Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-05-08
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art to annotate or “mark” objects in a video stream with an interactive link. For example, suppose one was watching a video program of an automobile race, and there were several racing cars shown driving around a track. Also suppose that these cars were marked with interactive links. This means that one can position a cursor over the image of one of the cars and click on the image (or alternatively, click on special icons associated with the car). This causes the system controlling the video screen to take a predetermined action (e.g. execute a software program, or initiate some other event such as a telephone call) or display information that is linked to that image. This link can be in the form of a pop-up window for note annotation. (A pop-up window for note annotation is a small window that appears on the screen so that a user can write a small note. It is like an electronic “post-it” note.) Alternatively, the link can be in the form of a URL. If the link is invoked, the system will display a web page depicting information concerning the car or driver that has been clicked on. For example, the system can display details concerning the driver. As mentioned above, by clicking on the icon or image, one could also initiate an action, e.g. a telephone call to a merchandise company to buy a memorabilia product related to what has been clicked on.
During annotation, an area or region within the video frames surrounding the image of an object of interest (in the above-mentioned example, the racing car) is established as an “active area.” If one moves the cursor into the active area and clicks, one will initiate an action or invoke the link corresponding to the object within that active area. Typically, an object associated with the active area moves about the video screen during a video clip. For example, a video clip of an automobile race shows a group of cars moving about a racetrack, and these cars typically move about a television screen during the clip as the race proceeds. In such a video clip, a car might move from the right side of the video screen to the left side of the video screen. Thus, the active area must also move across the television screen to keep up with the object of interest. The above-incorporated patent applications pertain to methods for annotating video clips, i.e. defining the active area for each object of interest, and for each frame, in the video clip. These methods permit annotation with a reduced amount of human involvement in the process. It would, however, be desirable to further simplify the process of defining active areas in a video clip.
SUMMARY
A method in accordance with the invention comprises the step of providing a template or a set of templates to be associated with a video screen. The template defines a set of active regions of the video screen. The active regions typically do not overlap one another. Each active region corresponds to a process or link that can be invoked. In one embodiment, the link is to an internet web page. When that link is invoked, the contents of the web page are displayed on the screen.
In another embodiment, the link is to a source of information other than an internet web page. For example, the link can cause a video system to display information from a memory to be displayed on the screen. The memory can either be local or non-local.
In yet another embodiment, invoking the link causes a software routine or application program to be executed.
Alternatively, invoking the link initiates an event, e.g. a telephone call.
In one embodiment, the active areas of the template are visible to the user. For example, the active areas of the template can be a particular color, or bear a particular icon, or can be shaded. Thus, the user knows the location of the active areas, and can move a cursor to the active areas to invoke links associated therewith. In another embodiment, the active areas are not visible. However, when the cursor is moved to the active areas, the appearance of the cursor changes, so the user knows that the cursor is positioned over an active area. In yet another embodiment, the active areas are not visible, and the cursor does not change appearance when positioned over the active areas.
The video screen can display any type of video information, e.g. a still image, a video image, a web page, a Windows-type desk top output, or other computer output. For example, a user can watch a television program on the video screen and manipulate a cursor to invoke the links associated with the template. Alternatively, the user can read a web page on the video screen and can manipulate a cursor to invoke the links associated with the template.
One advantage of this invention is that the use a set of templates is a simple way of providing robust dynamic linking. A person using the template does not have to chase a small moving object on a screen with a cursor in order to invoke a link.
A set of templates in accordance with one embodiment of the invention allows a content provider to choose the most appropriate template without complicated content-oriented linking (i.e. without the complication of having the active areas move in sync with associated objects on the video screen). In some cases this solution can be preferable to fixed static icon (one fixed template) solutions and completely dynamic (moving active area) solutions.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, templates can be used for secure communication of data associated with a video stream. For example, in one embodiment, each active area of a template can be considered as a symbol (or letter) that is part of an arbitrary complicated password, which allows a user to be re-directed to selected internet pages, to call a secret telephone number or start a special application.
These and other aspects of the invention are described in greater detail below.
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patent: 6032156 (2000-02-01), Marcus
Kamen Yakov
Shirman Leon
Bayerl Raymond J.
ISURFTV
Nguyen Thomas T.
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