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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interactive television information
system and, more particularly, to an interactive information system that
allows a user to view a sequential display of informational video segments
and to actively respond to the informational segments by switching to
related television services in a single step.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As communication technology continues to expand, individuals are faced with
an ever increasing number of information sources. For example, many cable
television services offer dozens of different channels from which a user
can choose. Some available satellite systems claim to offer hundreds of
channels and it is widely expected that cable services will expand in an
effort to match or exceed this capability. Similar gains in the quantity
of available programs and services are anticipated in areas of
communication other than television.
This dramatic increase in the amount of available programs and services
greatly increases the amount and type of information accessible to a user.
One common form of information accessible to users is advertising or
product promotion. For example, home shopping networks are television
channels dedicated to displaying and advertising various products.
Consumers can typically purchase desired products by calling a telephone
number displayed with the product.
Television users are also provided product information through
"infomercials." A typical informercial provides information and
promotional material about a specific product or product line for an
extended period of time, typically for thirty minutes to an hour.
Infomercials generally include interviews with satisfied customers and
detailed examples of how to use the product. Again, a user can generally
purchase desired products by calling or writing to a source identified in
the informercial.
A problem with these services is that a user can only passively watch
information and cannot interactively respond to the informational
messages. For example, a customer who desires to purchase a product
displayed cannot do so through the television, but has to use a different
communication medium, such as a telephone or a mail service. This process
is inconvenient and prone to error in that the user may incorrectly record
or miss the opportunity to record the telephone number or address,
resulting in a lost opportunity to purchase the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an interactive television information system
in which a user can immediately respond to informational messages without
the need for another communication medium, such as a telephone or a mail
service. The interactive television system provides informational messages
that may prompt a user to select an associated action. If the action is
selected, the system transfers control to another channel or service
related to the informational message.
In one embodiment, an interactive information system is incorporated into a
viewing system which includes a head end in two-way communication with a
plurality of viewer stations. The viewer stations are operatively coupled
to a controller and an input device, such as a remote control, for
providing user commands to the controller.
The head end provides to the viewer stations a plurality of video segments,
such as informational clips, that are sequentially displayed. Some of the
video segments may be associated with other channels or services in the
interactive viewing system. The user may launch the channel or service
associated with a particular video segment by depressing a single button
on the input device while that segment is being displayed. Upon launching
a new channel or service, the system may automatically provide information
associated with the user or the users' selection to that channel or
service.
The interactive information system can be used in a variety of
applications. For example, the video segments may be product
advertisements. In response to a user's selection of an advertised
product, the system may launch a service that allows the user to purchase
the product. Additionally, the system may provide information (e.g., name
of product, advertised price, user's identification or credit card number,
etc.) to the launched service to facilitate and simplify the purchase of
the product.
The interactive information system may also be used for a variety of other
purposes, such as market research, polling, voting, promoting programs on
other channels and the like.
These features and others of the present invention will be more readily
apparent from the following detailed description of an exemplary preferred
embodiment which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive viewing system incorporating an
interactive information system in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of a viewer station illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top-level flowchart of an exemplary interactive information
system illustrating one manner of sequencing through a plurality of video
segments and launching another application based on a user command.
FIG. 4 is an illustrative display of a video segment displayed by the
illustrated interactive information system.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the illustrated interactive information system
showing one manner of sequencing through a plurality of video segments
including an initialization routine.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing one example of a hierarchical structure
of objects used to implement the plurality of video segments of FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7A, B, C and D illustrate an exemplary data structure using the
hierarchical structure of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
A simple block diagram of an exemplary interactive viewing system 10 into
which the present interactive information system can be incorporated is
illustrated in FIG. 1. The interactive viewing system 10 has a central
head end 12 that supplies programming over a network 14 to multiple viewer
stations 16 that are typically located in the homes of system users or
subscribers. Each viewer station typically includes an interactive station
controller 18, a video display 20, and a user input device 22. The viewer
stations 16 accept user input and can, in addition to receiving
programming from the head end 12, transmit information back to the head
end. In this manner, the interactive viewing system 10, allows for
independent two-way communication between the head end 12 and each of the
viewer stations 16.
