U.S. patent application number 10/217637 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for enhanced video programming system and method for providing a distributed community network.
Invention is credited to Abato, Michael R., Duda, Carl R., Harrington, Jeffrey M., Ullman, Craig D..
Application Number | 20030005151 10/217637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23568274 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030005151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ullman, Craig D. ; et
al. |
January 2, 2003 |
Enhanced video programming system and method for providing a
distributed community network
Abstract
A distributed community network for providing services to an
arbitrarily large community of end users by distributing the load
among many machines. The network uses hubs on the machines for
routing packets. The hubs obtain routing instructions from a router
and use those instructions for routing the packets. The packets
include content for the machines based upon a particular network
service, such as a chat service for permitting users to interact in
chat rooms or a push/pull service for pushing content to the user
machines either directly or based upon information received from
the users.
Inventors: |
Ullman, Craig D.; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Harrington, Jeffrey M.; (Brooklyn, NY) ;
Abato, Michael R.; (White Plains, NY) ; Duda, Carl
R.; (Santa Barbara, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORSEY & WHITNEY, LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
370 SEVENTEENTH STREET
SUITE 4700
DENVER
CO
80202-5647
US
|
Family ID: |
23568274 |
Appl. No.: |
10/217637 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10217637 |
Aug 12, 2002 |
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09396693 |
Sep 15, 1999 |
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09396693 |
Sep 15, 1999 |
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09109945 |
Jul 6, 1998 |
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6018768 |
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09109945 |
Jul 6, 1998 |
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08615143 |
Mar 14, 1996 |
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5778181 |
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08615143 |
Mar 14, 1996 |
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08613144 |
Mar 8, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/238 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 69/329 20130101;
H04N 21/4882 20130101; H04L 67/1001 20220501; H04L 65/1101
20220501; H04N 21/4305 20130101; H04N 21/8586 20130101; H04L 67/55
20220501; H04N 21/4758 20130101; H04L 65/1043 20130101; H04N 21/435
20130101; H04N 21/222 20130101; G06K 13/0825 20130101; H04L 67/51
20220501; H04N 21/8547 20130101; H04N 21/4782 20130101; H04N 21/235
20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/238 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/173 |
Claims
1. A method for routing packets of information in a network,
comprising: at a routing device located on a network, establishing
at least one directory comprising at least one routing instruction
to one or more targets in the network; receiving a message to
modify the at least one routing instruction; and modifying the at
least one routing instruction.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a packet at
the routing device; accessing the at least one directory comprising
the at least one routing instruction to one or more targets in the
network; and routing the packet to the one or more targets in the
network.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of receiving a
message to modify the at least one routing instruction comprises:
receiving a message to add at least one routing instruction for at
least one new target in the network to the at least one
directory.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of receiving a
message to modify the at least one routing instruction comprises:
receiving a message to delete at least one routing instruction for
at least one new target in the network from the at least one
directory.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the routing device comprises a
hub.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the routing instruction comprises
an identification of participants to receive the packet.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the routing instruction further
comprises an address on the network to send the packet.
8. A method for transmitting data packets of information to one or
more client devices, comprising: in a server, providing for at
least one directory comprising at least one identification of a
client and at least one identification of at least one type of
content to transmit to the client; accessing the at least one
directory; and transmitting a packet from the server, the packet
corresponding with the at least one type of content, the packet
comprising the at least one identification of the client.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: receiving a message to
modify the at least one directory; and modifying the directory.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the message to modify the at
least one directory comprises an instruction to add at least one
identification of a client.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the message to modify the at
least one directory comprises an instruction to add at least one
identification of at least one type of content.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the message to modify the at
least one directory comprises an instruction to delete at least one
identification of a client.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the message to modify the at
least one directory comprises an instruction to delete at least one
identification of at least one type of content.
14. The method of claim 8 where the at least one type of content is
selected from the group consisting of text data, video data, audio
data, a uniform resource identifier, a uniform resource name, and a
uniform resource locator.
15. The method of claim 8 wherein the operation of transmitting a
packet from the server further comprises the operation of
transmitting a packet from the server to a network.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the network is selected from the
group consisting of the Internet, a wide-area network, a local area
network, an intranet, a cable TV distribution medium, a broadcast
medium, and a satellite broadcast medium.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/396,693 filed Sep. 15, 1999, entitled
"ENHANCED VIDEO PROGRAMMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A
DISTRIBUTED COMMUNITY NETWORK", which is a continuation-in-part of
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/109,945, filed Jul. 6, 1998, entitled
"ENHANCED VIDEO PROGRAMMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING AND
DISPLAYING RETRIEVED INTEGRATED INTERNET INFORMATION SEGMENTS,"
which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
08/615,143, filed Mar. 14, 1996, entitled "ENHANCED VIDEO
PROGRAMMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING AND DISPLAYING
RETRIEVED INTEGRATED INTERNET INFORMATION SEGMENTS," which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/613,144, filed
Mar. 8, 1996, entitled "INTEGRATED INTERACTIVE VIDEO AND INTERNET
SYSTEM", and is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/622,474
filed Mar. 25, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,664, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Today, the capabilities of computers to provide massive
amounts of educational and entertainment information has exploded
with the Internet. The Internet has the power to transform society
through unprecedented levels of information flow between members.
Currently, on-line systems offer a variety of different services to
users, including news feeds, electronic databases (either
searchable by the user directly on the on-line system, or
downloadable to the user's own computer), private message services,
electronic newsletters, real time games for play by several users
at the same time, and job placement services, to name a few.
However, today, most on-line communications occur merely through
text. This currently stands in great contrast to the audio/visual
presentation of the alternative electronic medium, television.
However, it is expected that as multi-media's incessant growth
continues, audio/visual programs will proliferate and text will
become less and less dominant in the on-line environment. Even
though these programs will be introduced, the Internet, will remain
essentially user unfriendly due to its very massiveness,
organization, and randomness. Simply stated, there is no order or
direction in the Internet. Specific pieces of information are many
times hard to find, and harder yet, is the ability to put that
piece of information into a meaningful context.
[0003] Television, on the other hand, has been criticized for being
a passive medium--"chewing gum for the eyes," as Fred Allen once
observed. Television has always been something you watched, not
something you do. Many social critics believe that the passivity
television depends on has seeped into our entire culture, turning a
nation of citizens into a nation of viewers. While interactive
television systems have increased the level of user interaction,
and thus, provided greater learning and entertainment
opportunities, vast information resources such as databases are
inaccessible from such a medium.
[0004] What is needed is a means to close the gap between video
programming and the information superhighway of the Internet. What
is needed is a wider, richer experience integrating audio/visual
and textual database elements into an organized unique interactive,
educational, entertainment experience. Currently, the Internet is a
repository of information on virtually any subject. However, what
is needed is a mechanism for combining the user-friendly visual
experience of television with the vast information resources of the
Internet. What is further needed is a system and method for
distributing content with that mechanism combining television
programming with Internet resources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Systems consistent with the present invention combine
broadcast television programming and/or video programming which
appears on a VHS or Beta tape, CD-ROM, DVD or other medium, or
particular content from the Internet, or video programming at a
video server (hereinafter "video programming") with the massive
Internet, creating a new and powerful educational and entertainment
medium. The system allows consumers to receive more information in
a more efficient manner than either television or the Internet
alone. Consumers not only can see a news report on television, but
they can also read pertinent information about the report, as well
as explore related information about the story. The program becomes
the introduction to a particular subject, rather than the entire
subject itself. The act of viewing a program has now become a more
engaging, enriching experience.
[0006] The system can also create a more intimate relationship
between the viewer and the program. The user might be solving
problems or performing virtual experiments on the Internet site
that a teacher is discussing in an educational television program.
Similarly, the consumer might be solving problems that the
fictional characters in a television program must solve. In both
cases, the consumer is an active participant in the process, rather
than a passive observer.
[0007] Instead of an undirected and unfocused exploration of
Internet sites, by synching specific Internet pages to the video
signal, the system puts the Internet in context. The television
program producers now can decide what additional information to
offer their audience. This material can now be seen in the context
of the television program.
