WO2001015359A1 - Systeme et procede de multidiffusion interactive hybride virtuelle - Google Patents

Systeme et procede de multidiffusion interactive hybride virtuelle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001015359A1
WO2001015359A1 PCT/US2000/040717 US0040717W WO0115359A1 WO 2001015359 A1 WO2001015359 A1 WO 2001015359A1 US 0040717 W US0040717 W US 0040717W WO 0115359 A1 WO0115359 A1 WO 0115359A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
digital resources
user terminal
receiving
communication channel
visible components
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/040717
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English (en)
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WO2001015359A8 (fr
Inventor
Jack Bell
Original Assignee
Jack Bell
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jack Bell filed Critical Jack Bell
Priority to AU78852/00A priority Critical patent/AU7885200A/en
Priority to EP00969022A priority patent/EP1212858A1/fr
Publication of WO2001015359A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001015359A1/fr
Publication of WO2001015359A8 publication Critical patent/WO2001015359A8/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/02—Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
    • H04H60/07—Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information characterised by processes or methods for the generation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/29—Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
    • H04H60/33—Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/61—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
    • H04H60/66—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54 for using the result on distributors' side
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/61—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
    • H04L65/611—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for multicast or broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/61—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
    • H04L65/613—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for the control of the source by the destination
    • 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
    • H04N21/234—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
    • H04N21/23412—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/251—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/252—Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • H04N21/4725—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • 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
    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/65—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast
    • H04H20/76—Wired systems
    • H04H20/82—Wired systems using signals not modulated onto a carrier
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/76—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet
    • H04H60/81—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet characterised by the transmission system itself
    • H04H60/82—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet characterised by the transmission system itself the transmission system being the Internet
    • 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
    • H04N2007/1739—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method for broadcasting video content and interactive content to user interface terminals, such as television set top boxes, personal computers, television, and other terminals. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for broadcasting to a user interface terminal video content and visible portions of interactive content via the same communications channel while supplying the non-visible portions of interactive content via either the same or an alternative communications channel .
  • the Internet is a global network of connected computer networks. Over the last several years, the Internet has grown in significant measure. A large number of computers on the Internet provide information in various forms. Teen with a computer connected to the Internet can potentially tap into this vast pool of information. The most wide spread method of providing information over the Internet is via the World Wide Web (the Web). The Web consists of a subset of the computers connected to the Internet; the computers in this subset run Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers (Web servers). The information available via the Internet also encompasses information available via other types of information servers such as GOPHER and FTP.
  • HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
  • a URL uniquely specifies the location of a particular piece of information on the Internet.
  • a URL will typically be composed of several components. The first component typically designates the protocol by which the address piece of information is accessed (e.g., HTTP, GOPHER, etc.). This first component is separated from the remainder of the URL by a colon (':'). The remainder of the URL will depend upon the protocol component. Typically, the remainder designates a computer on the Internet by name, or by IP number, as well as a more specific designation of the location of the resource on the designated computer.
  • a typical URL for an HTTP resource might be: http://www.server.com/dirl/dir2/resource.htm where http is the protocol, www.server.com is the designated computer and /dirl/dir2/resouce.htm designates the location of the resource on the designated computer.
  • Web servers host information in the form of Web pages; collectively the server and the information hosted are referred to as a Web site.
  • a significant number of Web pages are encoded using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) although other encodings using the extensible Markup Language (XML) or the Standard Generic Markup Language (SGML) are becoming increasingly more common. The published specifications for these languages are incorporated by reference herein.
  • Web pages in these formatting languages may include links to other Web pages on the same Web site or another.
  • Web pages may be generated dynamically by a server by integrating a variety of elements into a formatted page prior to transmission to a Web client.
  • Web servers and information servers of other types await requests for the information that they receive from Internet clients.
  • Client software has evolved that allows users of computers connected to the Internet to access this information.
  • Advanced clients such as Netscape's Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer allow users to access software provided via a variety of information servers in a unified client environment.
  • client software is referred to as browser software.
  • Broadcasters of television and other video content encounter many complications in transmitting interactive content to multiple cable or wireless customers who use varying home communications terminals, eg, set-top boxes.
  • One of those complications is the relatively-low bandwidth generally available to transmit Web content to customers via the Internet, thus limiting the amount and type of Web content sent to customers.
  • Another complication is the diversity of the set-top box market in that various customers use set top boxes of differing manufacturers that are not generally compatible. Examples of set-top boxes include those provided by WebTV, Open TV, and Power TV.
  • Another complication is that set-top box providers generally do not have direct access to the customer through a cable operator ' s relatively-high bandwidth connection to the customer.
  • Another complication with conventional systems is that applications must be written to support multiple types of set top boxes.
  • a conventional approach to interactive television is to transmit traditional (eg. video) content via the video path while delivering Web graphics and interactivity commands via the Internet path. These two paths (or '"pipes " ) are between the broadcast source and the viewer (eg, to the viewer's set top box).
  • the Internet pipe in a conventional approach carries Web graphics components and interactive component (or interactivity commands, eg. "hot spots"), and the video pipe carries video content in digital or analog format.