The interactive viewing system 10, which is an interactive television
system in the illustrated example, serves as an operating environment for
implementing the interactive information system in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Of course, it should be
appreciated that the interactive information system of the present
invention can be implemented in a variety of other environments and may be
adapted to a wide variety of systems. In particular, the programming
provided by the head end 12 is not limited to traditional television
programs. Rather, the programming may include standard analog video
signals (e.g., NTSC, PAL or SECAM), digital video signals (e.g., MPEG1 or
MPEG2), digital information related to computer-executed applications, or
other types of programming. The present information system is suitable for
use with systems offering a variety of program formats and types.
For purposes of simplicity, the interactive viewing system 10 is described
with reference to widely available systems and standards, including
conventional analog television receivers and cable-based video networks.
It should also be appreciated, however, that the particular components of
the interactive viewing system 10 may be implemented in accordance with a
variety of conventions, standards, or technologies without departing from
the underlying concepts of the present invention. For example, the
conventional analog television receivers and cable-based video network
illustrated in FIG. 1 could be implemented as digital video receivers and
a satellite downlink transmission system, respectively. Likewise, the
cable-based network could be an electrically conductive cable network, an
optically conductive cable network, some other network technology, or a
combination of these technologies.
As shown in FIG. 1, the head end 12 of the illustrated interactive viewing
system includes a digital local area network (LAN) 24 that includes
multiple computer servers 26 for performing various interactive system
applications or functions and a digital communication gateway 28 to a wide
area network (WAN) (not shown). The servers 26, which store and process
information at the head end, may include, for example, service and
application servers 30, continuous media servers 32, and electronic
program guide data servers 34.
The service and application servers 30 process interactive service requests
from subscribers and provide services and applications associated with
network security, monitoring, object storage, financial transactions, data
access, and other administrative functions. The continuous media servers
32 provide storage and on-demand or near on-demand delivery of digitized
video information. The digitized video information can include video
programming of substantially any duration ranging from individual image
frames and brief video clips to fill-length motion pictures. The digitized
video information may be used in conjunction with a variety of
applications, such as the present information system. A viewer can access
such applications by tuning to a designated channel on their interactive
viewing system 10 as will be further described.
The electronic program guide data server 34 stores program schedule
information. For example, the program schedule information may include a
program schedule database that identifies what program is available on a
given channel at a given time. The program schedule information may also
contain additional information about any particular program, such as, a
brief description of the program, the stars of the program, a link to a
video preview (stored on the continuous media server 32) for the program,
whether the program is closed captioned, whether the program is stereo or
a variety of other information. Such information is commercially
available, for example, from Tribune Media Services or TV Data, both of
Glens Falls, N.Y. Preferably, such information is delivered to the head
end 12 via the digital communication gateway 28 and an associated wide
area network.
As used here, the servers 26 may include various types of memories for
storing information and various types of processors for processing
information. Various functions of the servers described here may be
combined so as to be carried out by a single server or may be divided and
allocated among more than one server. Moreover, there may likely be a
variety of functions and services carried out by the servers 26 which are
not described here. The servers 26 communicate with the viewer stations 16
via a network communication switch 36, such as an asynchronous transfer
mode (ATM) switch. For communication from the servers 26 to the viewer
stations 16, the network communication switch 36 arranges digital
information from the servers 26 in a standard bidirectional digital
communication format for transmission over the network 14. For
communication from the viewer stations 16 to the servers 26, the network
communication switch 36 converts digital information from a standard
bidirectional digital communication format for delivery to the servers 26.
In the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1, digital information from the
servers 26 is frequency modulated by a digital modulator system 38 for
transmission over the network 14. Digital information that includes video
programming is preferably modulated at frequencies greater than the
standard analog television frequency range, which is 50-450 MHz under the
NTSC television standard. Digital information that does not include video
programming may be modulated at baseband frequencies that are less than
the standard analog television frequencies, modulated at frequencies
between the standard analog television frequencies, or modulated at
frequencies above the standard analog television frequencies.
