate the identification and separation of the web page information from compressed video data in MPEG. In addition, one or more elements of the auxiliary data of the web page may be included within the user-definable elements of the MPEG transport syntax, such as within the transport header, or may be included together with the information of the web page in the MPEG transport data payload. The information on the response web page, including the previously determined PID value, is incorporated into the transport data stream compatible with MPEG introduced to the processor 25 (Figure 1) by the service provider. The previously determined PID value of the response channel is also previously stored in the internal memory of the controller 115, and is incorporated into the composite program map information. As an alternative, the PID value of response data and associated program map data can be encoded, for example, in a Channel Information Table (CIT), in a high definition television signal.

(HDTV) encoded in accordance with the Television Standard.

Digi tal for HDTV Transmission of April 12, 1995, prepared by the United States Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC, Committee of Advanced Television Systems of the United States). In this case, one or more specific predetermined program channels can be designated to convey the response information of the web page. In addition, the PID values of the program channels can be transported in a CIT in the composite program map information, for example. The controller 115 derives the previously determined PID value corresponding to the requested web page response information, from the stored composite program map information, and loads it into the control registers inside the unit 45. The unit 45 couples the PIDs of the input packets of the response data of the web page in the transport data stream from the decoder 30, with the PID value previously loaded in the control registers of the unit '45. Packets with PID values that match the previously determined web response PID value are identified as response data from the web page, and are provided by unit 45 to a dedicated buffer area in decoder 55. The zone The dedicated buffer memory in the transport decoder 55 contains the response data to be decoded by the processor 60. The processor 55 derives the system information, including the time, error, and synchronization information, from the current data from the unit 45, and provides it to the controller 115. The controller 115 applies the system information in the address processor 55, to provide resynchronized web page response data from the dedicated buffer area in the decoder 55, to the HT / javaMR 60 processor. The processor 60 decodes the encoded web response information in HT and Ja vaMR, and provides the pixel data representative of the image of the web page for storage in the memory inside the controller 115. Although the processor 60 is shown as a separate processor in Figure 1, it can also be implemented inside the software of the controller 115. Processor 60 comprises the processing functions of a special web browser, including JPEG decompression and Java decoding, such as that involved in the operation of the Netscape Navigator ™, for example. The program content data, for example, a television program channel selected by the User, within the transport data stream compatible with MPEG from the decoder 30, are also decoded into pixel representative data by the processor 25, in addition to the web page response data. For this purpose, the controller 115 determines the PID value of the program of the selected television channel from the information of the composite program map, and loads it into the control registers inside the unit 45. The unit 45 couples the PIDs of the input packets of the program data of the selected television channel in the transport data stream from the decoder 30 with the PID value previously loaded in the control registers of the unit 45. The packets with PID values that match the PID value of the program of the previously selected television channel determined, are identified and are provided by unit 45 to a dedicated application buffer area in decoder 55. As described above for web page response data, the processor 55 derives the system information, including time, error, and synchronization information, from the data stream from the unit 45, and provides it to the controller 115. The controller 115 applies the system information in the address processor 55, to provide the content data of the resynchronized program channel, from the buffer zone of application in the decoder 55, to the MPEG decoder 65. The MPEG-compatible program channel content data is decompressed by the MPEG decoder 65 to provide video pixel data and audio output data to the visual display processor 70. The video pixel data from the decoder 65 they are stored in a representative pixel memory contained in the visual display processor 70. The controller 115 retrieves the pixel data from the web page image from the internal memory, and formats it to be stored as a superimposed on the representative pixel memory contained in the visual display processor 70. As such, a merged visual display is formed which combines the web page response data and the program channel content inside the processor pixel memory 70. The relative proportions and sizes of the web page image and the content image of the channel inside the composite image. The resulting ta, formed in the pixel memory of the processor 70, may be varied by the controller 115 in response to an internal programmed command or to an external command, for example from the User. The relative proportions can be varied, such that the web page image or the content image of the channel contributes between 0 and 100 percent of the resulting composite image. In order to adjust the proportion of the composite image contributed by the web page data, the controller 115 scales the pixel data of the web page image by a conventional interpolation process. Alternatively, the data can be scaled by a separate video processing integrated circuit that operates in conjunction with the controller 115. The resulting scaled web page image is stored inside the pixel memory of the processor 70 via the controller 115 The stored web page image represents a superimposed image with respect to the content image of the program channel. In order to adjust the location of the data of the web page image inside the composite image, the controller 115 determines the addresses corresponding to the desired memory locations, from the data of the internal memory map, and stores the scaled web page image data in the desired locations of the memory. As explained above, the visual display processor 70 converts the composite image data formatted into conventional luminance and chrominance components. In addition, the processor 70 processes the luminance and chrominance components, along with the time data provided by the controller 115, in a conventional manner, to form an NTSC signal to be displayed on the image reproduction device compatible with NTSC 75.Second Configuration of the Processor 25 In the second configuration, the processor 25 of Figure 1 acquires web page data that is transmitted in the satellite transmission received from the decoder 30, in response to a request for information from a service provider by means of of a telephone line. After a User requests web page data, for example by highlighting the web page icon 857 in Figure 2, the controller 115 (Figure 1) uses the access data of the request (telephone number, requested web page identifier code (for example, URL), and conditional access data), in order to establish communication with the transmission service provider by satellite. Before establishing communication with the service provider, the controller 115 determines, based on the conditional access information, whether access to the requested web page information is authorized. The authorization can be determined directly from the conditional access information of the program guide, or indirectly from a User's right device, such as a smart card (not shown to simplify the drawing) inside the processor 25 If the access is authorized, the controller 115 establishes telephone communication with the satellite transmission service provider, dialing a telephone number by means of the modem 80, and transmitting the transmission of the request, for example the requested website identifier code ( such as a URL), and the User's right code. The service provider incorporates the requested web page information into the transport data stream transmitted to the processor 25 via the antenna 10, the processor 20, and the decoder 30. The controller 115 uses the response access data (PIDs). of the web page data, response program channel number, and transponder number), to identify and assemble the web page packets in the transport stream, as described for the first configuration of the processor 25. The PID values of the response web page information and the corresponding program map information, can be communicated between the provider of the. service and the processor 25 in a variety of ways and in a variety of data formats. The PID values and the program map information may be transported, for example, according to the proprietary or custom requirements of a particular system, such as within the data elements defined by the MPEG User, or within data that are not MPEG, such as within the vertical blanking interval (over-scan region) of a broadcast television signal. In addition, the PID values assigned to the web information may also be transmitted to the processor 25 in the complementary program guide information. As another alternative, the PID values to be used for the response data can be determined by a service provider from the information transmitted from the processor 25.

