WO1995007003B1 - Transmission of data using full frame video - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic program guide is transmitted, along with a displayable video program (412), as an encoded signal on a plurality of video lines of a broadcasted video signal (400). The data is broadcasted on one field per two video frames, or less frequently, to thereby create a video image on a screen that is not detectable by a human viewer. Accordingly, the displayed data does not interfere with the displayable video program. The program guide is a listing of television programs that are to be broadcasted during a predetermined time period for at least one television channel. Advertising, explanatory information, or other auxiliary video information may be transmitted in the video signal.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 17 March 1994 ( 17.03.94) ; original cl aims 1 -8 replaced by new cl aims 1 -20 (3 pages) ]

1 . A video system comprising: a receiver adapted for receiving a broadcast television signal; a decoder electronically coupled to said receiver and adapted for decoding data contained in a video signal of the broadcast television signal, the data being transmitted at a rate imperceptible by a viewer of the broadcast television signal, to produce information signals containing the data; a memory coupled to the decoder for storing the data contained in the information signals; and a controller for receiving the information signals from the decoder and storing in the memory the data contained in the information signals.

2. The video system of claim 1 further comprising a video display coupled to the receiver and to the controller for displaying the data contained in the information signals.

3. The video system of claim 1 wherein the data contained in information signals comprise a television program listing.

4. The video system of claim 1 wherein the data contained in the information signals represent auxiliary information related to a first video program.

5. The video system of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary information includes information relating to a programming schedule of a second video program.

6. The video system of claim 1 further comprising a printer coupled to the controller for printing a hard copy of the data.

7. A remote controller for operating a video system having a receiver receiving a broadcast television video signal including a video signal, comprising: a plurality of keys; an interface circuit for generating remote control signals to the video system; and a control circuit responsive to actuation of one or more of the keys for triggering the circuit to generate remote control signals to the video system

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8. The remote controller of claim 7 wherein the control circuit comprises means responsive to actuation of a key for causing the video system to d ode from the video signal broadcast schedule information of a second program related to the first program.

9. The remote controller of claim 8 wherein the broadcast information includes channel, date, time, length information of broadcast of the second program.

10. A method of providing items of information viewable on an electronic display from a broadcaster to a user comprising the steps of: transmitting the information to the user as part of a video signal

3f a broadcast television signal, at a rate that is not perceptible to a viewer of the broadcast television signal; detecting the video signal of the broadcast television signal; electronically decoding the information in the video signal; providing the information to a memory; and storing the information in the memory.

1 1 . The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying the information.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of printing the information.

13. A video system comprising: means for encoding data on one or more horizontal lines that ordinarily carry video signals for picture elements of a television picture in every other frame or fewer frames of the television picture; means for electronically detecting the presence of data on lines in the television picture; and means for decoding the data.

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14. The video system of claim 13 further comprising means for storing the decoded data.

15. The video system of claim 13 further comprising means for alerting a user that data is present.

16. The video system of claim 13 where the data is a television program guide and further comprising means for displaying the television program guide.

17. The video system of claim 13 where the data is a television program guide having sort categories and further comprising: means for inputting one or more selected categories; means for processing the inputting selected categories; and means for displaying the selected category of the program schedule.

18. A video system in accordance with claim 13 where the data is auxiliary information comprising channel, date and time of a second program that is related to the first program and further comprising: means for alerting the user of the presence of the auxiliary information; means for selecting the second program for later recording by a VCR; and means for automatically setting a VCR for later recording in response to the selection by the user.

19. The video system of claim 13 further comprising means for printing a hard copy of the data.

20. The video system of claim 19 in which the data is a television program listing. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

The amended claims relate to video systems, remote controllers for operating such video systems, and a method of providing items of information. A limitation present in all of these claims is that data or information are transmitted in the video signal of a broadcast television signal and electronically detected by a decoder coupled to the receiver. The data or information, as part of the video image, appear in the image on a video receiver produced by the broadcast video signal but are displayed at such a rate that the image of the data or information is not perceivable by a viewer. This system or method has the advantage that the data or information cannot be stripped from the video signal and does not rely on optical detection means.

Some of the references disclose transmission of information by teletext for, inter alia, VCR programming. E.g.. Kinghorn, U.S. Patent 4,908,707; Young, U.S. Patent 4,977,455. Others transmit such information in the VBI (vertical blanking interval) of a video signal, e.g.. Takano et al., U.S. Patent 5,260,788, or by a separate broadcast signal, e.g.. Vogel, U.S. Patent 5,253,066 (also by VBI or subcarrier) . None of the references suggest 1) the transmission of data in the video signal at such a rate that such data is not perceptible to the viewer when it is displayed on the viewer's video receiver, 2) the electronic detection of such data or 3) a remote controller for operating a video system to decode information in a video signal.

In view of these principal differences, discussion of other differences is believed unnecessary at the present stage.

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