[0008] An additional advantage is that consumers don't have to
search through the literally hundreds of millions of pages on the
Internet to find appropriate material. The material has already
been filtered by the program producers and delivered to the
consumer automatically.
[0009] Another advantage of the system is that it changes the
nature of advertising. Since additional information can be given to
consumers automatically, advertising can now be more substantive,
allowing customers to make more informed choices. Now, the act of
purchasing a product seen on television can be streamlined -the
consumer can be given the choice of buying the product instantly
using the two-way capabilities of the system.
[0010] In addition, users can take advantage of the two-way
capabilities of the Internet to respond to polls, to send e-mail or
to link to additional sites. For example, a viewer watching a
television news program, through the system of the invention, can
receive a stream of Web pages which provide additional, specific
information relating to the news content--whether background on the
Presidential primaries or the latest change in interest rates.
[0011] The video programming and corresponding Internet pages can
be viewed on personal computers equipped with a television card,
but the open software-based approach enables anyone with a
television set and JAVA enabled PC to experience the system of the
invention.
[0012] By marrying the appeal of video with the two-way data
transfer capabilities of the Internet, the system creates a
powerful new medium: Video producers and Internet site creators can
enhance their content to extend their brand identity and
differentiate their program offerings to the millions of people who
are spending more time navigating through the resources of the
World Wide Web rather than watching television; advertisers can
speak more directly to consumers by directly sending Web pages to
the consumer instead of only displaying Web addresses in their
commercials; and consumers can gain a new level of interest and
interactivity over a video-based medium. In addition to providing
significant and immediate benefits to broadcasters and advertisers,
the system will also present educational programmers with a way to
more effectively use Internet resources in the classroom.
[0013] Recently, several media companies have joined to create a
system for linking the Internet and television on the personal
computer, called "Intercast." In this system, content will be
provided simultaneously with the TV video signal. This system,
however, requires that stripped down Web pages be sent in the
vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the video signal, using up to
three scan lines limiting effective bandwidth to approximately 28.8
kbps. This approach, however, requires specialized hardware to both
insert the Web pages into the VBI and extract these codes at each
PC since it takes up to three scan lines of the VBI. Thus, the
complexity and cost of the PC is increased. Because the Web pages
are transmitted with the video signal, the Intercast system is not
a true "two-way" system, but merely a one-way "piggyback" system.
In addition, the Intercast is an analog video product, and thus,
cannot handle digital video data.
[0014] Systems consistent with the present invention, on the other
hand, are much more flexible, but less complex, systems. The
systems support either analog or digital television broadcasts
without broadcasters or end-users having to alter their existing
systems, thus enabling broadcasters to reach a wide audience within
a short time.
[0015] In one embodiment, the actual Web pages are not forced into
the very limited bandwidth of the vertical blanking interval (VBI).
Instead, merely eight fields of line 21 of the VBI are used to
deliver the relevant Internet Web page addresses to the PC. These
addresses are called "uniform resource locators" (URLs). The system
then directs the particular Web browser to retrieve the identified
Web pages from the Internet. Upon receipt of the particular Web
page(s), the system syncs the Web page(s) to the video signal, and
at the appropriate times, presents the Web pages on one portion of
the computer screen with the television video signal, shown in a
window on another portion of the screen, and thus, provides the
synergistic Internet and television experience. One of the
advantages of the system of the present invention is that no
specialized chip set need be produced and implemented into the
standard PC. Thus, complexity is kept to a minimum.
[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the VBI is
not used to transmit the URLs to the user. In this alternative
embodiment, member broadcasters enter the Internet through a member
account, and will be provided with a graphical user interface for
pre-scheduling Internet addresses, or URLs, for transmission to
users at particular times of day. This interface could also be used
to transmit real time live transmissions of URLs to users at the
same time as a broadcast. The URLs are stored in a "Link File" for
later transmission over the Internet to the user at the
broadcasters entered time, which corresponds to the broadcast time
of an associated program. The timing of URLs could be determined in
advance or can be sent out live. This embodiment eliminates the
need to place the URLs in the VBI, and also allows the broadcaster
to store more than one Link File for transmission to users in
different time zones, for example. Further, more than one
broadcaster could access the same master schedule if desired, and
add or delete certain URLs to personalize the program for their
local audiences. Also, personalization can be taken to the single
user, or small group of users, by having the system send a
different stream of URLs to each user, depending on a unique user
profile, for example. Thus, the personalization feature of this
embodiment allows each user to receive information uniquely
relevant to their interests, demographics, history, etc. This
embodiment makes the transmission of URLs to the user even less
complex than other embodiments disclosed herein.
[0017] Another embodiment permits dynamic reconfiguration of a
network for transmitting content, such as that located using the
URLs. The network referred to as a distributed community network,
includes hubs that may logically reside on any machine and provide
control of routing packets containing the content. By using hubs to
assist in routing of packets, the burden of routing control at a
corresponding server is decreased, enhancing the reliability and
efficiency of the network in transmitting content and permitting
access to content.
[0018] Thus, embodiments consistent with the present invention
provide order and direction to the Internet by using television
signals to place, orient and control such information in a
meaningful context. They also create a more intimate relationship
between the viewer and the program by enriching the learning
experience through the provision of more in-depth information.
[0019] Methods and apparatus consistent with the present invention
distribute functions for routing packets of information among
multiple machines in a network. The machines include hubs for
implementing routing functionality. The hubs receive the packets
and, based upon information in the packets, determine target
machines or other network entities for receiving the packet.
[0020] The methods and apparatus, in particular, transmit content
associated with a media program to a user machine. They receive
from the user machine a packet including an indication of
hierarchical routing information and content using a particular
service, and they determine targets for receiving the packet based
upon the hierarchical routing information. Based upon the
determination, the packet is transmitted to the targets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the system design, showing the
receipt and decoding of video signals at the subscriber location
using the method of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an alternative system embodiment
to achieve the integration of the Internet information with the
video content by decoding the uniform resource locators at a server
site and then transmitting the URLs to the subscriber stations via
the Internet.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the basic software design of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another system embodiment to
achieve the direct transmission of URLs over the Internet to the
user at a broadcaster's entered time without encoding the URLs into
the VBI.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a diagram of another embodiment including a
digital cable box.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a diagram of another embodiment including a
digital T.V.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a user interface illustrating a
playlist.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a sample display provided to a student of a
lesson.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a diagram of the distributed Com Server
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 10A is a diagram of an exemplary physical network
configuration for a distributed community network.
[0031] FIG. 10B is a diagram of an exemplary physical network
configuration for a particular application of a distributed
community network.
[0032] FIG. 11A is a diagram of an exemplary logical structure for
a distributed community network.
[0033] FIG. 11B is an exemplary diagram of a physical network
configuration for a distributed community network illustrating an
alternative source for a video signal.
[0034] FIG. 12A is a diagram of an exemplary content push packet
flow in a distributed community network.
[0035] FIG. 12B is a diagram of an exemplary push/pull packet
content for use in a distributed community network.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a diagram of an exemplary chat packet flow in a
distributed community network.
[0037] FIG. 14A is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network as a small eSchool.
[0038] FIG. 14B is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network as a large eSchool.
[0039] FIG. 14C is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network as a simple network providing video
and other content.
[0040] FIG. 14D is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network as a complex network providing video
and other content.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Video Programming System and Method
[0041] One system consistent with the present invention combines
the rich visual capabilities of video with the vast resources of
the Internet. As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention is
a computer based system for receiving a video program along with
embedded uniform resource locators (URLs)--which direct the user's
computer 16 to address locations, or Web sites, on the Internet 20
to retrieve related Web pages. These Web pages correspond to the
video presentation. The particular video programming can be
delivered in analog, digital or digitally compressed formats (e.g.,
MPEG2) via any transmission means, including satellite, cable,
wire, television broadcast or sent via the Web.