Third Configuration of the Processor 25 In a third configuration, the processor 25 requests information and receives response information in the same communication link, for example, in the telephone link with the server 83 or the connection service 87, by means of the modem 80. In this configuration, the controller 115 requests the information from the Internet web page by highlighting the icon 857 (Figure 2), for example. On which, the controller 115 (Figure 1) uses the request access data (telephone number and URL code, and conditional access data), to establish the Internet access and the data of the request web page at the address URL, using the modem 80 and the server 83. The controller 115 determines whether the requested Internet access is authorized from the conditional access or the right information of the User of the smart card, as described in connection with the second configuration of the processor 25. If authorized, the controller 115 establishes telephone communication with a service provider via the server 83, dialing a telephone number using the 80 modem, and transmitting the Internet URL code and the right code of the User, for example, as described above. The controller 115 uses the response access data (including the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) identification data determined from the composite program map information, to identify and assemble the TCP / IP packets of the web page containing the HTML data of the associated web page and Java (and other data, for example data of type JPEG, GIF, TIF) in the response data stream from the server 83 The TCP / IP packets of the response web page are set in buffer zone inside the modem 80, and the HTMLMR 60 processor is provided under the command of the controller 115. The processor 60 decodes the. web response information encoded in HTMLMR and JavaMR, and provides the representative pixel data of the web page image for storage in the memory inside the controller 115. The controller 115 retrieves the data of web page image pixels from the internal memory, and format them for storage as an overlay in the representative pixel memory contained in the visual display processor 70 for reproduction by the unit 75 as a fused visual display, as described above. In this configuration, the processor 25 supports full access to the Internet via the server 83, using the program guide displayed. For example, when a User enhances the icon 810, followed by the icon 83.0 (Figure 2), the controller 115 (Figure 1) executes the functions of the web page finder, and displays a customized web page finder, or a Visual display of standard browser, such as the Netscape Navigator ™, through which Internet access is available. In an alternative way, in the third configuration, the processor 25 can support a limited Internet service. In this case, access to the Internet network through the server 83 is under the control of a service provider that allows only indirect access to the Internet. The service provider provides collated web page information for visual display compatible with the composite program guide displayed. The service provider stores a limited number of web pages locally within the server 83, which are accessible by the processor 25 using the composite program map information, which provides an index for the available web pages and their corresponding pre-determined PIDs. Alternatively, the service provider may alter the selection of the web pages available from the server 83, and periodically provide updated compatible companion program guide information to the processor 25 by means of the satellite transmission data stream. The complementary program guide information makes it possible for the processor 25 to form an updated display guide along with a compatible program map, and other access information, which enable a User to have access to the updated web information. By storing Internet information from the web page locally on server 83, the service provider retains control of the Internet content available to a User, and may bill the User for the material provided. Also, local storage of the web page information on the server 83 provides a User with faster access to the information without the full delay associated with normal access to the Internet. In addition, the load on the processor 25 of communicating the information requests to external devices is minimized, in that only a limited amount of Internet information can be requested, and the processor 25 only needs to communicate with the local servers, such as the server 83. It should be noted that modem 80 can also be a broadband amplitude communication modem, such as a cable modem. In which case, the processor 25 can decode both the web page data and the transmission video program data to be displayed from a cable program source via the modem 80. The controller 115 employs the method shown in Figure 4 for produce a program guide displayed, through the processing and formatting of the received program guide information that already includes the User selection menu options. The process of Figure 4 does not require the processor 25 to form the options of the User selection menu, and may be employed by the processor 25 in its first configuration, for example. In step 205, following the start in step 200, the processor 25 receives a transport data stream from the decoder 30, "which incorporates the selectable menu options by the User to be displayed as part of the program guide displayed. The options selectable by the User support the initiation by the User of communication functions such as e-mail functions, telephone, Internet access, fax, video-telephone, channel tuning, recording of programs, and home control The data received in step 205 also includes additional link data in the program