U.S. patent application number 09/745205 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for control spending based on time period.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Carolynn Rae, Menez, Benoit Pol.
Application Number | 20020083002 09/745205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24995682 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020083002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Menez, Benoit Pol ; et
al. |
June 27, 2002 |
Control spending based on time period
Abstract
A system and method for processing user programming request are
described. A request entered by a user is detected. An entry for a
time period based user spending limit is provided, in respond to
the entered user request. The time period based user spending limit
entry is received by the system and system tracks the user spending
during the time period. In another embodiment, more than one
spending limits, corresponding to different time periods may be
entered.
Inventors: |
Menez, Benoit Pol; (Carmel,
IN) ; Johnson, Carolynn Rae; (Indianapolis,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMSON Multimedia Licensing Inc.
Patent Operations
P.O. Box 5312
Two Independence Way
Princeton
NJ
08543-5312
US
|
Family ID: |
24995682 |
Appl. No.: |
09/745205 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 40/00 20130101; G06Q 40/12 20131203 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/52 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
1. A method for processing user programming request, comprising the
steps of: detecting a user request; providing an entry for a time
period based user spending limit, in respond to the user request;
receiving the entry; and tracking user spending during the time
period.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a
selection for a rolling time period.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating
a user warning when the user spending exceeds the time period based
user spending limit entered.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of allowing
the user to override the user spending limit.
5. A method for processing user programming request, comprising the
steps of: detecting a user request; providing a plurality of
spending limit entries each corresponding to a time period, in
respond to the user request; receiving one or more of the selected
spending limit entries; and tracking user spending during each of
the selected time period.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising performing a check to
see if a spending limit for a shorter time period is greater than a
spending limit entry for a longer time period; and providing a user
warning if otherwise.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of tracking
all applicable user spending during the selected time periods.
8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing
the option of counting the selected time period on a rolling
basis.
9. A system for processing user programming request, comprising the
steps of: a user controller for entering a user request; and means
for providing an entry for a time period based user spending limit,
in respond to the user request; said means receiving the entry and
providing user spending tracking during the time period.
10. A system for processing user programming request, comprising
the steps of: a user controller for detecting a user request; and
means for providing a plurality of spending limit entries each
corresponding to a time period, in respond to the user request;
said means receiving one or more of the selected spending limit
entries and tracking user spending during each of the selected time
period.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a system and
method for processing user programming request. In particular, the
present invention allows a user to specify a spending limit that is
based on a selected period, instead of or in addition to per event
basis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Current viewers of direct broadcast satellite receivers,
such as RCA.RTM. DSS.RTM. receivers, manufactured and marketed by
Thomson Consumer Electronics of Indiana, U.S.A., have the benefit
of being able order pay-per-view movies from their receivers. This
allows viewers to conveniently view a movie whenever they
desire.
[0003] To prevent excessive spending by, for example, household
members of a subscriber of the above system, the subscriber is
provided with a "spending limit" capability as shown, for example,
in FIG. 1A or 1B. In FIG. 1A, the spending limit capability can be
accessed by selecting one of the user profiles 2-6 of the system,
as part of the spending limit submenu selection for the system. In
the alternative, the subscriber may access the spending limit
option by selecting the user profile editing submenu for a
particular user profile and then select the spending limit option
7, as shown in FIG. 1B. In either case, the system currently
provides only a "per event" spending limit option.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present inventors recognize that it may be desirable to
be able to further enhance the system so that a spending limit may
be based on a time period basis for each user profile or for the
whole system. This would provide the advantage of preventing
someone in the household of ordering a large number of events, even
though each individual event may be under the per-event spending
limit, but nevertheless would aggregate to a large sum of money. In
addition, since most households calculate their budget on a per
period basis (e.g., monthly), the per period spending limit matches
well with a subscriber's budget cycle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the drawing:
[0006] FIGS. 1A and 1B show, respectively, the existing per event
spending limit of a current system.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows an example of a television system suitable for
processing user commands and displaying exemplary user interface
screens in accordance to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows an example of a digital video processing
apparatus suitable for processing user commands and displaying
exemplary user interface screens in accordance with the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a specific implementation of
a digital satellite system suitable for processing user commands
and displaying exemplary user interface screens in accordance with
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 shows an example of a program guide for selecting
programs.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart, in accordance with the present
invention, for processing user commands and displaying exemplary
user interface screens in accordance with the present
invention.
[0012] FIGS. 7A and 7B show an exemplary screen for implementing
features according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary screen for entering one or more
spending limits.
