U.S. patent application number 13/790777 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for interactive content with enhanced network operator control.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Thomas Jefferson Brothers, James Harold Gray, William Randolph Matz.
Application Number | 20130254818 13/790777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33541321 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130254818 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gray; James Harold ; et
al. |
September 26, 2013 |
Interactive Content with Enhanced Network Operator Control
Abstract
A method includes receiving, at a media device, a content signal
sent to the media device from a data center via a network. The
content signal includes a hot key signal indicating availability of
alternate content. The method includes determining, at the media
device, that the hot key signal is relevant to content sent by the
media device to a display device. The method also includes sending,
via the media device to the display device, a hot key associated
with the hot key signal to the display device to be displayed with
the content.
Inventors: |
Gray; James Harold;
(Ellijay, GA) ; Brothers; Thomas Jefferson;
(Gainesville, GA) ; Matz; William Randolph;
(Atlanta, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property I,
L.P.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
33541321 |
Appl. No.: |
13/790777 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10611454 |
Jun 30, 2003 |
8418196 |
|
|
13790777 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/812 20130101;
H04N 21/23614 20130101; H04N 21/858 20130101; H04N 21/435 20130101;
H04N 21/654 20130101; H04N 21/235 20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101;
H04N 21/2547 20130101; H04N 21/472 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/110 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/654 20060101
H04N021/654 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a media device, a content
signal sent to the media device from a data center via a network,
wherein the content signal includes a hot key signal indicating
availability of alternate content; determining, at the media
device, that the hot key signal is relevant to content sent by the
media device to a display device; and in response to determining
that the hot key signal is relevant to the content, sending, via
the media device to the display device, a hot key associated with
the hot key signal to the display device to be displayed with the
content.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the alternate
content to the display device in response to receiving an
acceptance of the hot key.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising returning to display
of the content after receipt of an indication that viewing of the
alternate content is complete.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option to
the display device that enables display of information from a
message field of the hot key signal to facilitate a decision by a
user about acceptance of the hot key.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically
displaying information from a message filed of the hot key signal
to the display device to facilitate a decision by a user about
acceptance of the hot key.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein a determination that the hot key
signal is relevant to the content is based on information from a
content type field of the hot key signal.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media device is a set-top
box.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media device is a
gateway.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media device is a
computer.
10. A system comprising: a processor; a memory accessible to the
processor, the memory comprising instructions that are executable
by the processor to: receive a content signal from a data center
via a network, wherein the content signal includes a hot key signal
indicating availability of alternate content; send content derived
from the content signal to a display device; determine that the hot
key signal is relevant to the content sent to the display device;
and in response to determining that the hot key signal is relevant
to the content, send a hot key associated with the hot key signal
to the display device to be displayed with the content.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a mass storage
device, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to
cache the alternate content to the mass storage device.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hot key is sent to the
display after the alternate content is cached.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are executable
by the processor to receive acceptance of the hot key and to send
the alternate content to the display device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the alternate content comprises
an advertisement.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein a content location field of the
hot key signal provides content location information to enable
retrieval of the alternate content.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the hot key signal is
determined to be relevant to the content based on information in a
content field of the hot key signal.
17. A processor readable storage device comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the
processor to perform operations including: receiving a content
signal from a data center via a network, wherein the content signal
comprises a hot key signal indicating availability of alternate
content; sending content based on the content signal to a display
device; determining that the hot key signal is relevant to the
content sent to the display device; and in response to determining
that the hot key signal is relevant to the content, sending a hot
key associated with the hot key signal to the display device to be
displayed with the content.
18. The processor readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the
operations further include: receiving an initial selection of the
hot key via a remote control device; and sending a hot key icon to
the display in response to the initial selection, wherein the hot
key icon provides instructions for a user to accept the alternate
content via the remote control device.
19. The processor readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the
operations further include sending the alternate content to the
display device in response to receiving a signal from the remote
control device that indicates acceptance of the alternate
content.
20. The processor readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the
hot key overlays a portion of the content at the display device.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/611,454 filed on Jun. 30,
2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The various embodiments of the disclosure described herein
relate generally to the field of interactive television. More
particularly, these embodiments relate to providing enhanced
network operator control.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Advances in telecommunications and computing technology have
led to the use of interactive television (TV) services on a large
scale. Where such services are available, users are not only able
to access television content by passively receiving it, but are
also beginning to interact with the service providers by
communicating requests and/or commands to the service providers.