guide information Additional link data comprises program map, conditional access and information of the network, and associates the access data with the menu options selectable by the User in the program guide displayed. The access data include identification codes, protocol codes of communication, conditional access codes, Internet access codes, for example URL codes for web page and access to electronic mail, as well as telephone and fax numbers. The additional link data makes it possible for the processor 25 to assemble, decode, and display the program content and program guide information in the transport stream from the decoder 30. Access data makes it possible for the processor 25 to communicate with external devices, and include different representative address codes corresponding to the addresses of different information sources. In step 210, the controller 115 uses the PID values of the previously determined link data in the internal memory to direct the processor 25 in order to identify and capture the link and access data from the guide information of programs received. The captured link data is assembled, formatted, and stored by the controller 115 in the internal memory in step 215. Also, in step 210, a User may enter additional link data, such as Internet or e-mail addresses. , or telephone numbers, by means of an input device, such as a remote control unit, and the additional data are incorporated into the link data received by the controller 115. The program guide information containing the options selectable by the User , is formatted to be displayed by the controller 115 in conjunction with the visual display processor 70 inside the processor 25 in step 220, as described above in relation to Figure 1. In step 225, the visual display processor 70 converts program guide data stored and formatted into conventional luminance and chrominance components. The luminance and chrominance components, together with the time data provided by the controller 115, are processed by the processor 70 to be displayed on the playback device 75. The process of Figure 4 ends at step 230. The controller 115 ( Figure 1) employs the method shown in Figure 5 to produce a program guide in a video decoder from the information received from a plurality of sources. The formed guide supports the communication functions selectable by the User, for example Internet access, email, fax, etc. In step 305, following the start in step 300, the controller 115 acquires the satellite program guide (SPG) information from the satellite transmission transport stream received by the processor 25 from the decoder 30. In In step 310, the controller 115 acquires the information of the DVD program guide (DPG) from the storage device 90 via the interface 95. The controller 115 acquires, collates, and formats the SPG and the DPG, giving access and assembling the respective data packets to produce the representative pixel data of SPG and DPG for storage as a composite program guide in the pixel map of the unit 70, as described above in relation to Figure 1. The information SPG and DPG includes link and access data in the form of a program map, conditional access, and network information. In other configurations, processor 25 applies the principles detailed herein to form a composite program guide, including program guide information derived from a source such as a terrestrial transmission source, a cable transmission source, a computer source, a radio transmission source, and a source accessed through telephone lines. In step 315, the controller 115 creates the menu options selectable by the User to be displayed (for the User's selection of Internet access, email, fax, etc.) in the form of pixel data, to be incorporated into the pixel memory map of the unit 70. In step 315, the controller 115 also creates menu options determinable by the User, which make it possible for a User to tailor his program guide to include an icon that performs a function specific request by the User, for example, a User may require an icon that gives access to a specific Internet site, or that results in a visual display of all messages received. The controller 115 responds to commands entered by means of a data entry device, for example a remote control unit or a keyboard, in the creation of the menu option determined by the User, in accordance with program instructions. The controller 115, in step 320, examines the SPG and DPG information for the omissions and conflicts of the data identifiers (e.g., PID). In step 325, the controller 115 renumbers the existing data identifiers, and allocates new data identifiers, as required, to produce compatible program map information for both the program guide information checked and the content of the program. associated programs. In step 330, the controller 115 forms the composite program map, the conditional access, and the network information for the composite program guide, in the manner described in relation to Figure 1. The composite program map is formed to enabling the processor 25 to perform the selectable communication functions by means of the composite program guide. For this purpose, the composite program map associates a communication function PID and menu option (for example, web page, email, fax icon) with the different representative address codes corresponding to the addresses of the different sources of information. information. In step 330, the controller 115 also incorporates the data entered by the user into the composite program map, conditional access, and network information. These may include items such as an email address, a telephone / fax number, an Internet website link address, a credit card number, and so on. The User enters this data into the processor 25 by means of a device, such as a remote control or