U.S. patent application number 11/056618 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for remote control for menu driven subscriber access to television programming.
Invention is credited to Hendricks, John S..
Application Number | 20050157217 11/056618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25536845 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050157217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hendricks, John S. |
July 21, 2005 |
Remote control for menu driven subscriber access to television
programming
Abstract
An expanded television program delivery system is disclosed
which allows viewers to select television and audio program choices
from a series of menus. Menus are partially stored in a set-top
terminal in each subscriber's home. The menus may be reprogrammed
by signals sent from a headend or from a central operations center.
The system allows for a great number of television signals to be
transmitted by using digital compression techniques. An operations
center with computer-assisted packaging allows various television,
audio and data signals to be combined, compressed and multiplexed
into signals transmitted on various channels to a cable headend
which distributes the signals to individual set-top terminals.
Various types of menus may be used and the menus may incorporate
information included within the video/data signal received by the
set-top terminal. A remote control unit with icon buttons allows a
subscriber to select programs based upon a series of major menus,
submenus, and during program menus. Various billing and statistics
gathering methods for the program delivery system are also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Hendricks, John S.;
(Potomac, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOSER, PATTERSON & SHERIDAN L.L.P.
595 SHREWSBURY AVE, STE 100
FIRST FLOOR
SHREWSBURY
NJ
07702
US
|
Family ID: |
25536845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/056618 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11056618 |
Feb 11, 2005 |
|
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07991074 |
Dec 9, 1992 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/734 ;
348/E5.002; 348/E5.006; 348/E5.008; 348/E5.099; 348/E5.1;
348/E5.104; 348/E5.105; 348/E5.108; 348/E5.112; 348/E5.123;
348/E7.031; 348/E7.033; 348/E7.034; 348/E7.036; 348/E7.049;
348/E7.052; 348/E7.061; 348/E7.063; 348/E7.069; 348/E7.071;
348/E7.073; 348/E7.075; 375/E7.019; 375/E7.021; 375/E7.022;
375/E7.024; 375/E7.025; 725/135; 725/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H 20/10 20130101;
H04N 7/0887 20130101; H04N 5/44504 20130101; H04N 21/42204
20130101; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N 21/2362 20130101; H04N
21/8166 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N
21/2381 20130101; H04H 60/13 20130101; H04N 21/26283 20130101; H04H
20/95 20130101; H04N 21/6543 20130101; H04H 20/79 20130101; H04N
7/10 20130101; H04N 21/2389 20130101; H04N 21/4668 20130101; H04N
21/47214 20130101; H04N 7/165 20130101; H04N 21/42653 20130101;
H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 21/443 20130101; H04N 7/088 20130101;
H04N 21/4821 20130101; H04H 20/42 20130101; H04N 21/258 20130101;
H04N 21/454 20130101; H04N 5/445 20130101; H04N 21/252 20130101;
H04N 21/2543 20130101; H04N 21/4345 20130101; H04N 21/472 20130101;
H04H 60/04 20130101; H04H 60/22 20130101; H04N 21/4385 20130101;
H04N 21/6547 20130101; H04H 20/06 20130101; H04H 60/97 20130101;
H04N 7/102 20130101; H04N 7/173 20130101; H04N 21/2221 20130101;
H04N 21/4314 20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; H04H 60/66 20130101;
H04N 7/17336 20130101; H04N 21/4344 20130101; H04N 21/4622
20130101; H04N 21/8173 20130101; H04H 20/78 20130101; H04H 60/94
20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04M 1/57 20130101; H04N 21/2181
20130101; H04N 21/23608 20130101; H04N 21/8586 20130101; H04N
21/44204 20130101; H04H 60/23 20130101; H04N 5/602 20130101; H04N
21/21815 20130101; H04N 21/435 20130101; H04N 21/44222 20130101;
H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04H 60/47 20130101; H04N 7/0884 20130101;
H04N 21/4181 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101; H04N 21/42206
20130101; H04N 21/47211 20130101; H04H 20/86 20130101; H04H 60/39
20130101; H04H 60/74 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 7/17354
20130101; H04H 60/72 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101; H04N 7/0882
20130101; H04N 21/4184 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/812
20130101; H04N 21/8146 20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101; H04N 21/478
20130101; H04H 20/02 20130101; H04H 60/96 20130101; H04N 21/235
20130101; H04N 21/2668 20130101; H04N 21/4312 20130101; H04N
21/4331 20130101; H04N 21/64307 20130101; H04H 2201/70 20130101;
H04N 21/26208 20130101; H04N 21/4786 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/734 ;
725/038; 725/135 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/173; H04N
007/16; G06F 013/00; H04N 005/445; G06F 003/00; H04N 005/44 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A remote control unit adapted for use with a set-top terminal,
the set-top terminal receiving a plurality of television signals
and generating a plurality of menus associated with the television
signals, each menu belonging to a hierarchy of menus including main
menus and submenus, each menu corresponding to a single program or
a group or related programs and having menu options that represent
one of the programs or group of programs, the remote control unit
comprising: means within the remote control unit, for communicating
with the set-top terminal to provide thereby communications adapted
to allow selection of a desired program from the plurality of
hierarchal menus; and a plurality of switches, coupled to the means
for communicating, comprising: menu select switches for causing the
communication of a signal adapted to directly selecting a desired
menu from the plurality of hierarchal menus, each menu select
switch corresponding to a particular menu and having an icon
representing that particular menu, wherein a selected submenu is
directly selected by depressing a menu select switch that
corresponds to that selected submenu without first selecting one of
the main menus; and cursor movement switches for causing the
communication of a signal adapted to moving a cursor through menu
options presented on the plurality of menus; whereby a user by
touch may distinguish the cursor movement switches and menu select
switches from the remainder of the plurality of switches without
looking at the remote control unit.
2. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of
switches includes two groups of switches, a standard group
including volume control and channel select switches, and a special
group including the cursor movement switches and the menu select
switches, whereby the two groups of switches are physically
separated from each other on the remote control unit proximate the
center of mass of the remote control unit.
3. The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a joystick
for cursor movement.
4. The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a ball for
cursor movement.
5. The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a
rolling-depressible button for cursor movement.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is a Continuation of commonly owned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/991,074, filed Dec. 9, 1992,
the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to television entertainment systems
for providing television programming to consumer homes. More
particularly, the invention relates to cable television packaging,
delivery and presentation systems which provide consumers with many
television programming options.
[0003] Advances in television entertainment have been primarily
driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939, advances on Vladmir
Zworykin's picture tube provided the stimulus for NBC to begin its
first regular broadcasts. In 1975, advances in satellite technology
provided consumers with increased programming to homes.
[0004] Many of these technology breakthroughs have produced
inconvenient systems for consumers. One example is the ubiquitous
three remote control home, having a separate and unique remote
control for the TV, cable box and VCR. More recently, technology
has provided cable users in certain parts of the country with 100
channels of programming. This increased program capacity is beyond
the ability of many consumers to use effectively. No method of
managing the program choices has been provided to consumers.
[0005] Consumers are demanding that future advances in television
entertainment, particularly programs and program choices, be
presented to the consumer in a user friendly manner. Consumer
preferences, instead of technological breakthroughs, will drive the
television entertainment market for at least the next 20 years. As
computer vendors have experienced a switch from marketing new
technology in computer hardware to marketing better useability,
interfaces and service, the television entertainment industry will
also experience a switch from new technology driving the market to
consumer useability driving the market.
[0006] Consumers want products incorporating new technology that
are useful, and will no longer purchase new technology for the sake
of novelty or status. Technological advances in sophisticated
hardware are beginning to surpass the capability of the average
consumer to use the new technology. Careful engineering must be
done to make entertainment products incorporating new technology
useful and desired by consumers.
[0007] In order for new television entertainment products to be
successful, the products must satisfy consumer demands. TV
consumers wish to go from limited viewing choices to a variety of
choices, from no control of programming to complete control.
Consumers wish to advance from cumbersome and inconvenient
television to easy and convenient television and keep costs down.
Consumers do not wish to pay for one hundred channels when due to
lack of programming information, they seldom, if ever, watch
programming on many of these channels.
[0008] The concepts of interactive television, high definition
television and 300 channel cable systems in consumer homes will not
sell if they are not packaged, delivered and presented in a useable
fashion to consumers. The problem is that TV programming is not
being managed, packaged, delivered, and presented to consumers in a
user friendly manner.
[0009] Consumers are already being bombarded with programming
options, numerous "free" cable channels, subscription cable
channels and pay-per-view choices. Any further increase in TV
entertainment choices, without a user friendly presentation and
approach, will likely bewilder viewers with a mind-numbing array of
choices.
[0010] The TV industry has traditionally marketed and sold its
programs to consumers in bulk, such as continuous feed broadcast
and long-term subscriptions to movie channels. The TV industry is
unable to sell its programming in large quantities on a unit per
unit basis, such as the ordering of one program. Consumers prefer a
unit sales approach because it keeps costs down and allows the
consumer to be more selective in their viewing.
[0011] Additionally, viewership fragmentation, which has already
begun, will increase. Programming not presented in a user friendly
manner will suffer with a decrease in viewership and revenue.
[0012] What is needed is an economical system which can gather
television programming in a variety of formats, package the
programs, deliver the programs, and present the programs through a
user friendly interface which allows the consumer to easily select
from among the many program choices. The system must be capable of
handling hundreds of programs in different formats, be expandable
for future types of programming, include a method for billing
consumers, and be inexpensive. The present invention is addressed
to fulfill these needs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is an expanded cable television
program delivery system that dramatically increases programming
capacity using compressed transmission of television program
signals. Developments in digital bandwidth compression technology
now allow much greater throughput of television program signals
over existing or slightly modified transmission media. The present
invention is a program delivery system which provides subscribers
with a user friendly interface to operate and exploit a six-fold or
more increase in current program delivery capability.
[0014] Subscribers will be able to access the expanded program
package and view selected programs through a menu-driver access
scheme that allows each subscriber to select individual programs by
sequencing a series of menus. The menus are sequenced by the
subscriber using simple alpha-numeric and iconic character access,
allowing the subscriber to access desired programs by simply
pressing a single button rather than recalling from memory and
pressing the actual two or more digit numeric number assigned to a
selection. Thus, with the press of single buttons, the subscriber
can advance from one menu to the next. In this fashion, the
subscriber can sequence the menus and select a program from any
given menu. The programs are grouped by category so that similar
program offerings are found on the same menu.
[0015] B. System Description
[0016] 1. Major System Components
[0017] In its most basic form, the system uses a program delivery
system in conjunction with a conventional cable television system.
The program delivery system contemplates (i) at least one
operations center, where program packaging and control information
are received and then assembled in the form of digital data, and
(ii) a digital compression system, where the digital data is
compressed, combined/multiplexed, encoded, and mapped into digital
signals for satellite transmission (i.e., modulated, upconverted
and amplified). The program delivery system transports the digital
signals to the concatenated cable television system where the
signals are received at the cable headend. Within the cable
headend, the received signals may be decoded, demultiplexed,
managed by a local central distribution and switching mechanism and
then transmitted to subscriber homes via the cable system.
[0018] The delivery system employs an in-home decompression
capability employing a decompressor housed within a set-top
terminal in each subscriber's home. The decompressor remains
transparent from the subscriber's point of view and allows any of
the compressed signals to be demultiplexed and individually
extracted from the composite data stream and then individually
decompressed upon selection of a corresponding program by the
subscriber. Within the set-top terminal, video signals are
converted into analog signals. Control signals are extracted,
decompressed and either executed immediately or place in local
storage in a ROM. The program control signals correspond to
specific television programs with menu program options that each
subscriber may access through a subscriber interface. The
subscriber interface is a combined alpha, numeric and iconic remote
control device which provides direct or menu-driven program
access.
[0019] An array of menu templates are generated by either a
computer program within the set-top terminal or by the cable
headend. The menu templates are generated using the program control
information signals received from the Operations Center. A computer
program within the set top terminal generates the on-screen menu
displays and allocates a specific menu program option for each
program signal. A combined alpha and numeric remote control device
provides the user interface to each program signal, allowing
selection of a specific menu option which corresponds to a
particular program signal.
[0020] 2. Operations Center and Digital Compression System
[0021] The Operations Center performs two primary services,
packaging television programs and generating the program control
signal. At the Operations Center television programs are
accumulated from various sources in both analog and digital form.
The programs are then packaged into groups and categories which
allow for easy menu access to programs and provides optimal
marketing of programs to subscribers. The packaging process also
accounts for any groupings by transponder which are necessary.
After a packaging scheme is developed, the program control
information which, among other things, describes the packaging, is
generated by a computer and delivered with the packaged programs to
the head end and/or subscriber. The system also accommodates local
cable and television companies with programming time for local
advertising and/or programming time availability.
[0022] The delivery system employs digital compression techniques
to increase existing satellite transponder capacity by at least a
6:1 ratio, resulting in a six-fold increase in program delivery
capability. The input signals are compressed, combined and encoded
prior to satellite transmission, and subsequently transponded to
various receive sites. There are a number of compression algorithms
that presently exist which can achieve the resultant increase in
capacity and improved signal quality desired for the invention.
[0023] 3. System Control
[0024] Network management, control and monitoring of all
compressors and decompressors in the network, is performed by a
network controller at the cable headend, where program selection
activity, and account and billing information is monitored. In the
preferred embodiment, the network controller monitors, among other
things, automatic poll-back responses from the set-top terminals
remotely located at each subscriber's home. The polling and
automatic report-back cycle occurs frequently enough to allow the
network controller to maintain accurate account and billing
information as well as monitor authorized channel access. In the
simplest embodiment, information to be sent to the network
controller will be stored in ROM within each subscriber's set-top
terminal and retrieved only upon polling by the network
controller.
[0025] Control information from the set top terminal will be sent
to the network controller at the cable headend and not directly to
the operations center. The digital compression and delivery system
of the preferred embodiment provides a one-way path from the
Operations Center to the cable headend. Thus, program monitoring
and selection control will take place only at the cable headend by
the local cable company and its decentralized network controllers
(i.e., decentralized relative to the Operations Center which is
central to the program delivery system). The local cable company
will in turn be in communication with the operations center or a
regional control center which accumulates return data from the
set-top terminal for statistical or billing purposes.
Alternatively, the operations center, and statistical and billing
sites could be collocated.
[0026] 4. Menu-Driven Program Selection
[0027] At a given receive site, any of the compressed signals may
be demultiplexed or individually extracted from the data stream and
passed from the cable headend over the cable system to the
subscriber's set-top terminal. Within the set-top terminal, the
individual compressed signals are decompressed and either placed in
local storage (from which the menu template may be created),
executed immediately, or sent directly to the screen. A combined
alpha, numeric and iconic remote control device provides the
subscriber interface to the system.
[0028] Through this interface, the subscriber may select desired
programming through the system's menu-driven scheme or by directly
accessing a specific channel by its actual number. The menu-driven
scheme provides the subscriber with one-step access to all major
menus, ranging from hit movies to specialty programs. From any of
the major menus, the subscriber can in turn access submenus and
minor menus by alpha character access. By using menu-driven, iconic
or alpha-character access, the subscriber can access desired
programs by simply pressing a single button rather than recalling
from memory and pressing the actual channel number to make a
selection. The subscriber can access regular broadcast and basic
cable television stations by using either the numeric keys on the
remote control and pressing the corresponding channel number, or
one of the menu icon selection options.
[0029] It is an object of the invention to provide a user friendly
interface for subscribers to access television programs.
[0030] It is an object of the invention to efficiently package and
deliver television programs to subscriber homes.
[0031] It is an object of the invention to allow users to easily
navigate through hundreds of programming choices using on-screen
menus.
[0032] It is an object of this invention to allow subscribers to
select a program from among hundreds of choices without a
television viewing guide.
[0033] It is an object of this invention to efficiently utilize
digital compression techniques to deliver hundreds of television
program options to subscribers' homes.
[0034] It is an object of this invention to provide pay-per-view
type program access in the same system as specialty channel and
broadcast television access.
[0035] It is an object of this invention to allow users to
subscribe on-screen to specialty channels.
[0036] It is an object of this invention to provide centralized
national system of program packaging and delivery for cable
television.
[0037] It is an object of this system to provide a centralized
program packaging and delivery system with the capability for
incorporating local availability of program and advertising
time.
[0038] It is an object of this invention to monitor subscriber
viewing choices for statistical purposes.
[0039] It is an object of this invention to provide on-screen
billing information to subscribers.
[0040] It is an object of this invention to provide sophisticated
on-screen television menus which can incorporate still video and
moving video.
[0041] It is an object of this invention to provide a system
capable of advertising products and services with on-screen
television menus.
[0042] It is an object of this invention to provide a user friendly
system capable of offering High Definition Television (HDTV)
programs.
[0043] It is an object of this invention to provide a user friendly
system capable of offering interactive television services.
[0044] It is an object of this invention to provide a user friendly
cable system capable of supplying both television programming and
digital audio programming.
[0045] It is an object of this invention to provide a system which
offers HDTV, interactive services, and digital audio
programming.
[0046] It is an object of its invention to provide a more
compelling way for cable operators to promote not only their pay
per view options, but also to promote their current offerings of
cable service through menu and screen generation for local,
customized programming of menu screens.
[0047] It is an object of this invention to allow subscribers to
access digitally compressed audio channels with the same
decompression system used for their television.
[0048] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become obvious to those skilled in the art upon review of the
following description, the attached drawings and appended
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic of the overall system
design.
[0050] FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic of the primary components of
the invention.
[0051] FIG. 3a. FIG. 3a is a diagram of the bandwidth allocation
for a 750 mHz system.
[0052] FIG. 3b. FIG. 3b is a diagram/chart of the compressed
channel allocation for the system.
[0053] FIG. 3c. FIG. 3c is a diagram showing how three cable
television systems with different bandwidths may use the program
delivery system of the present invention simultaneously.
[0054] FIG. 3d. FIG. 3d is a diagram showing three different cable
headend systems, each system receiving the entire satellite signal
and stripping those parts of the signal which cannot be handled by
the local cable system.
[0055] FIG. 3e. FIG. 3e is a diagram showing dynamic change in
bandwidth allocation from a typical week day prime time signal.
[0056] FIG. 4a. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the Operations Center
and Master Control Site.
[0057] FIG. 4b. FIG. 4b is a block diagram of the computer assisted
packaging shown in FIG. 4a.
[0058] FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the processing occurring
at the Operations Center.
[0059] FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a chart of the program control information
carried by the program control information signal.
[0060] FIG. 7a. FIG. 7a is a block diagram of the internals of the
set top terminal.
[0061] FIG. 7b. FIG. 7b is a block diagram of an alternative
embodiment of the internals of the set top terminal.
[0062] FIG. 8a. FIG. 8a is a perspective front view of a set top
terminal.
[0063] FIG. 8b. FIG. 8b is a perspective rear view of a set top
terminal.
[0064] FIG. 9a. FIG. 9a is a schematic of a basic decompression box
and upgrade module, with the associated connections.
[0065] FIG. 9b. FIG. 9b is a schematic of an alternative embodiment
of a simple decompression unit and upgrade module, with associated
connections.
[0066] FIG. 10a. FIG. 10a is a drawing of storage for on-screen
menu templates stored in graphics memory of the set top
terminal.
[0067] FIG. 10b. FIG. 10b is a drawing showing the hierarchical
storage of graphics memory for the set top terminal.
[0068] FIG. 10c. FIG. 10c is a drawing of a flow chart showing the
steps required for the microprocessor to retrieve, combine and
display a menu.
[0069] FIG. 10d. FIG. 10d is a drawing of a flow chart showing the
steps required for the microprocessor to sequence program
menus.
[0070] FIG. 11a. FIG. 11a is a schematic showing the two parts of a
remote control unit.
[0071] FIG. 11b. FIG. 11b is a drawing of the complete remote
control derived from FIG. 11a.
[0072] FIG. 12a. FIG. 12a is a color photograph showing a
perspective view of the preferred remote control unit of the
present invention.
[0073] FIG. 12b. FIG. 12b is another drawing of the preferred
remote control unit shown in FIG. 12a.
[0074] FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the progression of
primary menus in the menu driven system of the set-top
terminal.
[0075] FIG. 14a. FIG. 14a is a drawing of the basic menus used in
the present invention, including the ten major menus represented by
icons.
[0076] FIG. 14b. FIG. 14b is a drawing of the basic menus used in
the present invention, in addition to FIG. 14a.
[0077] FIGS. 15a-15b. FIGS. 15a-15b are drawings of introductory
menus.
[0078] FIGS. 16a-16d. FIGS. 16a-16d are drawings of home menus.
[0079] FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a drawing of an alternative of a home
menu.
[0080] FIGS. 18a-18g. FIGS. 18a-18g are drawings of major
menus.
[0081] FIGS. 19a-19b. FIGS. 19a-19b are drawings of hit movie
description menus.
