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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing directory information to users over a network and
comprising:
a directory service unit, said directory service unit including a memory
for storing directory information and information menus and interface
means for receiving requests for directory information from users and for
generating an alerting signal, and
a plurality of user interface units connectable through the network to said
directory service unit, each of said user interface unit being associated
with a telephone and a TV monitor of a user and including
means for detecting an alerting signal from said directory service unit,
said alerting signal indicating to said each of said user interface units
the type of information to be received thereafter, and for converting
information thereafter received from said directory service unit into a
form for video display at the user's TV monitor,
means for receiving user inputs and converting said user inputs to a string
of characters,
memory means for storing a character mapping table which maps said string
of characters to signalling information to be received by said directory
service unit and
a character processor for retrieving from said memory means said signalling
information mapping to said string of characters and for transmitting said
signalling information to said directory service unit through the network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said user interface units further
includes interface means for transmitting audio signals, which include
audible directory information, from said directory service unit to
telephone equipment of said user and
means, in the presence of said alerting signal, for transmitting signals
from said directory service unit to a video input of said TV monitor of
said user.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means, for detecting said alerting
signal and for converting information thereafter received into a form for
display includes a format processor comprising
a control processor,
a plurality of storage means defining memory screens for receiving
information from said control processor,
and brightness generator means connected to said storage means for
controlling the display at said user's TV monitor.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is a telephony network.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said telephony network employs the Analog
Display Service Interface (ADSI) protocol.
6. A method for providing video input signals for display at a user's TV
monitor based on information signals received over a network, said method
comprising the steps of:
storing screens of information based on said information signals received
over the network, wherein a first set of information signals forms a first
screen of information, a second set of information signals forms a second
screen of information and an Nth set of information signals forms an Nth
screen of information, wherein N is an integer, and wherein each of said
screens of information is characterized by a matrix of blocks, each of
said blocks having an associated bit in an "ON" or "OFF" state,
comparing the states of bits of corresponding blocks of said first through
said Nth screens,
generating brightness information including a "HIGH" state or a "DIM"
state, for each of said corresponding blocks of said screens by assigning
a "HIGH" state to said corresponding blocks wherein results of said
comparing step meets a set of predetermined comparison requirements and by
assigning a "DIM" state to said corresponding blocks wherein results of
said comparing step do not meet said set of predetermined comparison
requirements, and
controlling a video drive circuit based on said brightness information to
produce the video input signals for display at the user's TV monitor.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of detecting an
alerting signal prior to receiving said information signals over the
network, said alerting signal indicating that the subsequent information
signal is data representing video information.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of, in the absence of
receipt of said alerting signal, transmitting information signals, which
include audible directory information, received over the network to an
audio input of the user's TV monitor.
9. A system for providing information over a telephony network in the ADSI
protocol to a user's TV monitor, said system comprising:
a service unit including
a memory for storing information,
means for transmitting information signals over the telephony network to
users, including audio and data signals, based on information stored in
said memory, and
interface means for receiving information from users and for transmitting
an alerting signal to users, and
a plurality of user interface units connectable through the telephony
network to said service unit, said alerting signal indicating to said user
interface unit the type of information to be received thereafter, each of
said interface units being associated with a TV monitor of a user and
including
means for detecting said alerting signal from said service unit
and means for converting said data signals received from said service unit
and preceded by said alerting signal into video input signals for a user's
TV monitor, said converting means including
means for storing screens of information based on said information signals
wherein a first set of information signals forms a first screen of
information, a second set of information signals forms a second screen of
information and an Nth set of information signals forms an Nth screen of
information, wherein N is an integer, and wherein each of said screens of
information is characterized by a matrix of blocks, each of said blocks
having an associated bit in an "ON" or "OFF" state,
means for comparing the states of bits of corresponding blocks of said
first through said Nth screens,
means for generating brightness information including a "HIGH" state or a
"DIM" state, for each of said corresponding blocks of said screens by
assigning a "HIGH" state to said corresponding blocks wherein results of
said comparing step meets a set of predetermined comparison requirements
and by assigning a "DIM" state to said corresponding blocks wherein
results of said comparing step do not meet said set of predetermined
comparison requirements, and
means for controlling a video drive circuit based on said brightness
information to produce the video input signals for display at the user's
TV monitor.