a keyboard. The controller 115, in step 335, formats the pixel data SPG and DPG, together with the pixel data of menu options in the pixel map of the unit 70 created in step 315, to form a composite program guide for its visual display. The information of the composite program guide, which contains the selectable menu options by the User, is formatted to be displayed in step 340, and is produced in step 345, as described above in relation to Figure 1. The process of Figure 5 ends in step 350. Controller 115 (Figure 1) employs the process of Figure 6 for automatically acquiring and collating the program guide information from a plurality of sources, in order to form a composite program guide for visual display. In step 405, following the start in step 400, the controller 115 acquires and stores the satellite program guide (SPG) information from the satellite transmission transport stream received by the processor 25 from the decoder 30. The controller 115, in step 415, automatically initiates communication with the DVD storage device 90 (Figure 1), via the interface 95. The communication is initiated when the processor 25 is energized in response to the configuration information of the previously stored hardware, which defines the peripheral devices that are attached to the processor 25, and the associated communication protocols. This information may be contained within the received program guide information, or it may be stored inside the processor 25 at the factory, or it may be determined locally by the processor 25, or it may be determined through a combination of these methods . The local determination of the hardware configuration by means of the processor 25 can be performed either by peripheral interrogation initiated by the controller 115, or by the user entering the hardware configuration data. In alternative modalities, communication can be initiated automatically on conditions such as, a) the command by the User by means of an option selection of the program guide, for example, b) the peripheral interrogation initiated by the controller 115 on a periodic or intermittent basis, or c) the detection of a new or changed electrical connection from the processor 25 to a peripheral device, such as a DVD device. The controller 115 initiates communication with the DVD unit 90 via the interface 95, using the communication protocol codes, the identification codes, the right codes, and the conditional access codes retrieved from the access data inside of the program guide information received. In step 420, the controller 115 directs the processor 25 to acquire and assemble the DVD program guide information (DPG) derived from the DVD storage device 90 via the interface 95, in the manner previously described in connection with Figure 1. In step 425, the controller 115 collates the SPG and DPG information by topic and topic, mapping the SPG and DPG information into the corresponding topic and topic categories in a master set, also as described in connection with the Figure 1. Further, in step 425, the controller 115 collates the SPG and DPG information by source, and assigns a different color attribute to programs and program icons from different sources. In addition, the controller 115 creates menu options, which allow a User to sort by font and color. Figure 7 shows a black and white representation of a visual display format of Program Guide - in color, according to the invention, showing the menu options created by the controller 115, which allow a User to compare the programs by font and color attribute. Source icons 905-925 are associated with off-air transmission, cable, radio, satellite, and storage (for example, the DVD source 90 - (Figure 1), respectively. The font icons 930-950 are associated with the sources of e-mail, telephone, video-telephone, fax, and Internet, respectively.When a User enhances the source icon 905, for example, a program guide is displayed that shows off-air broadcast programs and associated icons In a similar way, when a User enhances the font icon 930, for example, a program guide is displayed that shows the email icons by means of which a User can activate the menus to start the composition and sending emails, and the reading and deletion of received messages. Icon 900 is a "rainbow" selection icon that shows a spectrum of separate color blocks represented by shades of gray in the illustration of the black and white program guide in Figure 7-. The color choices of the 900 icon can alternatively be configured as a continuous color spectrum, or a range of colors selected in a single or in a number of separate color blocks. When a User enhances a particular color inside the 900 icon, the programs are displayed from the source attributed with that particular color. For example, assuming, in step 425, that the driver 115 attributes the purple color to the DVD 90 source device, then, when a User enhances the purple color inside the 900 icon, the available movies of the DVD 90 device are displayed as a program guide. Alternatively, the color matching scheme can be used to identify programs by other criteria than the source. You can use color as an attribute to identify programs by topic or topic, for example, in which case, you can identify a visual display of available movies to see from all sources by highlighting a red color inside the 900 icon, for example. In addition, the program guide data can be checked for different color attributes. For example, programs of different sources can be attributed different types of nuance or different nuances and geometries of icons. Continuing with the process of Figure 6, in step 430, the controller 115 forms a composite program guide to be displayed, from the collated SPG and DPG information, in a manner similar to that described in relation to Figure 