[0082] FIGS. 20a-20b. FIGS. 20a-20b are drawings of hit movie
confirmation submenus.
[0083] FIGS. 21a-21b. FIGS. 21a-21b are drawings of hit movie
notification submenus.
[0084] FIG. 22a. FIG. 22a is a drawing of a hit movie escape during
program menu.
[0085] FIG. 22b. FIG. 22b is a drawing of a hit movie during
program hidden menu.
[0086] FIG. 22c. FIG. 22c is a drawing of a hit movie re-entry
submenu.
[0087] FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a drawing of a movie library major
menu.
[0088] FIG. 24. FIG. 24 is a drawing of a hit movie description
menu.
[0089] FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a drawing of a movie library
confirmation submenu.
[0090] FIGS. 26a-26b. FIGS. 26a-26b are drawings of major
menus.
[0091] FIGS. 27a-27b. FIGS. 27a-27b are drawings of submenus for
the major menus shown in FIGS. 26a-26b.
[0092] FIGS. 28a-28b,
[0093] FIGS. 29a-29c. FIGS. 29a-28b and FIGS. 29a-29c are drawings
showing examples of submenus for the menus shown in FIGS.
27a-27b.
[0094] FIG. 30. FIG. 30 is a drawing of a specialty channel major
menu.
[0095] FIGS. 31-34. FIGS. 31-34 are drawings of submenus related to
FIG. 30.
[0096] FIG. 35. FIG. 35 is a drawing of a magazine channel major
menu.
[0097] FIGS. 36-38. FIGS. 36-38 are drawings of submenus related to
FIG. 35.
[0098] FIG. 39. FIG. 39 is a drawing of a documentary/news major
menu.
[0099] FIGS. 40-42. FIGS. 40-42 are drawings of submenus related to
FIG. 39.
[0100] FIG. 43. FIG. 43 is a drawing of an entertainment choice
major menu.
[0101] FIG. 44. FIG. 44 is a drawing of a submenu related to FIG.
43.
[0102] FIG. 45. FIG. 45 is a drawing of a children's programs major
menu.
[0103] FIG. 46. FIG. 46 is a drawing of a program description
submenu related to FIG. 45.
[0104] FIG. 47. FIG. 47 is a drawing of a sports major menu.
[0105] FIGS. 48, FIGS. 49a-49d. FIGS. 48 and 49a-49d are drawings
of submenus related to FIG. 47.
[0106] FIGS. 50a-50b. FIGS. 50a-50b are drawings of menus related
to high definition television programming.
[0107] FIGS. 51a-51f. FIGS. 51a-51f are drawings of menus related
to program guide services.
[0108] FIGS. 51g-51h. FIGS. 51g-51h are drawings of broadcast
television menus.
[0109] FIGS. 51i-51k. FIGS. 51i-51k are drawings of mood question
menus.
[0110] FIGS. 52a-52c. FIGS. 52a-52c are drawings of interactive
television promotional menus, for Levels A.
[0111] FIGS. 52d-52j. FIGS. 52d-52j are drawings of submenus for
interactive television services, Level A.
[0112] FIGS. 53a-53l. FIGS. 53a-53l are drawings of interactive
services, Level B, particularly related to on-screen airline
reservations.
[0113] FIGS. 54a-54e. FIGS. 54a-54e are drawings of menus for
digital audio services.
[0114] FIGS. 55a-55g. FIGS. 55a-55g are drawings of the various
overlaying screens necessary for creating a hit movie major
menu.
[0115] FIGS. 56a-56g. FIGS. 56a-56g are drawings of the various
overlaying screens necessary for creating a hit movie description
submenu.
[0116] FIGS. 57a-57b. FIGS. 57a-57b are drawings showing use of
split screen techniques.
[0117] FIGS. 58a-58b, FIGS. 59a-59b. FIGS. 58a-58b and 59a-59b are
drawings of monthly account menus.
[0118] FIG. 60. FIG. 60 is a drawing of the statistical and billing
system used in the present invention.
[0119] FIGS. 61-98. FIGS. 61-98 are color photographs of many of
the menus presented in the preceding Figures.
[0120] FIG. 99. FIG. 99 is a color photograph showing an
enlargement of the cursor movement buttons and the "go" button to
activate each menu.
[0121] FIGS. 100-134. FIGS. 100-134 are color photographs of many
of the menus presented in the preceding Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0122] FIG. 1 shows an overview of the cable television menu driven
program delivery system 200. The Operations Center 202 is shown
receiving external programming signals which correspond to
particular programming categories that are available for a
subscriber's viewing. These external signals may be in analog or
digital form and may be received via landline, microwave
transmission, or satellite. Some of these external signals may be
transmitted from the program source to the Operations Center 202 in
compressed digital format or other nonstandard digital formats.
These external signals are received and packaged along with
programming that is stored at the Operations Center 202 (not shown
here).
[0123] Examples of external program sources 204 shown in FIG. 1
are: Sporting events, children's programs, documentaries, high
definition TV sources, specialty channels, interactive services,
weather, news, and other nonfiction or entertainment. Any source
that can provide either audio or video or both may be utilized to
provide programming to the Operations Center 202.
[0124] After packaging, the packaged television program signal is
prepared for satellite transmission 206 and sent from the
Operations Center 202 to the cable headend 208 via satellite
transmission 206. Depending on the specific embodiment, the
television program signal may need to be compressed,
combined/multiplexed, encoded, mapped, modulated, upconverted and
amplified. This system, which is intended to be compatible with
existing C and Ku Band satellite transmission 206 technologies,
accepts video, audio and data signals ranging in signal quality,
and input from a number of sources.
[0125] Upon receipt of the programming signal at the cable headend
208, the signal is again treated if necessary and sent into a
concatenated cable system to the subscriber's home. The signal
reaches the subscriber's home in a compressed format and must be
decompressed prior to viewing. Included in the delivered program
signal is information which enables equipment at the subscriber's
home to display menus for choosing particular programs. Depending
on the particular embodiment, the television program signal may
arrive at the subscriber's home via one or more coaxial cables,
fiber cables, twisted pairs, cellular telephone connections, or
personal communications network (PCN) hookups.
[0126] This connection between the subscriber's home and the cable
headend 208 allows for two-way communications. Utilizing this
two-way communications, the cable headend 208 receives information
about a subscriber's account, billing, and programs viewed. Also,
the cable headend 208 is capable of sending computer data or
computer software information to the subscriber's home.
[0127] As shown in FIG. 1, an analog cable TV system 210 can
continue to exist alongside and within the digitally compressed
system of the present invention. The digital transmissions do not
effect the analog system. In fact, the analog cable signal may be
transmitted simultaneously on the same cable as the digital signal.
The cable headends may continue to supply subscribers with local
channels in an analog signal format.
[0128] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed overview of the operation of
the present invention. The Operations Center 202 shown performs
program packaging and delivery control. In the preferred
embodiment, the packaged program signal will be treated at a master
control uplink site 211 prior to being transmitted to the satellite
206. Various satellite multi-accessing schemes and architectures
can be used with the system, including both single channel per
transponder time division multiplex (TDM) and multiple channel per
transponder single channel per carrier (SCPC). Time division
multiplexing is the more desirable scheme. The signal is
transmitted from the satellite 206 to the cable headend 208 where a
computer system including a digital switch treats the signal and
delivers it through cables to a subscriber's home. In alternate
embodiments, multiple Operations Center 202 and multiple uplink
sites can be simultaneously utilized.
[0129] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two cables 216 are used
between the cable headend 208 and the subscriber's home. In this
particular embodiment, analog signals, digitally compressed
signals, other digital signals and up-stream/interactivity signals
are sent and received over the two cables 216.
[0130] The cable headend 208 receives the digitally compressed and
multiplexed signal from the satellite 206 and processes the signal
for further distribution to the subscriber homes. The cable headend
208 performs two primary functions in the cable delivery system. It
will act as a signal processor 212 and distribution center for
routing the digitally compressed signals to subscribers and it will
act as a network controller 214 receiving information from
subscribers and passing the information on to the Operations Center
202 or other remote sites (such as regional, statistical and
billing sites not shown). In order to perform these two functions,
the cable headend 208 of the preferred embodiment is equipped with
two computer processors working in unison. Use of two processors
performing different functions increases the speed and capability
of the cable headend 208 without a significant increase in cost.
One processor, the signal processor 212, handles the receiving and
processing of the satellite 206 signal for distribution to
subscribers. The second processor acts as a network controller 214
and monitors activity of the subscriber's set top terminal 220. The
cable headend 208 can be operated by one CPU or a series of CPU's
which perform the signal processing and network control
functions.
[0131] The signal processor 212 will treat the signal as necessary
for use by the subscriber's set top terminal 220. In the simplest
embodiment, the amount of processing that is necessary by the
signal processor 212 is limited to demultiplexing and frequency
allocation. However, in alternative embodiments, the signal
processor 212 demultiplexes the signal, allocates frequencies and
then re-multiplexes the signal using a different multiplexing
scheme prior to the signal's distribution to the subscriber. In
addition, for embodiments in which the control of local
availability time is desired at the cable headend 208, the signal
processor 212 must be capable of compressing and adding additional
signals to the satellite 206 signal. In order to incorporate local
programming, the signal processor 212 would demultiplex the
satellite 206 signal, compress the local programming, combine the
compressed local program with the satellite 206 signal and then
multiplex the signal prior to delivery to the subscriber terminals.
Most of the activities necessary for incorporating local
programming will be automatically performed by the signal processor
212. In the preferred embodiment, the signal processor 212
incorporates all the necessary digital switching capability to
serve numerous subscribers.
[0132] Signals received by the cable headend 208 must be
decompressed before transmission from headend to subscriber
location only when the compression algorithm used for the cable
system differs from the one used for satellite transmission 206.
This difference may result from different bandwidth constraints
between the cable transmission media and the satellite 206
transponder. Such a difference would necessitate the use of
separate compression algorithms to maintain desired signal quality
and throughput over both of the transmission mediums.
[0133] System control is performed by the network controller 214.
The primary task of the network controller 214 at the cable headend
208 is to manage the configuration of the set top terminals, which
includes receiving and processing signals from the set top terminal
units. The network controller 214 must also monitor selections at
subscribers' homes, maintain accurate account and billing
information, authorize subscriber channel access, and authorize
particular set top terminals to operate in the system. Information
required to operate the network will be stored in memory (either in
RAM, ROM, magnetic or optical Read/Write) at the cable headend 208
and also in memory (RAM and/or ROM) within each subscriber's set
top terminal 220. Two-way communications between the network
controller 214 and set top terminal 220 will occur over cable
lines. Interactive television programming can be accommodated
through the network controller 214. In addition, the network
controller 214 will be able to access set top terminals via phone
lines for trouble shooting, special features or sophisticated
reprogramming.
[0134] The network controller 214 regularly polls each set top
terminal 220 to acquire needed information to operate the system.
The network controller 214 sends signals to set top terminals to
authorize their operation and to authorize access to specific
channels. If a subscriber has failed to pay a recent bill, the
network controller 214 can deauthorize the subscriber's set top
terminal 220. When a subscriber orders a program or channel the
network controller 214 checks the subscriber's account for good
standing and then authorizes the access by signaling the set top
terminal 220.
[0135] To perform its functions, the network controller 214 must
work closely with the signal processor 212. In many instances the
program control information signal received from the Operations
Center 202 must be modified prior to being sent to the set top
terminals. These modifications to the program control information
are made by the network controller 214 working in conjunction with
the signal processor 212 to send a set top terminal 220 control
information stream (STTCIS). From the signal processor 212, the
network controller 214 receives the program control information
signal which includes cable franchise specific information added by
the Operations Center 202. The network controller 214 modifies the
program control information signal, if necessary, and communicates
the new information to the signal processor 212. The signal
processor 212 then forwards the information to the set top terminal
220 in the form of the STTCIS. In most instances the network
controller 214 will modify the program control information signal
by adding additional information. In a simple embodiment the
program control information signal can be passed through the cable
headend 208 to the set top terminal 220 without any
modifications.
[0136] Although the signal processor 212 will handle the addition
of simple local availabilities (e.g. local advertisements) into the
signal sent to the set top terminal 220, the network controller 214
will handle any of the more sophisticated local programming needs
such as interactive programming and certain data services. The
network controller 214 will receive any electronic signals sent by
the set top terminal 220 including those in response to interactive
service requests and some data service requests. The network
controller 214 coordinates the necessary switching and access to
allow the subscriber to enjoy these services.
[0137] The network controller 214 has the capability of performing
"on the fly programming" changes, assisting in masking portions of
subscriber's television screens (split screen video), assist in
selecting different audio signals for the same video (foreign
languages), assist in interactive features, create tiered
programming, etc. For last minute changes to programming (such as
for a local emergency or important regional events), an operator
using the network controller 214 can modify the program control
information signal "on the fly" and change menus available to the
subscriber. This accommodates short notice changes to program
packaging that can not be provided to the Operations Center 202 in
advance. In order to accommodate split screen techniques for promo
and demo video (which will be described later), those undesired
video portions of the screen must be masked. The network controller
214 can send the necessary control information to inform the set
top terminal 220 to mask portions of a specific channel's video.
For example, a video channel with a split screen showing four
separate videos would require a 3/4 mask to focus the viewer on the
featured video clip.
[0138] Tiered programming allows different users to view different
video even though they are "tuned" to the same channel. For
example, the network controller 214 may know the demographics of
its subscriber's through a database, by "learning" from prior
subscriber choices, from an interactive selection, or from other
means. Using the demographics information, the network controller
214 may target commercials to the correct audience by showing
different commercials to subscriber's with different demographics.
Even though subscriber's will believe they are "tuned" to one
channel, they will be switched to a different channel for the
tiered video. Alternatively, the subscriber's may be offered an
option of several commercials from which to choose.
[0139] To accommodate foreign speaking subscribers, multiple audio
channels for television programming may be provided. The subscriber
may be shown menus of programs available in his native language.
The function of choosing the correct audio to correspond to the
selected language may be handled by either the set top terminal 220
or the network controller 214 depending upon the configuration.
Local programming in several languages or additional audio channels
for a foreign language translation of a popular television program
may be provided by the network controller 214. Using a
picture-on-picture feature, sign language may be similarly made
available to certain set top terminals for the deaf. Also, a text
overlay may be easily produced on the lower part of the screen for
the deaf.
[0140] In the more sophisticated and expensive embodiments, the
network controller 214 can act as a central computer and provide
intra-set top terminal interactive games, inter-set top terminal
interactive games, computer bulletin board type services, message
services (Electronic mail) etc. For example, a subscriber may play
war games with six of his (anonymous) fellow subscribers each in
their own home each operating a separate tank. The network
controller 214 gathers the players via set top terminal
communications and acts as the referee. A bulletin board or message
system can be set up to discuss a particular program such as "Twin
Peaks Whodunit" for enthusiasts. These interactive features are
further described below with the interactive services level B menu
and the set top terminal hardware upgrade level B interactive
unit.
[0141] Also shown in FIG. 2 is the set top terminal 220 that
receives the signals from the cable headend 208 and manipulates
them for the subscriber. The set top terminal 220 is equipped with
local computer memory and the capability of interpreting the
digitally compressed signal to produce menus for the subscriber.
Although the set top terminal 220 is shown on top of the
subscriber's television 222, it may be placed anywhere in the
subscriber's home that is accessible by the remote control. The
remote control communicates the subscriber's selections to the set
top terminal 220. The subscriber's selections are generally based
upon menus or other prompts displayed on the television screen. A
typical menu is shown in FIG. 2 on the television screen.
[0142] One of the achievements of the present invention is
effective utilization of digital compression technology by
packaging television programs into categories that allow easy
access to television programs by consumers. With current digital
compression techniques for video, the typical 50-channel capacity
cable satellite receiving system can be increased to 300 channels.
Presently, one transponder is used for each satellite delivered
channel. The preferred embodiment uses 18 satellite transponders
and compression ratios of 4/1 to 8/1 to achieve a capacity of 136
satellite delivered channels. More transponders or higher
compression ratios can be used to deliver up to the channel
capacity of any existing cable system.
[0143] Typical program packaging and delivery first involves the
digitizing of the video signals. This is then followed by one of a
variety of digital compression techniques that are available.
Following compression the channels must be multiplexed and sent to
the satellite 206 dish that will provide the uplink. A variety of
multiplexing schemes may be used in the system. In some situations,
it may be advantageous to use different multiplexing schemes in
different parts of the overall system. In other words, one
multiplexing scheme may be used for satellite transmission 206 and
a second remultiplexing scheme for the land transmission.
[0144] Once the signal has arrived at the uplink or master control
site, it must be modulated, upconverted, and amplified. Various
types of satellites and transponders capable of handling digital
signals may be used in this cable television packaging and delivery
system. An example of a digital satellite that may be used is the
AT&T Telstar 303.
[0145] In order to achieve the required throughput of video and
audio information for the system, digital compression techniques
for video are employed. A television signal is first digitized. The
object of digitization is two-fold: First, in the case of an analog
signal, like a television picture, digitization allows the signal
to be converted from a wave-form into a digital binary format.
Secondly, standard digital formats are designed to have the
resulting pictures or video stills take up less space on their
respective storage mediums. Essentially, standard digital formats
define methods of compression.
[0146] A video screen is divided into picture elements known as
pixels. Images define one pixel at a time are referred to as
"bit-mapped" images. Most compression techniques take the
bit-mapped images and convert them into a series of mathematical
algorithms both to reduce storage space and to allow for the
mathematical manipulation of images that is often not possible with
analog formats. This is possible because many images have pixels
that repeat themselves. For example, a photograph of a blue,
cloudless sky will have a great number of "repeating" picture
elements. This redundancy can be represented with great precision
by mathematical formulas. Finally, once images have digitized, the
standard digitized formats also include techniques required to
re-render the images into their final form, either fully bit-mapped
or into an analog wave-form. There are three basic digital
compression techniques: within-frame (intraframe), frame-to-frame
(interframe), and within-carrier. Intraframe compression processes
each frame in a television picture to contain fewer visual details
and, therefore, the picture contains fewer digital bits. For
example, information on blocks of pixels is sent rather than
individual digitized pixels themselves. A six by six block of
pixels contains thirty-six pixels. Each pixel can be defined by an
eight-bit word. Therefore, a six by six block of pixels equals two
hundred eighty-eight bits. If the information on the block rather
than the individual pixels themselves, is transmitted, this reduces
the amount of information transmitted. Blocks of various sizes may
be used as is known by those skilled in the art.
[0147] Interframe compression transmits only changes between
frames, thus omitting elements repeated in successive frames.
Motion prediction technology and motion detection technology are
necessary to determine what portions of a changing picture may be
compressed. Therefore, if a block does not vary between several
frames, the block is transmitted once, and repeated at the receive
site for successive frames.
[0148] Within-carrier compression allows the compression ratio to
dynamically vary depending upon the amount of changes between
frames. If a large number of changes occur between frames, the
compression ratio drops from, for example, sixteen-to-one to
eight-to-one. If action is intense, the compression ratio may dip
to four to one.
[0149] Various compression methods are used for the above
techniques. In vector quantization, a block is compared to a
library of standard blocks and a best fit comparison is made
between the two. Each block in the library has a corresponding
sixteen bit code. Only this code is transmitted to represent the
block, rather than the actual block of pixels itself. Therefore, a
two hundred eighty-eight bit block of pixels is converted into a
sixteen bit code resulting in a compression ratio of: 288 bits/16
bits=18. The converse process is performed at the receive site to
convert the sixteen bit codes into two hundred eighty-eight bit
blocks for reproduction on a television receiver. Other types of
compression are known to those skilled in the art, including, for
example, discrete cosine transform ("DCT").
[0150] Several standard digital formats representing both
digitizing standards and compression standards have been developed.
For example, JPEG (joint photographic experts group) is a standard
for single picture digitization. Motion picture digitization may be
represented by standards such as MPEG or MPEG2 (motion picture
engineering group specification). Other proprietary standards have
been developed in addition to these. Although MPEG and MPEG2 for
motion pictures are preferred in the present invention, any
reliable digital format with compression may be used with the
present invention.
[0151] Various hybrids of the above compression techniques have
been developed by several companies including AT&T, Compression
Labs, Inc., General Instrument, Scientific-Atlanta, Philips, and
Zenith. As is known by those skilled in the art, any of the
compression techniques developed by these companies, and other
known techniques, may be used with the present invention.
[0152] FIG. 3a shows effective allocation of 750 mHz of bandwidth
for television programming. In FIG. 3a bandwidth is allocated for
both analog and digitally compressed signals. In the preferred
embodiment, the bandwidth is divided so that each category of
program receives a portion of the bandwidth. These categories
correspond with major menus of the user interface software. The
representative categories shown in FIG. 3a include: (1) high
definition TV made possible through the use of compression
technology, (2) A La Carte Channel category which provides
specialty channels for subscription periods such as monthly, and
(3) pay-per-view.