10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for detecting an
alerting signal and, absent the detection of said alerted signal, for
handling information signals subsequently received over the telephone
network as including audible directory information.
11. An arrangement for converting data signals received from a directory
service unit over a network into video signals for a user's TV monitor,
comprising:
means for storing screens of information based on said information signals
received over the network, wherein a first set of information signals
forms a first screen of information, a second set of information signals
forms a second screen of information and an Nth set of information signals
forms an Nth screen of information, wherein N is an integer, and wherein
each of said screens of information is characterized by a matrix of
blocks, each of said blocks having an associated bit in an "ON" or "OFF"
state,
means for comparing the states of bits of corresponding blocks of said
first through said Nth screens,
means for generating brightness information including a "HIGH" state or a
"DIM" state, for each of said corresponding blocks of said screens by
assigning a "HIGH" state to said corresponding blocks wherein results of
said comparing step meets a set of predetermined comparison requirements
and by assigning a "DIM" state to said corresponding blocks wherein
results of said comparing step do not meet said set of predetermined
comparison requirements, and
means for controlling a video drive circuit based on said brightness
information to produce the video input signals for display at the user's
TV monitor. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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RELATED APPLICATION
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/097,509, entitled Method and System for
Automated Service Script Consolidation and Downloading to
Telecommunications CPE with Displays, filed on Jul. 27, 1994, for inventor
D. T. Hou and assigned to the assignee hereof, contains subject matter
related to that of the present application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the Analog Display Service Interface (ADSI)
protocol and specifically to a system and method for providing directory
information to users over a telephony network employing the ADSI protocol.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many magazines, newspapers, and other publications have built their
readership around the growing market of television (TV) viewers who desire
TV program information. Many cable TV networks have even designated a TV
channel for providing nothing other than the date, time, and channel, at
which TV programs will be presented. These conventional sources of TV
program information are only useful if they are readily available to the
TV viewer when the viewer desires the information. Unless the viewer is a
regular subscriber of a publication or cable TV network which provides
this information, these conventional sources may not be sufficiently
accessible to be useful to the TV viewer. But even if the viewer were a
subscriber, these conventional sources may not be cost effective if the
viewer only occasionally makes reference to the program information.
Another drawback of publications containing program information is that TV
viewers may not be provided with current program information.
Specifically, changes in program formats, scheduling of special
broadcasts, and delays in program start times which occur after the
publication has gone to press may not be reflected in the publication.
Although program listings on cable TV are online and are capable of being
periodically updated to reflect program changes and to provide more
current program information, this program information source has other
drawbacks. In particular, program listings on cable TV are typically
presented in a continuous scrolling fashion, and the format of information
is typically pre-set to include the time, channel, and title of each
program being shown on the current day. Therefore, TV viewers desiring
specific program information may have to wait while screens of other
program information scroll by before reaching the desired program
information.
Another drawback of conventional sources of program information is that the
users have no interactive capabilities to narrow the scope of the program
information being provided to only that desired by the user. For example,
the user does not have the flexibility to request program listings by
category (e.g. news, sports, drama, comedy, education) or to specify the
time and date of the desired listing. Furthermore, the user does not have
the flexibility to obtain a detailed description of any program appearing
in the listing. Although some publications provide written detailed
descriptions of programs appearing in the listing, such written
descriptions may not adequately capture the action, intrigue, and mystery
of the program such that readers can envision the contents of the program.