[0014] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary warning screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an example of a television system suitable for
processing user commands and displaying exemplary user interface
screens in accordance with the present invention. The television
receiver shown in FIG. 2 is capable of processing both analog NTSC
television signals and internet information. The system shown in
FIG. 1 has a first input 1100 for receiving television signal RF_IN
at RF frequencies and a second input 1102 for receiving baseband
television signal VIDEO IN. Signal RF_IN may be supplied from a
source such as an antenna or cable system while signal VIDEO IN may
be supplied, for example, by a video cassette recorder (VCR). Tuner
1105 and IF processor 1130 operates in a conventional manner for
tuning and demodulating a particular television signal that is
included in signal RF_IN. IF processor 1130 produces baseband video
signal VIDEO representing the video program portion of the tuned
television signal. IF processor 1130 also produces a baseband audio
signal that is coupled to an audio processing section (not shown in
FIG. 1) for further audio processing. Although FIG. 2 shows input
1102 as a baseband signal, the television receiver could include a
second tuner and IF processor similar to units 1105 and 1130 for
producing a second baseband video signal from either signal RF_IN
or from a second RF signal source. The system shown in FIG. 2 also
includes a main microprocessor (mP) 1110 for controlling components
of the television receiver such as tuner 1105, picture-in-picture
processing unit 1140, video signal processor 1155, and
StarSight.RTM. data processing module 1160. As used herein, the
term "microprocessor" represents various devices including, but not
limited to, microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers and
controllers. Microprocessor 1110 controls the system by sending and
receiving both commands and data via serial data bus 1.sup.2C BUS
which utilizes the well-known 1.sup.2C serial data bus protocol.
More specifically, central processing unit (CPU) 1112 within mP
1110 executes control programs contained within memory, such as
EEPROM 1127 shown in FIG. 2, in response to commands provided by a
user, e.g., via IR remote control 1125 and IR receiver 1122. For
example, activation of a "CHANNEL UP" feature on remote control
1125 causes CPU 1112 to send a "change channel" command along with
channel data to tuner 1105 via 1.sup.2C BUS. As a result, tuner
1105 tunes the next channel in the channel scan list. Another
example of a control program stored in EEPROM 1127 is software for
implementing the operations shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7 and 8 in flow
chart form to be discussed below and in accordance with the present
invention.
[0016] Main microprocessor 1110 also controls the operation of a
communications interface unit 1113 for providing the capability to
upload and download information to and from the internet.
Communication interface unit 1113 includes, for example, a modem
for connecting to an internet service provider, e.g., via a
telephone line or via a cable television line. The communication
capability allows the system shown in FIG. 1 to provide email
capability and internet related features such as web browsing in
addition to receiving television programming.
[0017] CPU 1112 controls functions included within mP 1110 via bus
1119 within mP 1110. In particular, CPU 1112 controls auxiliary
data processor 1115 and on-screen display (OSD) processor 1117.
Auxiliary data processor 1115 extracts auxiliary data such as
StarSight.RTM. data from video signal PIPV.
[0018] StarSight.RTM. data which provides program guide data
information in a known format is typically received only on a
particular television channel and the television receiver must tune
that channel to extract StarSight.RTM. data. To prevent
StarSight.RTM. data extraction from interfering with normal use of
the television receiver, CPU 1112 initiates StarSight.RTM. data
extraction by tuning the particular channel only during a time
period when the television receiver is usually not in use (e.g.,
2:00 AM). At that time, CPU 1112 configures decoder 1115 such that
auxiliary data is extracted from horizontal line intervals such as
line 16 that are used for StarSight.RTM. data. CPU 1112 controls
the transfer of extracted StarSight.RTM. data from decoder 1115 via
1.sup.2C BUS to StarSight.RTM. module 1160. A processor internal to
the module formats and stores the data in memory within the module.
In response to the StarSight.RTM. EPG display being activated
(e.g., a user activating a particular key on remote control 125),
CPU 1112 transfers formatted StarSight.RTM. EPG display data from
StarSight.RTM. module 1160 via 1.sup.2C BUS to OSD processor
1117.
[0019] An EPG is an interactive, on-screen display feature that
displays information analogous to TV listings found in local
newspapers or other print media. In addition, an EPG also includes
information necessary for collating and decoding programs. An EPG
provides information about each program within the time frames
covered by the EPG which typically ranges from the next hour up to
seven days. The information contained in an EPG includes
programming characteristics such as channel number, program title,
start time, end time, elapsed time, time remaining, rating (if
available), topic, theme, and a brief description of the program's
content. EPGs are usually arranged in a two-dimensional table or
grid format with time information on one axis and channel
information on the other axis. An example of a program guide is
shown in FIG. 5.