[0153] FIG. 3b shows a chart of compressed channel allocation for a
variety of programming categories that have been found to be
desirable to subscribers. By grouping similar shows or a series of
shows into blocks of channels, the system is able to more
conveniently display similar programming with on-screen television
menus. For example, in the movie category, which has the greatest
allocation of channels, the same movie may be shown continuously
and simultaneously on different channels. Each channel starts the
movie at a different time allowing the subscriber to choose a more
suitable movie starting time.
[0154] In order to accommodate cable TV systems that have different
bandwidths and channel capacities, the television programming and
television program control information may-be divided into parts
such as priority one, two, three. The large bandwidth cable TV
systems can accommodate all the parts of the television programming
and all parts of the television programming control information.
Those cable TV systems with a more limited bandwidth are able to
use the program delivery system 200 by only accepting the number of
parts that the cable system can handle within its bandwidth.
[0155] For instance, as is shown in FIG. 3c, three cable television
systems with different bandwidths may use the program delivery
system 200 simultaneously with each system accepting only those
parts of the information sent which it is capable of handling.
Priority one television programming and menus 230 are accepted by
all three systems. Priority two television programming and menus
233 are not accepted by the cable television system whose capacity
is the smallest or in this case 330 mHz (40 channels) system.
Priority two television programming and menus 233 are accepted and
used by the two larger capacity cable television systems shown.
Priority three television programming and menus 236 are only used
by the largest capacity television system which is capable of
handling all three parts--Priority one, two and three programming
and menu information.
[0156] With this division of television programming and menus, the
program delivery system 200 may be utilized simultaneously by a
variety of concatenated cable systems with varying system
capacities. By placing the heavily watched or more profitable
programming and menus in the Priority one division, both users and
owners of the cable TV systems will be accommodated as best as
possible within the limited bandwidth.
[0157] FIG. 3d shows three different cable headend 208 systems,
each system receiving the entire satellite signal from the
Operations Center 202 and stripping those parts of the signal which
cannot be handled by the local cable system due to bandwidth
limitations. In this particular embodiment, the three local cable
television systems shown have bandwidth limitations which
correspond with the bandwidth limitations depicted in the previous
FIG. 3c. As the bandwidth decreases, the programming options
available to the viewer in the exemplary on-screen menu decreases.
Using this preferred embodiment, the Operations Center 202 is able
to send one identical signal to the satellite 206 that is sent to
all the cable headends. Each cable headend 208 accepts the entire
signal and customizes the signal for the local cable system by
stripping those portions of the Operations Center 202 signal that
are unable to be handled by the local cable system. An alternate
embodiment requires the Operations Center 202 to send different
signals for reception by different capacity cable headends.
[0158] There are several ways in which the cable headend 208 may
strip the unnecessary signal from the Operations Center 202. A
person skilled in the art will derive many methods from the three
examples discussed below. One simple method is for the cable
headend 208 receiver to receive the entire signal and then
manipulate the signal to strip away those unnecessary portions. A
second method is for the signal to be sent in three portions with
each portion having a separate header. The cable headend 208 would
then recognize the headers and only receive those signals in which
the proper header is identified. For the second method, the
Operations Center 202 must divide the signal into three parts and
send a separate header lead before each signal for each part.
[0159] The third and preferred method is for a set of transponders
to be assigned to one priority level and each cable headend 208 to
receive signals from the transponders corresponding to the proper
priority level. For example, if there are three priority levels and
18 transponders, transponders one through nine may be assigned to
priority level one, transponders ten through fourteen priority
level two, and transponders fifteen through eighteen assigned to
priority level three. Thus, a cable headend 208 capable of
operating at priority level two only would only receive signals
from transponders one through nine, and ten through fourteen.
[0160] In addition to dividing the television programming and menus
into parts, the Operations Center 202 of the preferred embodiment
is also capable of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation
for a particular category of programming. FIG. 3e depicts this
dynamic change in bandwidth allocation from a typical week day
prime time 238 signal to a Saturday afternoon in October 240
(during the college football season). FIG. 3e highlights the fact
that the bandwidth allocated to sports is limited to eight
selections during week day prime time 238 but is increased to
sixteen selections during a Saturday afternoon in October 240. This
dynamic increase in bandwidth allocation allows the system to
accommodate changes in programming occurring on an hourly, daily,
weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual basis.
[0161] In addition to dynamically allocating bandwidth for
programming categories, the Operations Center 202 can also
dynamically change the menu capacities in order to accommodate the
change in programming and bandwidth. For example, on a Saturday
afternoon in October 240, the major menu for sports may include a
separate subcategory for college football. This subcategory would,
in turn, have a separate submenu with a listing of four, six,
eight, or more college football games available for viewing. In
order to accommodate this dynamic menu change, the Operations
Center 202 must add a submenu listing to the major sports menu,
create a new or temporary submenu for college football, and
allocate the necessary menu space on the college football
submenu.
[0162] Once the television programs have been packaged and a
program control information signal is generated to describe the
various categories and programs available, the packaged programs
are then digitized, compressed, and combined with the program
control information signal. Upon the signal's departure from the
Operations Center 202 the breakdown into categories is
insignificant and the signal is treated like any other digitally
compressed signal.
[0163] FIG. 4a shows the basic operations that must occur in order
for the packaged signal to be sent to the satellite 206. External
digital and analog signals must be received from television
programming sources and converted to a standard digital format 242,
defined above for the computer assisted packaging equipment (CAP)
246. Also within the Operations Center 202, stored programs 244
must be accessed using banks of looping tape machines or other
video storage/retrieval devices, either analog or digital, and
converted to a standard digital format 242 prior to use by the CAP
246.
[0164] The programmer/packager utilizing the CAP 246 must input a
variety of information in order to allow the CAP 246 to perform its
function of generating program control information and packaging
programs. Some of the information required by the CAP 246 are the
date, time slots and program categories desired by the television
programmer.
[0165] The CAP 246 system includes one or more CPUs and one or more
programmer/packager consoles. In the preferred embodiment, each
packager console includes one or more CRT screens, a keyboard, a
mouse (or cursor movement), and standard video editing equipment.
In large Operations Centers 202s multiple packager consoles may be
needed for the CAP 246.
[0166] As shown in FIG. 4b, the first step in the operation of the
CAP 246 is selecting the type of programming 248 which will be
packaged. Basically there are 6 broad categories in which most
television programming can be classified: static programming 250,
interactive services 252, pay per view 254, live sports specials
256, mini pays 258, and data services. Static programs are programs
which will show repetitively over a period of time such as a day or
week. Static programs include movies showing repetitively on movie
channels, children's programs, documentaries, news,
entertainment.
[0167] Interactive services includes interactive programs using the
Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) or other data streams synchronized
with the programming to communicate interactive features (such as
those used in education), and games. Pay per view are programs
which are individually ordered by the subscriber. After ordering,
the subscriber is authorized to access the program for a limited
time, (e.g. three hours, two days, etc.). Live sports specials are
live events usually related to sports which subscribers are
unlikely to watch on taped delay.
[0168] Mini pays are channels to which each set top box may
subscribe. The subscriptions for mini pays 258 may be daily,
weekly, or monthly. An example would be the Science Fiction
channel. Data services are services in which information is
interactively presented to the subscriber using a modem or other
high rate of speed data transfer. Some examples are Prodigy,
services for airline reservations, and TV guide services (e.g. TV
Guide X*PRESS.TM., InSight.TM., etc.). Data could also include
classified or other forms of advertising.
[0169] After selecting the type of programming, the packager must
identify a pool of programs (within the category) to be packaged.
The next CAP 246 step varies for different program categories. For
the category of live sports, additional program interstitial
elements 262 may be added such as promos and other sports news
before further processing. For the live sports, static, interactive
services 252 and pay per view 254 categories the following CAP 246
step is for one television program to be selected 264. This is
followed by each program individually being assigned dates to be
played or a start date (for continuous play) and start times 266.
Many dates and start times may be assigned to any given program.
The program information for these categories may then be processed
for allocation of transponder space and setting of prices.
[0170] Mini pays and data services require less processing by the
CAP 246. After identifying the mini pays 258, the CAP 246 may
proceed to allocation of transponder space and pricing for the mini
pays 258. Data services in the preferred embodiment generally do
not require allocation of transponder space and generally do not
require price setting. The information for data services 260 may be
directly processed for menu configuration. In alternate embodiments
the data services 260 may be processed through these portions of
the CAP 246 program.
[0171] The CAP 246 then uses an interactive algorithm to allocate
transponder space 268 and set prices 270. The factors weighed by
the algorithm are: 1. buy rates of the program, 2. margin of profit
on the program, 3. length of the program, 4. any contractual
requirement which overrides other factors (such as requirement to
run a specific football game live in its entirety). The information
on buy rates of the program may be obtained from the Central
Statistical and Billing Site or a Regional Statistical and Billing
Site as will be described later. The CAP 246 must consider the
priority levels of programming when allocating transponder space.
Particularly, as in the preferred embodiment, transponders are
assigned to three specific priority levels.
[0172] Following transponder allocation and price setting, the CAP
246 proceeds to menu configuration 272. The positioning of programs
within the menu configuration 272 can have an effect on subscriber
buy rates for the program. Therefore, an algorithm accounting for
either a manually assigned program importance, or a calculated
weight of the program importance, is used to determine each
programs position within the menu scheme. For instance, a popular
program with a high profit margin may be assigned a high weight of
importance and shown in a prominent place in the menu scheme.
Alternatively, a high profit program with sagging sales may be
manually assigned a prominent place in the program schedule to
increase sales.
[0173] After a series of entries by the programmer/packager at the
Operations Center 202, the CAP 246 displays draft menus or
schedules (including priority levels) for programming. The packager
may now manipulate the menus and schedules and make changes as he
feels necessary. After each change, the packager may again display
the menus or schedules and determine if any more changes are
necessary. When the packager is satisfied with the menu
configuration 272 and scheduling of television programs, he may
then instruct the CAP 246 to complete the process.
[0174] After menu configuration 272, the CAP 246 may begin the
process of generating a program control information signal 274. In
order to generate program control information signals which are
specific to a particular cable headend 208 system, the CAP 246
incorporates cable franchise configuration information 276. In the
preferred embodiment, basic cable franchise configuration
information 276 is stored at the Operations Center 202. The cable
franchises upload changes to their specific franchise information
from time to time to the Operations Center 202 for storage.
Preferably a separate CPU handles the management of the cable
franchise information. From the stored cable franchise information,
the CAP 246 generates a cable franchise control information signal
which is unique to each franchise.
[0175] Using the unique cable franchise control information signals
278 and the menu configuration 272 information, the CAP 246
generates the program control information signal 274. The program
control information that is unique to a particular cable franchise
may be identified in various ways such as with a header. With the
header identification, the cable headend 208 may extract the
portions of the program control information signal which it needs.
Now, the CAP 246 may complete its process by electronically
packaging the programs into groupings 280 for the signal
transmission and adding the program control information to the
packaged programs 282 to form a single signal for transmission.
Through manual entries by the packager or by comparing against a
list of programs, the CAP 246 will determine whether the programs
are arriving from external sources 204 or sources internal to the
Operations Center 202.
[0176] Upon completion of the CAP's functions, the Operations
Center 202 or the uplink site compresses 284, multiplexes 286,
amplifies 288 and modulates 290 the signal for satellite
transmission 292. In a basic embodiment, the CAP 246 will also
allow entry of time slots for local avails where no national
programming will occur.
[0177] FIG. 5 is a more detailed flow chart of some of the
functions performed by the CAP 246 after an initial program
schedule has been entered and menu configurations generated. The
flow chart 300 shows six basic functions that are performed by the
CAP 246: (1) editing program schedule for local availability 304
(only for non-standard services, i.e. those services that are not
national cable services); (2) generating program control
information signals 307; (3) processing external programs 310; (4)
processing internal programs 320; (5) processing live feeds 330;
and, (6) packaging of program information 340. In an alternate
embodiment, the CAP 246 is capable of incorporating local programs
and accommodating local availability for local television
stations.
[0178] Following completion of the programming scheduling
(accounting for local availability if necessary) and menu
generation 304, the CAP 246 may perform three tasks simultaneously,
generating program information signals 307, processing external
programs 310 and processing internal programs 320.
[0179] The CAP 246 automatically identifies external programs
needed 312 and identifies which external feed to request the
external program 314. The CAP 246 gathers and receives the external
programming information and converts it to a standard digital
format 316 for use. The CAP 246 also identifies internal programs
322, accesses the internal programs 324, and converts them to a
standard digital format if necessary 326. In addition, the CAP 246
identifies live signal feeds 333 that will be necessary to complete
the packaged programming signal 336. In its final task, the CAP 246
completes the packaging of the programs, combines the packaged
program signal with the program control information signal,
amplifies the signal and sends it out for further processing prior
to uplink.
[0180] In the preferred embodiment, the Operations Center 202 and
uplink or master control site are collocated. However, the
Operations Center 202 and uplink site may be located in different
geographical places. Also, functions and equipment within the
Operations Center 202 may be remotely located. For instance, the
program storage may be at a different site and the programs may be
sent to the CAP 246 via landline.
[0181] In alternate embodiments using multiple Operations Centers,
it is preferred that one Operation Center be designated the Master
Operations Center and all other Operations Centers be Slave
Operations Centers. The Master Operations Center performs the
functions of managing and coordinating the Slave Operations
Centers. Depending on the method in which the Slave Operations
Centers share functions, the Master Operations Center coordination
function may involve synchronization of simultaneous transmissions
from multiple Slave Operations Centers. To perform its functions,
the Master Operations Center may include a system dock for
synchronization.
[0182] An efficient method of dividing tasks among Operations
Centers is to assign specific satellite transponders to each
Operations Center 202 and to assign external program sources 204 to
the nearest Operations Center. Of course this division of resources
may not always be possible. Since programming will be grouped into
priority levels with each priority level likely to be assigned
specific satellite transponders, it is also possible to assign each
Operations Center to a priority level. For example, in a three
priority level system with two Slave Operations Centers and 18
transponders, the Master Operations Center may be assigned priority
level 1 and assigned 9 transponders. Slave Operations Center A may
be assigned priority level 2 and 5 transponders, while Slave
Operations Center B is assigned priority level 3 and 4
transponders. In a multiple Operations Center configuration dynamic
bandwidth allocation and dynamic menu capacity allocation become
more complex and must be coordinated by the Master Operations
Center.
[0183] Similar to multiple Operations Centers, a delivery system
may have multiple satellite uplinks. Preferably each Operations
Center has one or more uplink sites. Each Operations Center
controls the functions of its assigned uplink sites and may assign
one site as a master uplink site.
[0184] The program control information signal generated by the
Operations Center provides data on the scheduling and description
of programs to the network controller 214 or in an alternate
configuration directly to the set top terminal 220 for display to
the subscriber. In the preferred embodiment, the program control
information signal is stored and modified by the network controller
214 and sent to the set top terminal 220 in the form of a set top
terminal control information stream (STTCIS). This configuration is
required to accommodate differences in individual cable systems and
possible differences in set top terminal devices. The set top
terminal 220 integrates either the program control signal or the
set top terminal control information stream together with data
stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220, to generate
on-screen displays for assisting the subscriber in choosing the
programs he wishes to view. (Throughout the description the term
"program control information" is being used to indicate control
information coming from the cable headend 208 to the set top
terminal 220, whether it is sent directly from the Operations
Center, processed by the Network controller 214 and then forwarded
to the set top box (STTCIS), or transmitted over telephone
lines.)
[0185] The types of information that can be sent via the program
control signal include: number of program categories, names of
program categories, what channels are assigned to a specific
category (such as specialty channels), names of channels, names of
programs on each channel, program start times, length of programs,
description of programs, menu assignment for each program, pricing,
whether there is a sample video clip for advertisement for the
program, and any other program, menu or product information.
[0186] The goal of the menu driven program selection system is to
allow the subscriber to choose a program by touring through a
series of menus utilizing a remote control for cursor movement. The
final choice in the series of menus will identify one particular
channel and one time for activation of that channel. Armed with a
channel and activation time the set top terminal 220 can display
the selected program on the television for the viewer. To achieve
this goal a simple embodiment assigns an intelligent alpha-numeric
code to each program. This alpha-numeric code identifies the
category of the program, the menu in which the program should be
displayed, its transmission time(s), and the position on the menu
that the program should be displayed.
[0187] In this simple embodiment, the program; control information,
including these menu codes, is sent continuously from the
Operations Center to the network controller 214, and ultimately to
the set top terminal 220. For example, four hours worth of
programming information can be sent via the program control
information signal continuously in the format shown in FIG. 6.
[0188] FIG. 6 shows the basic information that is needed by the set
top terminal 220. The program descriptions shown are coded
abbreviations. For example, C for comedy, N for news, S for sports,
A for cartoons, and TX for text. If there is a textual description
for a program, such as a movie, the description may be given
following that program's coded description or may be communicated
following the four hours' worth of programming information. As is
shown in the coded listing, program descriptions for programs
greater than a half hour in length need not be repeated (each half
hour). The video description code informs the set top terminal 220
of whether there is still or live video available to advertise the
program.
[0189] For example, a sporting program may be assigned a code of
B35-010194-1600-3.25-Michigan St. vs. USC. The letter B would
assign the program to category B, sports. The second alpha-numeric
character number 3 would assign the program to the third menu of
the sports category. The third character of the code, number 5,
assigns the program to the fifth program slot on the third menu.
The next six characters, Jan. 1, 1994, represent the date. The
following four characters, 1600 represent the start time which is
followed by the length of the program and the program name. This
entry represents a sports show, a college football game, which will
be aired at 4:00 PM on New Years day 1994.
[0190] In the 12:30 Channel 1 entry of FIG. 6, two menu codes are
shown. By allowing two menu codes, programs that may fit under two
different category descriptions may be shown in both menus to the
subscriber. With this minimal amount of information being
communicated to the set top terminal 220 on a regular basis, the
terminal is able to determine the proper menu location for each
program and the proper time and channel to activate for the
subscriber after his menu selection.
[0191] The program control information signal and STTCIS can be
formatted in a variety of ways and the on-screen menus can be
produced in many different ways. For instance, if the program
control information signal carries no menu format information, the
menu format for creating the menus can be fixed in ROM at the
set-top terminal. This method allows the program control signal to
carry less information but has the least flexibility since the menu
formats can not be changed without physically swapping the ROM
holding the menu format information. In the preferred embodiment,
the menu format information is stored at the set top terminal 220
in temporary memory either in a RAM or EPROM. This configuration
provides the desired flexibility in the menu format while still
limiting the amount of information needed to be communicated via
the program control information signal. New menu format information
would be sent via the program control information signal or the
STTCIS to the set top terminals each time there was a change to a
menu.
[0192] In the simplest embodiment, the menus remain fixed and only
the text changes. Thus, the program control information signal can
be limited to primarily text and a text generator can be employed
in the set top terminal 220. This simple embodiment keeps the cost
of the set top terminal 220 low and limits the bandwidth necessary
for the program control information. Another simple embodiment uses
a separate channel full-time (large bandwidth) just for the menu
information.
[0193] As will be described later, live video signals may be used
in windows of certain menus. These video signals can be sent via
the program control information signal, STTCIS, or can be taken off
channels being transmitted simultaneously with the menu display. If
the video signal is taken off a channel, less information needs to
be sent via the program control information signal. However, this
technique requires that separate decompression hardware be used for
the program control information and the channel carrying the video.
Separate decompressors for the video signals and program
information signal allows for the greatest flexibility in the
system and is therefore the preferred embodiment. A separate
decompressor also assists in assuring that the switch from menus to
television programming is smooth and without any significant time
delay.
[0194] Live video for menus, promos or demos may be sent to the set
top terminal 220 in several ways: a) on a dedicated channel, b) on
a regular program channel and scaled to size, c) sent along with
the program control information signal, etc. However, in the
preferred embodiment, a great deal of short promos or demo video
are sent using a split screen technique on a dedicated channel.
[0195] Using a split screen technique, any number of different
video clips may be sent (e.g. 2,4,6,8). To show the video dip on a
menu, the video must either be scaled and redirected to a video
window on a menu screen or a masking methodology can be used.
Masking involves playing the entire channel of video (all 2,4,6, or
8 split screens) in background and masking the unwanted video clip
portions of the split screen by playing the menu in foreground and
overlaying the unwanted background video. Masking is the least
expensive method because it does not require any special hardware
and it increases video throughput to the set top terminal 220.
However, using the masking technique without any video redirecting
causes each video clip to be located in a different position on the
screen. It also requires the masking to be different for each video
clip and makes consistent format difficult. Scaling and redirecting
video is generally difficult, expensive and requires additional
hardware.