These requests and/or commands may be communicated to the service
provider via the same path over which the programming services are
provided or even via other paths.
[0004] Interactive television may be provided over any number of
paths, including coaxial cable or optical fiber, hybrid
fiber/coaxial, or any other suitable path that accommodates
sufficient bandwidth for desired video channels as well as other
telecommunications services. Content providers may include, for
example, providers of over-the-air programming such as commercial
television stations, cable programming such as weather, travel and
entertainment channels, game channels, and other interactive
services of various types.
[0005] Generally, TV service provides a user or user a variety of
options such as: traditional broadcast and cable television
programming; video services, such as pay-per-view (PPV), near
video-on-demand (NVOD), video-on-demand (VOD), promo channels,
electronic program guides, etc.; cable delivered PC-based services;
and interactive services through the use of a combination of
compression and digital video technologies. TV services may also
provide menuing capabilities and upstream signaling from users to
service providers.
[0006] The combination of broadcast and interactive applications
over interactive TV (e.g., interactive content) creates a possible
mode of communication in which a user, if informed of the
availability of alternate interactive content relating to a subject
matter of interest, may invoke the alternate content to investigate
that subject matter more thoroughly and according to his or her own
tastes. However, television viewers, who are accustomed to choosing
at will between the available transmitted channels with
instantaneous results, will expect to be informed of the alternate
content in a convenient and timely manner and to pass from one
medium to another seamlessly.
SUMMARY
[0007] A method and apparatus are described that provide enhanced
network operator control. According to one aspect of the present
disclosure, a method comprises determining at a head-end and data
center whether to inform one or more users of an interactive
television service of available content, the one or more users
connected with head-end and data center via a network. Responsive
to determining to inform the one or more users of the available
content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability and a
location of the alternate content. The hot key signal is inserted
into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from the
head-end and data center via the network.
[0008] Other features of the present disclosure will be apparent
from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description
that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The appended claims set forth features of embodiments of the
disclosure with particularity. The disclosure, together with its
advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0010] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a television displaying a picture
containing a hot key for informing a user of available alternate
content and redirecting the user to the alternate content
responsive to selection of the embedded hot key according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network
over which interactive television signals containing embedded hot
key signals may be transmitted according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a head-end and data center
system where hot key signals may be added to a transmitted signal
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating head-end and data center
processing for adding hot key signals to a transmitted signal
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one possible format for a
hot key data packet according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a user side system to redirect
a user to alternate content responsive to selection of an embedded
hot key according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing on a user side
system for redirecting a user to alternate content responsive to
selection of an embedded hot key according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent, however, to
one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure
may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other
instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block
diagram form.
[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure include various
processes, which will be described below. The processes may be
performed by hardware components or may be embodied in
machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a
general-purpose or special-purpose processor or logic circuits
programmed with the instructions to perform the processes.
Alternatively, the processes may be performed by a combination of
hardware and software.
[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as a
computer program product which may include a machine-readable
medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to
program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a
process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not
limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, Compact Disk Read-Only
Memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, Read-Only Memories
(ROMs), Random Access Memories (RAMs), Erasable Programmable
Read-Only Memories (EPROMs), Electronically Erasable Programmable
Read-Only Memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash
memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for
storing electronic instructions. Moreover, embodiments of the
present disclosure may also be downloaded as a computer program
product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote
computer to a requesting computer by way of data signals embodied
in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication
link (e.g., a modem or network connection).
[0020] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a television displaying a picture
containing a hot key for informing a user of available alternate
content and redirecting the user to the alternate content
responsive to selection of the embedded hot key according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure. These figures represent
respectively a process of viewing content, receiving a hot key,
accepting a hot key, and redirecting to alternate content.
[0021] Specifically, FIG. 1A illustrates an example of viewing
content. Here, a video program 101 is being displayed on television
100. Alternatively, a user may be viewing other types of
interactive TV content such as pay-per-view video content,
interactive games, etc.
[0022] FIG. 1B illustrates an example of receiving a hot key. In
this example, the user is tuned to the same video program 101 on
television 100 as in the previous example of FIG. 1A. However, in
this example an icon 103 or other graphic has been displayed to
indicate to the user that a hot key has been received. The hot key
indicates that alternate content is available for the user's
consumption. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
the alternate content may be in the form of another video program
with content related to the video program 101 being viewed by the
user.