[0042] The video programming is preferably created at a centralized
location, i.e., content creation 4 as shown in FIG. 1, for
distribution to subscribers in their homes, for example. Program
creation is accomplished according to any conventional means known
in the art. After a video program is created, uniform resource
locators are embedded, in one embodiment, into the vertical blank
interval of the video programming by the URL encoder 8, shown in
FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the URLs are encoded onto eight fields
of line 21 of the VBI. Line 21 is the line associated with close
captioning, among other things. However, the URLs could also be
embedded in other fields of the VBI, in the horizontal portion of
the video, as part of the audio channel, in any subcarrier to the
video, or if digital, in one of the data fields.
[0043] Although FIG. 1 shows the video with URLs over the same
transmission line, the URLs can be sent down independently of the
video program on a data channel. In this embodiment, the URLs can
be forwarded to the remote sites either prior to initiation or
during the program. Preferably, the URLs have associated time
stamps which indicate to the subscriber stations when, during the
video program, to display the particular Web pages addressed by the
URLs. Alternatively, the user can select when to call the
particular Web pages for display with the video program.
[0044] The particular information in line 21 is not part of the
visual part of the program, and thus, is not perceptible to the
human eye, thereby making it ideal to send data information to the
users. While the bandwidth capacity of line 21 is limited, because
the system transmits only the uniform resource locators (URLs), and
not full Web pages, there is more than enough capacity.
Furthermore, no additional hardware is necessary at the PC 16 to
implement the elements of the present invention. Thus, the present
invention has the additional advantages of being very efficient and
takes advantage of conventional hardware.
[0045] Once the video program is created, it can be transmitted to
user sites over any transmission means, including broadcast, cable,
satellite, or Internet, and may reside on video servers.
Furthermore, the video program, with or without embedded URLs, can
be encoded on a VHS or Beta tape, DVD or other medium.
[0046] Preferably, each receiver station comprises any Intel x86
machine (preferably a 486 processor, pentium processor, etc.), an
Apple Computer, UNIX or any other type of standard computer
workstation. The local PC 16 is preferably connected to either a
cable and/or broadcast television connection or to a local VCR or
other video source. At each subscriber site, the local personal
computer 16 preferably receives the cable transmission by cable
connection on the back of the personal computer 16. The video/audio
program can then be processed for display on the computer screen
using any conventional PC card capable of displaying NTSC signals
on a computer monitor, such as a WinTV card. In addition to the
cable connection, however, in the present invention there is also
an Internet 20 connection created concurrently with the cable
connection.
[0047] The Internet 20 connection can be via high-speed line, RF,
conventional modem or by way of two-way cable carrying the video
programming. The local PC 16 has Internet access via any of the
current ASCII software mechanisms. In one embodiment, at each
subscriber home, an associated local URL decoder 12 receives the
cable video television program, as shown in FIG. 1. The local URL
decoder 12 extracts the URLs, preferably embedded in the vertical
blanking interval, with the use of any conventional VBI decoder
device. The URL decoder 12 may be either a stand-alone unit or a
card which is implemented into the personal computer 16.
[0048] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the uniform resource
locators (URLs) are encoded into the video in the same manner as
described above. Again, the URLs are preferably encoded onto eight
fields of line 21 of the VBI, but may also be sent independently of
the video. In this embodiment, the URL decoder 24 is located at the
server site, as opposed to the subscriber location. When the
decoder 24 receives the video program signal, it strips out the URL
codes on line 21 of the VBI and delivers these codes independently
to an Internet server 28. The URL code is then subsequently
delivered over the Internet 20 to the user PC 16. Simultaneously,
the video is broadcast over conventional broadcast or cable
transmission means 36 to the user's personal computer 16.
[0049] Another embodiment of the system, shown in FIG. 4, does not
depend on, or even use, the VBI. In this embodiment, the system
will run an online service over the Internet 20. This service will
be in the form of an Internet Web site 62 that provides a
user-interface to a database 78 and to one or more associated data
servers 90. The service will provide member-accounts to TV
broadcasters 66 who sign up to use the system of the invention in
conjunction with their broadcasts. Each member broadcaster will
enter the service at their computer 70 through Web browser software
74 using their member account by entering various identification
and password information. Once within their account, the member
will be provided with a graphical user interface for pre-scheduling
URLs for transmission to users 118 over a direct Internet
connection 94 at particular times of day. The same user interface,
or a variation on it, can be used by broadcasters for live
transmission 82 of URLs to users at the same time as a broadcast
86.
[0050] For example, one example of this interface might be a
scheduling calendar (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) in which the
broadcaster 66 may allocate time periods which coincide with their
broadcasts 86, and during which they will send out URLs to their
users to link to Web pages. For each time period (for example, a
particular hour long period during the day) determined by the
broadcaster 66 to be a broadcast period (a period during which they
want to transmit URLs that correspond to a television show being
broadcast from their TV broadcast facility 110 to the external TV
114 of the user 118 at that time), the broadcaster 66 may then
enter a series of URLs into an associated file ("Link File") for
transmission over the Internet 20 at that time. This Link File
might have a user interface such as a spreadsheet, table, or list,
or it could be simply a tab-delimited or paragraph-delimited
text-file. As an example, each of the records in the Link File
consists of a data structure which could contain information such
as:
[0051] (<timecode>,<URL>,<label or
title>,<additional information>,<additional
information>, . . . )
[0052] The above data structure is just one example. The records in
the Link File preferably specify the time, Internet address (i.e.
URL), label (such as an associated name), and some optional
additional information, for each Web page the broadcaster 66
desires to launch during a show.
[0053] When a broadcaster 66 modifies their calendar and/or the
Link File associated with any given time period(s) in their
calendar, this information is saved into the database 78 that is
attached to the site 62. Each broadcaster 66 may maintain multiple
calendars in the database 78 if they broadcast in different time
zones, for example.
[0054] The database 78 provides the Link File records for upcoming
time periods to a server 90, which may be one server or a
distributed network of server programs on multiple computers across
the network, to be utilized for scaling to large national or global
audiences. The server 90 provides the Link File records, including
the URLs, to the user's personal computer 16, which is connected
via a network. Examples of possible networks include the public
Internet 94, a direct private network, or even a wireless
network.
[0055] One feature of the above embodiment is that one or more
broadcasters 66 may utilize the same schedule in the database 78
for their own broadcasts 86 or during the same broadcast. For
example, a network broadcaster may develop a master schedule and
various affiliate broadcasters may subscribe to that schedule or
copy it (in the database) and add or delete specific URLs in the
schedule for their local audiences or unique programming. This
scheme enables affiliates to insert URLs for local advertisers or
local subjects into a sequence of more general URLs provided by
their network broadcaster 66. In other words, the affiliate can add
links that ride on the network feed and then redistribute it to
their local audiences.
[0056] This embodiment can also enable personalization in the form
of unique series of URLs specific to each user's unique profile,
which is directly sent over the Internet 20 to each user's specific
client software 106. This can be achieved from the broadcaster 66
to each individual user 118, or to particular collections of users.
To accomplish personalization, the service may send a different
stream of URLs to each user's client software program 106. The
stream of URLs sent would depend on a user profile stored in the
database 78 or the client software program 106, a user profile
which is built on demand or over time for each user 118 based on
criteria such as the location of the user, choices the user makes
while using a client software program 106, or choices the
broadcaster 66 makes during a broadcast 86, or automatic choices
made by an algorithm (such as a filter) residing on the service 62.
Personalization enables each user to receive URLs which are
uniquely relevant to their interests, demographics, history, or
behavior in the system.
System Operation
[0057] Once the URLs have reached the personal computer 16, system
operation is similar for all of the embodiments diagramed in FIGS.
1, 2, and 4.
[0058] In one embodiment, a JAVA enabled browser 98 as well as
specialized software 106 for performing part of the method of the
present invention are installed on the computer 16. The JAVA
enabled browser 98 allows the computer 16 to retrieve the Web pages
102 and is preferred software, since it is platform independent,
and thus, enables efficient and flexible transfer of programs,
images, etc., over the Internet 20. The specialized interface
software 106 (hereinafter, "client software"), attached as Appendix
A, acts as an interface between the video programming and the
Internet functions of the present invention. The client software
106 retrieves URLs from the video program (embodiment of FIG. 1) or
directly from the Internet connection (embodiments of FIGS. 2 and
4), interprets these URLs and directs the JAVA enabled browser 98
to retrieve the particular relevant Web pages 102, and synchronizes
the retrieved Web pages to the video content for display on the
user's computer 16, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and explained in more
detail below.