[0196] In order to limit the amount of bandwidth needed to transmit
the program control information signal, various compression
techniques employed for non-video may be used such as block coding,
contour coding, blob encoding, and run-length encoding. Further,
the program control information signal may be divided into text and
graphics, or video, text and graphics and then recombined at the
set top terminal 220 using a text generator, graphics
decompression, and video decompression as necessary.
[0197] FIG. 7a shows a basic block diagram of a digital compression
set top terminal 220. In some respects, the set top terminal 220 is
similar to other converter boxes currently available and can
include a variety of error detection, decryption 600 and coding
techniques such as anti-taping encoding. The set-top terminal must
also have a tuner 603, digital demodulator 606, and demultiplexers
609, 616 as well as audio equipment 612, 614. Also shown in FIG. 7a
is a remote control interface 626 for receiving and processing
signals from remote control unit 900. A modem 627 is provided for
allowing communication between a microprocessor 602 and the cable
head end. NTSC encoder 625 provides an NTSC video output to be
output as a standard television signal.
[0198] The microprocessor 602 is capable of executing program
instructions stored in memory. These instructions allow a user to
access various menus by making selections on the remote control
900. The various program instructions for accessing menus and
performing other functions are described below.
[0199] The manner in which the video is decompressed and the menus
are generated from the program control signal or STTCIS varies
depending on the specific embodiment of the invention. However, at
a minimum, one video decompressor capable of decompressing one
video signal must be used. Basic menu format information may be
stored in a graphics memory comprising ROM, non-volatile RAM,
EPROM, and/or EEPROM 620. Video decompressors 618 and 622 may be
used if the video is compressed, and additional equipment to
generate menus may be included. In one embodiment, a separate
decompressor 622 is used to process the program control information
signal and a video combiner 624 incorporates video and menu graphic
information. In the preferred embodiment, the program signal is
sent with three primary parts, compressed video (or video location
information), compressed graphics, and text. After the program
signal is demultiplexed into its component parts, a video
decompressor, a graphic decompressor, a text generator and a
combiner are used to assist in creating the menus.
[0200] FIG. 7b shows a basic block diagram of an alternative
digital compression set top terminal 220. The same components shown
in FIG. 7a are repeated in FIG. 7b, and given the same reference
number (e.g., tuner 603, modem 617, NTSC encoder 625, etc.). FIG.
7b also shows the addition of a smart card interface 617 to allow
additional features to be included on a smart card insertable into
the smart card interface 617. Error correction circuitry 607 is
also shown receiving the demodulated signal, prior to
demultiplexing the signal. Memory associated with the
microprocessor 602, the demultiplexer 609, the decryptor 600, and
the video decompressor 618 is shown in FIG. 7b.
[0201] Box 700 in FIG. 7b shows the elements of an upgrade module
which is described below with respect to FIGS. 9a and 9b. The
remaining circuitry in FIG. 7b shows a basic decompression box 720,
also described below.
[0202] The circuitry in box 700 includes a video, graphics and text
demultiplexer 616, a text and graphics video plane combiner 624, a
graphic decompressor 622 and a graphics memory 620. Graphics in
memory 620 is preferably run-length compressed, however other
methods of compressing graphics may be used as is known by those
skilled in the art.
[0203] The generated menus and video are combined in the combiner
624 and output to an anti-taping encoder 619. Any method of
anti-tapping encoding known by those skilled in the art may be used
with the present invention.
[0204] FIGS. 8a and 8b show front and back views respectively for
the preferred embodiment of the set top terminal 220. The front
panel of the set top terminal 220 as shown in FIG. 8a includes an
infrared sensor 630 and a series of LED displays 640. These LED
displays 640 preferably indicate with an icon or a letter (e.g.
A-K) the major menu currently selected by the set top terminal 220.
This visual display will remain lit while the subscriber is
watching (or listening to) programming within a major menu. The
LEDs 640 of the preferred embodiment also show the channels
selected directly by a user, or menu channel selections which range
from 1 to 50.
[0205] LEDs 640 are preferably provided to indicate a decompression
error, a processing error, or other error. Text messages may
alternatively be provided to more dearly indicate particular errors
to servicemen or subscribers. These error indications aid in
repairing or correcting any such errors in the set top terminal 220
or assist in programming the set top terminal 220. Further displays
may include current channel, time, volume level, sleep time,
parental lock (security), account balance, use of a hardware
upgrade, second channel being recorded by VCR, use of the Level D
music hardware upgrade in a separate room, and any other displays
useful to a subscriber to indicate the current status of the set
top terminal 220.
[0206] The LED's 640 may also provide an indication of the digital
audio channel currently tuned. With this display feature,
subscribers may use the digital audio feature without activating
the television screen. The source of a signal and output selected
(e.g., a subscriber's separate audio system, a VCR, etc.) may be
displayed. Although LED's are preferred, the set top terminal 220
may also use a CRT, LCD's, or other display technology.
[0207] On the right front half of the set top terminal 220 there is
a flapped opening 635 into a cavity that allows the insertion of a
magnetic cartridge (or similar portable storage device, including
optical disk, ROM, EPROM, etc.). This cartridge opening 635 allows
the set top terminal 220 to be upgraded or reprogrammed locally
with the use of a magnetic tape cartridge. Game cartridges may also
be accepted through a similar flapped opening allowing the
subscriber to play video games using the set top terminal 220.
[0208] On the top or cover of the set top terminal 220 are located
pushbutton controls 645. In the preferred embodiment these
pushbutton controls 645 duplicate the two-part alpha-iconic remote
control that will be described later. Any function that can be
performed on the remote may also be performed at the set top
terminal 220 using the duplicative pushbutton controls 645.
[0209] FIG. 8b provides a rear view of one embodiment of the set
top terminal 220 including the input/output equipment of the
terminal. Moving from left to right there are a pair of output
terminals 650, a pair of input terminals 652, a pair of
stereo/audio output terminals 654, a satellite dish input port 656,
a telephone jack 658 and an RS422 port 660. Further to the right
there is an upgrade port 662 and a cover plate 664 held in place by
a series of sheet metal screws.
[0210] The set top terminal 220 has two outputs 650, one for a
television and one for a VCR. Control signals may be transmitted
through the VCR output to allow the VCR to be automatically
controlled by the set top terminal 220. Certain program may be
selected by a subscriber from menus, and the VCR will be
automatically activated to record the selected program.
[0211] The set top terminal 220 is equipped to handle one or two
cable inputs by way of inputs 652 for incoming signals. In
addition, a phone jack 658 and RS242 or 422 port 660 are provided
for maintenance, trouble shooting, reprogramming and additional
customer features. In alternate embodiments, the telephone jack 658
may be used as the primary mode of communication between the cable
headend 208 and the set top terminal 220. This connection is
possible through the local telephone companies, cellular telephone
companies or personal communications networks (PCN).
[0212] In an alternative configuration, in areas without cable
services where subscribers use backyard satellite systems (TV RO)
to receive packaged television services, the set top terminal 220
will include the appropriate hardware to allow connection to the
satellite 206 reception equipment through port 656. In this
configuration, the menu system within the set top terminal 220 will
be programmed directly from the operations center. Additionally, an
upstream communication mechanism must be in place at the
subscriber's home (i.e. modem) to communicate information to the
operations center.
[0213] In order to provide the greatest flexibility possible and
prevent the set top terminal 220 from becoming outdated during the
terminal's useful life, an additional electronic card slot or
expansion slot has been built into the preferred embodiment. This
expansion slot is covered by the metal plate cover 664 shown in
FIG. 8b. It is anticipated that additional memory or capabilities
may be needed for certain customer features and also to update the
system as the cable delivery system's capabilities increase. The
expansion slot provides an easy method to upgrade the terminal
hardware.
[0214] In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal 220
includes a hardware upgrade port 662 as shown in FIG. 8b, in
addition to the expansion slots behind plate 664. The hardware
upgrade port 662 should accommodate at least a four-wire connection
for: (1) error corrected, decrypted data output of the set top
terminal 220, (2) control interface, (3) decompressed video output
of set top terminal 220, and (4) video input port. In the preferred
embodiment multiple wires are used to perform each of the four
functions. The four sets of wires are combined in a single cable
with a single multipin connector. Port 662 may also be used to
attach various hardware upgrades below to a set top terminal
220.
[0215] In the preferred embodiment, multipin connections may be
used for the multiwire cable. The multipin connection 662 may range
from DB9 to DB25. A SCSI, or small computer systems interface, port
may also be provided. Alternatively, four or more ports may be
provided instead of the single port depicted.
[0216] The preferred embodiment has four hardware upgrades
available for a set top terminal 220: a Level B interactive unit, a
Level C interactive unit with compact disc capability, a Level D
digital radio tuner for separate room use, and a Level E
information download unit. Each of these upgrades is connected to
the set top terminal 220 unit via the same upgrade port 662
described earlier. The same four wires in a single cable described
earlier may be used.
[0217] The Level B interactive unit will allow the user access to
online data base services for applications such as home shopping,
airline reservations, news, financial services, classified
advertising, home banking, and interactive teletext services. For
example, with this upgrade, a user will be able to reserve plane
tickets or buy consumer electronics. The primary feature of this
upgrade unit is that it allows actual transactions to occur
requiring two way communications via modem with outside services.
This added two way communications capability may be with the cable
headend 208. Additionally, this two way communications may occur
over cellular or PCN.
[0218] The Level C interactive unit will employ a high volume local
storage capacity, including compact disc or other random access
digital data formats. This unit will allow use of interactive
multi-media applications. For example, computer games, multi-media
educational software, encyclopedias, other reference volumes (e.g.
Shakespeare library), etc. In the preferred embodiment, many of
these applications will interact with live programming providing
additional information and interactivity to the basic program feed.
For example, a viewer watching a show set in a foreign country may
be able to retrieve additional information, maps, economic data,
etc. about that country that are stored on the compact disc. In the
level C applications, the upgrade hardware may closely monitor the
television broadcast via additional data channels (e.g. vertical
blanking interval, or other digital data encoded within live video)
providing context sensitive interactivity.
[0219] The Level D hardware upgrade, digital radio tuner, will
allow the subscriber separate access to the digital radio channels
while other programming (not necessarily radio) is being viewed on
the television. Typically this upgrade would be used for digital
radio usage in a separate room from that of the television. The
upgrade has a separate tuner, decompressor, and visual display. In
the preferred embodiment a second remote control (scaled down
version) is provided to access the audio system.
[0220] The Level E hardware upgrade allows the subscriber to
download large volumes of information from the operations center or
cable headend 208. The Level E hardware upgrade will enable
subscribers to download data such as books to local storage.
Primarily the Level E hardware upgrade is additional local storage
via hard disk, floppy, optical disk, magnetic cartridge etc.
Preferably a small portable reader called "EveryBook.TM." is also
provided with the upgrade to enable downloaded text to be read
without the use of a TV.
[0221] The downloadable information may be text or video supplied
by the operations center or cable headend 208. With this upgrade,
books may be downloaded and read anywhere with the portable reader.
Using this upgrade video may be downloaded and stored in compressed
form for later decompression. The video would be decompressed only
at the time of viewing. Important text that the public desires
immediate access may made available through this system. Text such
as the President's speech, a new law, or a recent abortion decision
rendered by the Supreme Court may be made immediately
available.
[0222] Using a more sophisticated port, especially the SCSI port,
multiple hardware upgrade units may be connected, or
"daisy-chained" together, to operate simultaneously.
[0223] FIG. 9a shows sets of wires in a single cable connecting an
upgrade module 700 and the simple decompression box 720 through a
port similar to the hardware upgrade port 662. The simple
decompression box 720 preferably is an industry standard
decompression box capable of communicating with an upgrade module
to enhance functionality. For example, a microprocessor in the
simple decompression box 720 will be able to communicate with a
microprocessor in an upgrade module 700.
[0224] Thus, as shown in FIG. 9a, if this type of connection is
built into a simple decompression box that does not have the full
functionality of the set top terminal 220, an upgrade module unit
700 may be connected providing the simple decompression box 720
with the full functionality of a set top terminal 220. Subscribers
who have purchased simple decompression boxes 720 may be given all
the functions of a set top terminal 220 inexpensively.
[0225] In the preferred embodiment, multipin connections may be
used for a multiwire cable connecting decompression box 720 with
the upgrade module 700. The multipin connection may range from DB9
to DB25. A SCSI, or small computer systems interface, port may also
be provided. Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided
instead of the single port depicted.
[0226] The digital data set of output wires of the simple
decompression box 720 will preferably output error corrected and
decrypted data to the upgrade set top terminal 700. The second set
of wires, the interface connection, allows the microprocessor in
the upgrade module 700 to communicate to the microprocessor of the
simple decompression box 720. In this manner, the video circuitry
of the upgrade module 700 and the simple decompression box 720 may
be synchronized. The third set of wires, the decompressed video
output, can provide the upgrade module 700 with a decompressed
video signal to manipulate. The fourth set of wires, video input
set, allows the simple decompression box 720 to accept a video
signal that is a combined text, graphics, and video signal.
[0227] Upgrade module 700 preferably includes at least the
following circuitry: a video, graphics and text demultiplexer; a
text and graphics video plane combiner; a run-length graphics
decompressor; and, a run-length compressed graphics memory (non-
volatile RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM). By means of communications
through the multi wire connection between upgrade modules 700 and
simple decompression box 720, compressed video and control signals
may be demultiplexed by the demultiplexer within upgrade module
700. The run-length graphics decompressor, by communicating with
the run-length compressed graphics RAM, permits decompression of
the input compressed video signal. The text and graphics video
plane combiner in upgrade module 700 allows the demultiplexed and
decompressed signal to be output, through simple decompression box
720, to a subscriber's television with both video and overlay menus
with text.
[0228] FIG. 9a shows the CATV input 722, the video input 724, and
the video and audio outputs 726, 728, as part of simple
decompression box 720. This is the preferred embodiment because
this will reduce the component cost of upgrade module 700. Upgrade
module 700 could simply be a cartridge insertable into simple
decompression box 720. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9b, the CATV
input 722, the video input 724 and the video and audio outputs 726,
728 may be included as part of upgrade module 700.
[0229] The electronics of the set top terminal 220 must receive
signals from the Cable headend 208 or Operations Center and
separate the program control information from the packaged
programs. After separation of the program control information, this
signal may be used to generate program menus allowing the user to
select specific television programs from within the packaged
programs. After selection of a particular program, the set top
terminal 220 will demultiplex and extract a single channel signal
then decompress the appropriate channel signal to allow the user to
watch his selected program. Although the set top terminal 220 can
be equipped to decompress all the program signals, this adds
unnecessary cost since the subscriber will view one channel at a
time. Upon the occurrence of an error in this selection and
decompression procedure, the set top terminal 220 LED display will
warn the subscriber of an error.
[0230] During the normal functioning of the set top terminal 220
the LED display can be customized by the user to display the time,
the program channel, VCR activation or other pertinent information.
Although the set top terminals may be operated using the keyboards
located on top of the set top terminal 220 box, it is expected that
most subscribers will use the remote control.
[0231] Although the preferred embodiment decompresses one channel
at a time for the viewer, users who desire to use the
picture-on-picture capability of their televisions can be provided
with an upgrade to the set top terminal 220 allowing two channels
to be tuned and decompressed at any given time. Once two signals
are available to the television the picture-on-picture capability
may be utilized to its fullest potential. With the
picture-on-picture capability available in the set top terminal
220, a special television is not required for picture-on-picture
functionality.
[0232] In the preferred embodiment all of the customer features
available on the set top terminal 220 will be controllable via
on-screen menu displays. In this manner, the subscriber using a
cursor may easily customize the programming of his set top terminal
220. The basic programming of each set top terminal 220 will be
located on ROM within the set top terminal 220. Random access
memory, the magnetic cartridge capability, and the extension card
slot will each allow upgrades and changes to be easily made to the
set top terminal 220.
[0233] In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal 220 will
include features that are now being adopted in the industry such as
parental controls and locks, electronic diagnostics and error
detection, mute, on-screen volume control, sleep timer, recall of
last selection, etc. Each of these features has a corresponding
menu that allows on-screen customizing and activation of the
feature. The set top terminal 220 also includes a sophisticated
favorite channel list and favorite program list.
[0234] In addition to all the features that the set top terminals
supports with its current internal programming, additional features
may be added or existing features upgraded through remote
reprogramming of the set top terminal 220. Utilizing the resident
operating system on the ROM, the cable head end is able to
reprogram the random access memory of the set top terminal 220.
With this capability the cable head end can remotely upgrade
software on the set top terminals.
[0235] In the preferred embodiment, the cable head end will
reprogram the menu format from time to time based upon special
events or programming needs, such as Olympic telecasts,
presidential elections, etc. This reprogramming will occur by using
the program control information channel and sending the appropriate
signals over this channel. In an alternative embodiment, one
channel is dedicated for the special programming needs. When
reprogramming is to occur, the cable head end will send an
interruption sequence on the program control information channel
that informs the set top terminal 220 that reprogramming
information is to follow. Significant reprogramming of the set top
terminals will occur infrequently. However, the changing of color
or formats on menus occur more often. In alternative embodiments,
color changes to menus may be accomplished via the program control
information itself and does not require reprogramming from the
cable head end.
[0236] In the preferred embodiment, the basic building blocks or
templates of the on-screen menu displays will be stored on graphics
memory consisting of no-volatile RAM, ROM, EPROM, or preferably,
EEPROM, as shown as 620 in FIG. 10. With the information from this
graphics memory 620, the microprocessor 602, graphics decompressor
622, text generator 621 (if necessary), and video combiner 624 will
build a menu screen. The memory files of the graphics memory or
EEPROM 620 are preferably categorized into three categories,
background graphics 800, logo graphics 820, and menu and display
graphics 850.
[0237] A background graphics file 800 will store menu backgrounds
such as: universal main menu backgrounds 804, universal submenu
backgrounds 808, promo backgrounds 812 and custom menu formats 816.
A logo graphics file 820 will store any necessary logos such as:
Your Choice TV logos 824, Network logo files 828, cable system logo
files 832, studio logo files 836, and graphic elements file 840. A
menu display and cursor graphics file 850 will store menu display
blocks 854 and cursor highlight overlays 858 as well as any other
miscellaneous files needed to build the menus.
[0238] Using this method of storing menus, the menus can be changed
by reprogramming the graphics memory 620 of the set top terminal
220. To revise the entire design of displayed menus, the network
controller 214 or operations center instructs the EEPROM 620 to be
erased and reprogrammed with new menu templates. To change one menu
format or logo, the network controller 214 or operations center
instructs just the one location in memory to be erased and
rewritten. Obviously, this menu reprogramming can be done locally
(at the set top terminal 220) by a servicemen.
[0239] As shown in FIG. 10a, each memory subfile is further divided
into various memory blocks. For example, the background graphics
file 800 contains the universal main menu backgrounds 804. The
universal main menu backgrounds memory 804 includes memory units
UM1, UM2 and UM3, as shown in FIG. 10a. Similarly, the logo
graphics file 820 and menu display and curser graphics file 850
further contain within those subfile individual memory blocks (for
example, studio logo file 836 has memory block SL1; menu display
blocks 854 has memory menu display block MD1).
[0240] FIG. 10b shows the hierarchical storage of text transmitted
from the cable head end as STTSCIS. Although text may be
continuously transmitted with the video signals to set top
terminals 220, text may also be transmitted intermittently. In such
a case, the text is stored in the set top terminal. Preferably, the
text is transmitted and stored in a compressed format using known
techniques. Additionally, the text is preferably stored in graphic
memory 620 within set top terminal 220.
[0241] Depending upon the use of the text, it will be stored in one
of three portions of memory. Information sent with the text will
either direct the text to a particular portion of memory, or
include information as to the priority of text. The microprocessor
602 may then direct the text to the appropriate memory location for
storage.
[0242] If the text is to be used frequently and over a long period
of time, a long term storage 875 will be used. If the text will be
used for a shorter period of time (for example, a month), the text
will be directed to an intermediate storage area 877. If the text
is to be used almost immediately, or for a short period of time
(for example, within a few days) the text is directed to a short
term storage area 879. Microprocessor 602 locates the appropriate
text required for a particular menu and retrieves it from the
appropriate portion of memory 620. The text is output from the
graphics memory 620 to the text generator 621. Text generated from
the text generator 621 is thereafter directed to text/graphics
combiner 624.
[0243] FIG. 10c shows the steps performed by the microprocessor 602
for creating a menu based upon a series of overlay screens. These
instructions are stored in memory within the set top terminal 220.
Alternatively, these instructions or routines are transmitted from
the operations center 202 to be stored in memory within the
individual set top terminals 220.
[0244] Initially, microprocessor 602 instructs tuner 603 to select
a channel. The channel is decompressed, and error corrected and
decrypted, if necessary. If the video is to be reduced in size, so
as to be placed within a video window 1556, or is a split screen
video window which must be enlarged, the video is scaled to the
appropriate size. Additionally, the video may be required to be
redirected to a portion of the television screen. This is done by
creating a series of offsets for each pixel location of the
video.