  • the Web graphics component comprises commands regarding matters that the user sees - images, text, and input controls (eg, buttons).
  • the interactive component is invisible to the user but controls interactive elements of the display s, such as what areas of the screen are sensitive to mouse clicks (called "hot spots").
  • Web graphics and Web interactive commands are sent to a customer's set-top box via the Internet pipe.
  • the Web graphics component can be very large, especially when high-quality graphics are used. Because the discussed conventional approach employs the Internet path to transmit such graphics components. and such a path is normally of low bandwidth, a system using this conventional approach is not robust and cannot effectively support high-volume, dynamic, high- quality transmissions. Another complication with such conventional approaches is that the addition of interactivity to video is complicated to use.
  • a computer-based system receives a video program and uniform resources locators (URLs), and then retrieves Web content from the Web pages indicated by the URLs received.
  • Another known system includes equipment for inserting associated data (in a format such as HTML) into the vertical blanking interval of a television signal on the supplier side of the system.
  • a further known system downloads data (eg, Internet data) during off-peak hours on a low bandwidth communications channel.
  • hardware includes a head end sever, upstream server, and blank interval inserter associated with head end distribution equipment.
  • a summary of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows: Traditional content (eg, video) and digital graphic elements (eg, Web graphics) are transmitted to viewers (eg, to their set top boxes or other suitable terminal) via a first communications channel, which in some embodiments may be referred to as the video pipe, and interactivity commands (eg, Web interactive components) are transmitted via a second communications channel, which in some embodiments may be referred to as the Internet pipe.
  • the Internet pipe include a dial-up Internet connection, a digital subscriber line, a cable- system Internet service, or other connection to a computer network such as the Internet.
  • the second communications channel may be the same as the first communications channel.
  • embodiments of the present invention can be installed in any existing broadcast operation, analog or digital, in order to implement interactivity.
  • Embodiments can provide interactive functionality to existing broadcasts by providing the broadcaster with the ability to add input graphic images and associating input only interactive elements with those controls via, for example, Web pages.
  • Embodiments are versatile in that they may be installed in any home, on any equipment which has WEB-TV, personal computers, simple set-top boxes, or similar devices, and a connection to the channel providing the non-visible interactive components such as a connection to a computer network such as the Internet.
  • Another advantage is that in a system including an embodiment of the present invention, the control graphics that are usually drawn by the Web device at the user terminal is drawn by the system. Thus there is no wait time for screen refreshes since the visible portions of the interactive content, the graphics controls, are not sent via the second, often-times lower bandwidth, communications channel.
  • Another advantage is that bandwidth is conserved since, in embodiments, no graphics are transmitted via the second communications channels, which may also be referred to as the data pipe in some embodiments, (eg, Internet pipe, VBI, MPEG3 carrier, any lossless data carrier that can be reasonably synchronized with video broadcast, intranet). Moreover, graphics are much more dynamic since embodiments do not depend on relatively low-bandwidth pipes to transmit graphics.
  • a further advantage is that, in embodiments of the present invention, the addition of interactivity to video is less complicated than conventional approaches. Another advantages is that an on-line editor may allow real-time and dynamic creation of interactive overlays for video content.
  • embodiments of the present invention are compatible with current and emerging set-top box standards and implementations.
  • embodiments of the present invention provide for localization of interactive content, allowing local broadcasters to provide nationally broadcast video content along with interactive content linked to geographically-local service and product providers.
  • Another advantage of such localization is that local broadcasters may seek partnerships and other business relationships with local businesses and provide nationally-produced video content in association with such relationships.
  • FIG. 1 shows a graphical depiction of an embodiment of the present invention, including showing a broadcast pipe having a broadcast data pipe and a broadcast video pipe.
  • FIG. 2 shows a graphical depiction of an embodiment of the present invention, including showing the broadcast of Web interactive components via an Internet pipe and the broadcast of video and Web graphics components via a video pipe.
  • FIG. 3 shows a graphical depiction of a cable television system according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a more detailed graphical depiction of the local broadcaster 10 of an embodiment as displayed in FIG. 3.
  • FIGs. 5-7 are flow charts depicting typical embodiments of delivery processes according to the present invention.
  • a broadcaster 10 is in communication with a broadcast pipe 1.
  • the broadcast pipe 1 includes a broadcast data pipe 2 and a broadcast video pipe 3.
  • the broadcast data pipe 2 shown transmits lossless or lossy data, eg. interactive commands components 4.
  • the broadcast video pipe shown transmits data, including video broadcast 5 and interactive graphics components 6. Examples of such data include VBI, customer data, and MPEG data, and other lossless data.
  • the broadcast pipe 1 (including the broadcast data pipe 2 and the broadcast video pipe 3) are connected to an end-user set-top box 8 and television 9 (the set-top box 8 is in communication with the television 9).
  • the set-top box is in communication with a third pipe (or channel), the back channel 7, which is discussed further below.
  • the interactive graphics component 6 and the video component 5 are transmitted via the broadcast video pipe 3, while the interactive command components 4 are transmitted via the broadcast data pipe 2.