[0020] Unlike non-interactive guides that reside on a dedicated
channel and merely scroll through the current programming on the
other channels for the next 2 to 3 hours, EPGs allow viewers to
select any channel at any time during some period into the future,
e.g., up to seven days forward. Further EPG features include the
ability to highlight individual cells of the grid containing
program information. Once highlighted, the viewer can perform
functions pertaining to that selected program. For instance, the
viewer could instantly switch to that program if it is currently
being aired. Viewers could also program one touch video cassette
recording (VCR) or the like if the television is properly
configured and connected to a recording device.
[0021] In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,106, issued to Chaney et
al., and assigned to the same assignee of the present invention,
describes in detail an exemplary embodiment including data packet
structure necessary to implement an exemplary program guide system.
The exemplary data packet structure is designed so that both the
channel information (e.g., channel name, call letters, channel
number, type, etc.) and the program description information (e.g.,
content, title, rating, star, etc.) relating to a program may be
transmitted from a program guide database provider to a receiving
apparatus efficiently.
[0022] OSD processor 1117 operates in a conventional manner to
produce R, G, and B video signals OSD_RGB that, when coupled to a
displayed device (not shown), will produce a displayed image
representing on-screen display information in according to flow
charts to be shown in FIGS. 6-8 and to be described later. OSD
processor 1117 also produces control signal Fast-Switch (FSW) which
is intended to control a fast switch for inserting signals OSD_RGB
into the system's video output signal at times when an on-screen
display is to be displayed. Therefore, when a user enables the
various user interface screens of the present invention to be
described later, OSD processor 1117 produces the corresponding
signals OSD_RGB representing the on-screen display information
previously stored or programmed in the memory 1127. For example,
when a user enables an EPG, e.g., by activating a particular switch
on remote control 1125, CPU 1112 enables processor 1117. In
response, processor 1117 produces signals OSD_RGB representing the
program guide data information previously extracted and already
stored in memory, as discussed above. Processor 1117 also produces
signal FSW indicating when the EPG is to be displayed.
[0023] Video signal processor (VSP) 1155 performs conventional
video signal processing functions, such as luma and chroma
processing. Output signals produced by VSP 1155 are suitable for
coupling to a display device, e.g., a kinescope or LCD device (not
shown in FIG. 2), for producing a displayed image. VSP 1155 also
includes a fast switch for coupling signals produced by OSD
processor 1117 to the output video signal path at times when
graphics and/or text is to be included in the displayed image. The
fast switch is controlled by control signal FSW which is generated
by OSD processor 1117 in main microprocessor 1110 at times when
text and/or graphics are to be displayed.
[0024] The input signal for VSP 1155 is signal PIPV that is output
by picture-in-picture (PIP) processor 1140. When a user activates
PIP mode, signal PIPV represents a large picture (large pix) into
which a small picture (small pix) is inset. When PIP mode is
inactive, signal PIPV represents just the large pix, i.e., no small
pix signal is included in signal PIPV. PIP processor 1140 provides
the described functionality in a conventional manner using features
included in unit 1140 such as a video switch, analog-to-digital
converter (ADC), RAM, and digital to analog converter (DAC).
[0025] As mentioned above, the display data included in the EPG
display is produced by OSD processor 1117 and included in the
output signal by VSP 1155 in response to fast switch signal FSW.
When controller 1110 detects activation of the EPG display, e.g.,
when a user presses an appropriate key on remote control 1125,
controller 1110 causes OSD processor 1117 to produce the EPG
display using information such as program guide data from
StarSight.RTM. module 1160. Controller 1110 causes VSP 1155 to
combine the EPG display data from OSD processor 1117 and the video
image signal in response to signal FSW to produce a display
including EPG. The EPG can occupy all or only a portion of the
display area.
[0026] When the EPG display is active, controller 1110 executes an
EPG control program stored in EEPROM 1127. The control program
monitors the location of a position indicator, such as a cursor
and/or highlighting, in the EPG display. A user controls the
location of the position indicator using direction and selection
keys of remote control 1125. Alternatively, the system could
include a mouse device. Controller 1110 detects activation of a
selection device, such as clicking a mouse button, and evaluates
current cursor location information in conjunction with EPG data
being displayed to determine the function desired, e.g., tuning a
particular program. Controller 1110 subsequently activates the
control action associated with the selected feature.