[0245] Graphics must also be used to create a menu in most
instances. As is shown in block 882, the microprocessor 602 must
fetch a background file, fetch a logo file and fetch a menu display
and cursor file in most instances. Each of these files must be
decompressed. Following decompression, the file is sent to video
combiner 886.
[0246] Similarly, microprocessor 602 must fetch text, as shown in
block 884. Depending upon the memory location of the text,
microprocessor 602 will fetch the text for long-term,
intermediate-term, or short-term storage, as described above. Based
upon this memory retrieval, the text is generated and sent to video
combiner 886. Video combiner 886 combines the video (if any) with
as many screens of a decompressed graphics as are necessary, and
any text. The image or portions of the image are stored in combiner
886 until all overlays are received by combiner 886. Thereafter,
the entire image is sent, under direction of another routine, to be
displayed on the television screen, as represented by display block
888.
[0247] FIG. 10d is a full chart of programming instructions
performed by microprocessor 602 for sequencing menus. Upon powerup
of the set top terminal 220, start up routine 890 is performed. Any
error checking is thereafter performed (891), and introductory menu
subroutine 892 is performed. This subroutine displays the
introductory menu and the microprocessor thereafter awaits for an
input 893.
[0248] If the subscriber inputs a channel selection 894, video for
the particular channel is decompressed 895. Otherwise, the
microprocessor performs another routine 896 to display the home
menu 897.
[0249] At the home menu portion of the sequence of routines, a
subscriber may select one of the major menus, thus starting the
sequence of displays represented by routine block 898.
Alternatively, a subscriber may go directly to a major menu by
depressing a menu select button on remote 900 and the
microprocessor will execute another the go to submenu subroutine
896.
[0250] Once a subscriber has selected a major menu, the appropriate
subroutines are executed by the microprocessor using a series of
instructions shown in block 898. After each display, microprocessor
602 awaits for a selection by the subscriber, shown as block 899.
These blocks could be also represented as decision blocks.
[0251] After displaying the major menu, and receiving a selection
by the user, a particular submenu for a subcategory is displayed,
if such a menu exists. Again, microprocessor 602 waits for an input
from the subscriber after executing a routine to display a program
listing submenu. Thereafter, after receiving an input,
microprocessor 602 performs the next routine for displaying a
program description submenu. Thereafter, if a particular selection
requires a confirmation menu, that subroutine is executed and the
appropriate menu displayed. Thereafter, the selected video is
decompressed, and displayed on the television screen. If there are
any display overlay menus or hidden menus, the proper subroutine is
executed by microprocessor 602 and these menus are displayed.
[0252] At any time during the selection of menus in major menu
block 898, the subscriber may also depress another major menu
button to move into a second column of process instructions
(represented by major menu 2, major menu 3, etc. columns). Thus, a
subscriber may move from major menu to major menu. Additionally, a
subscriber may depress a home menu button on remote 900 to return
to the home menu at any time.
[0253] The various subroutines executed by microprocessor 602 allow
a subscriber to navigate through the various menus of the present
invention. A subscriber may sequence back through menus or return
to the home menu with a one-touch return of the home menu button on
remote 900. All of these functions help to add to the system's user
friendliness.
[0254] As shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, a two-section remote control
is shown. To reduce costs and make the set top terminal 220 as user
friendly as possible, a standard television remote control 860 is
augmented by adding a new section 862 that provides the additional
digital menu access and ordering functions. FIG. 11a depicts the
addition of menu access and cursor movement control to a Gerald RC
650 Remote Control. The cursor movement and function buttons
required for the set top terminal's operation may be added to any
standard remote control format allowing the user to feel more at
home with the new remote control. FIG. 11b shows the two-section
remote control combined in a single unit 864.
[0255] The remote control 864 has an ordering button 866, four-way
cursor movement, and a "go" button 868, and menu access buttons
870. The remote operates using infrared with the signals being
received by the infrared sensor on the front of the set top
terminal 220.
[0256] In the simplest embodiment the remote may be built with only
cursor movement and a go button. In more sophisticated embodiments
the remote control may be provided with buttons that are
programmable to perform specific functions for a series of entries.
An intelligent or smart remote would increase both the cost and
capability of the set top terminal 220 system. Using this augmented
remote control the subscriber can navigate the program menu system
of the set top terminal 220.
[0257] FIGS. 12a and 12b show an alternative and preferred
embodiment of the remote control for use in the present invention.
The standard television receiver remote control switches or buttons
920 are again separated from the menu accessing ordering function
buttons 950. The standard television receiver remote control
buttons 920 include volume control, channel select, power and
signal source buttons. The menu buttons 950 include cursor movement
and select, menu select, and pay television buttons. However, the
standard buttons 920 are separated from the menu access and
ordering buttons 950 in the longitudinal direction of the remote,
as opposed to the width-wise separation, shown in FIG. 11a.
Additionally, the color of the buttons or the surrounding
background may differ between the standard television remote
control buttons 920 and the menu buttons 950 to visually
differentiate between these two groups of buttons.
[0258] The width and depth of the remote control unit 900 are
considerably less than the length to allow the remote control unit
900 to fit easily within a user's palm. The remote control unit 900
in preferably has the center of mass balanced substantially near
the longitudinal middle. This allows a user's thumb to naturally be
placed in substantially the middle portion of the remote control
unit 900, when it is picked up by a user.
[0259] Since the center of mass of the remote control unit 900 is
placed substantially near the longitudinal middle of the remote
900, thereby having a user's thumb naturally fall in this same
center region, the standard remote 920 and menu access 950 switches
or buttons most frequently accessed and depressed by a user are
placed within easy reach of the user's thumb. Channel and volume
increment and decrement buttons 910 are placed near this center of
mass and longitudinal center line. The channel buttons 910 are
preferably beveled in opposing directions to allow a user to feel
for and press a desired button without looking down at remote 900.
Similarly, the volume buttons 910 are preferably beveled in
opposing directions for the same reason.
[0260] Additionally, the channel buttons 910 could have a surface
texture, different from those of the volume buttons 910 to allow
even easier differentiation between channel and volume buttons 910.
For example, the volume buttons could have a rough surface texture,
while the channel buttons could have a smooth surface texture.
[0261] Also placed in the longitudinal center, within easy reach of
a user's thumb, are cursor movement buttons 970 and "go" button
975. The "go" button 975 selects an option corresponding to the
placement of the cursor. As opposed to buttons, a joystick may be
used with a selection on the stick, or a trackball, depressible for
selecting a desired choice. The cursor buttons 970 are placed
ninety degrees apart, with the "go" button 975 placed within the
center of the cursor movement buttons 970, as shown in FIG. 12b.
The cursor movement buttons 970 are preferably beveled inwardly
toward the "go" button 975. The "go" button 975 is recessed below
the level of the cursor movement buttons 970 so that it is not
accidentally pressed while depressing the cursor movement buttons
970. In addition to the beveling on the cursor movement buttons
970, they may also have a surface texture to allow a user to feel
for and select the appropriate button without looking down at the
remote 900. Directional arrows could be raised or recessed on the
surface of the cursor movement buttons 970 for this purpose.
[0262] Menu select buttons 960 are placed near buttons 970 as shown
in FIG. 12b. Menu select buttons 960 are preferably the largest
buttons on remote 900. Menu select buttons 960 preferably have
icons or other graphics imprinted on their top surface or adjacent
to the corresponding button. For example, a button for the sports
major menu may contain a baseball icon. The icons represent the
programming available on the particular major menu selected by the
menu select buttons 960. The icons may also be raised above the
level of the menu select buttons to provide a textured surface.
This would allow a user to select an appropriate menu button 960 by
feel, without looking at the remote control unit 900. The icons
would require substantial differences in texture, while still
providing a meaningful graphic related to the associated menu.
[0263] As shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b, labels and icons are provided
for the following major menus: movies, sports, children's
programming, documentary/news, entertainment, magazines,
programming guide, HDTV (high definition television), interactive
TV, music, and an additional button for further programming. Menu
select buttons 960 may also be labeled A through J for the above
programs, with the last button for all additional major menus
labeled K-Z.
[0264] The layout of the user select buttons for the remote 900
have been designed to allow a user to select an appropriate button
without viewing the remote by using the layout of buttons shown in
FIGS. 12a and 12b, in conjunction with textured or beveled buttons.
With this "eye-off-of-the-remote" construction, most of the
frequently used buttons may be located by the sense of touch alone.
However, to aid selection of an appropriate button visually,
certain buttons may have different colors. For example, the menu
select buttons 960 may all be of a color different from the rest of
the buttons on the remote 900. Additionally, the colors should be
selected to provide for easy location and identification by a user.
For example, if the icons are printed in black ink, yellow menu
select buttons 960 are preferred, because yellow would provide the
greatest visual contrast with the black ink.
[0265] Although remote 900 is described with a variety of channel
selection buttons, nearly all buttons from a standard remote
control (section 920 buttons) could be eliminated. The present
invention would allow a subscriber to use a remote control
containing only menu select buttons and/or cursor movement and
select buttons.
[0266] The power button 924 and "go" button 975 preferably have a
separate color from the other buttons on the remote 900. The power
button 924 is preferably a separate color because this button is
used infrequently. The power button is placed out of a user's
thumb's reach so it is not accidentally depressed. The power button
924 should be distinguished from the other buttons because a
television viewer must locate this button first before viewing any
programming. Similarly, the "go" button 975 is used often because
it provides the means for a user to select options, and thus should
be easily distinguished from the other buttons.
[0267] Pay television buttons 980 may also be assigned a color
different from the other buttons on the remote 900. By making the
pay television buttons 980 a different color, it would help a user
to avoid selecting an undesired pay television program.
[0268] As used herein, "button" is contemplated to include all
manner of switches or touch sensitive circuitry to activate a
particular function in the remote control unit 900. Additionally,
although the remote control unit 900 communicates with the set-top
box by means of infrared transmission, other forms of communication
are contemplated, including ultrasound, radio frequency and other
electromagnetic frequency communication.
[0269] FIG. 13 shows the basic structure of the program menu
system. Although the term "menus" has been used above, the menus
could also be seen as defining zones or categories of programming.
The first series of menus, Introductory menu 1000, Home menu 1010,
Major Menus 1020, and Submenus 1050 execute subscriber program
selection inputs. The During program menus 1200 provide a
subscriber with additional features or options after a program has
been selected and shown. There are two primary types of During
program menus 1200, Hidden Menus 1380 and Program-Overlay Menus.
Both are described in the following text and figures. The menu
sequence and each menu structure has been particularly program
designed using the "eye-off-the-remote" design concept. A
subscriber can easily navigate through the menu system with the
cursor movement and "go" buttons 970, 975. Since the subscriber
never needs to take his eye off the television screen, the cable
operator is likely to have the subscriber's complete attention.
[0270] The introductory menu screen 100P automatically appears upon
power-up and initialization of the set top terminal 220. The
introductory menu screen 1000 welcomes the user to the cable system
and provides important announcements or messages. In addition, the
introductory menu 1000 can be used to inform the subscriber if he
has a personal or group message that has been sent to his set top
terminal 220 by the cable headend. The subscriber may then access
the personal or group message with an appropriate key entry while
viewing the introductory menu 1000. Since the introductory menu
1000 must be viewed by each subscriber, it also provides an
opportunity for the cable provider to run advertisements.
[0271] Following the introductory menu screen 1000 the subscriber
will normally be advanced to the home menu screen 1010. The home
menu 1010 is the basic menu that the subscriber will return to make
his first level of viewing decisions. From the home menu 1010, the
subscriber is able to access all television programming options.
Some programming options may be accessed through cursor movement on
the screen, others directly by a button selection on the remote
control 900, or both, on-screen selection and remote control 900
direct access.
[0272] In the normal progression through the menu screens, the
subscriber will be forwarded to a major menu screen 1020 that
correlates to his direct remote control 900 selection or selection
from the home menu screen 1010. The selections on the home menu
1010 are for large categories of programming options and therefore
the major menu 1020 allows the subscriber to further refine his
search for the television program of his choice.
[0273] Following the major menu 1020 the subscriber will navigate
through one or more submenu screens 1050 from which he will choose
one particular program for viewing. For most programming selections
the user will proceed from the home menu 1010 to a major menu 1020
and then to one or more submenus 1050. However, for certain
programming options or functions of the set top terminal 220 the
user may skip one or more menus in the sequence. For example, in
the preferred embodiment the subscriber may directly access a major
menu 1020 by pressing a single icon button. In an alternative
embodiment, the introductory menu 1000 will provide the user with
the capability of directly accessing information on his cable
television account without proceeding through a series of
menus.
[0274] The series of menus shown in FIG. 13 is the normal or
standard format for a variety of alternative embodiments to the
present invention. An introductory screen upon power up that
contains important messages, followed by a home menu 1010 with
major programming categories is the basis upon which many
alternative embodiments of the menu driven selection process can be
built.
[0275] Skipping a sequence or level of the menu structure is
possible and perhaps desired in certain instances. In simple
alternate embodiments it is possible to combine the home menu 1010
and introductory menu 1000 into one menu that performs both
functions. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the
specific functions of the Home menu 1010 and Introductory menu 1000
may be exchanged or shared in a number of ways. It is also possible
to allow a user to skip directly from the introductory menu 1000 to
a submenu 1050. This can be accomplished most easily with a
separate direct access remote control 900 button. Generally, a
subscriber will access a television program through execution of a
submenu 1050.
[0276] The During program menus 1200 are enacted by the set top
terminal 220 only after the subscriber has selected a television
program. These menus provide the subscriber with additional
functionality and/or additional information while he is viewing a
selected program. The During program menus 1200 sequence can be
further subdivided into at least two types of menus, Hidden Menus
1380 and Program Overlay Menus 1390.
[0277] To avoid disturbing a subscriber during viewing of a
program, the Hidden Menus 1380 are not shown to the subscriber but
instead "reside" at the set top terminal 220 microprocessor. The
Hidden Menus 1380 do not effect the selected program audio. The
microprocessor awaits a button entry either from the remote 900 or
set top terminal 220 buttons before executing or displaying any
Hidden Menu options. The Hidden Menus 1380 provide the subscriber
with additional functions such as entering an interactive mode or
escaping from a selected program.
[0278] Program Overlay Menus 1390 are similar to Hidden Menus 1380
in that they occur during a program. However, the Program Overlay
Menus 1390 are overlayed onto portions of the television screen and
not hidden. The Program Overlay Menus 1390 allow the subscriber to
continue to watch the selected television program with audio but
place additional information on portions of the television screen.
Most overlays cover small portions of the screen allowing the
subscriber to continue to comfortably view his program selection.
Other Overlays which are by their nature more important than the
program being viewed will overlay onto greater portions of the
screen. In the preferred embodiment, some Program Overlay Menus
1390 reduce or scale down the entire programs video screen and
redirect the video to a portion of the screen.
[0279] All menu entries may be made either from buttons available
on the top cover of the set top terminal 220 or from the remote
900.
[0280] FIG. 14a shows the preferred embodiment for subscriber
selection of television programming. FIG. 14b shows additional
major menu 1020 categories, 1042, 1044, 1046, 1048, which may used
with the invention. Again, the introductory menu 1000 followed by
the home menu 1010 is the preferred sequence of on-screen displays.
In the preferred embodiment shown in 14a, the home menu 1010
provides a choice of ten major menus 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030,
1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040. Upon selection of a major menu 1020
category from the home menu 1010, the program proceeds to a major
menu 1020 offering further viewer selections. Each major menu 1020
is customized to target the expected viewership. Depending on the
number of available program choices the major menus 1020 either
breakdown the major category into sub-categories or provide the
subscriber with access to further information on a particular
program.
[0281] For example, the major menu 1020 for children's programming
provides a list of subcategories 1052 from which the subscriber
selects. Upon selection of a subcategory a submenu 1054, 1056
listing program choices within that sub-category is shown to the
subscriber. Upon selection of a particular programming choice
within the first submenu 1050, the subscriber is then provided with
a second submenu 1058 describing the program that the subscriber
has selected. From this menu, the subscriber may now confirm his
program choice and receive a confirmation submenu 1060 from the set
top terminal 220 software.
[0282] Since the system utilizes digital signals in compressed
format, High Definition Television programming can also be
accommodated through the menu system. In addition, since the set
top terminal 220 has two way communication with the cable headend,
interactive television programming is possible, with return signals
generated by the set top terminal 220. Similarly, the system can
support "movies on demand" where a subscriber communicates through
the set top terminal 220 with an automated facility to order movies
stored at the facility.
[0283] Using this on-screen menu approach to program selection,
there is nearly an unlimited number of menus that can be shown to
the subscriber. The memory capability of the set top terminal 220
and the quantity of information that is sent via the program
control information signal are the only limits on the number of
menus and amount of information that can be displayed to the
subscriber. The approach of using a series of menus in a simple
tree sequence is both easy for the subscriber to use and simply
implemented by the set top terminal 220 and remote control device
900 with cursor movement. A user interface software programmer will
find many obvious variations from the preferred embodiment
shown.
[0284] FIGS. 15a and 15b show examples of introductory menu screens
that are displayed on the subscriber's television. FIG. 15a, the
preferred embodiment, welcomes the subscriber to the cable system
and offers the subscriber three options. The subscriber may choose
regular cable television (channels 2 through 39), programs on
demand (e.g., movies), or instructions on the use of the remote
control 900. Other basic program options are possible on the
introductory menu screen 1000. For example, instead of, or in
addition to, the remote control 900 instructions, a system "help"
feature can be offered on the introductory menu 1000.
[0285] FIG. 15b shows an alternate embodiment for the introductory
menu screen 1000. In the upper left-hand corner of the menu, there
is a small window 1002 that may be customized to the subscriber. A
subscriber will be given the option of showing the current time in
this window. In the upper right-hand corner a second customized
window 1004 is available in which a subscriber may show the day and
date. These windows may be easily customized for subscribers to
show military time, European date, phase of the moon, quote of the
day, or other informational messages. These windows may be
customized by subscribers using on-screen menu displays following
the introductory menu 1000.
[0286] In the preferred embodiment, the subscriber is given the
capability of accessing base channels such as regular broadcast TV
and standard cable channels directly from the introductory menu
1000 by entering the channel number. The subscriber is also given
the capability of directly accessing his account with the cable
company. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the subscriber may
directly access a major menu 1020 and bypass the home menu screen
1010. If the subscriber is familiar with the programming choices
available on the major menus 1020, he may select an icon button
960, or a lettered key (alpha key) from his remote control 900 and
directly access the desired major menu 1020. If any key entry other
than those expected by the set top terminal 220 software program is
made, the home menu 1010 is placed on the television screen. In
addition, after a period of time if no selections are made from the
introductory menu 1000, the program may default to the home menu
screen 1010.
[0287] FIGS. 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are examples of home menus 1010
that may be used in the set top terminal 220 software. FIGS.
16a-16d all employ multiple window techniques to make the menu user
friendly and offer a significant number of choices. It is preferred
that a channel line up and the major menu 1020 categories both
appear on the home menu 1010.
[0288] FIG. 16a, the preferred home menu 1010 embodiment, displays
both the standard channel line up and the programming on demand
icons for selection by the subscriber. FIG. 16a also shows various
levels of subscription programming, including a "Basic"cable
package and a "Basic Plus" package. Each of the choices of
subscription programming preferably is assigned a different color.
This increases the user friendliness of the present invention.
[0289] In FIGS. 16b-16d, the left half of the screen is used to
list the channel number and network abbreviation of the most
popularly watched networks. The right half of the screen offers
access to a variety of major menus 1020 listed by category
names.
[0290] FIG. 16b shows an embodiment in which only eight major menus
1020 are utilized. By pressing the alpha-numeric or icon key 960
corresponding to the category of programs the subscriber desires,
the appropriate major menu 1020 is accessed. In addition, the
subscriber may employ an on-screen cursor to select any option
shown in the menu. To move the cursor, the subscriber may use
either the cursor movement keys on the remote control 900 or
similar keys located at the top of the set top terminal 220.
[0291] FIG. 16c shows how additional major menus 1020 can be
displayed on the home menu screen 1010. When there is no longer
room available for additional major menu 1020 choices on the home
screen, the subscriber may access a second screen of the home menu
1010. For example, in FIG. 16c, if additional major menus 1020 "T"
through "Z" existed, the subscriber would access those menus by
highlighting and selecting the J through Z menu option(or press the
J-Z on his remote 900). After selecting J through Z, the second or
extended home menu screen 1010 would appear on a subscriber's
television set. This menu would then list options J through Z
separately by name. Theoretically, the home menu 1010 may have many
extended home menu screens. However, any more than a few extended
home menu screens would confuse the average subscriber.