[0023] FIG. 1C illustrates an example of accepting a hot key. In
this example, the user is tuned to the same video program 101 as in
FIGS. 1A and 1B. Icon 105, displayed to indicate to the user that a
hot key has been received, now indicates a manner in which the user
may accept or decline the alternate content. In this example, icon
105 indicates that the user may press 1 to accept the alternate
content or 2 to decline the alternate content.
[0024] Of course, other methods of accepting or declining the
alternate content may be used. For example, different single or
even multiple buttons on a remote control may be pressed by the
user to accept or decline the alternate content. According to one
embodiment, a single "hot key button" may be present on the user's
remote control that may be pressed by the user whenever a hot key
icon is present on the television display. Pressing the hot key
button may be a manner in which the user accepts the alternate
content and is redirected to that content without further
interaction from the user. According to another embodiment, the
user may decline the alternate content by taking no action at all.
That is, after some time period during which no action is taken by
the user to accept the alternate content, the hot key may simply
time out and expire. Various other methods of accepting or
declining the alternate content may also be used.
[0025] Regardless of the exact operation used to accept the
alternate content, FIG. 1D illustrates redirecting a user to
alternate content responsive to the hot key being accepted.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the
alternate content may be another video program with content related
to the video program 101 being viewed by the user. Therefore,
television 100 in FIG. 1D illustrates an alternate video program
107 being displayed. According to one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the alternate video program 107 may present content
related to the original content the user was viewing. For example,
if the user was viewing a television program related to travel, the
alternate video program may also be related to travel.
[0026] According to yet another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the alternate video program may be commercial in
nature. For example, the television program may be related to
sports. In such a case, the alternate video program may be a
pay-per-view sporting event of the same type or an advertisement
for an upcoming pay-per-view event. In another example, the
alternate video program may be an "infomercial" selling merchandise
related to some aspect of the original video content.
[0027] Therefore, content providers and/or service providers may be
able to sell hot keys just as they currently sell time for
commercial spots. For example, a provider of pay-per-view video
content may wish to purchase from a content provider a hot key that
redirects users to his content or an advertisement of upcoming
events during a television program related to that content.
Alternatively, content providers may charge users to receive a hot
key service or even to block some or all hot key signals. Content
providers and/or service providers may thus be able to realize an
additional source of revenue.
[0028] As will be described below, a system over which interactive
television signals containing embedded hot key signals may be
transmitted according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure may be implemented over different types of networks.
These different types of networks include, but are not limited to,
cable, satellite, Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC), Fiber-to-the-House
(FTTH), Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL), and
others.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network
over which interactive television signals containing embedded hot
key signals may be transmitted according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure. This example illustrates, at a high-level, an
architecture of a service provider's system 200 that includes
head-end and data center 201, Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)
203, cable modem network 204, and user premises 206 that also
contains cable modem 207, Set Top Box (STB)/Gateway 208, one or
more televisions 209 and 210, and possibly other devices such as
personal computer (PC) 211.
[0030] An interactive TV service provider typically operates and
maintains a head-end and data center 201 equipped to receive
signals 202 from one or more content providers. Content providers
may be any original or secondary source of programming or
information generally including, for example, interactive or
non-interactive over-the-air programming such as commercial
television stations, cable programming such as weather, travel and
entertainment channels, game channels, and other interactive
services of various types. Head-end and data center 201, after
receiving content from one or more content providers, may then
transmit the interactive content to user premises 206. Further
details of the hardware comprising the head-end and data center 201
as well as the processing performed therein will be discussed below
with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, hot
key signals indicating the availability of alternate content may be
provided to head-end and data center 201 along with and embedded in
interactive TV signals 202 from the content providers. For example,
the hot key signals may be generated at the content provider's
location by an operations team when preparing and scheduling
content for transmission to various service providers. As will be
discussed below, interactive TV signals with these embedded hot key
signals are transmitted from head-end and data center 201 and are
received and used by STB/gateway 208 or PC 211 at user premises 206
to inform the user of the availability of alternate content and to
guide the user to this content if he chooses to accept it. Details
of the hot key signals will be discussed below with reference to
FIG. 5.
[0032] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
hot key signals indicating the availability of alternate content
may be generated at head-end and data center 201. For example, the
hot key signals may be generated at head-end and data center 201 by
an operations team when preparing and scheduling content for
transmission to users. As will be discussed below, these embedded
hot key signals are transmitted from head-end and data center 201
and are received and used by STB/gateway 208 or PC 211 at user
premises 206 to inform the user of the availability of alternate
content and to guide the user to this content if he chooses to
accept it.