1. The controller 115 also, in step 425, creates the associated user selectable menu options to be displayed, including the program guide options selectable by the user to be sorted by source and color. The created menu options are incorporated by the controller 115 in step 430, into a composite program guide for display, as exemplified in Figure 7. In step 435, the controller 115 formats the composite program guide information for displaying as described above in relation to Figure 1. The process of Figure 6 ends at step 440. Controller 115 (Figure 1) uses the process of Figure 8 to acquire the information of the web page requested by a User "of the video receiver, by means of a selection made from the options in a displayed program guide In step 505, following the start in step 500, the controller 115 retrieves the access data in the form of a telephone number and an Internet URL code, for example, from the memory, in response to a selection by the User of a web page made through a program guide displayed. or associated with the particular selection of the User, are determined from a program guide database, using the program map information that links all the data associated with a program or function of the particular program guide. In step 515, the controller 115 directs the processor 25 to establish a request communication link with the server 83, dialing the retrieved telephone number, using the modem 80. Also, in step 515, the processor 25 encodes and transmits the Additional access data, such as the Internet URL code, using the protocol required for communication over the request communication link. The required protocol is determined from the program map information. In step 520, the controller 115 directs the processor 25 to receive and decode an input signal received on a response communication link. The controller 115 directs the processor 25 in identifying and retrieving information from the response web page, from the input signal in steps 525 and 530. The processor 25 employs different methods to retrieve the response data from the input signal in steps 525 and 530. The method selected depends on whether the communication link of The answer is or is not the same link used for the web page data request. The methods used to identify and retrieve the response data are similar to those previously described in connection with the three configurations of the processor 25. The controller 115 applies the appropriate configuration method in the identification of the response web page data in the signal of input, in step 525. For this purpose, the controller 115 uses data identifiers determined from the information of the program map, which associates the identifiers with the selection of the user's program guide. The controller 115, in step 535, formats the response web page information to be displayed, and ends the process of FIG. 8 in step 540. The controller 115 (FIG. 1) employs the process of FIG. 9 to decode both Input Internet information such as compressed video data to form a composite video output for display. Following the start in step 600, the controller 115, in step 605, determines the packet identifiers for the Internet data requested by the User and the compressed image data from the program map information. In step 607, the controller 115 determines whether access to the compressed video data and requested Internet data is authorized from the conditional access or right information of the Smart Card User, as described above in connection with the third configuration of the processor 25. If access is authorized, the controller 115, in step 610, identifies the TCP / IP web page packets containing the web page data in a stream of response data from the server 83. In a similar manner, if access is authorized, the controller 115, in step 615, identifies the compressed video data packets containing a video program selected by the User in an incoming transport stream from the decoder 30. up to the processor 25. The controller 115 identifies the web page and the compressed video data packets in a manner similar to that described in the relationship with FIG. ra i. In step 617, the controller 115 directs the processor 25 (Figure 1) to cryptically decode the Internet or compressed video data if they are cryptically encoded. The controller 115, in step 620, directs the processor 25 in the decoding of the identified Internet web page data using the HTMLMR processor 60. The controller 115, in step 625, directs the processor 25 in the decompression of the compressed video data identified, using the MPEG decoder 65. The resulting decoded web page data and uncompressed video data are merged, formatted, and displayed in the unit 75 using the visual display processor 70, under the direction of the controller 115 in step 630. The process of Figure 9 ends in step 640. The architecture of Figure 1 is not exclusive. Other architectures may be derived according to the principles of the invention, to carry out the same objectives. In addition, the functions of the elements of the processor 25 of FIG. 1, and the process steps of FIGS. 4 to 6, 8 and 9, may be implemented in whole or in part, of the program instructions of a microprocessor. In addition, the principles of the invention apply to any form of electronic program guide compatible with MPEG or not compatible with MPEG. In addition, the principles of the invention apply to communication in any form of communication link, including by means of cable, infrared, radio, microwave, and by means of a computer network. In addition, it should be noted that the information of the composite program guide, as described in the »«. » The present invention can be performed in a remote location of a video receiver, and can be accessed by the receiver through a communication network.