[0292] The home menu 1010 of FIG. 16d adds an additional feature at
the bottom of the television screen 1011. This option allows a
subscriber to see only those program selections that are available
on broadcast television. FIGS. 16a-d are but a few of the numerous
variations available for the home menu 1010.
[0293] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 17, in an alternate
embodiment, the home menu 1010 (or menu which would normally follow
the introductory menu 1000) can be simply the standard cable
channel line-up. Offering the standard cable line-up on a separate
menu may make selection easier for viewers with small television
screens.
[0294] FIGS. 18a and 18b are examples of major menus 1020. In
particular, FIGS. 18a and 18b show a major menu 1040 whose category
is hit movies. The hit movie category is a list of recently
released movies which have been found to be popular among movie
goers. This movie list is changed once or twice a week to keep in
line with new movie releases. Again, multi-window and customized
window techniques are utilized to make the menu as user friendly as
possible.
[0295] FIG. 18a shows the preferred embodiment of the hit movies
menu 1040. The hit movies menu icon along with the hit movies
category letter A are displayed. The current date and time are
displayed at the top of the screen over a menu background. Ten
movie selections are displayed in the center of the screen 1009,
each in a box which may be highlighted when selected. In the lower
left part of the screen, a logo window 1512 is available as well as
two other option choices 1011, Movie Library and Return to Cable
TV. In an alternate embodiment, the return to Cable TV option is
changed to return to the Home menu 1010 (or return to other viewing
choices).
[0296] In FIG. 18b, the left upper window 1002 displays current
time and the right upper window 1004 displays a message. This menu
provides a list of eight movie titles and their rating 1009. If the
subscriber desires further information on any particular movie he
may select a movie using the cursor movement buttons and press the
"go" button on the remote control 900 or set top terminal 220
box.
[0297] It is important in creating user friendly-interfaces that
the menus are consistent and follow a pattern. A manner of making
the menus is discussed below with respect to FIGS. 55 and 56. This
consistency or pattern between the different menus provides a level
of comfort to the subscriber when encountering new menus. In the
major menu 1020 example of FIG. 18a, the upper sash 1502 and lower
sash 1504 remain consistent throughout menus in the preferred
embodiment. The logos 1508, icons 1510 and titles also remain
consistent in the same locations.
[0298] In the major menu 1020 example of FIG. 18b, the customized
windows 1002, 1004 in the upper corners remain constant from menu
to menu. Also, the name of the menu and category are at the top and
center of the menu screen 1039. To make the menu aesthetically
pleasing, the instructions are given across the center of the
screen and choices in large legible type are provided.
Additionally, at the bottom of most menu screens 1011, the
subscriber is given the option of returning to regular TV or
returning to the home menu 1010.
[0299] FIGS. 18c-18g show alternative embodiments of major menus
1020 for the home menu shown in FIG. 16a. FIGS. 18c-18g show
various major menus directed to the type of subscription services
available (basic service 1420, basic plus 1422, economy package
1424, ala carte and premium channels 1426). These menus also
provide promotional or advertising information, for example, the
cost for the particular subscription service. FIG. 18g shows a
major menu for the Learning Channel 1428, one of the individual
channels shown in the home menu of FIG. 16a.
[0300] These menus may be grouped in similar colors or shades of
colors. For example, the basic subscription service could have a
light pink color. As the subscription services increase in terms of
the number of channels available, the color shading may increase
correspondingly. Therefore, the premium subscription service (ala
carte service) would have a dark red color, contrasting with the
light pink color of the basic subscription service.
[0301] In FIG. 18b, the movie titled Terminator Four is
highlighted, signifying that the subscriber has chosen this program
option from the hit movie major menu. FIGS. 19a and 19b show
submenus 1050 which would follow the selection of Terminator Four
on the hit movie major menu. In FIG. 19a, the sash across the top
of the screen 1502 remains constant from major menu 1020 to program
description submenu 1050. Again in FIG. 19b, for the comfort of the
subscriber, the left upper window 1002 remains the same and shows
the current time. The upper right-hand corner 1004 carries a
message stating the next start time for the movie selected.
[0302] In order to allow subscribers to view hit movies at their
convenience, multiple start times for the same movie are provided.
In order to provide the multiple start time service, the same movie
must be shown on multiple channels at staggered start times. For
example, if Terminator Four is a two-hour length movie it can be
shown continuously on eight different channels, with each showing
delayed fifteen minutes after the previous showing. This allows the
subscriber to begin viewing the movie within a fifteen minute time
interval. Since the subscriber is not required to find the channel
which has the correct start time, the subscriber is unaware that
the movie is being shown on eight different channels. In fact, with
the use of the submenus 1050, a subscriber is able to nearly
effortlessly choose the correct channel and correct activation time
for viewing the desired movie. The channel selection is invisible
to the subscriber.
[0303] The set top terminal 220 is able to automatically determine
which channel will next begin to show the selected movie using any
number of techniques. For example, the set top terminal 220 will
have an internal clock representing the current time. The set top
terminal 220 could compare the current time with the start times
for the movie on the various channels. Alternatively, a signal
could be sent with the movie on all channels. This signal will set,
or reset, a counter to indicate that a particular channel will next
begin the movie. Those skilled in the art may recognize that other
methods to determine the next available start time and channel for
the selected movie are available.
[0304] The FIGS. 19a and 19b movie description submenus 1120 retain
the title in a window at the top center of the screen. A multiple
window technique is used in the middle of this menu to display a
description of the movie and one or more video frames that assist
the subscriber in selecting the movie. This window of video 1556
that is provided by the menu may be a still picture, a short but
repetitive video cut, or a portion of the movie that is currently
showing on any one of the channels carrying the movie at the time
of the submenu's 1050 display.
[0305] Just below the video window, the submenu provides the cost
of viewing the movie and the movie length in hours and minutes. An
additional strip window 1558 is provided, below the video and
description windows, informing the subscriber of the movie's
release date.
[0306] Moving towards the bottom of the menu, the subscriber is
given at least three options. One, the ability to order the movie
1009, two, to return to the hit movie menu 1011, and three, to
press "go" and return to regular TV 1011. In the preferred
embodiment, the subscriber is also given the option of previewing
the movie. FIGS. 19a and 19b show that the Order option has been
selected by the subscriber 1009.
[0307] FIGS. 20a and 20b show the next submenu 1125 in the hit
movie menu sequence from the selection of Terminator Four. This
particular submenu 1125 shows confirmation of the subscriber's hit
movie order of Terminator Four. FIG. 20a retains the sash across
both the top 1502 and bottom 1504 of the screen. The format of the
FIG. 20b menu 1125 maintains the current time in the left upper
window 1002, the title in the top center window, and the next start
time in the upper right-hand window 1004.
[0308] The center of the submenu screens 1125 is a video window
1556 which may be used for still or moving video. The submenu
provides the subscriber with two on-screen options. The subscriber
may return to regular TV 1009 or may join the movie Terminator Four
already in progress 1011. In an alternative embodiment of this
submenu 1125, the user is given the ability to return directly to
the home menu screen 1010.
[0309] When the movie's start time is approaching, the set top
terminal 220 will automatically bring the viewer to the correct
channel carrying the movie Terminator Four.
[0310] FIGS. 21a and 21b are notification submenus informing the
user that his program selection is about to begin (e.g., counting
down until start time). Using this submenu, the set top terminal
220 warns the user prior to switching him away from the channel he
is viewing to a prior selected program channel. This notification
submenu is provided to the subscriber approximately one or more
minutes before the set top terminal 220 changes the viewing
channel.
[0311] Both notification submenu examples allow the subscriber to
cancel his movie order. In FIG. 21a, the subscriber is notified in
the center of the screen that he may cancel within the first five
minutes. In FIG. 21b the subscriber may press escape to cancel his
order without charge. The notification submenu of FIG. 21b informs
the user of the start time at the upper right portion of the
screen.
[0312] The notification submenu of FIG. 21b is a simple
three-window menu. A strip window at the top of the screen 1103
notifies the subscriber of the movie selected and the amount of
time before the movie will begin. The center window is a large
video window 1556 for displaying a scene from the movie. At the
bottom of the screen the submenu carries another strip menu 1105
which informs the user that he may escape from his program
selection without charge.
[0313] Using a notification submenu 1127, the set top terminal 220
may allow a subscriber to view other programs prior to his movie
start time. The subscriber is amply notified of the start time of
his program and effortlessly moved to the correct channel to view
his selected program. This notification-type submenu may be used to
move a subscriber from his current channel to any preselected
channel for viewing a program which has been ordered at an earlier
time. In the preferred embodiment, the amount of time provided by
the notification submenu may be customized by the subscriber to a
length of his preference. The notification submenu also allows a
subscriber to cancel or escape from his previously selected program
choice and avoid any charges. If a subscriber cancels or escapes he
is returned to the channel that he is currently watching.
[0314] As shown in FIG. 22a, in the preferred embodiment, the
subscriber is given a During Program Menu, specifically an Overlay
menu 1130 to inform him when his five minutes of movie escape time
have expired. Once the time has expired the subscriber will be
billed for the movie selection.
[0315] FIG. 22b is an overlay menu 1133 warning the user that he is
escaping a program after being charged for the order of that
program. The warning overlay menu 1133 of FIG. 22b follows in
sequence and is prompted by a hidden menu which constantly monitors
for subscriber input during viewing of the program. The hit movie
hidden menu (not shown) specifically waits for certain key entries
by the subscriber. In particular, the hit movie hidden menu awaits
for a key stroke such as escape, cancel or an icon selection. If
the escape button is depressed during the viewing of a hit movie
the overlay menu of FIG. 22a or FIG. 22b will be shown. A strip
menu in the lower sash of FIG. 22b allows the subscriber to resume
full screen viewing of the hit movie.
[0316] FIG. 22b is a representative example of an overlay menu
1133. It has a dark lower background sash and a light colored
informational sash. The upper portion of the screen continues to
display the video of the program selected. FIG. 22c is a reentry to
ordered selection submenu 1135 for the hit movie category. The
reentry to ordered selection submenus appear whenever a subscriber
selects a programming option (program, event, or subscription
channel), that the subscriber has already ordered. This menu has a
program title window with a text title entry, and a description of
the order that has already been placed for the program (or
channel). In the preferred embodiment, the submenus which allow
reentry to ordered selection provide the subscriber with the added
option of joining the program within any fifteen minute interval.
This special feature of the preferred embodiment allows a
subscriber who has viewed one-half of a particular program to
rejoin the program at the half-way point. In this manner, the
program delivery system mimics a VCR tape recording of the program.
For example, if a subscriber had rented a videotape of the movie
Terminator 4 and had watched thirty minutes of the movie, he would
have left his videotape in the thirty minute position. With the
menu of FIG. 22c a subscriber to the system who has watched thirty
minutes of Terminator 4 may reenter the Terminator movie at the
thirty-one to forty-five minute interval as shown in FIG. 22c. The
nine-fifteen minute blocks of the menu display blocks are
representative of the choices available for a two-hour hit movie.
Other variations are possible depending on the length of the movie
and the timing intervals desired.
[0317] FIG. 23 shows the major menu for the movie library category
1048. The movie library category provides subscriber access to a
large number of movies. Using several transmission channels, each
movie in the library is shown at least once during a one-month
period. Using the movie library, a subscriber may access
information on a particular movie and ascertain the various start
times for that movie. In the preferred embodiment, the subscriber
will use the movie library in conjunction with his VCR or other
video taping machinery. In that way, a subscriber may tape movies
which are shown at inconvenient start times for later viewing. By
activating the proper features of the set top terminal 220, a
subscriber may have the terminal activate the television and the
VCR and perform all the functions necessary to tape a movie.
[0318] The movie library major menu shown is an extended menu
having many follow-on extensions to the major menu shown. The
extended menus continue to show lists of movies in alphabetical
order. In an alternative embodiment, the movie library is broken
down into subcategories of various types of movies. For instance,
movie categories such as murder-mystery, documentaries, westerns,
and science fiction would appear on the movie library major menu.
By selecting one of these movie library subcategories the
subscriber would be moved onto a particular submenu for that movie
library subcategory. Each submenu would list movie titles whose
contents fall within the particular subcategory.
[0319] Following a selection of a movie title, the subscriber is
displayed a movie description submenu. FIG. 24 shows a typical
movie description submenu 1140. In order to maintain a similar
pattern throughout the menus, FIG. 24, movie description submenu
1140 for the movie library, is designed similarly to FIG. 19b which
is a movie description submenu for the hit movies category. The
primary difference between FIGS. 24 and 19b is the display of the
movie library title number in the upper right-hand corner of FIG.
24. FIG. 24 provides three options for the subscriber. The
subscriber may order the movie described, return to the movie
library major menu, or return to regular TV.
[0320] FIG. 25 shows a confirmation submenu 1142 for the movie
library. This menu screen confirms the movie selection, start date,
start time and informs the subscriber that his VCR will be
automatically turned on. During this submenu, the user may return
to the movie library major menu, return to regular TV or cancel his
movie library order by pressing the escape button. FIG. 25 shows
that the subscriber has selected to return to regular TV. The
subscriber's VCR or other video taping equipment must be connected
to the set top terminal 220 for the automatic taping feature to
operate.
[0321] The series of FIGS. 26a, 27a, 28a and 29a, and the series of
FIGS. 26b, 27b, 28b, and 29b depict a typical menu sequence
including a major menu 1028, 1042 (FIGS. 26a and 26b), a
subcategory submenu 1148 (FIGS. 27a and 27b), a program description
submenu 1152 (FIGS. 28a and 28b), and a confirmation submenu 1154
(FIGS. 29a and 29b). This simple progression of menus repeats
itself through the menu tree of FIGS. 14a and 4b.
[0322] In the preferred embodiment, FIGS. 26a, 27a, 28a, and 29a
are a series of menus which are categorized in the Documentary and
News Major category. Whereas in the alternate embodiment, FIGS.
26b, 27b, 28b, and 29b are a series of menus that relate to the
Discovery.RTM. video selection services category. FIG. 26b is the
Discovery video selection service major menu 1042. This major menu
shows twelve different categories of services available to the
subscriber. The upper right-hand corner window of this major menu
briefly describes the types of services which are available on this
menu. After selecting a subcategory from this major menu the set
top terminal 220 moves the subscriber to a submenu describing
programs that are available in the subcategory. FIGS. 26a and 26b
show that the subcategory Discovery channel choice has been
selected by the subscriber from a major menu.
[0323] FIG. 27a is a submenu for subcategory Discovery channel
choice 1148, and shows six programming choices available for this
subcategory. In an alternate embodiment, FIG. 27b displays only
four program choices. By choosing one of the programming choices on
this Discovery channel choice submenu, the subscriber may obtain
more information about the particular program. Again, the
subscriber is able to return to the major menu or return to regular
TV by selecting options in the lower part of his screen. In FIGS.
27a and 27b, the subscriber has highlighted and selected the
program War Birds for further description.
[0324] FIGS. 28a and 28b are description submenus 1152 which
describe an available program, War Birds. Since the preferred
embodiments follow a pattern throughout the menus, FIGS. 28a and
28b are similar to FIGS. 24, 19a and 19b which describe other
programming selections available on the system. FIGS. 28a and 28b
use the upper right-hand corner window 1004 to inform the
subscriber of the next start time available for the particular
program War Birds. In packaging the special selection of programs,
the programmer at his option may show an identical program on
several channels in order to permit the subscriber greater
flexibility in start times. FIGS. 28a and 28b show the use of a
strip menu across the lower half of the screen displaying a message
and the price of the program. Similar to other submenus, the
subscriber may order the program, return to the major menu, or
return to regular TV simply by selecting the choices on the lower
part of his screen. FIGS. 28a and 28b depict the subscriber
ordering the program War Birds.
[0325] FIGS. 29a and 29b are confirmation submenus 1154 similar to
confirmation submenus in other major menu categories. It confirms
the subscriber's order of the program War Birds. The FIG. 29a
confirmation submenu retains the video window from the prior
submenus and also displays the program running time. The submenu of
FIG. 29b shows a strip window 1105 on the lower part of the screen
displaying an "800" number and advertising the Discovery catalog.
Similar windows may be used throughout submenus to assist in
advertising for particular programs, channels, or groups of
programs. Many variations of the confirmation submenu are
possible.
[0326] This confirmation submenu allows the user to join the
selected program already in progress or return to regular TV. In
addition, by depressing the escape button, the subscriber may
cancel his order of War Birds from this screen.
[0327] FIG. 29c is an example of an overlay menu 1156 presented
when a subscriber is exiting from a program selection in which he
may rejoin at a later time. This exiting ordered program overlay
menu 1156 is appropriate whenever a subscriber may return to a
program or channel without additional charges. Since many of the
programs selections are authorized for viewing on a two-day,
weekly, or monthly basis, the exiting ordered program overlay is
useful in a number of situations.
[0328] This overlay menu follows a similar format as other overlay
menus having a darker colored lower sash and lighter colored second
sash with text information. The sashes are overlayed on the program
video currently being watched by the subscriber.
[0329] Additionally, an exiting ordered program overlay menu 1156
may be provided for one-time viewing program selections which a
view cannot return. These exiting ordered program overlay menus
would thank the viewer for ordering the particular program or
channel and entice the viewer to order a similar program from the
same network. For example, an exiting program overlay menu for a
live sports event such as boxing, would thank the viewer and remind
him that the network carries regularly scheduled boxing events on a
weekly basis.
[0330] FIGS. 30 through 34 relate to the ordering of specialty
channels through the menu driven system. FIG. 30 is a major menu
1044 that lists fifteen specialty channels that are available for
subscription and viewing. In this particular major menu 1044, the
lower half of the screen 1009, which is utilized to provide the
various programming choices, is divided into three vertical
sections allowing room for fifteen choices. This major menu
category is different from the others in that individual programs
are not ordered but instead channels are subscribed to on a monthly
or yearly basis. To use this submenu, a subscriber need only select
and press "go" on the channel of his choice.
[0331] After the subscriber selects a channel, the channel
description submenu 1160 of FIG. 31 replaces the major menu on the
subscriber's television screen. This description submenu 1160 has
windows that are similar to other description submenus used
throughout the menu driven system. In this description submenu
1160, the upper right-hand corner 1004 is used to display the
subscription cost for the channel. The upper left-hand corner 1002
of this submenu is used to display the method in which the
subscription price will be billed to the subscriber. In this
specific scenario, the current time has little bearing on the
subscriber's decision to order the displayed channel and therefore
is not shown on the television screen. FIG. 31 shows that the
subscriber has ordered the Science Fiction channel.
[0332] FIG. 32 shows a submenu 1164 which confirms the subscriber's
order and thanks him for subscribing. If the subscriber is already
paying for the selected channel, instead of FIG. 32 confirming his
order, he is provided with the divided menu 1156 of FIG. 33
informing him that he is a current subscriber of the Science
Fiction channel. In both the screen of FIG. 32 and the screen of
FIG. 33, the subscriber is allowed to join the channel in progress.
After an ample period of time for the subscriber to read the screen
menu, the menu is removed from the television screen and the
subscriber has a complete view of the programming in progress. This
is shown in FIG. 34 for the Science Fiction channel.
[0333] FIGS. 35-38 refer to the selection of a magazine channel. In
particular, FIGS. 35-37 show a series of menus for selecting and
ordering one specific magazine channel, the sci-fiction
channel.
[0334] FIG. 35 shows a major menu for magazine channels 1030. This
major menu falls under the letter F, Major Menu, and has an icon
showing three magazines. The magazine channel major menu has a menu
display block with 15 options, three columns, each with five
selection options. Magazine channels are specialty channels
targeted to a particular audience. In the preferred embodiment,
each of the magazine channels has a monthly subscription. FIG. 35
shows the sci-fiction magazine highlighted.
[0335] FIG. 36 is a channel description submenu 1170 for the
science-fiction channel. This menu has a network logo in the upper
left hand part of the screen generated from the logo graphics file
820. The name of the channel is prominently displayed across the
top. In the preferred embodiment, the text for a channel or network
name is stored in long-term text storage. The text description of
the channel on the right part of the screen may also be stored in
long-term text storage. A video window 1556 and a video description
window are also shown. This channel description submenu is similar
to other program description menus and exemplary of the channel
description submenus for any magazine channel.
[0336] If the subscriber orders a science-fiction channel, he will
receive the confirmation menu 1172 shown in FIG. 37. This is a
representative confirmation menu for subscribing to any network
channel. A second sash of approximately equal width to the upper
sash of the background menu is displayed in a color preferably
different than that of the upper sash. Within the confirmation
sash, a network logo and a standard text description thanking the
subscriber are placed on the screen. At any time during this menu
screen, the subscriber may cancel his subscription to the channel
by pressing cancel on his remote 900 or set top termination button
645.
[0337] In the preferred embodiment shown, the area of the screen
below the two sashes is filled with video from the channel being
subscribed. In an alternative embodiment, further text information
is provided instead of a video display.
