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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to interactive television or televideo
systems and, in particular, to a method of providing viewers with
information about programming available on such systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional cable and satellite television transmission is evolving into
interactive television or televideo (IT) systems. IT systems combine the
video broadcast capability characteristic of conventional broadcast
television with computer-executed applications or programming responsive
to input from viewers. By some estimates, IT systems under development
could include the equivalent of 500 channels of programming, including
video broadcasting and applications.
Meaningful access to large amounts of interactive television programming
will require that viewers be able to obtain and comprehend vast amounts of
programming and scheduling information. Conventional printed programming
guides, such as T.V. Guide magazine or local newspapers, already provide
only incomplete programming information for cable television networks with
as few as 50 channels. It is expected that complete printed programming
guides for the large amounts of programming in IT systems would be very
large and expensive and unacceptably cumbersome.
Some conventional cable television networks dedicate a channel to a
programming guide service, such as the Prevue Channel, Prevue Express, and
Prevue Express Plus services provided by Prevue Networks, Inc. This
conventional type of programming service lists the titles of programs
scheduled for selected times. Typically, the titles of programs scheduled
for about four television channels over a period of about two hours are
listed simultaneously.
The service automatically scrolls through all or most of the channels
available on the cable television network and automatically shifts the
two-hour scheduling period shown according to the actual time. The same
program schedule is delivered to all viewers on the cable television
network. Viewers passively view the program schedule as it is scrolled.
In some systems, only about 60% of a viewer's television screen is used to
show the program schedule. The remaining screen portion is used as an
advertising window dedicated to broadcasting selected advertising or
service identifications. One service that is frequently advertised in the
advertising window of a programming guide is pay-per-view (PPV)
television. Advertisements for PPV services often include video clips or
segments relating to programs (e.g., motion pictures) available from the
service.
The video content of the advertising window is the same for all viewers and
is independent of the program schedule information that is shown
simultaneously. The video content of the advertising window and the
program schedule may even be generated from independent media or sources
and mixed for broadcast on the dedicated programming guide channel.
At least one available system provides viewers with limited supplemental
text descriptions regarding programming listed on a television program
schedule. The system requires the viewer to have special decoder equipment
to intercept and decode television program schedule information that is
transmitted automatically during the vertical blanking interval of a
conventional television signal.
Only a limited amount of television program schedule information may be
encoded and broadcast during each vertical blanking interval. Many
automatic transmissions of this type are required to deliver all the
program schedule information and supplemental text descriptions to the
decoder equipment, where the decoded information is stored. The program
schedule information and supplemental text descriptions can be displayed
and viewed on demand after being loaded into the decoder equipment.
Transmitting the program information only automatically during the vertical
blanking signal of a conventional television signal requires that the many
fragments of program information be assembled over time in the viewer's
decoder equipment. As a consequence, this system is limited to providing
only brief text descriptions of programs and improves only slightly upon
conventional program listings. Moreover, the supplemental text
descriptions provided by this system obscure much of the program schedule
information and therefore requires that the viewer switch between viewing
the program schedule information and the supplemental text descriptions.
Conventional cable television program guide services provide only the title
or brief test descriptions of the scheduled programming. Such extremely
limited information typically requires supplementation by a printed video
guide for a viewer to obtain meaningful program schedule information. In
view of the expected shortcomings of printed schedule guides for IT
systems and the limited information provided by conventional cable
television program guides, IT systems will require improved methods of
providing program information to viewers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a method of displaying for a viewer summary
information relating to programming available on an interactive television
or televideo system. The IT system includes a central control node that
delivers programming to multiple subscribers or viewers. Each viewer has a
video display set (e.g., a television receiver) and an associated
interactive controller that is responsive to input from the viewer for
controlling programming on the video display set.