  • the set-top box 8 is instructed by the interactive commands components 4 as to the locations and sizes of areas of interactivity and the target of that interactivity (eg, hyperlinks) should the user select the interactive area, "hot-spot.”
  • the user upon selection of a "hot- spot," the user establishes a separate, two-way interactive session ⁇ ith a third channel 7, called the back channel.
  • the back channel 7 may comprise a connection to a computer network such as an Ethernet or the Internet or another communications channel.
  • the broadcast data pipe eg, an Internet channel
  • the broadcast pipe 1 includes at least two sub-pipe: a broadcast data pipe 2 and a broadcast video pipe 3.
  • the broadcast data pipe 2 typically contains lossless or lossy graphics while the broadcast video pipe 3 typically contains lossless data such as VBI, custom data and MPEG data.
  • the broadcast video pipe 3 may include sub-pipes for video 5 and visible components of interactive graphics 6; these pipes respectively transmit traditional video content from broadcaster 10 while the graphics sub-pipe 6 carries visible portions of interactive graphics which may in certain embodiments be visible components of Web pages.
  • the broadcast video pipe 3 may include additional sub-pipes such as for one or more audio channels or for additional streams of video or graphics.
  • the data pipe 2 may include sub-pipes as well such as an interactive command components sub-pipe 4.
  • the interactive command component sub- pipe 4 may transmit interactive command elements corresponding to the interactive graphic components transmitted via the graphics sub-pipe 6.
  • the interactive commands may be the non-visible portion of Web pages. These interactive commands may be transmitted as either an image map, or other suitable interactivity designation format such as XML, SGML, etc.
  • the set-top box 8 typically receives the transmission from the broadcast data pipe 2. This transmission instructs the set-top box 8 as to the locations, sizes and shapes of areas of interactivity to be synchronized with the transmissions via the broadcast video pipe 3 and the appropriate response if a user triggers such an area.
  • a suitable equipped television or other appropriate hardware may receive the transmission from the broadcast data pipe 2.
  • the television 9 typically receives the transmission from the broadcast video pipe 3 as shown; however, in other embodiments, a set-top box 8 or other suitable hardware may receive the transmission and forward it as received or in some modified format to the television 9.
  • the transmission received via the sub-pipes of the broadcast video pipe 3 may be integrated upon arrival at the television 9, or at the broadcaster 10.
  • a two-way connection is established via back channel 7.
  • the back channel 7 may be a communication back to broadcaster 10 via a dedicated line, the Internet or other suitable communications channel.
  • the back channel may be a connection to the Internet, an Intranet or other connection to an appropriate data repository having two-way interactivity facilities.
  • the broadcast data pipe 2 examples include an Internet pipe, VBI, MPEG3 carrier, an Ethernet and an Intranet.
  • a data pipe may be any lossless data carrier that can be reasonably synchronized with video broadcast.
  • Embodiments of the present invention are described further below as examples.
  • the broadcast data pipe 2 comprises an Internet pipe 12.
  • an Internet pipe 12 is shown as the broadcast data pipe 2 by way of example, and that, as described above, other pipes (or channels) may be used as the broadcast data pipe 2 in accordance with the present invention.
  • other pipes or channels
  • the descriptions below will use the Internet pipe 12 to describe embodiments, but those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other types of pipes (or channels) may be used.
  • a summary of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows: Traditional content (eg, video) and Web graphics are transmitted to viewers (eg, to their set top boxes) via the video pipe and interactivity commands are transmitted via the Internet pipe.
  • the Internet pipe include a dial-up Internet connection, a digital subscriber line, a cable-system Internet service, or other connection to the Internet.
  • Viewers view the video and Web graphics on their television, and can point and click on graphics associated with hot spots to interact with associated content (eg, a Web page) using their television.
  • FIG. 2 An embodiment of the present invention is shown.
  • the broadcasting hardware of a local cable television broadcaster 10 is connected to an Internet pipe 12 and a video pipe 14.
  • the Internet pipe 12 is connected to a set-top box 20 at an end-user's location
  • the video pipe 14 is connected to a television 22 at the end-user's location.
  • the video pipe 14 may be connected to the television 22 directly, through the set-top box or other hardware.
  • FIG. 2 shows an example. In other embodiments, multiple end-user's are connected in this manner to the broadcaster hardware 10.
  • the broadcaster sends the Web interactive component 1 1 (eg, the image map of a Web page comprising, for example, HTML, XML or other suitably formatted code that instructs a device that a button or picture displayed constitutes a "hot-spot") to the set-top box using the Internet pipe 12.
  • the broadcaster 10 sends video content 15 (eg, a television broadcast signal) and Web graphics component 16 (eg, the graphics portion of a Web page) to the end-user's television using the video pipe 14.
  • the set-top box 20 is in communication with the local broadcaster 10 via the Internet (a back channel 7 as shown in FIG. 1) (not shown).
  • FIGs. 5-7 depict process diagrams exemplifying several embodiments of processes according to the present invention.