The head end 12 may be provided with analog signals through an analog feed
40. The analog signals provided to the head end may be standard analog
video signals for conventional cablecast of television programs or other
analog information. A multiplexing system 42 receives and mixes the
frequency modulated digital information from the digital modulator system
38 and analog signals obtained from the analog feed 40 and delivers a
composite signal to the interactive network 14 where it is made available
to viewer stations 16. A reverse channel receiver system 44 receives and
demodulates communications from the viewer stations 16 for processing by
the servers 26.
Preferably, the network 14 carries such bidirectional communication between
the viewer stations 16 and the head end 12. Alternatively, communication
between the viewer stations 16 and the head end 12 can be carried by
different communication systems. For example, communication from the head
end 12 to the viewer stations 16 could be carried on a satellite downlink
while communication in the other direction is carried on a terrestrial
modem link.
A simplified block diagram of an exemplary viewer station 16 is illustrated
in FIG. 2. The illustrated viewer station includes an interactive station
controller 18 which is sometimes referred to as a set top box, at least
one video display 20 such as a television, and an input device 22 such as
an infrared remote control. Although it is shown distinct from the video
display 20, the interactive station controller 18 could alternatively be
integral with the video display 20.
The interactive station controllers 18 transmit information to and receive
information from the head end 12. The information typically relates to
applications executed by processors residing at the head end 12 and the
interactive station controller 18, as described below in greater detail.
The interactive station controller 18 controls the video display 20 and
communicates with the head end 12. Controlling the video display 20 of a
conventional analog type may include, for example, delivering an analog
video signal directly to the video display 20 for display on a screen 46,
converting a digital video signal to a suitable analog form for display,
generating a video signal for display, or executing an application that
includes displays on video display 20.
The interactive station controller 18 includes an input 48 from the network
14 that delivers communications or information from the central head end
12 to a communication interpretation system 50 having, for example, an
analog television demodulator 52, a digital video decoder 54, and a
digital network communication interface 56. The demodulator 52 functions
as a conventional television tuner for selecting one or more of multiple
conventional analog video signals present at the input 48. The video
decoder 54 functions as a digital equivalent of demodulator 50 for
selecting one or more of multiple digital video signals present at input
48. The network communication interface 56 communicates with digital
information which may be carried over baseband frequencies below the
conventional analog video signal frequencies, over frequencies between
conventional analog video signal frequencies, and over frequencies above
conventional analog video signal frequencies.
A central processing unit (CPU) 58 in conjunction with a memory system 60
controls operation of the interactive station controller 18. For example,
the CPU 58 controls selection of analog-based programming, digital-based
programming or applications delivered from the head end 12, accesses or
activates selected applications, or delivers information to or requests
information from the head end 12.
The interactive station controller 18 also may include a graphics subsystem
62 that is controlled by the CPU 58 to form graphics images, including
user interface displays, on the video display 20. A video processor
subsystem 63, also controlled by the CPU 58, provides control in
generating and displaying video images. A mixer 64 receives the
programming or applications signals received from the central head end 12
or CPU 58, graphics image signals from the graphics subsystem 62, and
video image signals from the video processor subsystem 63 and delivers a
mixed image signal to the video display set 20. As used here, mixing may
include compositing, blending, and masking of image sources such as
digital video, analog video, locally generated graphics and various
overlays and bitmap images.
The interactive station controller 18 also includes an infrared receiver
and decoder system 66 that receives user input from the user input device
22 and delivers the input to the CPU 58. The input device 22 can be used
by a user of the interactive viewer system 10 to input commands. The input
device 22 is provided with a number of keys which may be pressed by a user
to input commands. Based upon the keys pressed by a user, the input device
22 generates and emits infrared signals. These signals are detected by the
infrared receiver and decoder system 66 of the interactive station
controller 18, decoded, and provided to the CPU 58. The commands may be
processed by the interactive station controller 18, may be communicated to
the head end 12 for processing, or a combination of both. In the example
system illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 22 is a hand-held infrared
remote control.
