This application claims priority from U.S. patent application No.11/356,091 filed on 17.2.2006.
U.S. patent application No. __________, entitled "Systems and Methods for providing supplemental Television Content", attorney docket No. 04-8023;
U.S. patent application No. _________, entitled "Systems and Methods for shared viewing Via Television", attorney docket No. 04-8025;
U.S. patent application No. _____________, entitled "Systems and Methods for FantasyLeague Service Via Television," attorney docket No. 04-8026;
U.S. patent application No. ____________, entitled "Television Integrated Chat and presence Systems and Methods," attorney docket No. 04-8027;
U.S. patent application No. _______________, entitled "Systems and Methods for providing Personal Channel Via Television", attorney docket No. 04-8029; and
U.S. patent application No. _________, entitled "Systems and Methods for providing Shared Folder Via Television", attorney docket No. 04-8030.
Detailed Description
Preferred methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide enhanced television services to subscribers using high speed bi-directional connections, such as fiber optic networks. Service providers deliver both general television content, such as broadcast television programs, and content customized for each subscriber. The subscriber communicates with the service provider to perform any number of tasks, including establishing an account, subscribing to customized content, and sharing content with other subscribers.
Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments implemented in accordance with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Overview of the System
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The service provider 102 collects content (e.g., broadcast video, broadcast audio, audio/video on demand, data content) from a plurality of content providers 104. Such content may include, for example, programs from local broadcast television channels, programs from national broadcast television content providers such as Home Box Office or ESPN, and educational programs such as distance learning broadcasts. Service provider 102 transmits data including audio/video content to subscribers 106 via access network 108. Subscribers 106 may include homes, businesses, hotels, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, access network 108 is comprised primarily of fiber optic cables and connectors, enabling high-speed bi-directional communication between service provider 102 and subscribers 106. The access network 108 may also include other network technologies, such as a wireless network. In one embodiment, service provider 102 and subscriber 106 may also communicate via an alternative network, such as the internet (not shown), that may interconnect service provider 102 and subscriber 106.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a service provider 102 consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Service provider 102 may provide a number of services to subscribers 106. For example, service provider 102 may establish and maintain subscriber accounts, provide regular broadcast television programs, provide video on demand content, allow subscriber feedback, and the like. Service provider 102 may also enable subscriber 106 to obtain enhanced services such as those described below.
Exemplary service provider 102 may include various systems and tools (facilities) for receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting content for provision to subscribers 106. For example, exemplary service provider 102 may include a television content system 202, an enhanced television services system 204, a distribution system 206, a subscriber database 208, a portal 210, and an authentication system 212. The television content system 202 may receive, store, process, and transmit broadcast television content originated by the content provider 104. In one embodiment, service provider 102 may also create television content and use television content system 202 to store and deliver such content. Enhanced television services system 204 may receive, store, process, and transmit data to support enhanced television services and provide a subscriber interface for accessing enhanced television services (as discussed further below).
Distribution system 206 may distribute content and data to subscribers 106, for example, from television content system 202 or enhanced television services system 204. Distribution system 206 may perform broadcast/multicast delivery (e.g., sending the same information to many subscribers at the same time) or unicast delivery (e.g., sending customized content to a single subscriber). Distribution system 206 may also provide an "upstream" communication path from subscriber 106 to, for example, enhanced television services system 204 so that the subscriber may send requests and other information related to obtaining customized content, etc.
Subscriber database 208 may store data about subscribers 106 such as names, addresses, subscriptions to enhanced services, and the like. Web portal 210 may provide an interface for communicating with service provider 102 via an external network, such as the public switched telephone network or a wide area network such as the internet. Authentication system 212 may process authentication and/or authorization information to enhance the security and privacy of providing services to subscribers 106.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that service provider 102 may include more or fewer components than shown in fig. 2, as well as more or combined functionality than that shown in fig. 2. For example, a separate database may be provided to store authentication information for use by authentication system 212. In another example, service provider 102 may include communication and/or conference bridging tools to enable subscriber 106 to access audio/video communication and/or teleconferencing services (e.g., available through enhanced television services). Further, the functions of service provider 102 may be performed by a single system, or by a combination of computers and other devices distributed across multiple locations and connected by various communication links. The operation of the components of service provider 102 is described in more detail below.