[0033] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, a signal carrying
interactive TV content is transmitted from head-end and data center
201 through CMTS 203 and onto cable modem network 204. Typically,
transmissions over cable modem network 204 may be made in a digital
form. For example, the content may be transmitted as a Motion
Pictures Experts Group Standard 2 (MPEG-2) data stream using a
network protocol such as Internet Protocol (IP). Therefore, the
content may be transmitted from head-end and data center 201 as IP
data packets or in another similar format. One possible example of
such a packet will be discussed below with reference to FIG. 5.
[0034] Regardless of the format of the transmission, a signal
carrying the interactive TV content is received at user premises
206 via cable modem 207. Connected with cable modem 207 may be some
form of terminal device. In the example illustrated by FIG. 2, two
possible types of terminal devices, STB/Gateway 208 and PC 211 are
shown. The terminal device, STB, Gateway, PC or other device,
performs functions such as exchanging messages (including
video-related data) over a network with head-end and data center
201, receiving messages from a user input device, such as a
hand-held remote control unit or keyboard, translating video
signals from a network-native format into a format that can be used
by televisions 209 and 210 or other display devices, and providing
a video signal to televisions 209 and 210 or other display devices.
STB/Gateway 208 and PC 211 may also be capable of performing other
functions, such as inserting alphanumeric or graphical information
into the video stream in order to "overlay" that information on the
video image, providing graphic or audio feedback to a user, or
routing a traditional broadcast signal to a viewing device to which
another STB is connected. Additional details of the hardware of
STB/Gateway 208 and the processing performed therein will be
discussed below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0035] In use, STB/Gateway 208 or PC 211 may receive hot key
signals embedded in the interactive TV signals by either the
content providers or the service provider. STB/Gateway 208 or PC
211 may then notify the user of available alternate content as
discussed above with reference to FIG. 1. STB/Gateway 208 or PC 211
may then receive some form of user feedback indicating that the
user accepts or declines the alternate content. If the user accepts
the alternate content, STB/Gateway 208 or PC 211 may then redirect
the user to this alternate content as will be discussed further
below with reference to FIG. 7.
[0036] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
head-end and data center 201 may also be connected with the
Internet 213 or other network via a high-speed connection 212 such
as a fiber optic connection to provide access to a number of web
sites 214-216. Through this connection 212, head-end and data
center 201 may supply alternate content to users from one or more
of the number of web sites 214-216.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a head-end and data
center system where hot key signals may be added to a transmitted
signal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. This
example illustrates head-end and data center system 201 comprising
content reception, distribution, and switching portion 304,
head-end transport portion 305, and hot key generation system
315.
[0038] Content reception, distribution, and switching portion 304
is connected with one or more of satellite receiver 301, over the
air transmission receiver 302, fiber optical feed 303, and other
types of links (not shown) to receive signals from one or more
content providers. Content reception, distribution, and switching
portion 304 comprises equipment that that is commonly used to
receive transmitted signals, demodulate the transmitted signals to
separate the content signals from a carrier signal if necessary,
distribute and arrange the content from the content providers to
fit a programming schedule of the service provider, and provide
switching of these signals between the various components of the
head-end and data center 201.
[0039] Head-end transport portion 305 comprises a plurality of
encoders 306-312, optional back-up encoder 313, multiplexor system
314, modulation system 318, up converters 319, and transport system
321. Encoders 305-312 and optional back-up encoder 313 receive
interactive TV content signals from content reception,
distribution, and switching portion 304 and encode the content
signals into any of a variety of well known formats such as Motion
Pictures Experts Group Standard 2 (MPEG-2), Motion Pictures Experts
Group Standard 4 (MPEG-4), DivX, or any other format. Encoders
305-312 and optional back-up encoder 313 each provide an individual
encoded data stream representing the content signal of a single
channel to multiplexor system 314.
[0040] Hot key generation system 315 is also connected with
multiplexor system 314 of head-end transport 305. Hot key
generation system 315 receives content 323 from content reception,
distribution, and switching portion 304, trigger programming
information 316, and event data feed 317. Trigger programming
information 316 provides an indication of the time, date, etc. that
given content will be played out. Event data feed 317 provides live
content rather than content that is programmed and played out at a
scheduled time. Using content 323, trigger programming information
316, and event data feed 317 hot key generation system 315
generates hot key signals associated with content to be transmitted
from head-end and data center 201 and outputs the hot key signals
to multiplexor system 314. Exemplary processes for generating hot
key signals as may be performed by hot key generation system 315
will be discussed below with reference to FIG. 4.