[0338] FIG. 38 shows a reentry to ordered subscription submenu,
similar to submenu 1156 in FIG. 33. This particular reentry submenu
(magazine channel reentry submenu 1173) is for the magazine channel
Gourmet. A light colored second sash is provided at the top of the
screen with the network logo and text informing the subscriber that
he has already ordered this particular channel. The reentry
submenus 1156 generally allow a subscriber to immediately join
programming in process. The current program on the Gourmet channel
is shown in most of the remaining portion of the screen.
[0339] In this particular preferred embodiment shown, a special
title sash is included as an overlay in the lower portion of the
screen. This sash identifies the current program being shown on the
channel with a text description. The set top terminal may derive
this text description from either the STTCIS, the VBI, or other
digital signals.
[0340] FIGS. 39-42 show a series of menus for selecting the
documentary news program from the CBS library, called 60 Minutes.
Although this is a regularly scheduled weekly program, it may be
viewed by subscribers to the present invention at nonscheduled
times. FIG. 39 shows a major menu 1028 for documentary and news
programs. This major menu has a specific icon and letter
designation which are shown in the upper left hand corner. This
major menu has 12 selection options 1009 in the menu display
blocks. They comprise two rows, each with six options. In this
particular menu, the upper left hand corner option is highlighted.
In general, the upper left hand corner option is the default for
the cursor highlight overlay 1526.
[0341] FIG. 40 shows a subcategory submenu 1174 displaying five
options. This subcategory menu shows specific programs which are
available. The cursor highlight overlay is at the top of the screen
in its default position. From this cursor position, the subscriber
may order the program 60 Minutes.
[0342] FIG. 41 shows the next menu in the sequence for ordering the
program 60 Minutes. This program description submenu 1176 displays
the network logo, program title, program description, video window,
video description window, and the next program start time. In the
preferred embodiment, the next program start time is displayed
beneath the current time. The program title and program description
text may be stored in the intermediary text storage 877. In the
preferred embodiment, the video description window 1556 displays
running time and price of program. If the subscriber orders the
program from the program description menu, he is sequenced to a
confirmation menu.
[0343] FIG. 42 is a confirmation submenu 1178 for the program 60
Minutes. In this embodiment shown, the program description menu and
confirmation menu are nearly identical. The primary difference
being the confirmation text description and ability to join the
program in progress. In the embodiment shown, the confirmation text
is customized for the particular subcategory CBS Library. In
alternate embodiments, the confirmation text is a standard text
being generated from long-term text storage. Confirmation submenus
may be designed to show the user more video and less menu graphics
and text.
[0344] FIG. 43 is a major menu 1026 for category E, Entertainment
Choice. The Entertainment Choice category shows the best
entertainment programming available during a given week. FIGS. 43
and 44 show the selection of a program in the Entertainment Choice
category. The Entertainment Choice major menu 1026 has a menu
display block for five programs.
[0345] FIG. 44 shows a program description submenu 1182 for a
selection on the Entertainment Choice major menu. In this program
description submenu, the next start is shown in the upper right
hand corner. The program title text is shown centered, along with
program description text on the right half of the screen. The video
window and video description window are provided on the left half
of the screen. In the particular embodiment shown, the price of the
program is placed on the first line of text in the video
description and the run time is shown on the second line of text in
the video description window. The program may be ordered by
highlighting the menu display block beneath the program description
text using cursor movement keys. This submenu 1182 allows the
subscriber, via a strip menu located in the lower sash, to return
to the major menu, namely menu E 1026.
[0346] FIGS. 45 and 46 relate to the category of Children's
Programs. FIG. 45 is the major menu 1024 for Children's Programs,
displaying five program options in its menu display blocks. FIG. 46
is a program description submenu displaying the program Beauty and
the Beast. This program description submenu is similar to that
shown in FIG. 44. Again, a strip menu in the lower sash allows the
subscriber to return to the major menu, in this case, menu C 1024.
In alternative embodiments, the subscriber may return to the home
menu from any submenu screen. This return to home menu feature may
also be embodied in a strip menu in the lower sash.
[0347] FIGS. 47, 48, and 49a-49d relate to menus available within
the major category of Sports. FIG. 47 is an example of a major menu
screen 1022 for the Sports category. This window exemplifies the
ability to mix pay-per-unit programs, free programs, and a
subcategory selection, all within one major menu screen. This is
also representative of the mixing of programming types and
subcategories that may be conducted at any menu level (major menu
or submenu). By highlighting one of the three menu blocks shown,
the subscriber may obtain more information on each of the three
different types of programming that are available.
[0348] FIG. 48 is a program description submenu 1222 for NFL
Highlights, which a subscriber would receive if he made the NFL
Highlights selection on the major menu 1022 of FIG. 47. In
particular, FIG. 48 shows a program description submenu for a
program which must be paid for once each week for viewing. Once the
program has been ordered by that particular set top terminal, the
terminal is authorized to allow subscriber viewing for the
remainder of the football week.
[0349] FIGS. 49a-49d illustrate the manner in which a category or
subcategory of programs may be shown in a weekly schedule 1224.
Seven of the menu display block options of FIG. 49a are for daily
live events. The eighth menu selection block in the lower right
hand corner of the menu display blocks allows the viewer to see
what live programming is available during the month. In this
manner, future television programs may be advertised.
[0350] FIG. 49b shows a live programming event menu 1226 which is
available only on a particular day. Since the text description of
this menu may be updated at least once a day, circumstances which
affect the live program may be described in the text. For example,
in a single elimination tennis tournament, the star tennis players
who have not been eliminated may be listed in the text. From this
menu, the subscriber may return to the subcategory submenu, Sports
Events, or return to the major menu letter B, Sports, or return to
cable TV. In the preferred embodiment, the subscriber is given the
ability to sequence back to his last menu screen and, in some
instances, sequence back to subcategory menu screens.
[0351] FIG. 49c and 49d relate to programming on a particular day
(Saturday). The submenu of 49c falls within a subcategory of a
major menu and is therefore three menu sequences below the home
menu. This particular menu 1228 lists an odd number of programming
options. The menu display blocks allow 12 football games selections
and one boxing event, which is a larger box across the lower part
of the screen. By changing the menu display block sizes, the
packager can focus the subscriber's attention on a particular
program. Menus may show standard time, such as eastern time, or may
show regional times to the subscriber.
[0352] FIG. 49d is a program description submenu 1229 whose
description text will generally remain constant for a period of one
week. The program title text "College Football" is frequently used
and may be stored in long-term text storage.
[0353] FIGS. 50a and 50b relate to HDTV. FIG. 50a is an example of
a menu 1032 advertising a new feature of the system. Promotional
menus, such as FIG. 50a, may be dispersed throughout the menu
driven program selection system. This particular menu describes the
HDTV feature and explains its unavailability until a future date.
FIG. 50b shows the integration of HDTV services into the menu
driven program delivery system. If the subscriber selects the major
menu for HDTV, he will either receive a description of the service
with a suggestion to order the system, or a text note that he is a
current subscriber and a listing of the currently available program
selections in HDTV 1232. If the subscriber has not paid to join the
particular service, HDTV, he may be allowed to join one of the
programs in progress for a limited time as a demo to entice the
subscriber to order.
[0354] If the subscriber has paid his HDTV fees, a subscriber
proceeds as he would in any other major menu screen.
[0355] This particular major menu shows an example of how a
follow-on or second screen may exist for the same menu. In this
particular case, a second screen exists for the major menu HDTV
1032. The subscriber may access the second screen 1232 by selecting
the last menu display block in the lower part of the screen "Other
HDTV Selections". Following this selection, the subscriber will be
given a second screen of program selections. In this manner, any
menu can have multiple screens with many program choices. This type
of screen pagination on one menu allows the packager to avoid
categorizing program selections within that same menu. In an
alternative embodiment, the options available to the subscriber may
be scrolled on one menu screen with the text within the menu
display blocks changing as the subscriber scrolls up or scrolls
down.
[0356] In the preferred embodiment, TV guide services, listing
programs available on network schedules, will be available on a
major menu, as shown in FIG. 51a. In the preferred embodiment, the
major TV guide menu 1036 would offer submenus, such as network
schedules for the next seven days, today's network schedules for
the next six hours, and TV guide picks for the next seven days. If
the particular set top terminal 220 has been subscribed to the TV
guide service, the subscriber may proceed to a submenu showing
schedules of programs. If the subscriber chooses the network
schedule submenu 1236, he is offered a list of network schedules to
choose from as shown in FIG. 51b. If a subscriber were to choose,
for instance, HBO, the submenu 1238 shown in FIG. 51c would appear.
This submenu allows a subscriber to choose the program date that
interests him. Following selection of a date, the subscriber is
shown a more specific submenu 1242 listing programs available on
the particular date as shown in 51d.
[0357] Following a program choice, a program description submenu
1244 is placed on the television screen as shown in FIG. 51e. In
addition, from this program description submenu, the viewer may
choose to record the selected program on his VCR using the guide
record feature. If the guide record feature is chosen, the guide
record submenu 1248 shown in FIG. 51f provides the subscriber with
further instructions. In order for the set top terminal 220 to
perform the guide record functions and operate the VCR, control
signals must be sent from the set top terminal 220 to the VCR via
the video connection 650 or via a separate connection between the
set top terminal 220 and the VCR. The VCR must be capable of
interpreting these control signals from the set top terminal 220
and performing the desired function (such as, activating the record
feature). In the preferred embodiment, the VCR control signals are
sent with the video signal and output from the output 650, as
described above.
[0358] FIGS. 51g and 51h refer to the broadcast TV menu option
available in FIG. 14b. FIG. 51g is a major menu 1046 displaying
subcategories of programs available on a group of channels called
generically "broadcast TV." For each subcategory there is a
separate submenu listing programs that are available in the
particular subcategory on a group of channels called broadcast
TV.
[0359] By using the broadcast TV menu, the subscriber does not need
a written guide of available television programming on the major
networks. Although the preferred embodiment categorizes television
programs available on the major networks, a simple chronological
listing of programs may also be used.
[0360] Following a subcategory selection on the broadcast TV menu
such as favorite channels, the set top terminal 220 will display a
submenu of programs as shown in FIG. 51h. The favorite channel
program menu 1256 of FIG. 51h allows the subscriber to choose among
eight programs in progress at 9:45 p.m. on a broadcast TV
network.
[0361] Using this methodology, the subscriber may also be allowed
to choose among television programs which will be available for
viewing in the next half hour or hour. When the time of the
preselected program is approaching, the set top terminal 220 will
display a notification menu or window to the subscriber (similar to
FIGS. 21a and 21b) informing him of an eminent change of channels
to a previously selected program.
[0362] In order for the set top terminal 220 to establish a
favorite channel list, menus querying the subscriber and allowing
the subscriber to input his selection of eight favorite channels
must be displayed. Alternatively, the set top terminal 220 box can
"learn" which channels are a subscriber's favorite channels. A
simple learning process would involve the set top terminal 220
determining which channels were the most often watched and assume
those channels are the subscriber's favorite channels. Favorite
channels are preferably stored in memory in the set top terminal
220. FIG. 51g, the broadcast TV menu 1046, has a separate category
for often watched channels which allow the subscriber or the set
top terminal 220 in a learning mode to choose eight additional
channels for display.
[0363] In a manner similar to learning the most often watched
channels of the subscriber, the terminal can also determine the
most often watched shows by the subscriber. After developing (or
learning) a list of popular shows or querying the subscriber for a
list of popular shows the terminal can display a submenu allowing
the subscriber to choose one of his popular shows for viewing.
[0364] In order for the set top terminal 220 to develop submenus
for subcategories in FIG. 51g which relate to the content of the
programs, the terminal must receive information on the content of
the programs from the Operations Center 202 (via the cable headend
208). Normally the set top terminal 220 would receive this
information in the form of the program control information signal
(or STTCIS).
[0365] Although various embodiments of menus for broadcast TV are
possible, the goals of each are the same--to eliminate or augment
printed guides to television programs.
[0366] In an alternative embodiment, a program viewing suggestion
feature is available as an additional feature. This feature gives
the indecisive viewer or lazy viewer suggestions as to which
programs he should watch. The set top terminal 220 uses a matching
algorithm to accomplish the program viewing suggestion feature.
[0367] In order for the set top terminal 220 to make decisions on
which programs the subscriber should watch, the terminal must
create a personal profile for the particular viewer. From the data
in the particular viewer's personal profile and the television
program information available in the program control information
signal, the set top terminal 220 is able to select a group of
programs which the particular viewer is most likely to watch.
[0368] In order for this feature to operate, the set top terminal
220 builds a personal profile for each viewer and stores the
information in a memory file by viewer name. To build a personal
profile, the viewer answers a series of questions presented on a
series of menu screens. These personal profile screens request the
viewer to input information such as name, sex, age, place of birth,
place of lower school education, employment type, level of
education, amount of television program viewing per week, and the
number of shows in particular categories that the viewer watches in
a given week such as, sports, movies, documentaries, sitcoms, etc.
Any demographic information which will assist the set top terminal
220 in suggesting television programs to the viewer may be
used.
[0369] Once a personal profile has been created (in a particular
set top terminal 220), it can be indefinitely stored in nonvolatile
memory. A selection at the home menu screen 1010 activates the
program selection feature. Following activation of the feature, the
set top terminal 220 will present the viewer with a series of brief
questions to determine the viewer's mood at that particular time.
For example, the first mood question screen 1260 may ask the viewer
to select whether he desires a short (30 minute), medium (30-60
minute), or long (60 plus minute) program selection, as shown in
FIG. 51i. The second mood question screen 1262 requests the viewer
to select between a serious program, a thoughtful program, or a
light program, as shown in FIG. 51j. And the third mood question
screen 1264 requests whether the user desires a passive program or
an active program, as shown in FIG. 51k. The viewer makes his
selection in each question menu utilizing the cursor movement keys
and "go" button on his remote control 900. A variety of other mood
questions are possible such as fatigue level of the viewer.
[0370] After the viewer has responded to the mood question menus
which determine his mood, the set top terminal 220 finds the best
programming matches for the viewer and displays an offering of
several suggested programs to the viewer (three or more programs
are preferred). The matching algorithm compares the viewer profile
data with information about the program derived from the program
control information (or STTCIS) signal, such as show category,
description type, length, etc. Using the personal profile
information and mood questions suggested above, the following types
of outcomes are possible. If the set top terminal 220 is presented
with a young lady viewer, educated in Boston who watches sitcoms on
a regular basis, and desires a short, light, passive program, a
match might be found with the 30-minute sitcom Cheers, the sitcom
Designing Women and Murphy Brown. Taking another example, a
middle-aged male viewer from the Boston area, wishing a longer
length, light, passive program suggestion might be suggested the
New England Patriots game, the Boston Red Sox game and a science
fiction movie.
[0371] With this program selection feature, the set top terminal
220 can intelligently assist the specific viewer in selecting a
television program. Instead of the set top terminal 220 requiring
an input of personal profile information, the terminal may also
"learn" a subscriber's viewing habits by maintaining historical
data on the types of programs the viewer has most frequently
watched. This information can then be fed to the matching algorithm
which selects the suggested television programs.
[0372] Using this methodology, it is even possible for the set top
terminal 220 to suggest programs for two viewers. By using two sets
of viewer profile information, the matching algorithm can find the
best match for joint viewing. For example, the set top terminal 220
can suggest programs for a couple watching television
simultaneously.
[0373] FIGS. 52a, 52b, and 52c demonstrate the use of promotional
menus to sell subscriptions to services in the system. In
particular, FIG. 52a is a promotional menu 1304 for Level A
interactive services. Level A interactive services offers
subscribers additional information about programs such as quizzes,
geographical facts, etc. This information may be received by the
set top terminal 220 in several data formats including VBI and in
the program control information signal. FIG. 52b is a promotional
menu 1306 for Level B interactive services which include a variety
of on-line type services such as Prodigy, Yellow Pages, Airline
Reservations, etc.
[0374] FIG. 52c is a promotion menu 1308 for the Level C
interactive services. The Level C interactive services utilize
local storage such as CD technology to offer an enormous range of
multi-media experiences. The Level C interactive services require a
hardware upgrade as described earlier. Specially adopted CD-I and
CD-ROM units are needed for this service.
[0375] FIGS. 52d through 52j show menus that are available using
the interactive Level A services. When interactive Levels A
services are available in a television program, the system will
display the interactive logo consisting of the letter "I" and two
arrows with semicircular tails. In the preferred embodiment the set
top terminal 220 will place the interactive logo on the television
screen as an overlay menu 1310. In the preferred embodiment, the
set top terminal 220 will detect that there is data or information
available about a television program which can be displayed to a
subscriber using the interactive service. When the set top terminal
220 senses that there is interactive information available, it will
generate the interactive logo overlay menu and place it on the
television screen. For example, the set top terminal 220 will
detect that information on a television program is being sent in
the vertical blanking interval (VBI) and generate an interactive
logo overlay menu which will appear on the subscriber's television
screen for approximately fifteen seconds during each ten minute
interval of programming.
[0376] When the subscriber sees the interactive logo on his
television screen, he is made aware of the fact that interactive
services are available in conjunction with his television program.
If the subscriber presses his interactive remote control button, an
additional overlay menu will be generated by the set top terminal
220 and placed on the screen. This menu 1310 is shown in FIG. 52d
being overlayed on an interactive television program. From this
menu the subscriber may select interactive features or return to
the television program without interactive features.
[0377] If the subscriber selects interactive features he will be
presented with the interactive Level A submenu 1312 in FIG. 52e.
From this submenu the subscriber may choose a variety of different
types of textual interactivity with the current television program.
Some examples are quizzes, fast facts, more info, where in the
world, products, etc. At any time during the interactive submenus
the user may return to the television program without interactive
features.
[0378] This interactive submenu has an example of taking a complete
television program video, scaling it down to a smaller size and
directing the video into a video window of a submenu.
[0379] FIG. 52f shows an interactive fast facts submenu 1314. In
this submenu textual information is given to the subscriber in the
lower half of his screen. This textual information will change as
additional data is received by the set top terminal 220 relating to
this television program.
[0380] FIG. 52g shows the use of the subcategory "more information"
in the interactive service. This submenu 1316 gives additional
information related to the television program to the viewer in
textual form in the lower half of the screen. FIG. 52h is an
interactive submenu 1318 for the subcategory "quiz." In this
interactive subcategory, the user is presented with questions and a
series of possible answers. If the subscriber desires, he selects
one of the answers to the quiz question. After his selection, the
set top terminal 220 sequences to another menu. The set top
terminal 220 sequences to the interactive quiz answers submenu
which informs the subscriber whether he has chosen the correct
answer or not. FIG. 52i shows a correctly answered quiz question
1320 and FIG. 52j shows an incorrectly answered quiz question 1324.
In the preferred embodiment, the menu graphics for both of these
menus 52i and 52j is the same. The only difference is in the text
which can be generated by the text generator of the set top
terminal 220.
[0381] FIG. 53a is an example of a submenu for Level B interactive
services. From this menu screen 1330, any of a number of on-line
data services could be accessed. In FIG. 53a, the airline
reservations selection has been selected by the subscriber.
[0382] FIGS. 53b through 531 provide an example of a sequence of
menus that a subscriber may encounter with an on-line data service.
In particular, this example relates to airline information and
reservations and the subscriber in this sequence is reserving and
purchasing airline tickets. FIG. 53b is an example of the first
submenu 1332 for a data service offering various options. In this
case, the subscriber has the option of checking current
reservations or making new reservations. In each of these submenus
related to a data service, the subscriber is able to return to the
home menu 1010 or regular cable TV and exit the data service. FIG.
53c requires the subscriber to enter information related to his
airline reservation in this submenu 1334, such as: domestic or
international flight, year of flight reservation, month of flight
reservation.
[0383] FIG. 53d is another submenu in the airline information and
reservation data service. FIG. 53d provides an example of how the
subscriber may choose among many options on a single screen 1336.
In this manner, the preferred embodiment of the system can avoid
the use of a separate keyboard for textual entry. Although a
separate keyboard may be provided as an upgrade, it is an added
expense which some subscribers may wish to avoid. FIG. 53d shows an
"eye off the remote" approach to entering information. FIG. 53d
allows the user to chose the State in which he will depart and the
state in which he will arrive. The airline information reservation
submenu 1338 shown in FIG. 53e allows a subscriber to choose the
airports from which he will depart and arrive and also the
approximate time period of his departure and his arrival. FIG. 53f,
an airline information and reservation submenu 1340, allows a
subscriber to view six available flights. A subscriber may select
one of the flights to check on its availability.
[0384] FIG. 53g, an airline information and reservation submenu
1342, allows a subscriber to enter the month, day and year for the
availability date he desires. In this submenu, the subscriber is
offered the option of correcting any errors in the entered
information. This particular submenu is for a particular flight,
including flight number.