In another example, service provider 102 may include an interactive program guide server for transmitting an interactive program guide and associated audio data to subscribers 106.
Fig. 3(a) and 3(b) show block diagrams of a subscriber 106 consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3(a), subscriber 106 receives a transmission from service provider 102 at network terminal 302 via access network 108. As described above, the access network 108 may be, for example, a Passive Optical Network (PON). Network terminal 302 may receive network transmissions from service provider 102 via any number of intermediate components/techniques. For example, an optical-to-electrical conversion component may be interposed between the network terminal 302 and the service provider 102 to convert optical transmissions to electrical signals (e.g., RF signals, POTS signals, ethernet signals), and other transmission components may also be deployed therebetween.
The network terminal 302 processes data received via the access network 108 and presents it to the output device 304. As such, the network terminal 302 may include a processor, a storage system, a network interface (e.g., to the access network 108), and a device interface, as is well known. Output device 304 may include any number of components having the ability to output audio and/or video, such as a video display, speakers, a television, and so forth. The network terminal 302 is also connected to one or more input devices 306 that allow a user to provide input data, for example, for controlling the network terminal 302 or the output device 304, or to provide data for upstream transmission over the access network 108. Input device 306 may include devices such as a keyboard, pointing device, remote control, touch screen, etc. In some embodiments, the network terminal 302 may be integrated with any or all of the output devices 304 and any or all of the input devices 306 (an example of which is a mobile phone). In some embodiments, subscriber 106 may also communicate with service provider 102 (e.g., via web portal 210) using a separate computing system or communications device such as a telephone (not shown) connected to an external network (e.g., PSTN, Internet, wireless network).
Fig. 3(b) shows a particular embodiment of a typical television service with respect to subscriber 106. As shown in fig. 3(b), the network terminal is a set top box 312 connected to the access network 108 (e.g., via various techniques/components) to communicate with the service provider 102. The set top box 312 is connected to a television 314 that includes tools to display video and generate audio based on signals provided by the set top box 312. A remote control 316 and other input devices (e.g., buttons) are provided and communicatively coupled to television 314 and/or set-top box 312 (e.g., wirelessly) to enable a viewer to control television 314 and/or set-top box 312 and provide data that may be communicated to service provider 102 and/or other subscribers 106 via access network 108.
Subscriber 106 may establish an account with service provider 102 that enables and/or controls the ability to receive enhanced television services. For example, provider 102 may use a subscriber account to store subscriber identification information (such as name and address), to store an indication of which services the subscriber is authorized to receive (such as paid broadcast channels or internet access), and to record (track) and bill for enhanced services (such as viewing personalized content, etc.). The account may also store an identifier of the subscriber's network terminal 302 that facilitates identification of the network terminal on the access network 108 (e.g., a unique identifier of a set top box 312 assigned to the subscriber) to facilitate delivery of enhanced television services to the subscriber. Subscriber 106 may use web portal 210 to access account information, for example, via voice communications (e.g., an interactive voice response system) or data communications (e.g., an interactive web interface on the internet). Alternatively, the subscriber may communicate with service provider 102 over access network 108 using a telephone integrated in set top box 312 or controls available in remote control 316.
Subscriber 106 may include several users. For example, in a single household, different family members may wish to receive different content or subscribe to different enhanced television services from service provider 102. In one embodiment, subscriber 106 (e.g., a household) may establish an account with service provider 102 and each user (e.g., a family member in the household) is associated with the account and may store information in subscriber database 208. In another embodiment, each user may establish his own account with service provider 102.
Fig. 4 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred network terminal 302, such as set top box 312. Network terminal 302 may include an access network interface 402, a control system 408, a storage system 410, and a device interface 412. Control system 408 may include a processor or other control logic that may be used to execute various instructions and manipulate data stored in storage system 410. The storage system 410 may include various storage devices and controllers, such as well-known semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory), magnetic memory (e.g., magnetic disk), optical memory (e.g., DVD), memory controllers, and/or other memory. The device interface 412 may include various components to interface with external components, such as an output device 304 and an input device 306, as is generally known.