With reference to a preferred embodiment, the method of this invention
includes obtaining a viewer selection indication corresponding to a
program selected by the viewer from a programming guide. Based on the
viewer selection indication, the IT system accesses summary information
relating specifically to the program selected by the viewer. The summary
information preferably includes a text description of the programming and
display imagery relating to the programming. The display imagery may
include a still video image or a multi-frame video sequence of or relating
to the programming, together with an associated audio segment. The display
imagery could also include the programming as it is being broadcast.
The text description and the display imagery are rendered on the display
screen of the viewer's television receiver in a program summary panel that
is positioned adjacent the programming guide from which the user selected
the programming. The program summary panel includes a video preview window
and a separate text window within which the respective display imagery and
text description are rendered. The text window may also include one or
more icons indicating that the program has selected characteristics. The
associated audio segment preferably relates to the selected programming.
The present invention provides detailed information about scheduled
programming for an arbitrary number of programming channels. No printed
scheduling information is required. The availability of multi-frame video
previews or direct broadcast transmissions provides programming
information that viewers have not previously been able to obtain for
selected programming.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of preferred embodiments of
the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive television system used for the
preferred embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive station controller used for the
preferred embodiment of this invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective block and stylized diagrams of a video
display screen with a programming guide and a program summary panel of the
present invention for summarizing selected programming.
FIG. 4 is a plan diagram of a viewer control unit for providing viewer
input to the interactive station controller of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an interactive method of summarizing selected
programming according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a portion of a video display screen with exemplary
icons for use in the program summary panel of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are directed to an interactive television or televideo (IT)
system 10 as an operating environment for preferred embodiments of the
present invention. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, IT system 10 is
described with reference to widely available systems and standards,
including conventional analog television receivers and cable-based video
networks.
It will be appreciated, however, that the particular components of IT
system 10 may be implemented with a variety of conventions, standards, or
technologies without departing from the underlying concepts of the present
invention. The term televideo is used to emphasize the applicability of
this invention beyond standard television-based systems. As two examples,
the conventional analog television receivers and cable-based video network
referred to in FIGS. 1 and 2 could be implemented as digital video
receivers and a satellite downlink transmission system, respectively.
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an interactive televideo (IT)
system 10 having a central control node 12 that transmits programming over
a network 14 to multiple viewer stations (e.g., homes) 16. The programming
may include standard analog video broadcasts (e.g., NTSC, PAL or SECAM),
digital or digitally encoded video broadcasts (e.g., MPEG1 or MPEG2), or
digital information related to computer-executed applications.
Each viewer station 16 includes at least one video display set 18 (e.g., a
television receiver) and an interactive station controller 20, which is
sometimes referred to as a set-top box. Although it is shown distinct from
video display set 18, interactive station controller 20 could
alternatively be integral with video display set 18.
Interactive station controllers 20 receive programming from central control
node 12 and control the associated video display sets 18 in accordance
with the programming. Controlling video display set 18 of a conventional
analog type may include, for example, delivering an analog video signal
directly to video display set 18 for display, converting a digital video
signal to a suitable analog form for display, or executing a computer
application that includes displays on display set 18.
Interactive station controllers 20 transmit digital information to and
receive digital information from central control node 12. The digital
information typically relates to applications executed by processors
residing at control node 12 and station controller 20, as described below
in greater detail.
Preferably, network 14 carries bidirectional communication between station
controllers 20 and central control node 12. Alternatively, communication
between station controllers 20 and central control node 12 can be carried
by different communication systems. For example, programming from central
control node 12 to station controllers 20 could be carried on a satellite
downlink while station controllers 20 send information to central control
mode 12 on a terrestrial modem link. An exemplary embodiment of central
control node 12 is described in greater detail below.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary one of interactive
station controllers 20 for controlling video display set 18 and
communicating with central control node 12. Station controller 20 includes
an input 60 that delivers communication or information from central
control node 12 to a communication interpretation system 62 having, for
example, an analog television demodulator 62a, a digital video decoder
62b, and a digital network communication interface 62c.