[0041] Multiplexor system 314 may comprise a primary as well as an
optional back-up multiplexor. Multiplexor system 314 combines the
encoded content signals from encoders 305-312 and optional back-up
encoder 313 and hot key signals from hot key generation system 315
to provide an output stream. The output stream of multiplexor
system 314 comprises the individual encoded data streams
representing the content signals of the individual channels as well
as any associated hot key signals.
[0042] The output stream of multiplexor system 314 may be applied
to a modulation system 318. Modulation system 318 may comprise a
primary as well as an optional back-up modulator. Modulation system
318 uses the output stream of multiplexor system 314 to modulate a
carrier frequency for transmission from the head-end system
201.
[0043] Modulation system 318 supplies the modulated carrier signal
to up converters 319. Up converters 319 may comprise primary as
well as optional back-up converters. Additionally, up converters
319 may comprise multiple stages of converters. The function of up
converters 319 is to increase the modulated carrier frequency to a
range that is suitable for transmission. Up converters 319 then
transmit the modulated carrier signal from head-end and data center
201 via network 320 to users.
[0044] Optionally, or in addition to modulation system 318, the
output of multiplexor system 314 may be applied to transport system
321 that may comprise a primary as well as an optional back-up
transport system. The function of the transport system 321 is to
prepare the output stream of multiplexor system 314 for
transmission over network 322. That is, transport system 321 places
the output stream of multiplexor system 314 into a format and
protocol appropriate for network 322. For example, the output
stream of multiplexor system may be placed into Internet Protocol
(IP) packets or placed into an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
channel by transport system 321.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating head-end and data center
processing for adding hot key signals to a transmitted signal
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. This process
may be performed by a system such as the hot key generation system
of the head-end and data center described above with reference to
FIG. 3 or any other system with similar capabilities.
[0046] First, at decision block 400, the system determines whether
a hot key signal should be added to the current content. This
determination may be made at head-end and data center 201. For
example, hot key generation portion 315 may perform a search of
electronic program guide or other programming information to find
related content. If head-end and data center 201 is connected to
the Internet, hot key generation portion 315 may extend this search
to web sites. That is, a search of Internet sites may be performed
based on information related to content detected from an electronic
program guide or from another search. For example, a search of
electronic program guide information may detect a professional
football game including the names of the teams. A search may then
be done on the rest of the electronic program guide for another
professional football game or other sports. Additionally, a search
of Internet sites may be done for sites related to professional
football or the teams involved.
[0047] Alternatively, hot key generation portion may be triggered
to generate a hot key signal by information or operation performed
by human operators. For example, an operation team, generating a
programming schedule may at the same time identify related content
and thereby indicate that a hot key signal should be generated for
that content.
[0048] If a hot key signal is to be added to the current content,
the hot key signal may be generated at processing block 405.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the hot key
signal may comprise a special purpose Internet Protocol (IP) packet
as described below with reference to FIG. 5. Alternatively, the hot
key signal may be any other type of digital signal or packet
suitable for transmission over the type of network being used and
capable of carrying information similar to that shown in FIG.
5.
[0049] Finally, at processing block 410, the hot key signal is
inserted into the content signal. That is, the hot key IP packet or
other signal is multiplexed with the content data stream as
described above with reference to FIG. 3.
[0050] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure,
alternate content may be pre-loaded or cached on the user's
equipment prior to transmission of the hot key signal. That is, the
head-end and data center may first send available alternate content
to the user's equipment such as an STB or gateway. The user's
equipment may cache the alternate content on a hard drive or other
large capacity storage device. Once the alternate content is
cached, a hot key informs the user of the availability of the
content. The user may then view the content, reject the content,
choose to view the content at a later time, or other possible
options.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one possible format for a
hot key data packet according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure. This example illustrates an IP data packet 500. The IP
data packet includes a header 501 and a body 502.
[0052] Header 501 includes a number of fields 503-511 that are
typically found in IP data packets. These fields include a source
port 503, a destination port 504, a sequence number 505, an
acknowledgement number 506, a data offset 507, a reserved field
508, a window field 509, checksum data 510, and an urgent pointer
511. It should be noted that such an IP data packet 500 may be sent
to multiple address using IP multicasting. Multicasting therefore
allows efficient transmission of the hot key signals from the
head-end and data center to users.