[0027] An exemplary embodiment of the features of the system shown
in FIG. 2 that have been described thus far comprises an ST9296
microprocessor produced by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics for
providing the features associated with rnp 1110; an M65616
picture-in-picture processor produced by Mitsubishi for providing
the described basic PIP functionality associated with PIP processor
1140; and an LA7612 video signal processor produced by Sanyo for
providing the functions of VSP 1155.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows another example of an electronic device capable
of processing user commands and displaying exemplary user interface
screens in accordance with the present invention. As described
below, the system shown in FIG. 3 is an MPEG compatible system for
receiving MPEG encoded transport streams representing broadcast
programs. However, the system shown in FIG. 2 is exemplary only.
The user interface system described herein is also applicable to
other types of digital signal processing devices including non-MPEG
compatible systems, involving other types of encoded datastreams.
For example, other devices include digital video disc (DVD) systems
and MPEG program streams, and systems combining computer and
television functions such as the so-called "PCTV". Further,
although the system described below is described as processing
broadcast programs, this is exemplary only. The term `program` is
used to represent any form of packetized data such as telephone
messages, computer programs, internet data or other communications,
for example.
[0029] In overview, in the video receiver system of FIG. 3, a
carrier modulated with video data is received by antenna 10 and
processed by unit 15. The resultant digital output signal is
demodulated by demodulator 20 and decoded by decoder 30. The output
from decoder 30 is processed by transport system 25 which is
responsive to commands from remote control unit 125. System 25
provides compressed data outputs for storage, further decoding, or
communication to other devices.
[0030] Video and audio decoders 85 and 80 respectively, decode the
compressed data from system 25 to provide outputs for display. Data
port 75 provides an interface for communication of the compressed
data from system 25 to other devices such as a computer or High
Definition Television (HDTV) receiver, for example. Storage device
90 stores the compressed data from system 25 on storage medium 105.
Device 90, in a playback mode also supports retrieval of the
compressed data from storage medium 105 for processing by system 25
for decoding, communication to other devices or storage on a
different storage medium (not shown to simplify drawing).
[0031] Considering FIG. 3 in detail, a carrier modulated with video
data received by antenna 10, is converted to digital form and
processed by input processor 15. Processor 15 includes radio
frequency (RF) tuner and intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and
amplification stages for down-converting the input video signal to
a lower frequency band suitable for further processing. The
resultant digital output signal is demodulated by demodulator 20
and decoded by decoder 30. The output from decoder 30 is further
processed by transport system 25.
[0032] Multiplexer (mux) 37 of service detector 33 is provided, via
selector 35, with either the output from decoder 30, or the decoder
30 output further processed by a descrambling unit 40. Descrambling
unit 40 may be, for example, a removable unit such as a smart card
in accordance with ISO 7816 and NRSS (National Renewable Security
Standards) Committee standards (the NRSS removable conditional
access system is defined in E1A Draft Document IS-679, Project
PN-3639). Selector 35 detects the presence of an insertable,
compatible, descrambling card and provides the output of unit 40 to
mux 37 only if the card is currently inserted in the video receiver
unit. Otherwise selector 35 provides the output from decoder 30 to
mux 37. The presence of the insertable card permits unit 40 to
descramble additional premium program channels, for example, and
provide additional program services to a viewer. It should be noted
that in the preferred embodiment NRSS unit 40 and smart card unit
130 (smart card unit 130 is discussed later) share the same system
25 interface such that only either an NRSS card or a smart card may
be inserted at any one time. However, the interfaces may also be
separate to allow parallel operation.
[0033] The data provided to mux 37 from selector 35 is in the form
of an MPEG compliant packetized transport datastream as defined in
MPEG systems standard section 2.4 and includes program guide
information and the data content of one or more program channels.
The individual packets that comprise particular program channels
are identified by Packet Identifiers (PIDs). The transport stream
contains Program Specific Information (PSI) for use in identifying
the PIDs and assembling individual data packets to recover the
content of all the program channels that comprise the packetized
datastream. Transport system 25, under the control of the system
controller 115, acquires and collates program guide information
from the input transport stream, storage device 90 or an internet
service provider via the communication interface unit 116. The
individual packets that comprise either particular program channel
content or Program Guide information, are identified by their
Packet Identifiers (PIDs) contained within header information. As
discussed above, the program description contained in the program
guide information may comprise different program descriptive fields
such as title, star, rating, etc., relating to a program.