The illustrated input device includes at least a menu key 68, an action key
70, a channel up/down key 72, a navigation key 74, and a numeric keypad
76. Using the channel up/down key, the navigation key or the numeric
keypad, the user may launch the informational service application by
turning to a designated channel. The use and function of the action key 70
on the input device 22 is described further below.
The illustrated interactive television information system sequentially
displays a plurality of video segments on a user's video display. At least
one of the video segments is associated with another product, program, or
service available to the user on the interactive viewing system 10. For
example, a video segment may be a promotional clip of a full-length
program available on a pay-per-view channel. If the user wants to purchase
the full-length program, the user can select the video segment by, for
example, pressing the action key 70 while the video segment is being
shown. Upon selection of the video segment, the interactive information
system transfers control to the pay-per-view channel for ordering or
viewing of the selected program. Of course, a video segment could be
associated with a variety of programs, services or applications other than
a pay-per-view channel. Upon selection of such a video segment, the
information service system would transfer control to the appropriate
program, service or application. In some instances, the transfer may
include the transfer of information for use by the associated program,
service or application. For example, a parameter (e.g. title) such as
state information associated with the currently displayed video segment
may be transferred to the launched application.
FIG. 3 is a top-level flowchart of an exemplary interactive information
system adapted to provide informational messages and allow a user to
immediately respond to the informational messages without the need for
another communication medium, such as a telephone or a mail service. In
steps 78 and 80, video segments are provided by the head end 12 and are
sequentially displayed on the video display 20. The video segments may be
any desired length, but typically range from a few seconds to a few
minutes. At least some of the video segments are associated with one or
more of many programs, services or applications available in the
interactive viewing system. Although the video segments are sequentially
displayed, they may be displayed in any desired order. In some
embodiments, the content or sequence of the video sequence may be
specially customized for a particular user or category of user.
As illustrated in step 81, the system monitors the input device 22 to
detect whether a user has activated any commands. In the illustrated
system, monitoring is accomplished by the CPU 58 (FIG. 2), which receives
information from the infrared receiver and decoder system 66. Other
systems may be used to monitor for user input. For example, the input
device can be a computer keyboard, joystick, or the like which contain
integrated circuits that monitor for user input. Voice recognition
circuits may also be used, so that the interactive viewing system may
monitor for user audible commands.
As represented at step 82, the interactive information system may launch an
application or service associated with the currently displayed video
segment in response to a user input command. By launching another
application or service, the information system directly communicates with
other applications and services in the interactive viewing system. If no
user input commands are detected, then the information system continues to
sequentially display video segments in step 80.
Step 83 illustrates that the interactive information system may also
transfer a parameter such as state information to the launched
application. The parameter may be associated with the video that was being
displayed when the user activated the input device. Alternatively, the
transferred information may be associated with the user of the system.
Transferring a parameter may be a powerful tool allowing different
applications and services in the interactive viewing system to communicate
together. For example, a viewer may view a video segment related to a
product that they wish to purchase. Upon activating a command on the input
device, the interactive information system can launch a check out window
application to allow the user to purchase that product. The information
system may pass to the check out window information, such as an item
number or name of the desired product, needed by the check out window
application to complete the desired transaction.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary display 84 on the video screen 46 used by
the exemplary interactive information system. The illustrated display
represents one of a plurality of video segments displayed as indicated in
step 80 of FIG. 3. The display 84 is a composite video image having a
number of visual elements, such as an information panel 85, a violator
panel 86, and a channel logo 88. The information panel 85 appears as a
bottom layer with the violator panel and channel logo overlapping a lower
portion of the information panel. The information panel 85 covers a
majority of the screen and is the region where video segments are
displayed. The illustrated information panel shows, for example, a short
video promotion of a program or service that is available on another
channel in the interactive television system, as will be further
described.