[0059] In one method, the URLs are encoded and embedded into the
video signal by inserting them into the vertical blanking interval
(VBI), as mentioned above.
[0060] In another embodiment, the URLs are entered by member TV
broadcasters 66 along with specified times for transmitting the
URLs to the user. At the appropriate times, the URLs are sent
directly over the Internet to the user's PC 16 via the client
software 106 over a direct point-to-point or multicasting
connection.
[0061] One method of the present invention has the capability to
detect identical URLs sent directly after one another which causes
the browser not to fetch URLs in these particular cases. As shown
in FIG. 3, once the URL code is received at the computer, the
client software 106 first interprets the URL and determines in step
42 whether the particular URL has been received previously. If it
has already been received, the next received URL is interpreted for
determination of prior receipt. If the particular URL has not been
detected before, the software checks for misspelling in step 46 and
any other errors, and if errors exist, corrects these particular
errors. Once again, it is determined whether the URL has been
previously detected. If it has, the next URL is accessed in step
38. If the URL has not been detected, the specific URL is added to
the URL list in step 54. The specific URL is then sent to the Web
browser, preferably a JAVA enabled browser 98. Upon receipt of the
URL, the browser 98, in step 58, will access the Web site address
122 (FIG. 4) indicated by the URL and retrieve the cited Web
page(s) 102 via the Internet.
[0062] Viewers can view the integrated presentation in the
following manner. As mentioned above, the video signal is processed
and displayed on a video window on the PC screen using a WinTV
card, for example. The corresponding audio is forwarded to the
audio card and sent to the PC speakers.
[0063] The actual retrieved Web pages 102, referenced by the URL,
are optionally time stamped to be displayed on the computer screen
when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video
window, thus, enlightening and enhancing the video presentation by
providing in-depth information related to the video content
thereto. Another section on the screen is also preferably used to
represent an operational control panel. This control panel provides
a list of the URLs that have been broadcast and correspondingly
received by the computer 16. This control panel is updated to add a
URL code each time a new URL code is received by the PC 16. This
list gives the subscriber the flexibility to go back and retrieve
particularly informative or interesting Web pages that have already
been displayed earlier in the program, or alternatively, to print
them out for future reference. Furthermore, the list could include
URLs referring to Web pages not displayed with the broadcast
program, but that provide further information on a certain topic of
interest to the viewer.
[0064] An exemplary implementation of the present invention can
best be understood with reference to an example. A viewer can begin
watching a musical video featuring a new band, for example. As the
video is received by the PC 16, URLs are either being received with
the video signal or are being received directly via the Internet 20
or another data channel, and are being interpreted by the client
software 106. Upon direction and command, the JAVA enabled browser
98 retrieves particular Web pages 102 from Internet 20 Web sites
identified in the URLs. These Web pages 102 will then be displayed
on the video screen at particular times. Thus, for example, while
the viewer is watching the music video, biographical information on
the band can also be displayed adjacently to the video window. Web
pages 102 could also include an upcoming concert schedule, or even
audio clips of the band's music may be downloaded from the Internet
20. As another example, a user could be watching a program relating
to financial news. While the narrator is shown discussing high tech
stocks, Web pages corresponding to detailed financial performance
information on high tech stocks, environment and characteristics
can be displayed with the video on the computer screen. If the
personalization features are included, Web pages associated with a
particular user's stock can be fetched and displayed on the
computer screen with the video program. When the program narrator
switches to a discussion on the weekly performance of the Dow
Jones, Web pages presenting related financial performance
information can be simultaneously displayed. Thus, it is evident
that the present invention profoundly enriches the viewing and
learning experience.
[0065] It is understood that there can exist alternative
embodiments for use with the present invention. For example, the
user can view the interactive program using a television set 114 or
other display monitor in conjunction with the display screen of the
personal computer 16. In this embodiment, the relevant Web pages
are shown on the personal computer 16 while the video program is
displayed on the television monitor 114. In this alternative
embodiment, a cable set top box receives the television program
from the multichannel cable. The personal computer 16 also receives
the video program from the multi-channel cable and extracts the
URLs, embedded in the vertical blanking interval of the video
signal or directly transmitted 94 over the Internet 20. The client
software 106 extracts the URLs and retrieves the particular Web
pages as described above. The Web pages are then synchronized with
the particular video frames and presented to the user. It is
understood that a hyperlink may exist on the Web site that will
allow the user to automatically load the client software and call
up the specific television channel referenced in the Web site. For
example, someone browsing the Internet 20 may come upon a major
television network's Web site. They scroll to an interesting story
then click on an hyperlink to turn on the software which tunes the
TV window to the network to enhance the information residing at the
Web site.
[0066] Furthermore, instead of receiving the video program from a
transmission means, the video program can be addressed directly
from the user site if the video program, with or without embedded
URLs, is stored on a VHS, Beta, DVD or other medium. In this
embodiment, the user PC 16 and/or television 114 are connected to a
VCR, DVD player or other appropriate device.
[0067] FIGS. 5 and 6 show two alternative embodiments for use with
the present invention. For example, the user can view the
interactive program using a television set 18 or other display
monitor in conjunction with a digital cable box 140, as shown in
FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the digital cable box 140 performs the
functions of the personal computer 16 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the client software is stored in
memory in the digital cable box 140. In one embodiment, the digital
cable box 140 includes two tuners, thus allowing both the Web Page
and the Video program to be simultaneously viewed on the same
screen. If Video and Webstream, however, are carried on one
channel, then only one tuner is necessary.
[0068] The client software retrieves URLs from the received video
program, directly from the Internet connection 20 or via a separate
data channel, interprets these URLs and directs the Web enabled
browser to retrieve the particular relevant Web pages, and
synchronizes the retrieved Web pages to the video content for
display on the television 18, as shown in FIG. 5. In this
embodiment, the relevant Web pages are preferably shown in one
frame of the television 18 while the video program is displayed in
another frame. Alternatively, the web page can replace the video
program on the display.
[0069] In this alternative embodiment, the digital cable set top
box 140 receives the television program from the multichannel
cable. The URLs can be encoded into the digital program channel
using MPEG 1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MPEG7 or any other compression video
scheme. Alternatively, the URLs can be transmitted to the digital
cable boxes 140 from an Internet server 148. The digital cable box
140 decodes the URLs from the digital video signal or directly
transmitted over the Internet 20. The client software decodes the
URLs and retrieves the particular Web pages as described above. The
Web pages are then preferably synchronized with the particular
video frames and presented to the user.
[0070] As with all the embodiments described above, instead of
receiving the video program from a transmission means, the video
program can be addressed directly from a local video source 144 if
the video program, with or without embedded URLs, is stored on a
VHS, Beta, DVD or other medium. In this embodiment, the digital
cable box 140 is connected to a VCR, DVD player or other
appropriate device.
[0071] FIG. 6 discloses an embodiment where a digital TV 152 is the
remote reception unit. In this embodiment, the digital TV 152
performs the functions of the personal computer, shown in FIGS. 1,
2 and 4, and the digital cable box 140 shown in FIG. 5. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a processor means and memory are
incorporated into the digital TV 152. Further, the client software
and Web browser software are implemented into memory in the digital
TV 152. All of the functions described above with reference to the
other embodiments are performed in a similar manner by the digital
TV 152 embodiment.
[0072] Although the digital cable box/TV 140, 18 and digital TV
152, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, are incorporated into the embodiment
of FIG. 1, in substitution for the PC 16, they also could be
substituted for the PC 16 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
[0073] The user can view the video and web content on one screen
(in two windows), or with the video on one display screen and the
Web content on a separate display monitor. Alternatively, the user
can access the video or web content separately. Thus, the user can
branch from video to web content and vice versa.