Using access network interface 402, network terminal 302 communicates with service provider 102 over access network 108 to send and receive high-speed communications of television programming, enhanced television services, subscriber account management, and the like. The access network interface 402 may include various components to allow communication in one or more forms over the access network 108, depending on the implementation. For example, the access network interface 108 may include an RF interface for receiving RF signals and/or an optical interface for receiving optical signals. The access network interface 402 may further include components for distinguishing and processing various communications carried by the access network 108. For example, access network interface 402 may include components for receiving broadcast television format transmissions (e.g., NTSC, MPEG) and/or packet data format transmissions (e.g., Ethernet, IP). In some embodiments, the access network interface 402 may also be connected to the device interface 412, for example, to provide broadcast television transmissions to the output device 304.
The storage system 410 may include various modules that the control system 408 may execute and implement various features in the preferred embodiment. For example, storage system 410 stores user interface 404 including one or more displays (e.g., interactive program guides) that may be provided on output device 304 to enable subscriber 106 to communicate with network terminal 302, select content to view, access enhanced viewing features, and so forth. The user interface 404 may include various user interfaces to utilize enhanced television services available through the service provider 102 (e.g., downloaded from the service provider 102). Subscriber data 406 may also be stored in storage system 410 to support enhanced television services. For example, the subscriber's viewing preferences or settings may be stored as subscriber data 406. In another example, subscriber data 406 may be stored external to network terminal 302, such as in service provider 102 (e.g., in subscriber database 208) or on a computing system or other device controlled by the subscriber (e.g., a smart card).
The network terminal 302 may include fewer or more components than shown in fig. 4, as is well known, and may be interconnected in various ways using a bus, as is well known.
Using an interface with service provider 402, set top box 312 communicates with service provider 102 to send and receive high speed data for television programming, enhanced television services, subscriber account management, and the like. Information related to enhanced television services, such as, for example, an audio representation of an interactive program guide display object and program timing of an interactive program guide, may be transmitted from a service provider server, such as, for example, enhanced television services server 204 or distribution system 206, to set top box 312 via data channel 108. User interface 404 may include an interactive program guide module for storing and displaying menus, audio data, and other data to enable subscriber 106 to select content to view, select shows to record, and the like. The user interface 404 may be comprised of software, hardware, and/or a combination of software and hardware. Subscriber data 406 may be stored in network terminal 302 to support enhanced television services. For example, the subscriber's viewing preferences and settings may be stored as subscriber data 406. The device interface 412 may include a remote control receiver to receive input signals transmitted from a remote control device, which is one type of input device 306.
Enhanced television services
The preferred embodiment uses a high bandwidth bidirectional access network 108 to provide enhanced television services. For example, a service provider may provide a variety of enhanced services to subscribers by allowing the subscribers to connect with the service provider via such a high bandwidth bidirectional access network to obtain, configure, and control the delivery of desired television content and related services. The preferred embodiment utilizes a fiber optic access network, although other high bandwidth technologies (e.g., wireless RF, coaxial cable RF) may also be used. Fiber optic connections provide much greater bandwidth for transferring data than conventional connections using radio waves or coaxial cables. For example, fiber optics can easily carry hundreds or even thousands of channels of television content, telephony services, and data services (e.g., internet access). To achieve the additional bandwidth and quality of the fiber optic connection, service providers may provide a wide range of enhanced television services to attract and retain subscribers.
Enhanced television services may include, for example, personalized television channels, synchronized sharing of personal content among subscribers, direct access to additional television content, integrated chat and presence information on television, and interactive entertainment. Subscribers can enjoy these services from their terminals using familiar equipment (e.g., set-top boxes, televisions, remote controls, etc.). In some embodiments, the subscriber may choose to use a computer or other device connected to the internet to further customize or enhance television services.
Audio interactive program guide
One enhanced television service provided by preferred systems and methods implemented in accordance with the present invention is an audio Interactive Program Guide (IPG). An audio interactive program guide provides an enhanced interface for presenting program information to a user and receiving user input. One embodiment provides an audio representation of a display object that is part of an interactive program guide presented to a user when interacting with an IPG. The IPG may be displayed (including displaying audio data) on the output device 304. The display object may be any visual object that is rendered as part of the IPG. The audio representation may include any video content or representative description associated with the display object.