The violator panel 86 is a bitmap graphic informational display layered on
top of the information panel and can be used for displaying text. The text
provides additional information or highlights concepts related to a
currently displayed informational message on the information panel. For
example, the illustrated violator panel 86 indicates that the
informational message relates to a program playing on channel 8. In this
manner, the violator panel can be used to inform or prompt a user of
various options associated with the displayed informational message. For
example, activating the action key 70 during the display illustrated in
FIG. 4 will automatically change the interactive television channel to
channel 8, where the current movie, service or show is being displayed.
Thus, depression of a single key will act to launch another application
available through the interactive television information service system.
The channel logo 88 is also a bitmap graphic layered on top of the
information panel and is used in the illustrated embodiment to identify
the currently viewed channel, such as a network company or a third-party
marketing company. The bitmaps may be created using a 24-bit palette and
then converted to a single 8-bit palette using a dithering algorithm. The
described layout of the video display may of course be altered based on
the application. For example, the information panel and channel logo may
be excluded altogether from the display if desired.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example software routine for the illustrated
interactive information system. At the time of system initialization 89,
as a first step 90, the information service system reads a script database
and a sound file from the head end continuous media servers 32. The script
database and sound file provide data such as timing, sizing, bitmap
overlays, and the order that video segments are, to be displayed so that
the information system can sequence through a series of video segments.
In the illustrated embodiment, the script database and sound file are
stored in memory 60 (FIG. 2) in the interactive station controller 18 as
shown by step 92. A user can launch the information system by using the
input device to change to a channel associated with the system. When the
information service system is launched, all state information is reset at
step 94. Thus, after initialization, the first video segment in the
sequence will be displayed.
Step 96 is an entry point for a main loop shown by arrow 100. Step 96
indicates that the script is interpreted. Interpretation of the script is
a process (described more fully below) by which the information system
determines which video segments and bitmap overlays are to be displayed.
After the script is interpreted, step 102 indicates that the video segments
and bitmaps to be displayed are requested from the head end. During this
step, the information system requests the head end continuous media
servers 32 to provide a desired video segment and any necessary bitmaps
based on the information system's interpretation of the script. The
bitmaps may contain graphics information necessary for the display of the
violator panel 86 and channel logo 88 (FIG. 4).
Bitmaps read from the head end are stored in the memory 60 as is indicated
by step 104. Preferably the bitmaps will be stored in a cache memory (not
shown) located in the memory 60. Alternatively a dedicated cache may also
be used. The stored bitmaps may be used later by the information service
system to avoid unnecessary repetition of reading bitmaps from the head
end.
The video segments and bitmaps are then displayed on the video display 84
as is represented by box 106. The display may be similar in appearance to
that shown in FIG. 4. Of course, those in the art will recognize that a
wide variety of displays and display elements could also be used in
implementing the interactive information system.
State information is updated and stored in memory 60 during this process,
as shown by step 108, to indicate the current status of the script, such
as which video segment is currently being displayed. As indicated by arrow
100, after updating the status, the information system will loop back to
the interpretation step 96 so that it will repetitively interpret the
script and request video segments and bitmaps to be displayed. Thus, the
information system will sequentially play video clips as called out by the
script database until the user takes action.
As illustrated at step 112 of FIG. 5, a user may exit the information
system by changing the channel using input device 22. The system may be
configured so that the step 112 can occur anywhere between steps 96 and
108. Alternatively, the time during which a user may change the channel,
can be restricted. For example, the system may be configured to accept
user commands only when the violator panel 86 (FIG. 4) is displayed. This
configuration may help to avoid the misinterpretation of a command given
near a transition from one video segment to another. The user may also
press the action key, illustrated at step 114. Pressing the action key
causes the interactive information system to perform a predetermined
action, such as launching another application or service, associated with
the displayed video segment. By launching another application or service,
the information system directly communicates with other applications and
services as will be further described. The applications or services can be
located on other channels or they can be associated with the information
system itself.