[0034] The user interface incorporated in the video receiver shown
in FIG. 3 enables a user to activate various features by selecting
a desired feature from an on-screen display (OSD) menu. The OSD
menu may include an electronic program guide (EPG) as described
above, and other features discussed below.
[0035] Data representing information displayed in the OSD menu is
generated by system controller 115 in response to stored on-screen
display (OSD) information representing text/graphics, stored
program guide information, and/or program guide and text/graphics
information received via the input signal as described above and in
accordance with exemplary control programs to be shown in FIGS.
6-8, and to be discussed below. The software control programs may
be stored, for example, in embedded memory (not shown) of system
controller 115.
[0036] Using remote control unit 125 (or other selection means such
as a mouse) a user can select from the OSD menu items such as a
program to be viewed, a program to be stored (e.g., recorded), the
type of storage media and manner of storage. System controller 115
uses the selection information, provided via interface 120, to
configure system 25 to select the programs for storage and display
and to generate PSI suitable for the selected storage device and
media. Controller 115 configures system 25 elements 45, 47, 50, 55,
65 and 95 by setting control register values within these elements
via a data bus and by selecting signal paths via muxes 37 and 110
with control signal C.
[0037] In response to control signal C, mux 37 selects either, the
transport stream from unit 35, or in a playback mode, a datastream
retrieved from storage device 90 via store interface 95. In normal,
non-playback operation, the data packets comprising the program
that the user selected to view are identified by their PIDs by
selection unit 45. If an encryption indicator in the header data of
the selected program packets indicates the packets are encrypted,
unit 45 provides the packets to decryption unit 50. Otherwise unit
45 provides non-encrypted packets to transport decoder 55.
Similarly, the data packets comprising the programs that the user
selected for storage are identified by their PIDs by selection unit
47. Unit 47 provides encrypted packets to decryption unit 50 or
non-encrypted packets to mux 110 based on the packet header
encryption indicator information.
[0038] The functions of decryptors 40 and 50 may be implemented in
a single removable smart card which is compatible with the NRSS
standard. The approach places all security related functions in a
removable unit that can easily be replaced if a service provider
decides to change encryption techniques or to permit easily
changing the security system, e.g., to descramble a different
service.
[0039] Units 45 and 47 employ PID detection filters that match the
PIDs of incoming packets provided by mux 37 with PID values
pre-loaded in control registers within units 45 and 47 by
controller 115. The pre-loaded PIDs are used in units 47 and 45 to
identify the data packets that are to be stored and the data
packets that are to be decoded for use in providing a video image.
The pre-loaded PIDs are stored in look-up tables in units 45 and
47. The PID look-up tables are memory mapped to encryption key
tables in units 45 and 47 that associate encryption keys with each
pre-loaded PID. The memory mapped PID and encryption key look-up
tables permit units 45 and 47 to match encrypted packets containing
a pre-loaded PID with associated encryption keys that permit their
decryption. Non-encrypted packets do not have associated encryption
keys. Units 45 and 47 provide both identified packets and their
associated encryption keys to decryptor 50. The PID look-up table
in unit 45 is also memory mapped to a destination table that
matches packets containing pre-loaded PIDs with corresponding
destination buffer locations in packet buffer 60. The encryption
keys and destination buffer location addresses associated with the
programs selected by a user for viewing or storage are pre-loaded
into units 45 and 47 along with the assigned PIDs by controller
115. The encryption keys are generated by ISO 7816-3 compliant
smart card system 130 from encryption codes extracted from the
input datastream. The generation of the encryption keys is subject
to customer entitlement determined from coded information in the
input data stream and/or pre-stored on the insertable smart card
itself (International Standards Organization document ISO 7816-3 of
1989 defines the interface and signal structures for a smart card
system).
[0040] The packets provided by units 45 and 47 to unit 50 are
encrypted using an encryption technique such as the Data Encryption
Standard (DES) defined in Federal Information Standards (FIPS)
Publications 46, 74 and 81 provided by the National Technical
Information Service, Department of Commerce. Unit 50 decrypts the
encrypted packets using corresponding encryption keys provided by
units 45 and 47 by applying decryption techniques appropriate for
the selected encryption algorithm. The decrypted packets from unit
50 and the non-encrypted packets from unit 45 that comprise the
program for display are provided to decoder 55. The decrypted
packets from unit 50 and the non-encrypted packets from unit 47
that comprise the program for storage are provided to mux 110.