Demodulator 62a functions as a conventional television tuner for selecting
one of multiple conventional analog video signals received from central
control node 12 at input 60. Video decoder 62b functions as a digital
equivalent of demodulator 62a for selecting one of multiple digital video
signals received at input 60 from central control node 12. Network
communication interface 62c communicates with central control node 12 with
digital information carried over baseband frequencies. The baseband
frequencies may be below the conventional analog video signal frequencies,
above the digital video signal frequencies, or between the frequencies of
analog or digital video signals.
A central processing unit (CPU) 66 in conjunction with a memory system 68
controls operation of station controller 20. CPU 66 is responsive to an
infrared receiver and decoder system 70 that receives user input from a
hand-held viewer control unit 71 (FIG. 4) and delivers the input to CPU
66. For example, CPU 66 controls selection of analog- or digital-based
programming or applications delivered from central control node 12,
accesses, activates, or executes selected applications, or delivers
information to or requests information from central control node 12.
A graphics subsystem 72 is controlled by CPU 66 to form graphics images,
including interactive system user interface images, on video display set
18. A video processor subsystem 74, also controlled by CPU 66, provides
control in the rendering of video imagery, including decompressing digital
video signals and sizing and positioning a video display window. A mixer
76 receives a video display signal from video processor subsystem 74 and
graphics image signals from graphics subsystem 70 and delivers a mixed
image signal to video display set 18. Mixer 76 provides compositing,
masking and blending of display signals from two or more image sources
such as, for example, a digital video signal and locally-generated
graphics or an analog video signal and a bitmap image received from
central control node 12.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a display screen 78 of one of video display sets 18
with a program summary panel 80 of the present invention rendered thereon.
Program summary panel 80 preferably is displayed in conjunction with a
programming guide 82 that displays programming available for a particular
date over a selected time range. Programming guide 82 includes a channel
panel 84 identifying multiple particular channels or services (e.g., four
channels or services), a time panel 86 listing particular times (e.g., a
two hour time period in 30 minute increments), and a program grid 87 of
program tiles 88 listing titles of programming on the identified channels
at the listed times.
Referring to FIG. 4, viewer control unit 71 includes an infrared
transmitter window 89 through which control unit 71 emits infrared signals
to infrared input 70 of station controller 20. A directional control
keypad 90 allows a viewer to transmit signals for moving a cursor (i.e.,
an indication of position) between tiles 88 on programming grid 86.
The cursor may be rendered on display screen 78 as a graphic character or
icon or by changing the graphic characteristics of the program tile 88
where the cursor is positioned. The programming identified in a program
tile 88 to which a viewer moves the cursor indication is referred to as
being focused upon by the viewer or as focussed programming. The viewer
may initiate or activate selections by depressing an action key 91 and may
enter numeric values with numeric key pad 92.
Interactive station controller 20 generates a program summary panel 80 of
the present invention for the programming focused upon by a viewer.
Program summary panel 80 includes a preview display window 94 within which
interactive station controller 20 renders display imagery relating the
focussed programming. The display imagery may include currently available
video programming, an on-demand video clip or segment, or a still image,
as described below in greater detail.
A text description window 96 displays a program title (preferably of a
distinct font), a text description of the program, and one or more
information icons relating to selected characteristics of the programming.
Preferably, station controller 20 also provides an audio segment related
to the selected programming.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing an interactive method of displaying a
summary of programming available on IT system 10.
Process block 100 indicates that program schedule information for a
predetermined period is retrieved by interactive station controller 20
from an electronic programming guide (EPG) database 102 in central control
node 12. The program schedule information includes, for example, program
titles, broadcast times, and assigned channels, for a period of, for
example, twenty-four hours. Interactive station controller 20 stores the
program schedule information in memory system 68. Interactive station
controller 20 preferably retrieves the program schedule information upon
startup and at periodic intervals after startup.