  • video programming or other traditional broadcast content
  • an appropriate source such as a national (intermediate) broadcaster (or other broadcaster upstream in the broadcast chain), a live video feed, a computer network such as the Internet, a video recording play-back device, a content server system or other equivalent source.
  • Digital resources are received 520 from a source, which may in certain embodiments be the same source as for the received video programming or other sources such as a bus connection, a local or remote data store, a wireless connection, a dial-up connection, a direct line connection or equivalent source.
  • the digital resources may be receives as the result of transmitting a request for them.
  • the digital resources will typically include both visible components and non- visible components; however, in certain instance, the digital resources may only include visible or non-visible components.
  • visible components are not limited to those components that once rendered would be seen by a user through a user terminal; visible as used herein encompasses component that when transmitted are rendered at the user terminal in form perceptible to a user.
  • visible components may include audio components, tactile components, olfactory components, etc. that may be perceived by a user through appropriate user terminal hardware and software.
  • Non-visible components will typically designate interactivity and commands related to the visible components. In some embodiments, such as seen in FIG.
  • the digital resources arrive 520 with the visible and non-visible components already segregated such as in steps 610 and 620.
  • the digital resources may be received as combined visible and non-visible components, or some mixture of segregated and combined format, in which case, a parsing step 530 may be necessary to segregate the components.
  • the received video programming and/or digital resources may be displaced in whole or in part as seen in step 710 of FIG. 7. For instance, a downstream broadcaster may wish to supplant both the video programming and the digital resources supplied by an upstream broadcaster; for example, a local broadcaster might wish to supply a completely different broadcast than supplied by a national broadcaster for a particular time slot (e.g. local news segment with suitable local digital resources).
  • a downstream broadcaster might only wish to supplant the digital resources supplied by an upstream broadcaster, or just the visible or non-visible portions of the upstream-supplied digital resources.
  • a local broadcaster might want to supplant national broadcaster digital resources with alternative digital resources such as local advertising.
  • a local broadcaster might want to supplant the non-visible components of digital resources such as national advertising supplied by a national broadcaster with interactive elements linking to information on local affiliates of the sponsor of the national advertising.
  • Substitution of programming may also result from the selection of a particular user terminal as described more fully below; in this case, the substitution would be more in the nature of a personalization of the broadcast to a particular user terminal, or set of user terminals.
  • the visible components of the digital resources may be combined into an integrated signal 540.
  • This approach reduces the amount of work that the user terminal is required to perform by supplying a combined signal for display.
  • the "user terminal" servicing as the destination of the broadcast is a downstream broadcaster who intends to make a substitution for the visible components of the digital resources or in embodiments where the user terminal performs its own substitution and integration. In such cases, a combination step may not be performed as seen in FIG. 6.
  • the video programming and the visible components of the digital resources are transmitted to a user terminal via a first communication channel 550.
  • this communication channel will be a high bandwidth channel as described in greater detail above with respect to FIGs. 1-2.
  • the first communication channel may in various embodiments be an over air transmission, a cable television network, a satellite broadcast network, a direct line connection, a computer network such as the Internet or other suitable channel as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the non-visible components are transmitted to the user terminal via a second communication channel 560, which in certain embodiments may be lower in bandwidth than the first communication channel.
  • the same communication channel may be used as the pipe for transmitting the video programming and visible components and the pipe for transmitting the non-visible components.
  • the second communication channel may in various embodiments be an over air transmission, a cable television network, a satellite broadcast network, a direct line connection, a dial-up connection, a wireless connection, a bus connection, a computer network such as the Internet or other suitable channel as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the transmissions, and possibly the content combination in embodiments utilizing such a step may be coordinated based upon received scheduling information including time and placement information indicating when and where the digital resources are to be presented with respect to the video programming. Receipt of the scheduling information may result from the reception of either the video programming signal, the digital resources or both; alternatively, receipt of the scheduling information may result in the receipt of the video programming, the digital resources or both. In the former situation, the video programming and/or the digital resources may be received, and a request for scheduling information associated with the received video programming may be transmitted. In the latter situation, the receipt of the scheduling information may trigger a request for the video programming and/or the digital resources.
  • Different scheduling information may exist for each separate potential combination of video programming, digital resources and user terminal (or user terminal set including all user terminals meeting a particular criteria).
  • the scheduling information may be received via any suitable source including a bus connection, a computer network such as the Internet, a dial-up connection, a cable television network, a direct line connection, a wireless connection, a satellite broadcast network or a local or remote data store.
  • a particular user terminal may be selected as the recipient for particular video programming and/or digital resources.
  • the video programming and/or digital resources may be selected, and in some embodiments requested, according to the selected user terminal.
  • the selection process may involve a matching process between profile information associated with the user terminal and profile information associated with the video programming and/or the digital resources.
  • a user terminal may be selected on the basis of the receipt of a request from the user terminal for programming.
  • a data store may be utilized either as a permanent or temporary storage location for the above-described data including video programming, digital resources, and schedule and profile information and/or data.
  • the data store may be either primary or secondary storage, or in some instances a combination of both.