Claims (18)

1. In a video decoder system, a method for acquiring information in Internet packets from a source of video program transmission in response to the request of the User by means of a selection of the program guide, which comprises the steps of: a) receiving information in packets from the transmission video source, this information containing in packages the data of the video program, the Internet data, and the access data, including the data of access data identifiers to be used in the acquisition of Internet data without the encoder having to establish direct communication with the Internet; b) select a data identifier using the information of the map that associates the data identifier and a selection of the User made from the options shown in a program guide displayed. c) identify the Internet data in the information in packets from the transmission video source, using the selected data identifier; d) retrieve the Internet data from the input signal to produce a retrieved information output; and V 57 e) Format the information retrieved for visual display.

A method according to claim 1, wherein: 5 the access data includes at least one of: a) a telephone or fax link number, b) an Internet link address code, c) a e-mail link address, d) conditional access data, e) a communication protocol, and f) a communication network information.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein: the conditional access data includes at least one of: a) a credit card number, b) an account number 15, c) a user's right code , and d) a password.

4. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of: storing a sequence of recently retrieved recovered Internet data items.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein: the map information incorporates a database of data items related to the program and 25 associated Internet data items. -

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein: the map information also associates the access data with the selection of the User's menu, and which includes the step of: deriving the access data from the map information.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein: the map information also associates the data of the Internet with the identifier of the data.

8. In a video decoder system for receiving transmissions of video programs on a first communication link, a method for acquiring information in Internet packets in response to a request from the user by means of a selection of the program guide, the which comprises the steps of: a) receiving the information in packets from the transmission video source, containing this information in video program data packets, menu options that represent the Internet data and the available access data, including the access data information to establish a second communication link different from the first link; b) selecting a data identifier from a database of information related to the program, which associates the data identifier and a selection of the User made from the options shown in a program guide displayed; c) establish the second communication link using the access data; d) identifying the Internet data in the packet information received on the second communication link, using the aforementioned data identifier; e) Format the Internet data information identified for visual display.

9. A method according to claim 8, which includes the step of: transporting requests for information from the decoder to an external device on the second communication link.

A method according to claim 8, which includes the step of: establishing communication on the second communication link with at least one of: a) a telephone or fax link number, b) an address code of Internet link, c) an email link address, d) conditional access data, e) a communication protocol, and f) information from a communication network.

11. A method according to claim 8, which includes the step of: transmitting the data identifier to an external device.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein: the database further associates the access data with the selection of the User's menu, and which includes the step of: deriving the access data from the base of data.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein: the access data includes at least one of: a) a telephone or fax link number, b) an Internet link address code, c) an address of electronic mail link, d) conditional access data, e) a communication protocol, and f) information of a communication network.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein: the conditional access data includes at least one of: a) a credit card number, b) an account number, c) a User's right code, and d) a password.

15. A method according to claim 8, which includes the step of: storing a sequence of recently accessed Internet data items.

16. In a video decoder system that receives access data and transmission video programs on a first unidirectional communication link, a method for acquiring Internet information requested by a User by means of a selection of the program guide, the which comprises the steps of: a) deriving a data identifier from a database of information related to the program, to associate the data identifier and a selection of the User made from the icons, indicating the. available Internet data shown in a displayed program guide, with the displayed icons acquired on the first unidirectional communication link, - b) establishing a second bidirectional communication link using the access data; c) identifying the Internet information in an input signal received on the second communication link, in response to the selection of the User, this information being identified with the data identifier; and d) recovering the information identified from the input signal to produce an output of recovered information.

17. A method according to claim 16, which includes the step of: using a communication protocol derived from the database in the communication establishment on the second communication link.

18. A method according to claim 16, which includes the step of: receiving an index of web page information, and wherein: the information is identified in response to a selection of the User from said index.