Process block 104 indicates that interactive station controller 20 displays
a programming guide 82 on video display set 18. Preferably, central
processing unit 66 cooperates with graphics subsystem 72 and the program
schedule information stored in memory system 68 to render a graphic
programming guide 82 of the type shown in FIG. 3.
Process block 108 indicates that a viewer selects or focuses upon a program
tile 88 in programming guide 82 as described above, for example.
Process block 110 indicates that interactive station controller 20 accesses
summary information about the programming focused upon by the viewer.
Process block 114 indicates that a summary text description of the selected
programming and pointers to icons summarizing any selected information
about the programming is retrieved from a memory included in IT system 10.
Preferably, station controller 20 periodically (e.g., daily or weekly)
receives from EPG database 102 summary text descriptions and related icon
bitmaps for a predetermined time period and stores them in memory system
68. Station controller 20 retrieves from memory system 68 summary text
descriptions and related bitmaps of any icons pointed to and displays the
icons and summary text description for the viewer.
Alternatively, station controller 20 can retrieve from EPG database 102 the
summary text descriptions and related bitmaps of icons that are not
available in local memory 68 for the program tile 88 selected or focused
upon by the viewer. Circumstances in which the summary text descriptions
and related bitmaps of icons would not be available in local memory 68
include, for example, the viewer selecting a program tile 88 outside the
predetermined time period for which the information is stored in memory
68, a video, graphic, or audio segment being associated with the
information, or the information in memory 68 requiring an update or
correction.
Decision block 116 represents an inquiry as to whether the selected
programming is currently being broadcast and available to the user.
Availability of the selected programming relates, for example, to whether
the viewer is a subscriber to the selected programming. Decision block 116
proceeds to process block 118 whenever the selected program is currently
being broadcast and available to the user and otherwise proceeds to
process block 120.
Process block 118 indicates that communication system 62 tunes to the
selected programming and displays it on video display set 18 within
preview display window 94 of program summary panel 80. Video processor
subsystem 74 functions to size and position the selected programming
within preview display window 94.
Process block 122 indicates that central control node 12 retrieves preview
media information from EPG database 102 or, alternatively, from memory 68
of station controller 20. The preview media information indicates whether
the preview or display imagery available for the selected programming
includes a video clip or segment of or relating to the selected program or
a still image of or relating to the selected programming.
Decision block 128 represents an inquiry as to whether a digitized preview
video clip or segment is available for the selected programming. Decision
block 128 proceeds to process block 130 whenever a digitized video clip or
segment is available and otherwise proceeds to process block 132.
Process block 130 indicates that the digitized video clip or segment is
cued from an electronic programming guide (EPG) preview server computer at
central control node 12 and transmitted to interactive station controller
20 for display to the viewer.
Preferably, the digitized video segment relates to the specific episode of
the selected programming. If an episode-specific segment is not available,
the digitized video segment preferably relates to any program series of
which the selected programming episode is a part. If a series-specific
segment is not available, the digitized video segment preferably relates
to the channel carrying or broadcasting the selected programming.
Process block 132 indicates that a digitized still image is retrieved from
EPG database 102 and transmitted to interactive station controller 20 for
display to the viewer. Preferably, the still image relates to the specific
episode of the selected programming. If an episode-specific still image is
not available, the digitized still image preferably relates to any program
series of which the selected programming episode is a part. If a
series-specific still image is not available, the digitized still image
preferably relates to the channel carrying or broadcasting the selected
programming.
Decision block 134 represents an inquiry as to whether the viewer has
selected or focused on a different program tile 88. Decision block 134
returns to process block 110 if the viewer has selected or focused an a
different program tile 88 and otherwise proceeds to end block 136.
A digitized audio segment may be retrieved from EPG database 102 for
playing with each digital video segment or still image. The audio segment
may include one or more of a voice announcement, an audio portion of the
selected programming, or music. The accessing and retrieval of audio
segments would be substantially the same as the accessing and retrieval of
still images or digitized video segments.