  • FIG. 3 another depiction of the embodiment of FIG. 2 is shown, in addition to further aspects of an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a national broadcaster eg, MSNBC
  • the hardware at the local broadcaster 10 includes a control process system 30. a rendering process system 32, and a collector / dispatcher process system 34.
  • the collector / dispatcher system 34 is connected to the Internet (not shown).
  • the local broadcaster 10 is connected to multiple end-users via a cable television network 42.
  • the network 42 shown includes both an Internet pipe and a video pipe as in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, the Internet pipe may be via the Internet itself or via other connection.
  • the three subsystems 30, 32, 34 are shown as separate structure in FIG. 3, the subsystems may be provided using a different arrangement, such as a single computer.
  • the set -top box and television of one end-user (or customer) 20 is shown. Also, a node 40 in the network 42 is shown. The node 40 connects the local broadcaster 10 to multiple end-users, including the end-user shown 20. Similarly, the national broadcaster 8 is shown as connecting to multiple local broadcasters, including the one shown 10.
  • Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems that allow broadcasters, such as the local broadcaster 10 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, to provide interactive graphics in a broadcast, such as a television broadcast or a broadcast of other video programming, in an automated manner from a central location.
  • the Web graphics component 16 and the video component 1 are sent via one pipe (or channel), called the video pipe 14.
  • the Web graphics component 16 sent via the video pipe 14 may be included in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) if desired or sent using an MPEG3 data carrier or other carrier or format.
  • the component may be sent outside of the VBI if desired.
  • the Web interactive component 1 1 is sent via another pipe, the Internet pipe 12.
  • the Internet pipe 12 may be part of the cable system 42 or, in another embodiment, may be via the Internet itself.
  • the broadcast of the various components 1 1 , 15, 16 are coordinated by the broadcaster 10.
  • the broadcaster ' s transmission of the Web interactive component 1 1 , video component 15, and Web graphics component 16 may be to all end-users in the cable network 42, or to selected ones of the users, as will be described further herein.
  • a cable network is just one arrangement in which embodiments of the present invention may be used. Satellite broadcast networks and other networks may also include the present invention.
  • the subsystems 30, 32, 34 at the broadcaster 10 comprise a typical system. Any of these subsystems may in certain embodiments be ultimately responsible for transmitting the video programming, the visible components of the digital resources and/or the non-visible components of the digital resources.
  • the control subsystem30 generally supports managing scheduling information related to positioning, timing and controlling transmissions of the received video signal and the received digital resources to the user terminal.
  • the rendering subsystem 32 generally supports for managing the rendering of transmissions to the user terminal.
  • the dispatcher/collector subsystem 34 generally supports accumulating digital resources and video programming for transmission to the user terminal.
  • the subsystems 30, 32, 34 interface with the cable television network via the cable head end.
  • FIG. 4 provides a more detailed view of one example of broadcaster system 10.
  • the control process system 30 provides Web interactive component 1 1 comprising triggers, or commands, to the set top box 20 using the broadcast data pipe, which, in the embodiment shown, comprises the Internet pipe 12.
  • triggers, or commands include commands relating to providing links or "hot spots" at designated locations on the television screen and in designated formats (eg, rectangle), commands associating such hot spots with designated hyperlinks, commands relating to loading and displaying designated Web pages or graphics, and similar commands.
  • the commands may comprise an image map, which provides instructions to the set top box for providing links or "hot spots" on the television screen for interaction with the end user. These commands may be sent by the control process system 30 via multiple Internet pipes (not shown).
  • some set-top boxes in the system may receive such commands in the Internet channel in the cable system, while others may receive such commands in the Internet channel of the Internet itself (eg, via a dial-up Internet connection connecting the set-top box to the Internet).
  • the commands may use various standards. For example, with an analog communication, the ATVEF standard, an enhanced HTML standard, or other analog-usable standards. With a digital communication, the MPEG2 data carrier standard or another standard may be used.
  • Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of standards may be used in communicating the triggers, or commands, to the set-top boxes in accordance with the present invention.
  • such triggers, or commands are communicated to the set-top box via a path that may be reasonably synchronized with the video pipe broadcast, such as the broadcast data pipe (eg, the Internet pipe 12).
  • one set of coordinating commands is provided by the administration of the broadcaster to the control process system 30, which converts the coordinating commands provided to the appropriate communication standard for the broadcast of triggers to the set-top boxes.
  • the coordinating commands are provided using a graphical user interface (GUI) or on-line editor associated with the control process system 30 at the local broadcaster 10, who may be located at the cable head end.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • An XML structure may be used to support a touch screen displaying groups of interactive graphics (icons) on one side of the GUI screen and a scheduling block on the other side of the screen.
  • the icons are associated with particular Web graphics that may be broadcast to the end users (eg, the end user 20 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).
  • the administrator at the broadcaster 10 may point and drag the interactive icons to the date and time on the scheduling block side of the screen to indicate that the graphics associated with that icon should be broadcast to the end users at that particular time.
  • the control process system 30 generates an XML file, comprising a schedule file.