The user may interact with the IPG displayed on the output device 304 using, for example, the input device 306. For example, the user may select an object displayed on the IPG using input device 306. The user may select a display object by, for example, moving a cursor highlight (highlight) to the display object, by "jumping bits (tab)" through a series of displayed objects, or by some other method. The input device 306 may communicate with the network terminal 302, the output device 304, or both. In one embodiment, the network terminal 302 may communicate the audio representation associated with the display object to the output device 304 for display to the user when triggered by some user input, such as after the user selects the display object, or when the user places a cursor over the display object or changes focus to the display object.
There are many ways of presenting an audio representation associated with an object. The audio representation may be created by the network terminal 302, provided by the service provider 102, or provided in some other manner. The audio representation may be generated by a text-to-speech converter, may be a predefined audio file, may be generated based on previous and current user input, or may be provided in some other manner. The audio representation may be identified by a marker associated with the display object, by a global system variable, or in some other manner. Further, the audio may be played through speakers within any output device 304, directly attached to the network terminal 302, located within the input device 306, or located within some other auxiliary device, including, for example, a dedicated headset.
Certain examples of methods and systems will now be described with reference to fig. 5-7. The depicted example is illustrated using a fiber optic access network and a network terminal implemented as a set top box 312. Other access networks and/or network terminals may be equally used, as described above.
FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary IPG display screen consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. IPG display screen 502 may be comprised of multiple display objects. The IPG display object may include, for example, a television program schedule 504 and instructions 510, the television program schedule 510 containing program information cells 506, navigation buttons 508. The television program schedule 504 may include a time column 512 for indicating the start time of the television program and a channel row for indicating the different television channels. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the IPG display may include more or fewer components than those shown in fig. 5. For example, the IPG display may also contain a subscriber chat window, a program preview window, a program description window, etc. (not shown).
FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of a process for generating an IPG display screen. The process begins when a user requests that an IPG be displayed on television 314 (step 602). The user may request that the IPG be displayed by using, for example, remote control 316 or another type of input device. IPG module 405 receives the user request and may then retrieve the program guide data to create an IPG display (step 604). The program guide data may contain, among other information, television program airtime, program description, channel information, advertising content, and program preview information.
In one embodiment, set top box 312 may request program guide data from service provider 102. Service provider 102 may transmit program guide data from a service provider system, such as distribution system 206, to set top box 312. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that any type of system may be used, such as television content system 202 or enhanced television services system 204. In another embodiment, the program guide data may be transmitted from a third party, such as a TV guide service.
In some embodiments, program guide data may be stored in set top box 312. For example, set top box 312 may receive program guide data periodically (e.g., once per day) and store such data within set top box 312 (e.g., in storage system 410). In such a case, IPG module 405 may obtain the relevant program guide data from the stored local program data.
After retrieving the program guide data, IPG module 405 may use the data to populate fields of the IPG and create a completed IPG display (step 606). The completed IPG display may then be transmitted to the television 314 for display to the user (step 608).
FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a process for one embodiment of generating an audio representation of a display object. The user may interact with the IPG via an input device such as remote control 316 (step 702). User commands from remote control 316 may be translated into display events associated with the display objects (step 704). IPG module 405 may then determine whether the display object associated with the display event requires an audio representation (step 706). If an audio representation is desired, IPG module 405 may generate an audio representation (step 708) and transmit it to television 314 for display to the user (step 710).
One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many types of display events associated with a display object that trigger a query as to whether the display object requires an audio representation or make a particular selection of audio associated with the display object. For example, when a user highlights a display object, a display event may be created. A display event may also be created when the user highlights the first object in the group of objects. Additionally, display events may also be created when a display object is first loaded or when the main IPG display is first loaded for display.
Those skilled in the art will also recognize that: there are many ways in which IPG module 405 can determine whether a display object requires an audio representation. In one embodiment, IPG module 404 may determine whether the display object requires an audio representation by examining a global audio representation system variable that indicates whether subscriber 106 wishes the IPG to generate an audio representation of the display object. The global audio representation system variables may be stored as part of subscriber data 406. Subscriber 106 may set this variable in a number of ways, such as when he initially sets up the system or by accessing a preference menu of user interface 404.