The user may reenter 116 the information system after exiting or launching
another application by returning to the designated channel assigned to the
information system. Upon reentry, the state information will be reset so
that the information system will start the script at the beginning.
However, any cached bitmaps that remain intact from earlier use and may be
re-utilized by the information system.
FIGS. 6 and 7A-7D show the hierarchical data structure 120 of objects used
by the illustrated embodiment of the information system to implement the
sequential display of a plurality of video segments and to identify
parameters that should be passed if the action key 70 is depressed. The
structure also provides additional information such as the location of
bitmap displays (text, channel logos, etc.) overlapping the video
segments. FIG. 6 is a generic schematic diagram showing the
interrelationship between different objects in the information system
while FIG. 7 is a specific example of the hierarchial data structure 120.
This data structure defines the script of video segments to be displayed
and is interpreted in step 96 of FIG. 5.
Illustrated from top to bottom in FIG. 6, the hierarchical structure
includes at the top-most level a schedule object 122 (also called the
schedule) followed by script objects 124 (also called scripts), page
objects 126 (also called pages), control frame objects 128 (also called
control frames), and control objects 130 (also called controls). The
hierarchy is structured to have specific parent-child relationships
between the objects as indicated by connecting arrows 132. For example,
schedule object 122 is a parent to script objects 124a, 124b and 124c.
Script object 124a is a parent to page objects 126a and 126b, while script
objects 124b, 124c are parents to other pages (not shown) and so forth.
The parent-child relationships are not limited to those shown in FIG. 6.
For example, script objects may also have a parent relationship to other
script objects and page objects can be parents to other page objects.
Additionally, although the hierarchy is shown having control objects 130
(child) controlled by control frame objects 128 (parent), which are in
turn controlled by page objects 126 (grandparents), which are controlled
by script objects 124 (great grandparents) and so on, any generation in
the hierarchy can be by-passed. For example, script objects may have a
parent relationship to control frames. It will be recognized that only a
portion of the tree structure is illustrated in FIG. 6.
The schedule object 122 is used by the interactive information system to
determine which script object in the current database should be used for
processing. The schedule object of the illustrated system contains a
script name designating which script object should be executed and a start
and end time. FIGS. 7A and 7B show a script 140 named "morningbarkerloop"
and having a start time 142 of Apr. 15, 1995 at 9:00 AM and an ending time
144 of Dec. 31, 1999 at 11:59 PM. The start and end time will allow the
information system to compare these times to the system clock and
correspondingly execute the designated script object within these
intervals. Although only one schedule object is shown, any number of
schedule objects can be used with varying start and end times. Conversely,
if only one script object is to be run at all times, then the scheduler
need not be implemented.
At a level below the schedule object 122 are the script objects 124. Script
objects can control any desired number of page objects 126 allowing the
pages to be sequenced and scheduled in relative time. The script objects
contain a name field 146 so that the schedule object can identify a
designated script object. FIG. 7A shows three names 125a, 125b, and 125c
in name field 146. The script objects also have a start time field 148
labeled as "start at" and an end time field 150 labeled as "repeat until"
which allows the script objects to be repeated until an absolute
designated time (based on the system clock). The start time field may be
set to zero, in which case the actual start time will be controlled by
either the schedule object 122 having a parent relationship to the script
objects 124 or by other script objects which are parents to the script. In
this way, the script objects can have either absolute or relative start
times. In the case of FIG. 7A, a "null" character in the end time field
150 indicates that timing information is controlled by other fields or
other objects. In this example, a "repeat for" field 152 allows the script
to be repeated from the time duration specified. The start and end time
fields have the following format: yy:mo:dd:hh:mi:ss:ff where yy is the
last two digits of the year, mo is the number of the month, dd is the date
of the month, hh is the hours on a 24-hour clock, mi is the minutes and ss
is seconds and ff is a frame number being a number between 0 and 29 to
represent the NTSC standard of 30 frames per second.
At a level below the script objects 124 are the pages 126. The pages
implement single screens and provide the controls for the screen and the
relative timing information that allows the controls to be appropriately
placed. The pages include a name field 154, allowing them to be used by
multiple scripts. The pages also have a start time field 156 which allows
the page to begin execution relative to its parent script and an ending
time 158. In the case of FIG. 7A, the ending time 158 is designated a
"null" so that the control frames will dictate the duration as will be
further described.
The next level in the hierarchy is made up of the control frames 128 FIG.
7B. Control frame objects add position and scheduling information to the
basic display controls. The control frames include a name field 160, so
that they can be used by multiple pages, a control field 162 which
identifies the child relationship of a control object, a position pair 164
which designates the coordinates at which to place the identified control
objects, a start time field 166, which is a relative time to its parent
page, an end time field 168, which is the time the control frame stops
processing relative to its parent page (specified as a negative), a
duration 170 indicating the length of the control frame, and an "on
action" field 172 which indicates what action the information system will
perform when an action key 70 is pressed.
Thus, using the "on action" field, the system can interact with other
channels or services in the interactive viewing system 10. Additionally,
parameters, such as state information, can be passed to the other channels
or services. For example, as the script is being displayed, various video
segments are being sequentially played, when the user depresses the action
key 70, the information system will immediately transfer control to
another application or service by launching the identified object in the
"on action" field. The title of the video segment displayed at the time of
depression of the action key can be passed as a parameter (e.g., global or
an argument in a call routine). The name of the video segment to be passed
can be found in the control field 162, for example. Other parameters and
information may also be passed to the designated application or service.
The information system can also enter the other channels or services at
variable locations. For example, a movies-on-demand application may be
available on another channel. That application, when launched on its own,
may include an introductory portion which displays information and allows
a user to select a desired movie. Once a user selects a desired movie, the
movies-on-demand application may switch to a check-out screen to allow
purchase of the movie. The information system can interact with the
movies-on-demand and, in the event that a user has already selected a
movie, bypass the introductory portion and transfer directly to the
check-out screen. In addition, the information system can pass the title
of the movie as well as other necessary purchasing information to the
movies-on-demand application to facilitate a user's purchase of the
desired movie. After completing the appropriate check-out sequence a third
application may be executed to display the movie.
The lowest level in the hierarchy is comprised of control objects 130.
These objects are called out by control frames and specify the complete
physical appearance of on-screen objects. The control objects, illustrated
in FIG. 7C, may include video control 176, bitmap control 178, text
control 180.
Video and bitmap control objects 176, 178 both include name fields 184, 186
so that they can be called out by control frames, content fields 188, 190
which is a name identifying the content of the video displayed, and an
extent field 192, 194 specified as an (x,y) pair for sizing if necessary.
Text control objects include a name field 200 so that control frames can
call out the text control objects, a text value field 202, which is the
quoted string to be displayed, a font field 204, and a size field 206.
Other fields may be added such as a color field.
Pushbutton objects 182 include a name field 208 so that they can be called
out by control frames, an extent field 210 used for sizing of the
pushbutton, and a resourceid field 212, used to identify the bitmap used
in conjunction with the button face.
An include Table 216 (FIGS. 7C and 7D) is used to indicate parent and child
relationships between the objects. For example, any scripts in the table
will list pages that the script will display, and the pages will list
control frames, which will in turn list controls. The include table 216
has a parent type field 218, parent name field 220, child type field 222,
and child name field 224. The parent type and parent name fields identify
the parent in the hierarchy that is identifying a child type and child
name to be displayed.
In operation, and using the data structure shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and
7D, the morning barker loop is called out in schedule object 122 to be
displayed from Apr. 15, 1995 to Dec. 31, 1999. The include table 216
indicates at lines 226, 228 that the morning barker loop will display the
"NineAMLoop" and the "TenAMLoop". The script objects will execute | | |