  • the control process system 30, using software, reads the XML file and sends the appropriate command triggers to the end users at the appropriate time.
  • Such triggers may be broadcast by the broadcaster 10 using multiple standards to accommodate various set-top boxes. These broadcasts of triggers are coordinated with broadcasts of video and Web graphics components.
  • Schedule information in the form of XML files or other suitable format may be stored in a data store specifically provided for such use such as data store 410 depicted in FIG. 4.
  • the schedule information may be stored remotely, for example, at a location controlled by a national broadcaster 8 or a digital resource provider 420 (provider of Web content).
  • the local broadcaster 10 would have access to such schedule information via a suitable communications architecture such as a cable television network, a direct dedicated connection or a computer network.
  • the schedule information would be accessible via the Internet 400.
  • the rendering process system 32 receives the triggers and coordinates the rendering of the Web graphics with the Web graphics components.
  • the control process system 30 and the rendering process system 32 are shown separately, but in embodiments, they may comprise, for example, a single computer having the software needed to carry out the functions of both subsystems 30, 32.
  • the rendering process system 32 accesses the event schedule as well, and provides instructions to the end user's set top box regarding the size, shape, and placement of hot spots on the user's television screen and the hyperlinks associated with the hot spots.
  • the rendering process system 32 also provides commands to the set top box as to the length of time (or duration) which designated Web graphics and Web interactivity should be displayed and provided on the end user's screen (for example, a particular graphic and its associated hyperlink should be provided for 10 seconds because the video content associated with that graphic and hyperlink will be displayed for 10 seconds).
  • This schedule file reflects a schedule of events.
  • an event is associated with a time code having year, month, day, hour, minute, and second fields.
  • the rendering process system 32 carries out the event associated with that time code in the schedule file. After an event associated with a time code is carried out, the system moves the event pointer to the next scheduled event, and carries out any tasks necessary to prepare for that event.
  • an event command is received from a system user or from a separate system or subsystem through a command- enabled interface (eg, from the national broadcaster 8), the event reflected by that event command is carried out by the system.
  • a command may be associated with video content, Web graphics, and Web interactive components provided by the system user or the separate system or subsystem.
  • the event schedule may include an associated list of Web pages to be transmitted at specific times during that broadcast.
  • the Web pages may be created at the local broadcaster location 10, downloaded from the Internet, or obtained from another source.
  • the event schedule coordinates the broadcasting of the Web pages with segments of the video transmission. For example, if a home shopping network were broadcasting three like items, eg, a jewelry set, Web graphics, showing, for example, three buttons and other graphics related to the items, could be shown on the screen, ie, dynamically generated. As an example, such graphics could be transmitted via the broadcast pipe (video pipe). The user could then press the button that interested them and would be taken to the site for further information and ordering.
  • the broadcast pipe video pipe
  • the video content may be received from the national broadcaster 8, created and provided by the local broadcaster 10, or obtained from some other source and broadcast by the local broadcaster 10.
  • each such product may be associated with data in a database, such as a database associated with an event schedule.
  • An example of an event is the broadcasting of Web graphics components, video content, and Web interactive components that, when combined and displayed at the end user, provide a display of video content and Web graphics with which the end user can interact by activating "hot spots" or hyperlinks associated with the Web graphics displayed.
  • Examples of such displays include interactive product advertisements, interactive video magazines, interactive real estate advertisements, and many other applications.
  • the hot spots are coordinated with graphics so that the user sees graphics in the area of the hot spot.
  • the hyperlinks may be associated with another Web page, another device, or otherwise cause some action to take place.
  • the interactivity command associated with the activated area is launched.
  • the launch command may be executed locally at the user terminal in certain embodiments.
  • the activation may result in the transmission of the interactivity command from the user terminal to the broadcaster 10.
  • the transmission may be via a third communication channel, which in some instances may be the same as the first or second communication channel; typically, the third communication channel may be a bus connection a computer network such as the Internet, a dial-up connection, a cable television network, a direct line connection, or a wireless connection.
  • the command may be executed. In many cases, the execution may result in the retrieval of additional digital resources typically in the form of a Web page.
  • This additional set of digital resources may be communicated back to the user terminal; in certain embodiments, the visible portions of the additional set of digital resources may be transmitted via the first communication channel while the non-visible portions are transmitted via the second communication channel.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also includes a collector / dispatcher process system 34.
  • the collector / dispatcher process system 34 receives communication from the national broadcaster 8. Note that the national broadcaster sends communication to many local broadcasters.
  • the collector / dispatcher process system 34 shown is connected to the Internet as well as the cable head end.
  • the collector / dispatcher process system 34 collects Web content (including Web graphics and Web interactive content) and broadcasts that content, along with any video and audio content broadcast, to all connected or all designated end users. This collection and dispatching process is automated by the system 34.
  • a wide variety of applications may be carried out with the assistance of the collector / dispatcher process system 34. Examples include a narrow-cast channel, advertising channel, information channel, and a topic-specific cable television magazine.