In another embodiment, IPG module 405 may check for the presence of an audio presentation flag to determine if the display object requires an audio presentation. The audio representation tag may be attached to or associated with a display object for which an audio representation is desired. The audio presentation marker may be part of the program guide data or may be associated with the display object in some other manner.
Further, those skilled in the art will also recognize that many types of display objects may require an audio representation. For example, display objects that the user cannot highlight (e.g., text instructions, program preview information) may also require an audio representation.
In one embodiment, IPG module 405 may generate an audio representation of the display object by converting text associated with the display object into audible speech using a text-to-speech converter (not shown). For example, if the user highlights the button labeled "channel 7" on the IPG display and the button requires an audio representation, IPG module 405 may utilize a conventional text-to-speech converter to convert the text "channel 7" to an audio representation. The audio representation may then be transmitted to the television, and the user may hear the word "channel 7" from the television speakers.
In another embodiment, IPG module 405 may not generate an audio representation of the display object, but instead receive the audio representation from service provider 102. Service provider 102 may transmit the requested audio representation from a service provider server, such as enhanced television services system 204, to set top box 312. Enhanced television services system 204 may utilize a text-to-speech converter (not shown) to convert text associated with the display object into an audio representation of the display object. Enhanced television services system 204 may then transmit the audio representation to IPG module 405. Alternatively, enhanced television services system 204 may contain an audio representation database (not shown) that contains audio representations associated with display objects. Enhanced television services system 204 may look up the audio representation associated with the particular display object requested by IPG module 405 in an audio representation database and communicate it to IPG module 405.
Those skilled in the art will also recognize that any information may be used as an audio representation of the display object, not just the text displayed within the display object. In one embodiment, information related to other display objects may be combined with information displayed within the display objects to create an audio representation of the display objects. For example, if The user highlights The cell labeled "The Price is Right" in The program schedule, The system may incorporate The information stored in The channel row and time column of The program schedule into The audio description as well as The text displayed within The button. Thus, if The user highlights The cell labeled "The Price Right" and The time column labeled "12 pm" in The Channel row labeled "Channel 4", The system may combine The information and The audio information may include "Channel 4, 12pm, The Price is Right".
Furthermore, the display object need not display any text to associate it with the audio representation. In one embodiment, textual information related to the display object but not displayed anywhere on the screen may be used to create an audio representation of the display object. This type of text information is typically referred to as "alt text". For example, if the right arrow is displayed on the screen, meaning to the user in this context "if i click on the icon, the program guide will display the next hour of the program", the alt text for the icon may be "display the next hour". This alt text may not be displayed, but it may still be associated with the right arrow icon and incorporated by the system into the audio representation of the display object when the user highlights the right arrow. In another embodiment, descriptive information relating to the environment in which the objects are displayed but not displayed anywhere on the screen may be used to create an audio representation of the display objects. For example, if all selections are related to sports and there are images that visually indicate to the user the various sports surrounding the selections, the user may be descriptively spoken "now in the sports channel region of the program guide".
Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that IPG module 405 need not be implemented in set top box 312. For example, IPG module 405 may be implemented on a service provider server such as an audio IPG system (not shown) or enhanced television services system 204; or it may be implemented in the television 314. In one implementation, enhanced television services system 204 may transmit IPG display information to set top box 312 over access network 108 for output on television 314.
The preferred embodiments described herein provide a technique to enhance the IPG interaction of a typical user and enable disabled users with visual impairments and/or other users who are unable to read (e.g., children) to use services provided by a service provider through a television by being able to navigate and select options from the IPG displayed on the television.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments implemented in accordance with the present invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the preferred embodiments. For example, in one possible variation, there may be two separate interactive program guides: a visual IPG and an audio IPG. In this embodiment, if the user selects an audio IPG, a remote audio IPG server (not shown) may provide the entire IPG over access network 108. When a user interacts with the IPG using, for example, remote control 316, a request may be made to the audio IPG server to play certain audio files and wait for additional input. The audio IPG may operate independently and differently from the visual IPG, and may have completely different logic and flow than the visual IPG. Additional modifications and variations may be implemented, for example, by implementing the described embodiments solely in hardware modules, a combination of hardware and software modules, or in software modules running on a general purpose processor.
Other embodiments implemented in accordance with the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.