[0053] Body 502 may also include a number of fields 512-515. These
fields may include a hot key type 512, a content type 513, a
content location 514, and optionally a message field 515. In
various applications, the number of fields used, size of the
fields, type of data presented, format of the data, content of the
fields, etc. may vary. For example, in some cases not all of the
fields presented here may be used. In other cases, additional data
may be presented such as additional graphical or textual
information. Additionally, the data may be presented in a wide
variety of formats such as plain American Standard Code for
Information Interchange (ASCII) text, other binary representations
or even encrypted.
[0054] Regardless of format, hot key type field 512 may represent
the type of hot key signal being used. For example, the hot key
signal represented by IP data packet 500 may indicate that
alternate content is available on another channel or on a web site.
Alternatively, the hot key signal may indicate that alternate
content is available to be cached on the user's terminal
device.
[0055] Content type field 513 may represent the type, genre, or
other details about the alternate content. For example, this field
513 may be used to indicate that the alternate content is a
sporting event or movie. Of course, additional details may also be
included. For example, the field 513 may indicate that the
alternate content is an action movie and name the actors and
director. This information may be used by the user's terminal
device to judge the relevance of the hot key signal to the user as
will be discussed below.
[0056] Content location field 514 may indicate where the alternate
content is located. For example, this field 514 may indicate
another channel, a web site URL or indicate that the content has
been cached on the user's terminal device.
[0057] Optional message field 515 may include additional textual or
graphical information regarding the hot key or the alternate
content. For example, the message field 515 may contain a text
message to be displayed to the user providing details of the
alternate content. This message may be presented to the user
automatically or at his option to help the user decide whether to
accept or decline the hot key.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a user side system to
redirect a user to alternate content responsive to selection of an
embedded hot key according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure. As discussed above, the user side system may vary
significantly. The user side system comprising a terminal device,
STB, Gateway or similar device, performs functions such as
exchanging messages (including video-related data) over a network
with head-end and data center, receiving messages from a user input
device, such as a hand-held remote control unit, translating video
signals from a network-native format into a format that can be used
by televisions or other display devices, providing a video signal
to televisions or other display devices, and other functions.
[0059] The functionality of the user side system may reside in a
stand-alone device, literally a box that can be placed on, or at
least near, the television, that is similar in outward form to
conventional devices for receiving cable programs. The user side
system functionality could alternatively be performed by hardware
resident elsewhere, such as within the television or display
console, or by any suitably equipped terminal device. Since the
hardware may be proprietary to the service provider and may
generally be a physically independent device, the term set top box
is used here, but any type of terminal device with similar
functionality may be used.
[0060] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the user side system
comprises a STB 208. The STB 208 comprises a tuner, receiver,
demodulator 601, a demultiplexor 602, a decoder 603, a graphics
processor 604, a central processing unit (CPU) 605, an optional
hard disk drive 606 or other mass storage device, a memory 607, and
various possible inputs and outputs 608.
[0061] The tuner, receiver, demodulator 601 receives signals from
the service provider network 204 over any of a variety of media as
discussed above. Specifically, the tuner, receiver, demodulator 601
receives signals of a frequency band to which it is tuned and
demodulates the signals to remove content signals from a carrier
signal if any. Demodulated content signals are then supplied by the
tuner, receiver, and demodulator 601 to the demultiplexor 602.
[0062] The demultiplexor 602 receives the demodulated content
signals from the tuner, receiver, demodulator 601 and separates the
content into multiple data streams representing various channels.
The multiple data streams are then supplied as an input to the
decoder 603.
[0063] The decoder 603 receives the multiple data streams from the
demultiplexor 602 and decodes or decompresses the data streams
using an appropriate algorithm. For example, if the head-end and
data center compressed the video signals into an MPEG-2 data
stream, the decoder 603 will decode the MPEG-2 data stream from the
demultiplexor 602 to form a standard video signal. The video signal
from the decoder 603 is then supplied to the graphics processor
604.
[0064] The graphics processor 604 receives the decoded video
signals from the decoder 603 and processes the video signals to
reduce noise, provide amplifications, etc. Processed video signals
from the graphics processor 604 are supplied to the input/output
module 608. The input/output module 608 may provide a variety of
possible output types. For example, outputs may include but are not
limited to audio/video (A/V), radio frequency (RF), Sony/Phillips
digital interface (SPDIF), universal serial bus (USB), and
others.
[0065] The input/output module 608 also receives control signals
from the user. These control signals are typically infrared (IR) or
RF signals from a remote control unit. Control signals from the
user are then fed back from input/output module 608 to the CPU
605.
[0066] The CPU 605 executes instructions stored in the memory 607.
The memory 607 may comprise a random access memory (RAM) such as
flash memory, or other non-volatile memory. The instructions stored
in the memory 607, when executed by the CPU 605 cause the CPU 605
to perform various functions such as controlling the various
elements of the STB 208, receiving hot key signals, and switching
to alternate content responsive to selection of an embedded hot key
as will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.
[0067] Generally, a hot key signal will be received at the tuner,
receiver, demodulator 601 along with and embedded in content
signals from the head-end and data center and transmitted over
service provider network 204. The CPU 605 monitors the
demultiplexed data streams from the demultiplexor 602 for the
presence of relevant hot key signals.
[0068] The STB 208 may also contain an optional hard disk drive 606
or other mass storage device. The hard disk drive 606 allows the
STB 208 to cache alternate content for later viewing by the user.
If the CPU 605 detects hot key signals instructing content to be
cached, the demultiplexed data stream from the demultiplexor 602
may be saved on the hard disk drive 606. The still compressed
content is stored on the hard disk drive 606 until the user chooses
to view it. Once the user chooses to view the cached content, the
CPU 605 may retrieve the content from the hard disk drive 606 and
provide the compressed data stream to be decoded by the decoder
603, processed by the graphics processor 604, and output through
the input/output module 608.
[0069] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing on a user side
system for redirecting a user to alternate content responsive to
selection of an embedded hot key according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure. This process may be performed by a system such
as described above with reference to FIG. 6 or any other system
with similar capabilities.
[0070] First, at processing block 700, the system receives a hot
key signal from the service provider's network. As discussed above,
the hot key signal may be in the foam of a specialized IP packet or
another type of signal embedded in the content signal from the
service provider.
[0071] At decision block 705 a determination is made as to whether
the hot key signal is relevant to the particular user. Since
numerous hot key signals may be transmitted at any particular time,
the signals may be filtered before being presented to the user.
Such filtering may be based on any number of possible algorithms
and criteria. For example, only hot key signals related to a
channel that is presently being viewed may be considered relevant.
Another criteria for determining relevance of a hot key signal may
be choices of content types or genres which have been selected by
the user. Regardless of the algorithm or criteria used to judge
relevance, if the hot key signal is determined at decision block
705 to not be relevant, no further processing is performed.
[0072] If the hot key signal is determined at decision block 705 to
be relevant to the user, a hot key icon or other indication is
displayed to the user at processing block 710. As mentioned above,
this indication may be in the form of an icon placed on the screen,
a text message, a tone or even a verbal alert. Regardless of the
exact form, some indication is given to the user that a hot key has
been received.
[0073] At decision block 715 a determination is made as to whether
the user has accepted the hot key. As discussed above, the user may
use any of a variety of means to indicate acceptance of the hot
key. For example, different single or even multiple buttons on a
remote control may be pressed by the user to accept or decline the
alternate content. According to one embodiment, a single "hot key
button" may be present on the user's remote control that may be
pressed by the user whenever a hot key icon is present on the
television display. Regardless of the exact means of accepting or
declining the hot key, if it is determined at decision block 715
the user did not accept the hot key, no further processing is
performed.
[0074] If, at decision block 715, the user accepts the hot key, the
user is redirected to the alternate content at processing block
720.
[0075] At decision block 725 a determination is made as to whether
the user has finished consuming the alternate content. This
determination may be based on any of a variety of possible
criteria. For example, the user may press a button or series of
buttons on a remote control to indicate that he has finished
viewing the presented material. Alternatively, the user may use a
mouse or other pointing device of a remote control to select a
graphic on the display to indicate that he has finished viewing the
presented material.
[0076] Once a determination is made at decision block 725 that the
user is finished with the alternate content, a return process is
entered at processing block 730. This return process may include
simply returning the user to the previous content. Alternatively,
the return process may comprise presenting to the user other
available content based on other hot key signals. Another
alternative may include presenting a user with a number of choices
of how to proceed.
* * * * *