[0385] FIG. 53h, an airline information and reservation submenu
1344, allows a subscriber to view remaining seats available on a
flight. From the menu, the subscriber may select his seat
assignments. This submenu is an example of how information may be
graphically shown to a subscriber using a portion of the menu and
different coloring schemes. In this menu, the lower half of the
screen shows the passenger compartment of an airplane with all the
seat locations graphically represented by square blocks. By
coloring the available seat locations in blue and the unavailable
seat locations in a different color, the menu can present a great
deal of information in a limited amount of space. This graphic
presentation of information for the interactive on-line data
services is an important method of visually displaying large
amounts of information to the subscriber.
[0386] FIG. 53i, an airline information and reservation submenu
1346, allows the subscriber to choose a one-way or round-trip
ticket and to confirm his reservations. If the subscriber desires
to proceed, he may charge his airline ticket to his credit card by
choosing the appropriate strip menu on the lower part of the
screen.
[0387] FIG. 53j, an airline information and reservation submenu
1348, is an example of how credit card purchases may be made using
the interactive on-line data services. In this particular menu, the
subscriber is charging a round-trip plane ticket on his credit
card. The subscriber simply needs to enter his credit card number,
expiration date, and credit card type to charge his airline
ticket.
[0388] FIG. 53k, an airline information and reservation submenu
1350, is an example of a menu which may be shown whenever an
on-line data service is processing a request sent by the
subscriber. In this particular menu, the on-line data service is
processing the subscriber's credit card charge for his airline
ticket.
[0389] FIG. 53l, an airline information and reservation submenu
1352, confirms a subscriber's airline ticket purchase and passes on
information on where the ticket may be picked up.
[0390] FIG. 54a is a major menu 1038 displaying the digital/audio
program choices which are available for subscribers who have paid
the monthly fee. In a chart format, the major menu shows the top
five, top ten, and top forty songs available in six different
categories of music. Below the chart, the system is able to provide
a text message describing the particulars of the audio program
selected.
[0391] The digital/audio feature of the invention allows a
subscriber to listen to CD quality audio selections through his
stereo. This can be accomplished by running cables directly from
the set top terminal 220 to the subscriber's amplifier/stereo
system. Alternatively, the user may listen to audio selections
through his television system.
[0392] FIGS. 54d and 54e are the same major menu 1038 as FIG. 54a
but shows a different selection and a different program description
in the lower text 1408, 1412. From any of the menu screens for the
digital/audio feature, the subscriber may return to regular cable
TV with the press of a single button.
[0393] FIGS. 54b and 54c are promotional menus 1400, 1404 for the
digital/audio feature. Using the same logos and menu format, the
system can provide a text description enticing the subscriber to
pay the monthly fee and join the service. In FIG. 54b, the menu
allows the user to test the system with a free demonstration. The
menu in FIG. 54c allows the subscriber to request additional
promotional information about the system. Both FIGS. 54b and 54c
are representative of promotional menus that may be used throughout
the menued system.
[0394] FIGS. 55a through 55g and FIGS. 56a through 56g, show how
menus are generated by the set top terminal 220. FIGS. 55a through
55g display the building of a major menu screen for the category
hit movies. FIG. 55a shows the background graphics for the hit
movie major menu. The background graphics 1500 comprise an upper
sash 1502 across the top of the screen and a lower sash 1504 across
the bottom of the screen. The background graphics are generated
from the background graphics file 800 in the memory files of the
graphics memory (preferably EEPROM) 620. In particular, the hit
movie major menu background graphics are located in the universal
main menu backgrounds subfile 804 of the background graphics file
800. This universal major menu background graphic 1500 is
consistently used in nearly all the major menus. FIG. 55b shows the
logo graphics for the hit movie major menu. The logo graphics 1508
for this major menu consist of an icon window 1510, a cable company
logo 1512 in the lower left-hand portion of the screen, a channel
company logo 1514 in the upper right-hand part of the screen and
two "go" buttons 1516. The icon graphics 1510 are consistently
shown in each of the major menus. The cable company logo 1512 is
consistently shown in the lower left-hand part of the screen in
nearly every major menu. These logo graphics 1508 are created from
the logo graphics file 820 in the EEPROM 620. In particular, the
cable company logo 1512 in the lower left-hand corner of the screen
is located in The Your Choice TV logos 824 part of the logo
graphics file. The network logo 1514 in the upper right-hand corner
of the screen is generated from the network logo file 828 of the
logo graphics file 820. The "go" buttons 1516 are generated from
the graphic elements file 840 of the logo graphics file 820.
[0395] FIG. 55c shows the addition of menu displays 1520 to the hit
movie major menu. In particular, FIG. 55c shows a ten block main
menu display 1520 and a strip menu 1522 in the lower part of the
screen. The ten display blocks 1520 of FIG. 55c are generated from
the menu display block's subfile 854 of the menu display and cursor
graphics file 850 shown in FIG. 10. The strip menu 1522 located on
the lower part of the screen is also generated from the menu
display block's subfile 854.
[0396] FIG. 55d shows the addition of a cursor highlight overlay
1526 to the hit movie major menu. The cursor highlight overlay 1526
is generated from the cursor highlight overlay's submenu 858 of the
menu display and cursor graphics file 850 shown in FIG. 10. In the
preferred embodiment, the cursor highlight overlay 1526 is shown by
default to be in the upper left-hand menu display block of each
major menu. This cursor highlight overlay 1526 can be moved on the
screen by the subscriber using his cursor movement buttons 970.
[0397] FIG. 55e shows the text 1530 generated for the hit movies
major menu. In the preferred embodiment, the text 1530 is generated
separately by a text generator in the set top terminal unit 220.
Those portions of the text that generally remain the same for a
period of weeks or months may be stored in EEPROM 620 or other
local storage. For example, the text "HIT MOVIES from" 1531 will
consistently appear on each hit movies' major menu. This text may
be stored on EEPROM 620 or other local storage. Further, text such
as that which appears at the lower center part of the screen "PRESS
HERE TO RETURN TO CABLE TV" 1532 appears many times throughout the
menu sequence. This text may also be stored locally at the set top
terminal 220. Text which changes on a regular basis, such as the
movie titles (or other program selections), will be transmitted to
the set top terminal 220 by either the operations center 202 or the
network controller 214 of the cable headend 208. In this manner,
the cable headend 208 may change the program selections available
on any major menu 1020 by modifying the program control information
signal sent by the operations center 202 and transmitting the
change via the STTCIS. It is preferred that the text 1530 be
generated separately from the graphics because the text can be
stored locally in a more compact manner requiring less storage
space. In addition, it allows for easy communication of text
changes from the operations center 202 or cable headend.
[0398] In alternative embodiments, portions of the text,
particularly those portions which remain constant, may be
incorporated into the graphics and stored in either the background
graphics file 800 or the logo graphics file 820.
[0399] FIG. 55f shows the addition of day 1534, date 1536 and time
1538 information to the hit movies major menu. This information may
be obtained in a variety of ways. The day, date, and time
information 1540 may be sent from the operations center 202, the
cable headend (signal processor or network controller 214), the
uplink site, or generated by the set top terminal unit 220
internally. Each manner of generating the day, date, and time
information 1540 has advantages and disadvantages which may change
given the particular embodiment and costs. In the preferred
embodiment, the day, date, and time 1540 are generated at a central
location such as the operations center and are adjusted for
regional changes in time at the cable headend.
[0400] FIG. 55g shows the results of the information in FIGS. 55a
to 55f being integrated in the combiner 624 and then displayed on
the television screen 222. The subscriber in viewing the hit movie
major menu 1040 is unaware of the fact that the menu comprises
several distinct part.
[0401] FIGS. 56a through 56g show the creation and display of a
program description submenu for a hit movie. Similar to the major
menu, the submenu is created in parts and combined before being
sent to the television screen. FIG. 56a shows the background
graphics 1550 for the program description submenu. In the preferred
embodiment, the upper sash 1552 and lower sash 1554 of the
background graphics 1550 are stored together in one location on the
EEPROM 620. The video window and half-strip window 1558 are also
co-located in storage on the EEPROM 620. The half-strip window 1558
beneath the video window serves 1556 as a means for describing the
videos shown in the video window 1556. Both sets of graphic
information 1550, the sashes 1552, 1554 and video window 1556 with
description 1558, are located in the universal submenu backgrounds
subfile 808 of the background graphics file 800. Both sets of
backgrounds appear in many menus and are used many times during a
sequence of menus.
[0402] FIG. 56b shows the additional logo graphics information 1508
needed to create the program description submenu. In the preferred
embodiment, the "go" logo 1516 can be stored once in memory 620 and
directed to the correct portion of the screen in which it is needed
for a particular memo. Similar to FIG. 55b, the information needed
to create the "your choice" logo 1512 and "go" buttons 1516 is
stored in the logo graphics file 820.
[0403] FIG. 56c shows the addition of menu display information 1520
for the program description submenu. Similar to FIG. 55c, the
information needed for FIG. 56c menu display blocks is stored in
the menu display blocks' subfile 854 of the menu display and cursor
graphics 850. In this particular submenu, there are three menu
display blocks of rectangular shape.
[0404] FIG. 56d shows the addition of cursor highlight overlay
information 1526 for the program description submenu. This
information is obtained from the cursor highlight overlay submenu
858. For most major menus 1020 and submenus 1050, only one cursor
highlight overlay 1526 will appear on the screen at a given time.
More cursor highlight overlays 1526 will appear on a screen when
the subscriber is presented with more than one question. The number
of cursor highlight overlays 1526 will generally correspond with
the number of questions being presented to the subscriber on the
menu. The cursor highlight overlay 1526 is generally assigned a
default position on each menu screen and is moved by the subscriber
using either the remote control 900 or the buttons 645 located at
the top of the-set top terminal 220.
[0405] FIG. 56e shows the text generation 1530 necessary for the
program description submenu for a hit movie. As in FIG. 55e, some
of the text for the program description submenu is consistently on
each program description submenu, such as "PRESS HERE TO RETURN TO
CABLE TV." This-textual information may be stored locally as
opposed to being derived from the STTCIS. Regardless of where the
text information is stored, it must be processed through the text
generator 621 before being sent to the combiner 624.
[0406] FIG. 56f shows the addition of video 1560 to the video
window 1556. In an alternative embodiment, the video shown in the
program description submenu is a still picture. The still picture
may be stored in a compressed format (such as JPEG) at the set top
terminal 220. These video stills 1560 that are used on program
description submenus as well as other menus, may be transmitted by
the operations center 202 through the program control information
signal from time to time.
[0407] In the preferred embodiment, the video window 1556 shows a
moving video picture. For the hit movies category, the moving video
picture may be obtained directly from a current feed of the
described movie. For example, the movie video 1560 shown may be
taken directly off of a channel which is currently showing the
movie Terminator. The set top terminal 220 would decompress the
channel with the movie Terminator and then manipulate the video
signal to place it in the video window 1556. This manipulation of
the video signal includes scaling down the size of the video screen
and redirecting the video to a portion of the menu screen which is
within the video window of the menu.
[0408] Another method of getting the moving video to the video
window portion of the submenu, is to obtain the video from a split
screen channel. This method involves the use of split screen video
techniques to send multiple video dips on a single channel at a
given time. For example, a channel may be divided into eight
portions of screen space and one of the eight positions may carry
the Terminator video dip. The set top terminal 220 would decompress
the channel and manipulate on the one-eighth portion of the screen
desired in the video window of the submenu. The set top terminal
220 would scale the one-eighth picture, if necessary, and redirect
it to the correct position on the screen using known scaling and
positioning techniques. Additional circuitry may be required in the
set top terminal 220 to perform adequate scaling and
repositioning.
[0409] FIG. 56g shows the final product resulting from the
combining of FIGS. 56a through 56f. The combiner 624 integrates
each of these portions of information into a single menu screen
1120.
[0410] The combiner 624 which displays the menus on the television
screen obtains information primarily from three locations, the
graphics generator 622, the text generator 621, and the video
decompressor 618 (with other video manipulation equipment, if
necessary). The graphics generator 622 primarily obtains
information from the graphic memory unit 620 but may receive
information in the STTCIS. The text generator 621 primarily
receives its information from a separate memory for text. However,
in certain embodiments the text information may be stored in the
graphics memory 620 or may be taken directly off the STTCIS. The
video signal which is sent to the combiner 624 may come directly
from one or more video decompressors or ancillary video
manipulation equipment.
[0411] One of the methods for video clips or promotional video to
be sent to the set top terminal 220 is through the use of split
screen video techniques. FIG. 57a shows the throughput of a single
channel using a split screen video technique to divide the channel
into four parts. In this manner, four different video dips may be
simultaneously sent on a single channel. Program description
submenus can acquire one of the video dips shown on the split
channel at any given time. Generally, this requires the set top
terminal 220 to decompress the entire channel, acquire one-fourth
of the video information, scale the video (if necessary), and
redirect the video. Using this split screen technique 1602,
numerous video clips may be sent over a limited number of
channels.
[0412] FIG. 57b shows an embodiment 1604 in which forty eight
different video clips are sent simultaneously on a single channel
using split screen video techniques. In this embodiment, the video
signal may need to be scaled upwardly to enlarge the picture for
viewing in a video window or on a full screen.
[0413] In an alternative embodiment, which avoids the need for
redirecting video into the portion of the screen which houses the
video window 1556, masking and menu graphics are used to cover the
portions of the channel video that are not needed. This masking
technique allows the split screen video to remain in the same
portion of the screen that it is transmitted by the operations
center. The masking then is adjusted to cover the undesired
portions of the screen. These masks would be stored in the
background graphics file 800 similarly to other background files
for menus. The advantage of the system is the cost savings in not
needing to redirect video. The disadvantage of the system is that
the video window on a description submenu, for example, would not
remain in the same location from menu to menu. This inconsistency
in video window location detracts from the aesthetically pleasing
aspects of the menu layouts.
[0414] If the masking technique were used in conjunction with the
split screen video shown in FIG. 57a, each submenu would have
approximately one-quarter screen of video and three-quarter screen
of graphic and text information. For example, a submenu or promo
menu for a basketball game would mask all but the upper right-hand
corner of the screen. Following masking, other background graphics
1550, logo graphics 1508, menu display 1520, cursor graphics 1526,
and text information 1530 would be overlayed over the three-quarter
mask. In a similar manner, a submenu or promo menu for a hockey
game would also have a three-quarter mask. This three-quarter mask
would mask all but the lower right-hand corner of the screen.
Again, the remaining menu graphics, logos and textual information
would overlay the three-quarter mask. As you can see from this
example, four different three-quarter masks must be stored in the
background graphics file 800 for use in the four possible video
window positions.
[0415] The split screen video technique may also be used for
promoting television programming. Since a great number of short
video clips may be sent continuously (such as in FIG. 57b), full or
partial screen promotionals (or informationals) may be provided to
the subscriber. With this large quantity of promotional video,
subscribers may be given the opportunity to "graze" through new
movie or television programming selections. The subscriber would
simply graze from promotional video to promotional video until he
found the television program of his liking. Once he has found that
program he may choose to order it.
[0416] FIGS. 58a, 58b and 59a, 59b relate to the monthly account
review capabilities available to the subscriber. In the preferred
embodiment, the subscriber may choose to access the monthly account
review capability from both the introductory menu 1000 and home
menu 1010. The monthly account review screen shows alternative
window types that are available to the set top terminal 220. For
example, in the upper left-hand corner of the monthly account
review, the current time and date are both shown. The upper
right-hand corner provides the subscriber with instructions on how
to use the monthly account review capability. FIG. 58b also shows
that windows may be created in a variety of shapes. For instance,
on the lower right-hand part of the screen 1612 two triangularly
shaped windows with messages are shown. In addition, on the left
lower part of the screen 1612 a window in the shape of a trapezoid
is shown with a textual message inside.
[0417] The monthly account review provides a list of charges from
the first day of the month to the date of viewing for each major
menu. Charges are incurred on a pay-per-view basis and on a
subscription basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.). At the lower
part of the screen, the total of the charges incurred for the month
is listed. The account status can also be calculated on a weekly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis.
[0418] If the user moves his cursor to highlight one of the eight
menus listed and depresses the "go" button, he will obtain further
billing information on the menu. FIGS. 58a and 58b show in screens
1610 and 1612, respectively, the subscriber selecting menu A for
further information.
[0419] FIGS. 59a and 59b are submenus for the monthly account
review and displays detailed billing information about selections
made on menu A. The date of each movie selection, title of the
movie, and price for each movie is displayed (1614, 1616). Also,
any discounts which have been granted are displayed. The total
charges on this menu and the day in which the menu will be changed
are shown in the lower part of the screen. From this submenu, the
subscriber may either return to regular TV or return to the major
menu for the monthly account review. If the submenu information
does not fit on a single screen, an extended submenu may be
utilized with follow on extension screens. Alternatively, a
scrolling feature may be used enabling the subscriber to scroll
additional information onto the first submenu screen.
[0420] The account information necessary to create the monthly
account review menus may be stored either in the memory of the set
top terminal 220 or at a remote location that communicates with the
set top terminal 220. In the simplest embodiment, the set top
terminal 220 records a subscriber's selections locally and
calculates the monthly account review based upon the subscriber's
selections which require the payment of fees. This monthly account
information is stored locally and sent to the cable headend 208 at
least once a month for back-up and billing purposes.
[0421] Alternatively, the subscriber's viewing selections and
billing information may be continuously maintained at the cable
headend 208 or a remote site connected via communication lines to
the cable headend 208. The cable headend 208 or the remote site
must regularly transmit the monthly account information to the set
top terminal 220. Each embodiment has advantages and disadvantages.
If the account information and processing is done locally at the
set top terminal 220, each set top terminal 220 must be provided
with the memory and necessary processing capability to maintain the
account. This greatly increases the cost of a set top terminal 220.
If the account information is maintained remotely, the remote site
must remain in regular contact with the set top terminal 220 in
order to provide the subscriber with billing information.
[0422] To accommodate homes with multiple viewers two or more set
top terminals 220 may be placed on a single bill or two accounts
may be created for one set top terminal 220.
[0423] FIG. 60 shows an example of remote statistical and billing
sites. In this arrangement, statistical and billing information
from a community of set top terminals 1720 is communicated through
cable headend 208 sites to regional statistical and billing sites
1730 (SBS). A regional SBS may serve several cable headend 208
sites. The regional SBS 1730 calculates billing and statistical
information and passes necessary billing information back
downstream through the network controller at the cable headend 208
to an appropriate single set top terminal 220 in a subscriber's
home. In addition, the regional SBS communicates the billing and
statistical information received on program viewer choices to the
central SBS 1740.
[0424] The central SBS 1740 accumulates the data received from a
number of regional statistical and billing sites and calculates
national statistical and billing information. In the preferred
embodiment the regional SBS 1730 prints and mails bills to
subscribers. The central SBS 1740 can calculate program ratings,
shares and HUTS (homes using televisions) for the nation and by
region. With interactive TV programs sophisticated statistical
information may be gathered through the network controllers of the
cable headends.
[0425] This arrangement for billing and statistical information
provides the operators of the system with the advantages of
distributive processing. Remote billing sites may serve regions of
the country by having each cable headend 208 in a region of the
country connected to one regional billing site. The information
from the regional billing sites may then be communicated on a less
frequent basis to the operations center or a central billing
location. This method of distributed processing of billing enables
the central billing location to receive fewer communications and be
more efficient. In addition, the communication links between the
cable headend's network controller 214 and regional sites will be
of shorter distance than communication links to the operations
center from the cable headends 208. This should result in a cost
savings to the system operator.
[0426] However, the regional statistical and billing may be
eliminated and all communications from the cable headend 208 may
proceed to the Central SBS 1740. In fact, the Central SBS 1740 can
be collocated with the Operations Center 202 and all functions
performed at one central location.
[0427] If the cable program packaging and delivery system 202 is
established in just one locale, the network controller 214 can
perform all the statistical and billing procedures.
[0428] FIGS. 61 through 89 are additional representative menus
which include color indications.
[0429] FIGS. 90 through 98 demonstrate the generation of menu
screens.
[0430] FIG. 99 is an example of a help menu which may be accessed
from the introductory menu. In alternative embodiments, help or
instruction menus may be accessed from any displayed menu. FIG. 99
instructs the subscriber on the use of the subscriber interface
(remote control unit 900). In particular, FIG. 99 instructs the
subscriber on the use of arrow buttons for cursor movement. FIG. 99
also shows how additional instructional information can be provided
with follow-on menus by depressing "go" in the lower portion of the
screen (highlighted in yellow).
[0431] FIG. 100 is an exemplary introductory menu with access to
remote instructions.
[0432] FIGS. 101 through 131 are additional representative menus
which include color indications.
[0433] FIGS. 132 through 134 demonstrate the generation of menu
screens.
* * * * *