[0074] The present invention is well-suited to the education
environment. In this embodiment, students and teachers access one
or more Web servers. The software components include instructor and
student user software, authoring software and database assessment
software. In one such embodiment, an instructor uses content
creation software on a personal computer to easily integrate into
their curriculum current information published on the Web, through
an easy to use interface 156 such as that shown in FIG. 7. The
instructor creates a playlist (i.e. linkfile) 160, the playlist 160
comprising a listing of Web pages, text notes and questions. The
Web sites and questions are set forth in a predetermined order and
can be assigned times. Preferably, the URLs identifying the Web
site and time stamps are sent automatically to the desktop of each
student in the virtual community, either during playback of a
pre-recorded program or during a live event.
[0075] At each of the student workstations, the program is directed
by the playlist 160. In other words, the playlist 160 provides the
structure for the program. At predetermined times as dictated by
the playlist 160, the browser will go fetch and display a Web page
in a frame on the computer screen. Because program events can be
set up in this manner at predetermined times, the entire program
and playlist can be prerecorded and stored in a Web database for
later access by students.
[0076] A significant advantage of an embodiment for educational
applications is that the students and the instructor can be located
anywhere, as long as they are all connected to the Web. Because a
server is essentially controlling the program, the instructor
output comes from the server and the student workstations get
automatically updated by the Web server.
[0077] This educational embodiment integrates Web content and other
media with collaborative groupware functionality to create an
interactive environment for students and teachers. In this
embodiment, the student can receive a traditional video lesson
through a frame in his or her Web browser, or from a television.
Simultaneously, the present invention provides separate frames, an
example of which is shown in FIG. 8, in the browser displaying:
(1)Web pages 176 automatically delivered to each student's desktop
with information or exercises that complement the video
presentation; (2) a chat dialogue frame 168 for conversing with the
instructor and/or other students online; and (3), an interactive
playlist 164 of Web pages and questions comprising the lesson.
[0078] In the student interface of FIG. 8, each student can perform
a virtual experiment during a physics lesson to learn about
gravity, for example. Further, the students are conversing with one
another and the instructor in the chat dialogue frame 168. They may
also send Web pages to one another and provide answers to questions
from the teacher via the chat dialogue frame 168 of the student
interface 176. With the chat feature, students may break into
subgroups for collaborative learning. Whenever a student in the
group sends a message, the message is sent to the Internet server
20 and every other student in the subgroup receives and views the
message in their Chat dialogue frame 168.
[0079] The instructor, however, may retain control over the chat
feature. For example, the instructor can terminate the chat feature
or web pushing to terminate unruly on-line conversations or the
sending of Web pages by students.
[0080] Unlike conventional distance learning systems, systems
consistent with the present invention are more powerful by allowing
the instructor to freely and conveniently exercise almost any type
of testing strategy. The instructor can test students using a
combination of the Chat dialogue feature and Web pages. For
example, multiple choice questions and short answer questions can
appear in the Chat window 168. Essay questions, requiring longer
answers, become Web pages. As mentioned above, students can perform
virtual experiments on-line. Once the instructor's personal
computer receives student answers, student scoring can be presented
to the instructor in any format including tables, charts, diagrams,
bar graphs, etc. The instructor, thus, can analyze the results and
has the capability of providing real-time feedback to the
students.
[0081] Students can also receive individualized feedback via
branched interactive audio, video and/or graphics responses. For
example, the workstation may branch to a particular audio response,
preferably prerecorded in the instructor's own voice, based on the
student response to a multiple choice question. In this embodiment,
a plurality of potential audio responses are made available at the
student's workstation according to any one of the methodologies set
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,141, entitled DISTANCE LEARNING
SYSTEM, herein incorporated by reference. Alternatively,
personalized video, audio and graphics segments can be delivered
and displayed to the student based on a student answer or personal
profile in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,091,
entitled COMPRESSED DIGITAL DATA INTERACTIVE PROGRAM SYSTEM, herein
incorporated by reference.
[0082] Responses to student answers can be more substantive based
on the memory feature of the system. The memory feature is an
algorithm that selects an interactive response to the user based
not only on the student's current answer selection, but also his or
her previous responses, as discussed in the aforementioned
applications. The algorithm, preferably stored in memory at each
student's workstation and under processor control, merely selects
an output interactive response based on student responses. As
another example, if a student gets three answers in sequence right,
he or she receives a more difficult question. If, however, the
student misses one or more of the three questions, he or she
receives an easier question.
[0083] In another embodiment of the present invention, a system is
described capable of handling the education requirements of several
schools in an efficiently designed network. The system shown in
FIG. 9 solves the problems inherent in attempting to service large
numbers of users, the most obvious obstacles being the issues of
load and performance. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 9,
communications servers 180 distribute and route messages across a
LAN, WAN and the Internet. Referring to FIG. 9, in the center of
the diagram is the Group Database server. Surrounding the database
server are several Com Servers 180, each serving an area 192.
Surrounding each Corn Server 180 are squares representing user
stations 188. The Communication Servers 180 are organized in node
relationships with one another.
[0084] Each node is responsible for serving an Area 192. An Area
192 is defined as a Virtual location serviced by a single
Communications Server 180 (or "Corn Server"). An Area 192 may be a
single school, an office, or may consist of several actual physical
locations. The defining characteristic of an Area 192 is that
messages sent from one member of an Area 192 to another need not be
routed outside of the servicing Corn Server 180.
[0085] An Area member is analogous to the frequently used term
"user." For example, a "user" may be a student in the educational
embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0086] The Distributed Communication System of FIG. 9 shall permit
the dynamic addition of Communication Servers 180 within a group
with little or no administrative tasks as well as the addition of
groups within an overall communications network. A Communication
Server group consists of several defined Virtual Areas 192
(preferably, consisting of no more the 250 members each), each area
192 serviced by a single Com Server 180. This system shall allow
members of one Area 192, or group to easily communicate with
members of another Area 192 or group without any configuration
changes.
[0087] Generally, service of very large numbers of users has
required large expensive servers and networks. As the user base
increases, performance suffers and hardware must be upgraded to
service the demand.
[0088] The Distributed Communication System of the present
invention allows the same, relatively inexpensive machines to serve
an ever-increasing user base. The technique by which this will be
accomplished will be through the routing of messages from one
server to another when necessary.
[0089] The method essentially follows the same core pattern as IP
routing and DNS lookups. If a message is for a member not belonging
to the current Area 192 or group, the message shall be routed
through the Distributed Communication System until its destination,
or someone who knows the destination and can deliver the message,
is found.
[0090] The destination will be cached so subsequent messages for
that member or group may be more efficiently delivered.
[0091] Referring again to FIG. 9, if a message is posted by member
"A" and is intended only for the members of group 1 the message
shall never leave Area 1 Com Server. However, if the message is
intended for members of Area 1 and the members of Area 2, the Area
1 Com server forwards the message to the group database server 184.
The message shall be broadcast to the members of Area 1 and tagged
in the database 184 as belonging to Area 2. The message is then
routed to Area 2 and broadcast to Area 2 members. With this
technique any member can potentially send a message to any other
member. If the Area Com server 180 does not recognize the
destination, the message is forwarded up the line. Each Com server
180 does not need to know about any other server 180. Messages are
routed until they delivered. If undeliverable, the original sender
is notified.
[0092] New Areas 192 can be added on the fly. When a new Com server
188 is added to the network, it registers itself with the database
application. Henceforth, any message destined for the new Area 192
can be routed properly without altering the other Area Servers
180.
[0093] This method and system works for global messages or for user
to user messages.
[0094] Furthermore, new Groups may also be dynamically added. Once
added, each new Group Database Server 184 registers itself with the
existing database servers 184. This distribution of load permits
nearly unlimited expansion with existing software and hardware.
Each server manages a finite number of members, cumulatively
serving a growing community.
[0095] Users need not be informed as to the particular Corn Server
180 they should connect to. Members are directed to a single URL.