[0041] Unit 60 contains four packet buffers accessible by
controller 115. One of the buffers is assigned to hold data
destined for use by controller 115 and the other three buffers are
assigned to hold packets that are destined for use by application
devices 75, 80 and 85. Access to the packets stored in the four
buffers within unit 60 by both controller 115 and by application
interface 70 is controlled by buffer control unit 65. Unit 45
provides a destination flag to unit 65 for each packet identified
by unit 45 for decoding. The flags indicate the individual unit 60
destination locations for the identified packets and are stored by
control unit 65 in an internal memory table. Control unit 65
determines a series of read and write pointers associated with
packets stored in buffer 60 based on the First-In-First-Out (FIFO)
principle. The write pointers in conjunction with the destination
flags permit sequential storage of an identified packet from units
45 or 50 in the next empty location within the appropriate
destination buffer in unit 60. The read pointers permit sequential
reading of packets from the appropriate unit 60 destination buffers
by controller 115 and application interface 70.
[0042] The non-encrypted and decrypted packets provided by units 45
and 50 to decoder 55 contain a transport header as defined by
section 2.4.3.2 of the MPEG systems standard. Decoder 55 determines
from the transport header whether the non-encrypted and decrypted
packets contain an adaptation field (per the MPEG systems
standard). The adaptation field contains timing information
including, for example, Program Clock References (PCRs) that permit
synchronization and decoding of content packets. Upon detection of
a timing information packet, that is a packet containing an
adaptation field, decoder 55 signals controller 115, via an
interrupt mechanism by setting a system interrupt, that the packet
has been received. In addition, decoder 55 changes the timing
packet destination flag in unit 65 and provides the packet to unit
60. By changing the unit 65 destination flag, unit 65 diverts the
timing information packet provided by decoder 55 to the unit 60
buffer location assigned to hold data for use by controller 115,
instead of an application buffer location.
[0043] Upon receiving the system interrupt set by decoder 55,
controller 115 reads the timing information and PCR value and
stores it in internal memory. PCR values of successive timing
information packets are used by controller 115 to adjust the system
25 master clock (27 MHz). The difference between PCR based and
master clock based estimates of the time interval between the
receipt of successive timing packets, generated by controller 115,
is used to adjust the system 25 master clock. Controller 115
achieves this by applying the derived time estimate difference to
adjust the input control voltage of a voltage controlled oscillator
used to generate the master clock. Controller 115 resets the system
interrupt after storing the timing information in internal
memory.
[0044] Packets received by decoder 55 from units 45 and 50 that
contain program content including audio, video, caption, and other
information, are directed by unit 65 from decoder 55 to the
designated application device buffers in packet buffer 60.
Application control unit 70 sequentially retrieves the audio,
video, caption and other data from the designated buffers in buffer
60 and provides the data to corresponding application devices 75,
80 and 85. The application devices comprise audio and video
decoders 80 and 85 and high speed data port 75. For example, packet
data corresponding to a composite program guide generated by the
controller 115 as described above and as shown in FIG. 5, may be
transported to the video decoder 85 for formatting into video
signal suitable for display on a monitor (not shown) connected to
the video decoder 85. Also, for example, data port 75 may be used
to provide high speed data such as computer programs, for example,
to a computer. Alternatively, port 75 may be used to output data to
a HDTV decoder to display images corresponding to a selected
program or a program guide, for example.
[0045] Packets that contain PSI information are recognized by unit
45 as destined for the controller 115 buffer in unit 60. The PSI
packets are directed to this buffer by unit 65 via units 45, 50 and
55 in a similar manner to that described for packets containing
program content. Controller 115 reads the PSI from unit 60 and
stores it in internal memory.
[0046] Controller 115 also generates condensed PSI (CPSI) from the
stored PSI and incorporates the CPSI in a packetized datastream
suitable for storage on a selectable storage medium. The packet
identification and direction is governed by controller 115 in
conjunction with the unit 45 and unit 47 PID, destination and
encryption key look-up tables and control unit 65 functions in the
manner previously described.
[0047] In addition, controller 115 is coupled to a communication
interface unit 116 that operates in a manner similar to interface
unit 1113 in FIG. 2. That is, unit 116 provides the capability to
upload and download information to and from the internet.