  • the collector / dispatcher system 34 may access designated Web pages by the uniform resource locator (URL) at designated times, download those pages to the system 34, and then broadcast those pages at designated times to end users 20.
  • the system 34 may separate the Web graphics content and the Web interactive content of downloaded Web pages, and then broadcast the Web graphics component 16 via the video pipe and the Web interactive component 1 1 via the Internet pipe.
  • the broadcasting may be carried out by the collector / dispatcher system 34 or handed off to the control process system 30 or the rendering process system 32 (or some combination thereof) to carry out.
  • the collector / dispatcher 34 may collect and dispatch other types of content from other types of sources (besides the Internet).
  • the subsystems 30, 32, 34 shown comprise rack-mount computers, using any of various conventional operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows.
  • the collector / dispatcher system 34 and the rendering process system 32 shown also include a broadcast-quality graphics card (or graphics / movie card).
  • An example is Targa 3000 made by Pinnacle Systems.
  • Another configuration includes three desk-top PCs w ith appropriate communications facilities for the control path and a graphics card (such as the Targa 3000).
  • Still another configuration includes all three subsystems running on a single computer (eg, a PC having at least an 8088 or 8086 family processor) having the appropriate communications facilities and an appropriate graphics card.
  • the software needed to carry out these functions described can be programmed in any of various programming languages (eg, Visual Basic, Java, C or C++), and those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the coding necessary.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also includes localization functionalities.
  • Localization provides for providing localized Internet or other content to pre-designated geographic areas.
  • An interactive rendering process system is provided at the cable head end (or at the local broadcaster's studio).
  • the national broadcaster 8 broadcasts video content, and the local broadcaster provides the interactive content (Web graphics and Web interactive content).
  • a control signal is sent by the national broadcaster 8 to the local broadcaster 10 advising as to the video content and advisable localized Web content that the local broadcaster 10 may wish to provide to the end users in the area of the local broadcaster (ie, served by the local broadcaster) in association with the to-be-broadcast video content.
  • the national broadcaster 8 may provide travel-related video content to the local broadcaster 10.
  • the local broadcaster 10 sends Web graphics 16 and Web interactive components 1 1 created (or stored) by the local broadcaster 10 that is associated with local travel agencies and other local travel services to the end user 20 to be displayed on the end user's television along with the video content sent by the national broadcaster.
  • the end user received nationally-produced video content and may interact with local, related service providers.
  • the interactive components provided may include hyperlinks to the Web pages of local travel agents.
  • the local broadcaster 10 decides which localized Web-based content to provide with the video content provided by the national broadcaster 8, but in other embodiments, the national broadcaster 8 may dictate or provide the localized interactive content as well. In other embodiments, the national broadcaster 8 may dictate the Web graphic content but allow the local broadcaster 10 to select the desired Web interactive controls and commands to be utilized with the graphic content supplied by the national broadcaster 8.
  • FIG. 4 depicts one possible arrangement of broadcaster system 10.
  • Control processor 30, rendering processor 32 and dispatcher/collector processor 34 are subsystems within a broadcaster system 10.
  • the functionality performed by these subsystems may be executed on a single system or distributed across a cluster of suitably programmed systems.
  • the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is exemplary.
  • the subsystems or distributed systems performing the desired functionality communicate via a suitable communication architecture such as bus connection, direct line connection, computer network connection (Ethernet, token ring, etc.), interprocess communication or other similar architecture.
  • the communication architecture is the Internet 400.
  • the systems performing the subsystem functionality will typically have access to a data store 410; the data store may provide simple storage as in the case of one or more hard disk drives or may provide its own access logic such as a database system architecture.
  • the access may be through any suitable communication architecture such as described with respect to the communication of the systems supporting the subsystem functionality.
  • the data store 410 will typically provide temporary and permanent storage for data required to support the subsystem functionality.
  • This data may include video programming, digital resources, schedule information, video programming profile data, digital resources profile data and user profile data.
  • Embodiments may also undertake hyper-localization.
  • hardware may be provided at various head ends or nodes that transmits different interactive content to those users connected to differing head ends or nodes.
  • information is gathered about the interests and purchasing habits of various cable television users. Afterward, this information is used by the national or local broadcaster to create and provide interactive content tailored to the interests and purchasing habits of those users.
  • a national or local broadcaster may broadcast individually-designated data and video streams.
  • the streams may include interactive content for a particular individual or household.
  • the individually-designated data streams may be coded to be sent to, or only read by, the designated individual or household.
  • interactive graphics are provided that are associated with various video display elements, eg, products, shown in the broadcast.
  • the user may click on these interactive graphics and move the graphics on the screen by pointing and clicking.
  • the video display elements move along with the interactive graphics.
  • the system may display more information about the particular video display element (eg, about the particular product displayed) for the user.
  • the Web graphics and interactive data may be recorded along with video content in a recording.
  • the recording eg, a video tape, DVD, laser disk, etc.
  • the Web graphics and interactive data is provided to the end user as described above.
  • the video content, Web graphics, and interactive components may be recorded and used at a later date, rather than using an event schedule system as described above.
  • Applications include purchasing or renting such tapes from a store, and sending such tapes to households containing a video catalog with interactive elements.
  • VBI recorded formats data path
  • MPEG data path the content can be played back at any time through an interactive device.
  • one embodiment of the present invention provides methods for interactive broadcasting comprising sending interactive commands components via a broadcast data pipe, sending interactive graphics components via a broadcast video pipe, and sending video via the broadcast video pipe. Also, one embodiment of the present invention comprises sending a Web interactive component in an Internet channel, sending a Web graphics component in a video broadcast channel, and sending a video component in the video broadcast channel.
  • the Web interactive component may be provided, and the Web graphics component may be provided separately from the Web interactive component.
  • Providing the Web interactive component may comprise extracting the Web interactive component from a Web file, or may comprise creating such a component.
  • providing the Web graphics component may comprise extracting the Web graphics component from a Web file, or may comprise creating such a component.
  • Sending the Web interactive component in the Internet channel may comprise sending the Web interactive component to a television set top box.
  • sending the Web graphics component in the broadcast channel may comprise sending the Web graphics component to a television set top box, and sending a video component in the broadcast channel may comprise sending the video component to a television set top box.
  • the broadcast channel may comprise a television broadcast channel, specifically a cable television broadcast channel, satellite television broadcast channel, or other broadcast channel.
  • the video content may include an associated audio component in the broadcast channel.
  • Sending the Web interactive component in the Internet channel may comprise sending the Web interactive component from a cable television head end.
  • sending the Web graphics component in the broadcast channel may comprise sending the Web graphics component from a cable television head end
  • sending a video component in the broadcast channel may comprise sending the video component from a cable television head end.
  • Triggering signals may also be sent to the television set top box, wherein the triggering signals comprise commands relating to the location of television interactive areas.
  • synchronizing signals may be sent to the set top box or other system, wherein the synchronizing signals comprise data relating to the temporal display relationship between the Web graphics component, the Web interactive component, and the video component.
  • An interactive multicasting broadcast schedule may be provided comprising a temporal schedule for sending the Web interactive component in the Internet channel, sending the Web graphics component in the broadcast channel, and sending the video component in the broadcast channel. Such a schedule may include multiple entries.
  • the Web interactive component may comprise an image map of a Web page.
  • a method for interactive broadcasting comprising extracting a Web interactive component and a Web graphics component from a Web file, sending the Web interactive component in an Internet channel, sending the Web graphics component in a broadcast channel, and sending a video component in the broadcast channel.
  • Methods and systems according to the present invention provide interactive multicasting.
  • the destination for the broadcasts according to the present invention is a user terminal.
  • a typical user terminal will include a television and a set-top box.
  • Other suitable hardware and software may be utilized to receive the broadcast.
  • Such hardware and software will include one or more display devices for rendering the received broadcast and one or more input devices allowing interaction with the received broadcast.
  • the display and input devices may be of any suitable type as will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the most typical combination will be a monitor and speakers (or television) allowing visual and auditory displav and a mouse and keyboard for providing input (connected to a set-top box).
  • a user terminal will also require at least one processor (typically within a set-top box) for receiving the broadcast, displaying it appropriately on the display device(s) and monitoring for user inputs via the input device(s).

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  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un système de diffusion interactive. Du contenu (15) vidéo, comprenant généralement aussi une composante audio, est transmis par l'intermédiaire d'un canal (14) de communication. Des parties visibles de contenu (16) interactif sont également transmises par l'intermédiaire de ce canal (14) de communication. Des parties non visibles du contenu (11) interactif sont transmises par l'intermédiaire d'un canal (12) de communication, qui peut être différent du canal utilisé pour le contenu (15) vidéo et les parties visibles du contenu (16) interactif. Un système typique comprend des sous-systèmes de collecteur/répartiteur, de commande et de rendu. Le sous-système (20) de collecteur/répartiteur peut extraire du contenu interactif de la manière déterminée par des informations d'ordonnancement auxquelles le sous-système de commande peut avoir accès, et, dans certains cas, peut analyser les parties visibles et non visibles du contenu extrait. Ce contenu extrait peut être envoyé au sous-système de rendu en vue d'une transmission conjointe avec le contenu vidéo reçu.
PCT/US2000/040717 1999-08-23 2000-08-22 Systeme et procede de multidiffusion interactive hybride virtuelle WO2001015359A1 (fr)

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AU78852/00A AU7885200A (en) 1999-08-23 2000-08-22 Virtual hybrid interactive multicasting system and method
EP00969022A EP1212858A1 (fr) 1999-08-23 2000-08-22 Systeme et procede de multidiffusion interactive hybride virtuelle

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US15021499P 1999-08-23 1999-08-23
US60/150,214 1999-08-23
US19502700P 2000-04-06 2000-04-06
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GB2389754A (en) * 2002-03-07 2003-12-17 Chello Broadband N V Interactive TV system where requests for services are transmitted to the provider over a packet network and responses incorporated in the TV broadcast signal
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WO2001015359A8 (fr) 2001-07-19
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