A number of interactive video systems have been described in the prior art
which could be utilized to provide program listings to subscribers on
demand. (For descriptions of such interactive video systems, see,
Communications Architecture and Method Of Distributing Information
Services, U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,474, issued Aug. 23, 1994; PSTN Architecture
for Video-On-Demand Services, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,347, issued Sep. 21,
1993: Audio and Video Transmission and Receiving System, U.S. Pat. No.
5,132,992, issued Jul. 21, 1992: Store and Forward Video System, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,130,792, issued Jul. 14, 1992: Communications Architecture and
Method of Distributing Information Services, U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 07/884,516, filed May 15, 1992 and allowed Aug. 19, 1994; and Digital
lnteractive Communication System, U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,849, issued Dec. 20,
1988.)
A drawback of many prior interactive video systems is that the user is
required to purchase expensive customer premises equipment (CPE) in order
to access information. Additionally, interactive video systems, which are
primarily designed to support the transport of enhanced video, are
"overkill" for users who only want program information, and therefore do
not need the capabilities and associated costs of an interactive video
system.
Realizing the drawbacks of using previous video interactive systems in
providing program listings, an object of our invention is a system and a
method of providing to users directory information, comprising TV program
listings and similar information, on a cost-effective basis and utilizing
subscriber's existing equipment with minimal additions. Given the fact
that many potential users of directory information are also telephone
subscribers and that the telephony network is an embedded infrastructure
reaching most potential directory information users, a further object of
our invention is to use the telephony network as the backbone of our
system and method.
Recently, the Analog Display Service Interface (ADSI) protocol was
developed as a standard for transferring voice and data in the telephony
network between network service providers and telephone subscribers. (For
more details on the ADSI protocol, see, Generic Requirements for an SPCS
to Customer Premises Equipment Data lnterface for Analog Display Services,
TR-NWT-001273, December 1992.) The protocol was primarily developed as a
result of the desire of network service providers to transmit data to
subscribers' CPE, such as screen-based telephones, to assist the
subscriber in accessing network voice services and thus increasing
subscribers' use of network voice services, such as CLASS.SM. and Custom
Calling Services (CCS).
CLASS is a Service Mark of Bellcore.
Screen-based telephones comprise screen displays and context-sensitive soft
keys, and the telephone screen displays provide users with context
sensitive menus, step by step prompts, visual indicators of the services
status based on data received from network service providers to facilitate
easy access to network voice services. This existing standard protocol for
handling the transfer of voice and data between subscriber's CPE and
network service providers, however, does not provide for the display of
information at a conventional TV monitor associated with the user.
Attempting to present at a TV monitor ADSI data signals intended for
display on an LCD screen of a ADSI screen-based telephone would result in
an unsatisfactory succession of jittery or flickering display on the TV
monitor, which is particularly disturbing and irritating to the user.
Accordingly, a further object of our invention is a system and method for
providing users with directory information utilizing the ADSI standard
protocol.
Therefore, in summary, objects of our invention include a system and a
method for providing on demand directory information including program
listings and similar information utilizing the telephony network and the
ADSI standard protocol as the network backbone. To further minimize cost
and complexity of providing directory information to users, an object of
our invention is to connect our system to users' conventional TV monitors
for presenting directory information. A further object is to permit the
user to select interactively the directory information that is desired and
to request detailed descriptions of programs in the directory, if
available. A further object of our invention is a system and method for
providing program descriptions to users in the form of text as well as
audio to permit users to envision more fully the contents of the programs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects of our invention are a system and method for accessing directory
information via the telephony network and presenting the directory
information to users at their conventional TV monitors. Under our system
and method, users can interactively access listings of TV programs by
network, time of presentation, category, etc., and can receive detailed
descriptions of programs in the form of audio or text. Our system
comprises a directory service unit, a telephony network, such as the
public switched telephony network, and multiple user interface units
connected to users' telephone and TV equipment. The directory service unit
and the user interface units are connected via the telephone network and
communicate using the ADSI standard protocol.
The directory service unit receives directory information from directory
information providers and processes and stores this information for
subsequent transmission to requesting users. The directory service unit
also receives users' requests and interactive inputs for directory
information in the form of DTMF digits and responds by retrieving
requested directory information from memory and transmitting this
information via the telephony network to the user interface units of the
requesting users.
At the user interface unit, directory information received from the
directory service unit is processed from the ADS format and further
processed, in accordance with an aspect of our invention for presentation
at the user's TV monitor. Specifically, directory information transmitted
as data signals is processed for display on the screen of the user's TV
monitor, and directory information transmitted as a voice signal, such as
audio directory descriptions, is output to the audio input of the user's
TV monitor. In processing data signals for display on the user's TV
monitor, successive screens of directory information, each representing a
group of data signals, are each sequentially stored in one of N memory
stores, and corresponding bits of information from each screen held in
memory are compared to generated brightness information. The brightness
information coupled with black burst and color subcarrier signals, is used
to generate a video signal for display on the user's TV monitor. The user
interface unit also receives infrared signals from the infrared remote
control. The infrared signals are converted into local input commands such
that the user can locally change the appearance of information on the
user's TV monitor (i.e. highlight program entries) or into DTMF digits
compatible with the ADSI format such that the user can generate directory
requests and interactive inputs from the infrared remote control.
To access directory information, the user dials up the directory service
unit and establishes a call connection. The directory service unit
responds by sending an ADSI data signal to the user interface unit, which
signal contains a menu of directories available for selection. The data
signal is converted to TV format and displayed on the user's TV screen. On
receiving the user's directory selection, the directory service unit
retrieves from memory the selected directory and transmits it to the user
interface unit where the directory is similarly converted and displayed. A
user may also request audio descriptions of particular programs which are
presented to the user at the audio system of the user's TV monitor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 depicts, in accordance with our invention, our inventive system for
accessing directory information, on demand, via a telephony network
employing the analog digital service interface (ADSI) protocol which
directory information is displayed on the users' conventional TV
equipment.
FIG. 2A depicts, in accordance with our invention, an illustrative
embodiment of our directory service unit.
FIG. 2B shows, in accordance with our invention, a flow diagram of our
method for storing directory information received from directory
information providers at the directory service unit.
FIG. 3A depicts, in accordance with our invention, an illustrative
embodiment of our user interface unit.
FIGS. 3B and 3C show, in accordance with our invention, a flow diagram of
our method for converting from ADSI signals to TV format.
FIG. 3D depicts, in accordance with our invention, an illustrative
embodiment of our format processor.
FIG. 3E shows, in accordance with our invention, a flow diagram of our
method converting infrared signals from the infrared remote control of the
user's TV monitor to ADSI signals.
FIG. 4 depicts, in accordance with our invention, another illustrative
embodiment of our user interface unit which employs an ADSI screen-based
telephone.
FIG. 5 depicts in accordance with our invention, an embodiment of our
system, wherein the user interface unit 400 connects to a directory
service processor, which controls the user's conventional video cassette
recorder (VCR).
FIG. 6 shows, in accordance with our invention, a flow diagram of our
inventive method for accessing directory information and presenting the
directory information at the user's TV monitor.
The organization and operation of our invention will be better understood
from a consideration of the detailed description of the illustrative
embodiments thereof, which follow, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Our invention is a system and method for users to access directory
information, on demand, via a telephony network employing the analog
digital service interface (ADSI) protocol, which directory information is
displayed on users' conventional TV equipment. Our inventive system 100 is
shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a directory service unit 200, a telephony
network 300, and multiple user interface units 400 connected to users'
telephone equipment 500 and TV equipment 550. The directory service unit
200 receives, via the telephony network 300, requests from users for
directory service and provides directory information to requesting users
on demand. In an embodiment of our inventive system, the directory service
unit 200 and user interface units communicate with one another via the
telephony network using the ADSI standard protocol.
The ADSI protocol includes a set of messages and rules for the directory
service unit and user interface units to follow while communicating with
one another. Under the ADSI protocol, the directory service unit. 200 has
the capabilities to transmit different types of signals through the
telephony network 300 to user interface units 400. These types of signals
include voice and data coded in frequency-shift keying (FSK) digital
signalling format. Under the ADSI protocol, the directory service unit
also generates a CPE Alert Signal (CAS), which is a tone transmitted prior
to data signals being sent to alert the user interface unit that the
signal to follow is data and should be handled accordingly. The directory
service unit waits for the user interface unit to acknowledge the CAS tone
prior to transmitting the data signal. The CAS tone also causes the talk
path over which voice communication takes place to be muted for a period
of time sufficient for the data information to be transported to the user
interface unit. Under the ADSI protocol, the user interface units
communicate with the directory service unit by transmitting Dual Tone
Multi-Frequency (DTMF) digits.
A detailed description of the directory service unit 200 is depicted in
FIG. 2A, which unit includes a memory store 210, a directory server 220,
an information processor 240, and an ADSI interface 230. Directory
information is stored in memory store 210. Such directory information
includes listings of TV programs to be shown on broadcast and cable TV
networks arranged by network, TV channel, time of presentation, and
category of program (e.g., sports, news, movies, daytime series), listings
of a calendar of events by locality, listings of movies playing at
cinemas, and similar information. The memory store 210 also includes menus
of directory information to be presented to users to assist them in
selecting desired directory information. In addition, the memory store 210
may contain program descriptions, in the form of text or audio, describing
in greater detail any of the programs or events appearing in any of the
directory listings. For example, the memory store 210 may contain detailed
descriptions including the topic of discussion or the guests to appear on
a talk show program, highlights of an upcoming episode of a day time soap
opera, or the starting pitchers for a baseball game listed in the
directory of programs.
FIG. 2B depicts a flow diagram of our method 250 for storing directory
information received from directory information providers at the directory
service unit 200 using the information processor 240. The information
processor 240 of the directory service unit 200 receives directory
information and program descriptions to be processed for subsequent
transmission to requesting users. The information and descriptions
received by the information processor 240 are input locally at lead 245 or
from the telephony network 300 via conventional data modems for data or
local analog to digital conversion equipment for voice (Step 260 of FIG.
2B). The directory information and program descriptions are then processed
at the information processor 240) into a form suitable for transmission to
requesting users and stored in memory store 210 (Steps 270 and 280). The
information processor 240 also creates, updates, and stores in the memory
store 210 menus of directories available to the users as well as the
directories of programs, based upon information received from directory
information providers (Step 290).
Since program descriptions can be input over the telephony network 300,
which is particularly suited for the transmission of voice signals, audio
descriptions of programs spoken in the voice of individuals associated
with the programs or event can be received at the information processor
240, stored in memory store 210, and played back to requesting users with
the integrity of the speaker's voice intact. Specifically, audio detailed
descriptions may be spoken in the voice of the program moderator,
commentator, or star performer, or the mayor of the locality where an
event is to be held to give the user a more personal invitation to watch
the program or attend the event being described.
The ADSI interface 230 of the directory service unit 200 receives, in ADSI
format (DTMF digits), requests for directory service and other inputs from
user interface units 400. Additionally, the directory service unit 200
receives via the telephony network 300 directory information and program
descriptions from directory information providers. Transmissions from
directory information providers need not be in ADSI format, and therefore
need not be converted at the ADSI interface, but are transferred directly
to the information processor 240. DTMF digits transmitted by a user
interface unit in ADSI format and received by the ADSI interface 230 are
converted from the ADSI format into a form usable by the directory server
220. After conversion, the ADSI interface 230 sends users' requests and
inputs to directory server 220. Data information sent by the directory
server to users are converted to ADSI format at the ADSI interface and
transmitted to the telephony network for further transmission to users.
The ADSI interface precedes the transmission of the information signals
with a CAS tone to alert the user interface unit of the coming data
transmission, and the interface also waits for a specific DTMF to be
returned to acknowledge the CAS tone.
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