Communication interface unit 116 includes, for example, a modem for
connecting to an internet service provider, e.g., via a telephone
line or via a cable television line. The communication capability
allows the system shown in FIG. 3 to provide email capability and
internet related features such as web browsing in addition to
receiving television programming.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a specific implementation of an electronic device
generally shown in FIG. 3 and described in detail above. FIG. 4
represents a satellite receiver set-top box, designed and
manufactured by Thomson Consumer Electronics, of Indianapolis,
Indiana, U.S.A, for receiving DirecTV.TM. satellite service
provided by Hughes Electronics.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the set-top box has a tuner 301 which
receives and tunes applicable satellite RF signals in the range of
950-1450 Mhz from a satellite antenna 317. The tuned analog signals
are outputted to a link module 302 for further processing. Link
module 302 is responsible for further processing of the analog
tuned signals I_out and Q_out from tuner 301, including filtering
and conditioning of the analog signals, and conversion of the
analog signals into a digital output signal, DATA. The link module
302 is implemented as an integrated circuit (IC). The link module
IC is manufactured by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics of Grenoble,
France, and has Part No. ST 15339-610.
[0050] The digital output, DATA, from the link module 302 consists
of compliant packetized data stream recognized and processable by
the transport unit 303. The datastream, as discussed in detail in
relation to FIG. 3, includes program guide data information and the
data content of one or more program channels of the satellite
broadcast service from Direct TV.TM.. As discussed above, program
guide data contains information relating to the type of program
(e.g., audio-only, video-only, etc.) as indicated, for example, by
the "class" type.
[0051] The function of the transport unit 303 is the same as the
transport system 25 shown in FIG. 3 and discussed already. As
described above, the transport unit 303, processes the packetized
data stream according to the Packet Identifiers (PID) contained in
the header information. The processed data stream is then formatted
into MPEG compatible, compressed audio and video packets and
coupled to a MPEG decoder 304 for further processing.
[0052] The transport unit 303 is controlled by an Advanced RISC
Microprocessor (ARM) 315 which is a RISC based microprocessor. The
ARM processor 315 executes control software residing in ROM 308.
Exemplary components of the software may be, for example, control
programs shown in FIGS. 6-8 for processing user interface commands
and displaying OSD information in accordance with aspects of the
present invention as will be discussed below.
[0053] The transport unit 303 is typically implemented as an
integrated circuit. For example, a preferred embodiment is an IC
manufactured by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics and has a Part No. ST
15273-810 or 15103-65C.
[0054] The MPEG compatible, compressed audio and video packets from
the transport unit 303 are delivered to a MPEG decoder 304. The
MPEG decoder decodes the compressed MPEG datastream from the
transport unit 303. The decoder 304 then outputs the applicable
audio stream which can be further processed by the audio
digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 305 to convert the digital audio
data into analog sound. The decoder 304 also outputs applicable
digital video data which represents image pixel information to a
NTSC encoder 306. The NTSC encoder 306 then further processes this
video data into NTSC compatible analog video signal so that video
images may be displayed on a regular NTSC television screen. The
MPEG decoder as described above may be implemented as an integrated
circuit. One exemplary embodiment may be an MPEG decoder IC
manufactured by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics having Part No. ST
13520.
[0055] Included in the MPEG processor 304 is an OSD processor 320.
The OSD processor 320 reads data from SDRAM 316 which contains
stored OSD information. OSD information corresponds to bitmap OSD
graphics/text images. The OSD processor is capable of varying the
color and/or translucency of each pixel of an OSD image under the
control of the ARM microprocessor 315 in a conventional manner.
[0056] The OSD processor is also responsible for generating an
exemplary program guide as shown in FIG. 5 under the control of the
ARM processor 315. In the exemplary embodiment, upon detecting a
user request to generate a guide display, the ARM microprocessor
315 processes the program guide data information obtained from a
data stream provided by a program guide information provider and
formats the guide data information into OSD pixel data
corresponding to a "grid guide " as shown in FIG. 5. The OSD pixel
data from the transport unit 303 is then forwarded to OSD processor
320 in the MPEG audio/video decoder 304 for generating the guide
image, as described before.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, the "grid guide" 500 typically occupies
the whole screen of a display. The grid guide 500 shows a program
schedule in a time-and-channel format, similar to a TV schedule
listed in a newspaper. In particular, one dimension (e.g.,
horizontal) of the guide shows the time information while the other
dimension (e.g., vertical) of the guide shows the channel
information. The time information is conveyed to the user by having
a time line 501 on the top portion of the guide and is demarked by
half hour intervals. The channel information is conveyed to the
user by channel numbers 510-516 and corresponding channel station
names 520-526.
[0058] In addition, the program guide 500 contains icons Internet
550 and Email 560. By clicking on these icons, a user can surf the
internet and send/receive email respectively through the
communication interface unit 307. In addition, an internet web site
icon may also be incorporated into a grid of a program guide. For
example, by clicking on "ESPN.com" within grid 570, the user will
automatically be linked to, for example, an ESPN web site.