The selection of the server for user connection is determined by
load balancing software. In this manner, the network may appear to
be a global network of Servers or simply a local classroom.
[0096] The unique aspects of this architecture, using database
servers as routing gateways, using techniques resembling IP routing
and DNS lookup, enables this system to serve with minimum
administration and configuration and with lower end, cost-effective
hardware.
Distributed Community Network
[0097] A distributed community network provides services, including
those discussed above, to an arbitrarily large community of end
users by distributing the load among many machines, each providing
specific parts of the community. All server functions could reside
on one machine in a modest context, whereas in a network of
potentially millions, the web of distribution could involve
additional server-side hardware or even actual client machines. An
implementation of the distributed community network permits routing
of content to be spread among multiple machines, which eases the
processing burden on the server and provides for dynamic
reconfiguration of the network. The dynamic reconfiguration thus
may involve adding or removing machines to or from the network due
to, for example, new network users or machine failures. As users
and machines are added to the network, for example, those machines
may include software packet switching.
[0098] Examples of services maintained by the distributed community
network include a chat service, whiteboard service, and content
push/pull service. A chat service involves the ability of a
particular group of users to interact, such as via chat frame 168
shown in FIG. 8. The interaction of a particular group of users is
referred to as a room, and the distributed community network may
dynamically change room assignments to add or delete users from a
room. Users may be assigned to a particular room based upon their
user profile. A whiteboard service involves the ability of users to
receive frames of video information for network collaboration among
the users. The whiteboard includes a frame of video information
transmitted to users within the same network chat room. The users,
depending upon their drawing privileges, may make modifications to
the frame, and those modifications are transmitted to the other
users. In this manner, the users may collaboratively draw upon the
frame.
[0099] A content push/pull service involves the ability of users to
receive content either directly or through the use of received URLs
or other network address information such as Uniform Resource
Identifiers (URIs). A URI is a compact string of characters for
identifying an abstract or physical resource. More specifically,
URIs provide a simple and extensible means for identifying a
resource, and a URI can be further classified as a locator, a name,
or both. The specification of URI syntax and semantics is derived
from concepts introduced by the World Wide Web global information
initiative.
[0100] URIs include, for example, URLs and Uniform Resource Names
(URNs). A URL is a subset of a URI that identifies resources via a
representation of their primary access mechanism, such as their
network "location," rather than identifying the resource by name or
other attribute of that resource. The term URN refers to a subset
of URI that is required to remain globally unique and persistent
even when the resource ceases to exist or becomes unavailable.
[0101] The term "push" refers to the configuration shown in FIGS.
1-6 for automatic delivery of content to the user. The term "pull"
refers to delivery of content requiring user interaction. A content
push/pull service thus permits users to request content by, for
example, selecting or "clicking on" an icon or URL in order to have
content transmitted to their machine. In effect, the user "pulls"
content to the user machine by requesting the content. The
distributed community network may provide for other network-type
services as well.
[0102] Control over these individual services resides centrally on
a server providing the services. However, packet distribution for
that service could be distributed over many server or client
machines implementing logical entities referred to as hubs. A hub
is implemented in software, for example, and it performs routing of
packets. The hubs need not implement the specific services for
which they distribute packets; rather, they typically need only
know the routing protocol for the service. Similarly, centrally
controlled routers maintain routing logic for implementing network
services. For example, they dynamically update algorithms for
optimizing room assignments for a chat service without disturbing
routing implemented by the hubs.
[0103] In addition, rooms assignments for a chat service are
organized hierarchically to facilitate distribution to a targeted
audience. The chat service may be controlled by the client as in
the case of simple chat service. It also may be controlled by a
database and content push/pull service making use of custom
knowledge about a client via a profile for use in advertising
purposes. In particular, the service may select advertisements to
push to a particular client or user based upon the user's profile.
Clients may also belong to multiple rooms in a chat service, making
it simpler for a push/pull service to create distribution channels
for similar clients by subscribing them to the new rooms. The
push/pull service may then send the same or similar content to all
members of the new room.
[0104] FIG. 10A is a diagram of an exemplary physical network
configuration for implementing a distributed community network 200.
The configuration includes client machines 204, 206, 208 connected
through a network 202 to a hub 220 within a server 210. Network 202
may represent, for example, the Internet, a wide-area network, a
local area network, or an intranet. Network 202 may also comprise a
cable TV distribution medium, broadcast medium, satellite
broadcast, telephone lines, fiber optics, or any other conventional
transmission medium. Each of the client machines includes access to
particular services managed by corresponding servers. Client
machine 204 provides donut, chat, and whiteboard services to a
client or user at that machine, for example. Client machine 206
provides donut and whiteboard services. Client machine 208 is a
conventional television. A client machine may also comprise a
digital TV, a TV with a digital or analog cable box, or a computer
connected with a TV.
[0105] A donut service refers to the ability to provide content to
users based upon user-profile information. The donut services
specifies a "donut" of dynamic, hierarchical, shared user-profile
information. In particular, it maintains either user profiles or
database keys into a data repository containing the profiles. The
donut may be stored in a file-type structure on a computer-readable
medium such as a memory and accessed by browser programs,
associated web server programs, and other applications for use in
routing content to the user associated with the donut.
[0106] Distributed community network 200 in this example includes
three servers 210, 212, and 214. Server 210 includes hub 220 and a
whiteboard service 216. Server 212 includes a hub 222 and a chat
service 218. Server 214 includes a hub 224 connected to two
exemplary services, a donut service 226 and a content push/pull
service 228. Both services 226 and 228 are connected with a data
repository 230. 31 Examples of information for storage in data
repository 230 include user profiles, content for transmission to
users, and web pages.
[0107] Each of the three servers 210, 212, 214 are interconnected
via their respective hubs 220, 222, and 224. In addition, this
embodiment includes an authoring client machine 232 connected with
hub 224 in server 214. The exemplary services 216, 218, 226, and
228 are only examples of services provided by servers. Many more
services could also be provided by the server.
[0108] For the services, the servers may provide many types of
content such as, for example, video, audio, and multimedia. Web
browsers for communicating with the server may be located in
various places such as, for example, on a user machine, in a cable
head end, in a satellite operations center, or in a set-top box.
The web browsers may obtain the content in realtime, or it may be
prefetched and cached either locally or on the server. In addition
to web browsers, other entities may obtain content.
[0109] A distributed community network permits processing for these
exemplary services to be distributed among multiple machines, such
as servers 210, 212, and 214. The routing for providing the
services to client machines 204, 206, and 208 are distributed among
the multiple hubs of the servers. Therefore, in order to transmit
content to the client machines, the hubs in the servers provide
route content from an authoring client machine 232 through network
202 to client machines 204, 206, and 208.
[0110] Use of a distributed community network distributes
processing among multiple machines in order to ease the burden of
providing routing to multiple client machines. It also provides a
dynamic reconfigurable network by shifting routing among multiple
hubs so that additional client machines may be dynamically added to
the network. Each of the client machines 204, 206, and 232 may be
implemented with a conventional computer with communication
capability for interacting through a network. Each of the servers
210, 212, and 214 may be implemented with a typical server
machine.
[0111] FIG. 10B provides an example of use of the network in FIG.
10A for a particular application. For instance, during a Jets v.
Giants professional football game, a user, Bob, first switches his
cable set-top box to the appropriate video channel for the game.
The video originates at a television operations center, is
transmitted via satellite to a cable head end, then through a cable
plant to Bob's set-top box. Bob also connects to the Internet 202
on his computer and accesses the matching HyperTV web page,
involving a particular network service. This web page is located on
a server in the point of presence for the service. The point of
presence configures Bob's machine 204 into distributed community
network 200. Machine 204 opens a persistent socket on configured
hub A (220) and sends a subscribe message to configured chat
service 218 via hub C (222). In response to the subscribe message,
chat service 218 sends an announcement packet to all the members of
the configured room via hub A (220) and the Internet 202. In
addition, chat service 218 subscribes Bob to the appropriate
push/pull service 228 via hubs C (222) and B (224).
[0112] Push/pull service 228 extracts Bob's user profile donut from
database 230 and pushes the values of the profile down through hub
B (224) and hub A (220) through the Internet 202 to Bob's machine
204. Since Bob's donut shows that he has previously indicated that
he is a Giants fan, Bob is subscribed to a particular push room for
Giant fans by push/pull service 228. As the game progresses, any
pushed content for Giants fans and any chat messages from Bob's
friends in the chat room are transmitted to him at machine 204 as
well.
[0113] During the game, a content producer uses the authoring
client 232 to send a web page detailing the biography of the Giants
quarterback and supporting links to hub B (224). The pushed
information is routed to push/pull service 228, which sends a
message to Bob and all the other members of that push room by
routing it first to hub B (224). Hub B (224) in turn routes it to
hub A (220), which distributes it via Internet 202 to Bob's machine
204 and all his friends in the chat room. Hub B (224) might also
have routed the message to other hubs that support other people in
the same chat room.
[0114] Bob reviews the page on the Giants and decides he wants to
play a prediction game about the quarterback's decisions from one
of the displayed supporting links. Bob "clicks on" the link to
select it and generate a pull request, which is transmitted through
the persistent socket connection through the Internet 202. The
request is routed via hub B (224) to push/pull service 228, which
pulls the distributed object (a JAVA game) from database 230 and
returns it via the same channel to Bob's machine 204.
[0115] As the game progresses, Bob makes predictions about the
quarterback's behavior. After each play, data updating the game
arrives from authoring client 232 into hub B (224), and is then
routed to QB game service 217 via hub A (220) and hub B (224). The
game service processes the authoring client's data and sends the
resultant data to Bob via hub A (220) and the Internet 202. The
data is presented by the distributed object JAVA game on Bob's
client machine 204.
[0116] The quarterback fumbles. The producer at authoring client
232 pushes a dynamic HyperText Markup Language (DHTML) instruction
in Javascript through hub B (224) and hub A (220) through the
Internet 202 to Bob's machine 204. At Bob's machine, the DHTML is
executed and Bob receives on his computer screen an animated image
of the word Fumble!
[0117] FIG. 11A is a diagram of an exemplary logic structure 240
for distributed community network 200 shown in FIG. 10A. Logic
structure 240 illustrates logical relationships among entities
within physical distributed community network 200. In particular,
an arrow represents a class/subclass relationship, and a diamond
represents a relationship identifying an attribute of an entity. A
client 244 may correspond with one of the client machines 204, 206,
and 208 and it subscribes to a hub 248, which may correspond with
hub 220, 222, or 224 within one of the servers 210, 212, and 214. A
server 246 may correspond with one of the servers 210, 212, and
214, and it manages a service 250, which may correspond with one of
the services 216, 218, 226, or 228.
[0118] Client 244 is a type of participant 242, which is a client
machine subscribed to a particular service such as service 250. The
client's status as participant 242 identifies it as a member of a
particular room for a chat service. A directory 254 through a
connection 252 provides communication for locating users for
participant 242. In particular, connection 252 is a network
connection between two participants over which packets can be sent,
and directory 254 provides instructions for identifying which
participants are to receive particular content, where they are
located on the network, and which content they are to receive.
[0119] Router 256 maintains map of a portion of the distributed
community network for resolving routing questions from hubs, adding
new participants to the network, and adding participants to
services, which involves adding connections. In particular, hubs
request routing decisions from router 256, and in response router
256 provides instructions to the hubs for their use in routing
packets. For example, if hub A (220) failed, router 256 can issue
instructions to the remaining hubs to avoid routing packets through
hub A (220).
[0120] Directory 254 includes information used in routing
information among client machines, and it provides information to
hub 248 for use in routing information. The term directory is used
to refer to a room for a chat service or any other service.
Directory 254 is a hierarchical collection of a directory,
terminated with a room and it has a subdir (set of directories). A
room is a directory and identifies a group of clients subscribed to
a service, such as a chat service. A room has clients (set of
participants) and hubs (set of hubs) where hubs is a subset of
clients.
[0121] Packet 258 is a structured piece of information delivered
from one client to another. It may include any type of content for
various services such as a push/pull service or a chat service. For
example, in the chat service client 244 creates a packet when the
user enters information and sends it to a hub associated with the
client's machine. The hub sends that packet to all the connections
subscribed to that room. If the connections include another hub,
the process iterates, thus distributing the packet to the room over
multiple hubs. Packet 258 identifies hierarchical routing
information including a source (participant), dir (directory),
target (participant), conn (connection), and a route (set of
participants).
[0122] The packet with the routing information may include a
variety of types of information as its payload or transmitted
content. The packet may include data to be displayed, for example,
to a user in a particular frame on a display device. The packet may
also include one or more distributed executable objects, and the
objects may include data, executable code, or data in combination
with executable code. The executable code may include, for example,
a JAVA applet or any type of entity specifying executable code.
[0123] Hub 248 includes software for routing packets, and it may be
used to push an application or content to multiple users. Examples
of such applications or content include a whiteboard, a JAVA game,
chat messages, text, and a file. By distributing hubs among
multiple machines, the burden on a server of routing packets is
decreased. Also, hub 248 includes a connection to a router 256 for
obtaining routing information, if necessary. Table 1 includes an
example of hub logic for use by hub 248 in routing packet 258; this
logic may be implemented in software or firmware modules for
execution by a corresponding machine.
[0124] FIG. 11B is an exemplary diagram of a physical network
configuration 259 for a distributed community network illustrating
an alternative source for a video signal. Configuration 259
illustrates conventional distribution of video or television
content using cable television signals. An operations center 261
generates a cable television signal having content for distribution
and transmits the cable television signal over a satellite link 263
to one or more cable head ends 265. Cable head end 265 can include
a web browser for interacting with a network such as the Internet
202. Cable head end 265 receives the cable television signal from
satellite link 263 and distributes the signal over cable lines to
client machines 267. Alternatively, the operations center can
transmit over a satellite link to the client machines, foregoing
the cable route. Client machines 267 may represent conventional
televisions or any machine capable of displaying cable television
signals (such as a personal computer with a TV card or module for
processing TV signals for display). Client machines 267 may also
include connection to a network such as the Internet 202 for
implementing a distributed community network.
[0125] FIG. 12A is a diagram of an exemplary content push packet
flow 260 in distributed community network 200 for implementing a
content push/pull service. The content push packet flow involves
transmission of content via packets through the logic structure 240
shown in FIG. 11A as implemented in the physical distributed
community network configuration 200 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. As
described above, a system may provide to a user both video and
other media content, such as any content available via a URI or a
client-side script such as a JAVA script. The type of media content
pushed to a user may depend upon the user's profile.
[0126] The media content may include, for example, video, audio,
combined video and audio, or multimedia content. When transmitting
different types of media content, such as both video and audio, the
media content may be transmitted from the same or different
sources. In addition, the content may be transmitted from a wide
variety of sources such as, for example, television, broadcast
television, cable, satellite, local video, and local CD-ROM or
digital versatile disk (DVD). The local content may be stored on
the hard disk drive of a user's machine.
[0127] As shown in FIG. 12A, a content push/pull packet flow 260
includes interaction of multiple machines transmitting the packets.
The packets may originate from various sources such as a web
browser on a client machine, a cable head end, or a server. Client
machines 284, 276, and 268 may correspond with client machines
shown in FIG. 10A and client logic elements shown in FIG. 11A.
Client 284 includes a browser program which provides frames for the
following services: media 286, chat 290, and content 288. Client
276 likewise includes a browser program providing frames for media
280, chat 282, and content 278 services. Client 268 includes frames
for media 270, chat 272, and content 274 services. Clients 284,
276, and 268, as shown, typically have the same services or access
to the same services; alternatively, they may each implement
different services. Also, they may implement different network
services than those shown, such as a whiteboard service as
identified above.
[0128] As shown in FIG. 8, chat service may include an associated
chat frame 168 on a user's machine; content may include web pages
176; and media frames may include transmitted video programs. Also,
as explained in the embodiments provided above, the implementation
of a chat service may use a digital television, digital cable box,
or personal computer. In addition, the program from the program
sources, such as those identified above, and the content from a
network service, such as a chat service or a push/pull service, may
be provided on the same or different physical machines. For
example, both the program and the content may be provided on a
television or on a personal computer, or they may be provided on
separate physical machines such as providing the program on a
television and providing the content for the network service on an
associated personal computer.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 12A for the push/pull service flow,
authoring client 262 includes an authoring application 264 for
creating a packet 266. An authoring application includes any
program for use in creating a packet containing or identifying
particular content. A server 292 provides for routing of packet
266. In particular, it includes a hub 294 coupled to a content
push/pull service 296 and a chat service 298. The routing of
packets and their content for the exemplary content push/pull
service is further explained in Table 2 illustrating packet
structure throughout the flow.
[0130] Authoring client 262, using authoring application 264,
creates packet P-0 (step 266) and transmits it to server 292 where
it is received by hub 294 as packet P-1 (step 306). Hub 294 routes
the packet to an individual target. In particular, content
push/pull service 296 sends packet P-2 to an entire directory via
hub 294 (step 308). Hub 294 routes packet P-3 to all members of the
directory (step 306), and each client receives the packet P-4
(steps 312, 314, 316). Hub 294 may include software for routing
packets, as illustrated by the logic in Table 1. The packets
identify information in the header used by the hub logic in routing
the packets for the push/pull service.
[0131] FIG. 12B is a diagram of an exemplary push/pull packet
content 271 for use in distributed community network 260 as packet
P-4. Packet 271 includes a primary URI 273 for use by client
machines 262, 268, 276, and 284 in retrieving content to be pushed
to the machines. Packet 271 also may include one or more URIs for
use by the client machines in pulling content. For example, packet
271 includes a URI 275 for a first pull item, a URI 277 for a
second pull item, and a URI 279 for a third pull item. The pull
items may include an element to be displayed to the user, such as
an icon, such that when the user "clicks on" or selects the item,
the corresponding client machine uses the URI associated with the
displayed item to retrieve content and display the content to the
user. Packet 271 may include multiple URIs for pushed content, as
well as the multiple URIs for pulled content.
1 TABLE 2 P-0 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 source 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000
service content content content content content push/pull push/pull
push/pull push/pull push/pull target 200 200 -- -- -- dir 5 5 5 5 5
action PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH note author 262 hub 294 routes
service 296 hub 294 routes each client 268, creates packet packet
P-1 to sends packet P- packet P-3 to 276, 284 in the P-0 containing
a individual target, 2 to entire all members of directory receives
URI to be service 296 directory via the directory packet P-4,
displayed and hub 294 including the URI URIs to pull to be
displayed information and the URIs to pull information
[0132] FIG. 13 is a diagram of exemplary chat packet flow 330 in
distributed community network 200. This diagram includes the same
logic elements as shown in FIG. 12A with routing for flow of a chat
packet using chat service 298 and implementations include the
various alternatives identified above with respect to FIG. 12A.
[0133] The routing of packets and their content for the exemplary
chat service is further explained in Table 3 illustrating packet
structure throughout the flow. In this example, client 284 creates
a new chat message as packet P-0 (step 332). The client may use an
application associated with the chat service to enter information,
such as typing in a text string using an keyboard, and send it in
packet form. The application may include, for example, scripts
associated with the chat frame on the user machine.
[0134] Packet P-0 from client machine 284 is directed to the server
292 where it is received as packet P-1 (step 334). Hub 294 routes
the packet to an individual target as identified in the header
information of the packet. In particular, chat service 298, using
hub 294, sends packet P-2 to the entire directory (step 336). Hub
294 routes packet P-3 to all members of the directory (step 338),
in which case is received by each of the client machines in the
directory as packet P-4 (steps 340, 342, 344). Hub 294 may include
software for routing packets, as illustrated by the logic in Table
1.
[0135] Programs in each client machine 268, 276, 284 associated
with the chat service, such as scripts associated with the chat
frames in the client machine, receive packet P-4 and perform
necessary processing to extract the content originally created by
the user at machine 284 (packet P-0) and display that content in
the chat frames 272, 282, 290.
Table 3
[0136]
2 P-0 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 source 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 service chat
chat chat chat chat target 201 201 -- -- -- dir 5 5 5 5 5 Action
SAY SAY SAY SAY SAY note client at hub 294 routes chat service 298
hub 294 routes each client machine 284 packet P-1 to sends packet
P-2 packet P-3 to all 268, 276, 284 enters new chat individual
target, to entire members of the in the directory message, packet
chat service 298 directory via hub directory receives packet P-0
294 P-4
[0137] FIGS. 14A-14D are examples of implementations for
distributed community network 200. FIGS. 14A is a diagram of a
distributed community network 350 for a small eSchool. Network 350
includes in this example a server 352 providing service for all
chat rooms and whiteboards and is coupled to client machines 354,
356, 358, and 360. Each client machine thus may access chat room
and whiteboard services as managed by the server. Server 352 may
include a hub having software for routing information, as
illustrated by the logic in Table 1. Server 352 may also include a
connection with a network such as the Internet 202.
[0138] FIG. 14B is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network 200 as a large eSchool 362.
Configuration 362 includes a router 364 connecting servers 366 and
368. Each server manages a separate chat room and may exchange
information through router 364. Two clients 370 and 372 are
connected with a server 366 for the first chat room. Two additional
clients 374 and 376 are connected with server 368 for the second
chat room. Servers 366 and 368 may include hubs having software for
routing information, as illustrated by the logic in Table 1.
Servers 366 and 368 may include a connection with a network such as
the Internet 202.
[0139] FIG. 14C is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of
distributed community network 200 as a simple configuration 378
providing video and other content. Configuration 378 includes a
server 380 coupled to clients 382, 384, 386, and 388. Server 380 in
this example includes two directories identified as teams 1 and 2.
One directory includes clients 382 and 384, and the other includes
clients 386 and 388. These directories identify rooms for
participants of a chat service maintained by server 380. Server 380
also identifies the type of content to be transmitted to the
clients in its directory by being pushed to the clients by a
content push/pull service. In this example, a first advertisement
is to be transmitted to clients 382 and 386, and a second
advertisement is to be transmitted to clients 384 and 388.
Therefore, server 380 via a directory structure may specifically
identify the type of content to be transmitted to particular
clients. Server 380 may include a hub having software for routing
information, as illustrated by the logic in Table 1. Server 380 may
also include a connection with a network such as the Internet
202.
[0140] FIG. 14D is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a
distributed community network as a complex configuration 390
providing video and other content. Configuration 390 includes a
server 392 and a server 394 both connected with a server 396.
Server 396 is connected with hubs 398 and 400. Hub 398 is connected
with clients 402 and 404, and hub 400 is connected with clients 406
and 408. Servers 392, 394, and 396 may include hubs having software
for routing information, as illustrated by the logic in Table
1.
[0141] Configuration 390 also includes its own directory structure
for the routing of information. Server 396 routes to team 1 or hub
398, and provides separate advertisements for hubs 398 and 400. The
teams identify rooms for participants of a chat service, and the
advertisements refer to particular content to be pushed to users by
a content push/pull service. The directory for server 394 includes
a first advertisement to be transmitted to server 396 and a second
advertisement to be transmitted to server 396. The directory for
hub 398 includes a first team for clients 402 and 404, and hub 400
and server 396. It further includes the first advertisement to be
transmitted to client 402, and a second advertisement to be
transmitted to client 404. The directory for hub 400 includes a
first team for clients 406 and 408 and hub 398. It also includes a
first advertisement to be transmitted to client 406, and a second
advertisement to be transmitted to client 408. Servers 392, 394,
and 396 may also include a connection with a network such as the
Internet 202.
[0142] Using the foregoing embodiments, methods and processes, the
system of the present invention creates a synergistic experience
combining the vast resources of the Internet with the presentation
capabilities of television. Various embodiments for implementing a
distributed community network consistent with the present invention
are possible using different types of networks with or without use
of the Internet.
* * * * *