Preferably, the audio segment relates to the specific episode of the
selected programming. If an episode-specific segment is not available, the
digitized audio segment preferably relates to any program series of which
the selected programming episode is a part. If a series-specific segment
is not available, the digitized audio segment preferably relates to the
channel carrying or broadcasting the selected programming.
The method described above is directed to an IT system 10 in which selected
information is stored at and retrieved from EPG database 102 or EPG
preview server 131 at central control node 12. The benefits of the present
invention could also be achieved in IT systems having some or all of the
selected information stored at and retrieved from interactive station
controllers.
The availability of text description, information icons, and display
imagery for use in program summary panel 80 is based upon an electronic
programming guide (EPG) database managed within central control node 12,
as described below in greater detail. The EPG database preferably includes
the following tables:
i) an episode table containing records for each interactive or broadcast
televideo episode;
ii) a series table containing records for each interactive or broadcast
series;
iii) a still image table comprising bitmaps or vector graphic definitions
of still-image previews or pointers to computer files containing such
stillimage previews;
iv) an audio table containing digitized audio digital wave synthesis
definitions or MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) note and timing
definitions of music and voice-over previews or pointers to computer files
containing such audio previews;
v) an audio/video table containing digitized video and audio, either in
MPEG, AVI, Quicktime or other digital video format for full-motion video
and audio storage, or pointers to computer files containing such video
previews;
vi) a tuning information table containing broadcast, cablecast or satellite
transmission tuning information for channel lineups available to viewers,
including network and affiliation information; and
vii) a programming characteristic table containing broadcast properties or
characteristics such as closed captioning and viewer discretion advised,
which include pointers to image definitions of associated descriptive
icons.
Within the EPG database, each programming event or episode record is linked
to a parent series record. One-time programming events or specials have a
single episode record linked to a single series record. Each episode
record can have pointers to episode preview or display imagery in still
image, audio, or multi-frame digital video format. Each episode may also
be linked to selected broadcast properties that identify selected
characteristics of the episode.
Similarly, each series record may have pointers to previews or display
imagery relating to the series in still image, audio, or multi-frame
digital video format, or selected broadcast properties that identify
selected characteristics of the series Also, each channel record may have
pointers to previews or display imagery relating to the channel in still
image, audio, or multi-frame digital video format, or selected broadcast
properties that identify selected characteristics of the channel. The term
channel refers to a provider of programming and can include, for example,
a broadcast network or an application provider.
Retrieval of text description, information icons, and preview display
imagery entails correlating the programming selected or focused upon by
the viewer with the corresponding episode record. Any pointers in the
record to program summary information are tracked and the information is
retrieved. If no pointers to program summary information are associated
with the episode, the programming selected by the viewer is correlated
with the corresponding series record in the series table. Any pointers to
series-specific program summary information are tracked and the
information is retrieved.
If the series record contains no pointers to program summary information, a
default still image or graphic retrieved for rendering within preview
window 94. The default still image may be a channel-specific image or
graphic for the channel carrying or transmitting the selected programming
or a predetermined IT system or EPG image or graphic.
Table 1 below lists the preferred display imagery rendered in preview
display window 94 of program summary panel 92 for different types of
programming on IT system 10. The display imagery in preview display window
94 preferably is the currently broadcasting programming for focused
programming available to the viewer. Programming available to the viewer
includes the programming to which the viewer subscribes, including premium
programming services.
TABLE 1
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Continuous
Type of Service/
Broadcast Media Server
Still
Channel Selected
Preview Preview Preview
______________________________________
Audio on demand
NO If bandwidth
YES
available
Current or future
If limited in
If bandwidth
Likely
PPV broadcast
some way (for
available
example timed
preview,
disabled audio
or alternate
audio track)
Current broadcast
Always NO NO
(not PPV)
Electronic Program
NO NO YES
Guide
Future broadcast
NO First choice if
Second
(not PPV) bandwidth choice
available
Interactive service
NO First choice if
Second
bandwidth choice
available
Past broadcast
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