[0059] A low speed data port 330 is used to connect to an
IR-Blaster (not shown) for controlling a VCR for recording a
program. As discussed before, an IR blaster is basically a
programmable VCR remote control emulator controlled by the
satellite receiver shown in FIG. 4. It is positioned in front of a
VCR remote sensor of an attached VCR and will transmit commands
such as "ON" and "RECORD" under the control of the satellite
receiver at the appropriate time, according to the timer screen
information entered by the users.
[0060] Additional relevant functional blocks of FIG. 4 include
modem 307 which corresponds to the communication interface unit 116
shown in FIG. 3 for access to the internet, for example.
Conditional Access Module (CAM) 309, corresponds to the NRSS
decryption unit 130 shown in FIG. 3 for providing conditional
access information. Wideband data module 310 corresponds to High
Speed Data Port 75 shown in FIG. 3 for providing high speed data
access to, for example, a HDTV decoder or a computer. A keyboard/IR
Receiver module 312 corresponds to Remote Unit interface 120 shown
in FIG. 3 for receiving user control commands from a user control
unit 314. Digital AV bus module 313 corresponds to I/O port 100
shown in FIG. 3 for connection to an external device such as a VCR
or a DVD player.
[0061] FIGS. 6 show an exemplary control program in flow chart
form, which may be executed by either the CPU 1112 of FIG. 2,
Controller 115 of FIG. 3, or ARM microprocessor 315 of FIG. 4 to
implement the features according to the present invention. A person
skilled in the art would readily recognize that these control
programs when executed by any one of the systems described in FIGS.
2-4 will provide the same features in accordance with the present
invention. Therefore, to avoid redundancy, the exemplary control
program shown in FIG. 6 will be described below only with respect
to the exemplary hardware implementation shown in FIG. 4.
[0062] As shown in step 601 of FIG. 6, a user may select the option
of specifying a per period spending limit. As discussed above, in
the system shown in FIG. 4, a user may make a such a menu selection
using a remote control unit 314. In one exemplary embodiment, the
system may display a screen 700 as shown in FIG. 7A, under the
control of the ARM microprocessor 315. This screen may be accessed
when a user selects the spending limit submenu. The user can then
select one of the user profiles 701-705 to set the applicable
spending limits for the selected user profile.
[0063] In this example, the user is provided with the choice of
entering a per event spending 710 and/or a time period based
spending limit 720. In this example, the user may enter a period
based spending limit for a period of a month. Similarly, another
exemplary spending limit screen is shown in FIG. 7B. This display
screen is similar to FIG. 7A, but the user may access this screen
by selecting the submenu for editing features for a particular user
profile in the system.
[0064] Additionally, the user may select the option of having a
rolling period (instead of a calendar period), as shown in step 605
of FIG. 6 and shown as option 750 on FIG. 7B. If the user selects
the rolling period, the system will calculate the rolling period
from the date the time-period option is selected and entered. For
example, if the user selects and enters a rolling monthly period on
Dec. 5, 2000, the system will set the monthly spending period to
expires 30 days (or in the alternative 31 days) from December 5, as
shown in step 607. On the other hand, if a rolling period is not
selected, the system will calculate the monthly period, based on
the calendar (e.g.., during the month of December), as shown in
step 609.
[0065] In another exemplary embodiment, the system may allow a user
to set spending limits for multiple time periods, as shown in step
611 of FIG. 6. An exemplary screen 800 for specifying this option
is shown in FIG. 8. A user simply selects any one or ones of the
time periods (801-804) and then enters the desired spending limit
amount for each checked time limit(s).
[0066] In one exemplary aspect of the invention, if more than one
time periods are selected and entered by a user as shown, for
example, in FIG. 8, the system will perform an error check for the
various spending limits entered by the user. That is, the system
will make sure that a shorter time period spending limit is not
greater than a longer time period spending limit entered by the
user, as shown in step 613. The system will generate an appropriate
warning to the user if the system detects such an error as shown in
step 615.
[0067] The system will then proceed to set all the applicable time
period spending limits selected and entered by the user and
continually track user spending amount for each user profile, as
shown in step 617. At step 621, if during any selected and entered
time period, a spending limit is exceeded, the system will generate
an exemplary warning screen 900 as shown in FIG. 9. This screen
allows a user the ability to either cancel a pay per view program
selection or override the previously entered spending limit by
entering a password.
[0068] It is to be understood that the embodiments and variations
shown and described herein are for illustrations only and that
various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *