Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-12
2003-02-04
Huynh, Ba (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C725S039000, C725S040000, C725S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06515680
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to television entertainment systems for providing television programming to consumer homes. More particularly, the invention relates to a set top terminal for use with a program delivery system with menu selection of programs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Advances in television entertainment have been primarily driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939, advances on Vladmir Zworykin's picture tube provided the stimulus for NBC to begin its first regular broadcasts. In 1975, advances in satellite technology provided consumers with increased programming to homes.
Many of these technology breakthroughs have produced inconvenient systems for consumers. One example is the ubiquitous three remote control home, having a separate and unique remote control for the TV, cable box and VCR. More recently, technology has provided cable users in certain parts of the country with 100 channels of programming. This increased program capacity is beyond the ability of many consumers to use effectively. No method of managing the program choices has been provided to consumers.
Consumers are demanding that future advances in television entertainment, particularly programs and program choices, be presented to the consumer in a user friendly manner. Consumer preferences. instead of technological breakthroughs, will drive the television entertainment market for at least the next 20 years. As computer vendors have experienced a switch from marketing new technology in computer hardware to marketing better useability, interfaces and service, the television entertainment industry will also experience a switch from new technology driving the market to consumer useability driving the market.
Consumers want products incorporating new technology that are useful, and will no longer purchase new technology for the sake of novelty or status. Technological advances in sophisticated hardware are beginning to surpass the capability of the average consumer to use the new technology. Careful engineering must be done to make entertainment products incorporating new technology useful and desired by consumers.
In order for new television entertainment products to be successful, the products must satisfy consumer demands. TV consumers wish to go from limited viewing choices to a variety of choices, from no control of programming to complete control. Consumers wish to advance from cumbersome and inconvenient television to easy and convenient television and keep costs down. Consumers do not wish to pay for one hundred channels when due to lack of programming information, they seldom, if ever, watch programming on many of these channels.
The concepts of interactive television, high definition television and 300 channel cable systems in consumer homes will not sell if they are not packaged, delivered and presented in a useable fashion to consumers. The problem is that TV programming is not being delivered and presented to consumers in a user friendly manner.
Consumers are already being bombarded with programming options, numerous “free” cable channels, subscription cable channels and pay-per-view choices. Any further increase in TV entertainment choices, without a user friendly presentation and approach, will likely bewilder viewers with a mind-numbing array of choices.
The TV industry has traditionally marketed and sold its programs to consumers in bulk, such as continuous feed broadcast and long-term subscriptions to movie channels. The TV industry has been unable to sell its programming in large quantities on a per unit basis, such as the ordering of one program. Consumers prefer a unit sales approach because it keeps costs down and allows the consumer to be more selective in their viewing.
In addition, viewership fragmentation, which has already begun, will increase. Programming not presented in a user friendly manner will suffer with a decrease in viewership and revenue.
What is needed is a system which can deliver and present television programming through a user friendly interface which allows the consumer to easily select from among the many program choices.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides a user friendly interface for subscribers to access television programs.
What is needed is a set top converter that allows users to easily navigate through hundreds of programming choices using on-screen menus.
What is needed is a set top converter that allow subscribers to select a program from among hundreds of choices without a television viewing guide.
What is needed is a method that allows efficient access to hundreds of television programming options.
What is needed is hardware that provides an upgrade capability allowing the use of existing set top converter technology in advanced program delivery systems.
What is needed is technology that upgrades the functionality of existing set top converters.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides an upstream communications capability between the set top converter and cable headend.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides a capability of generating menus for display.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides a simple way to select a program from a menu.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides pay-per-view type program access in the same system as specialty channel and broadcast television access.
What is needed is a set top converter that allows users to subscribe on-screen to specialty channels.
What is needed is a set top converter that monitors subscriber viewing choices for statistical purposes.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides on-screen billing information to subscribers.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides sophisticated on-screen television menus which can incorporate still video or moving video.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides a capability of scaling and redirecting video for menus.
What is needed is a set top converter that provides a capability of using a program signal with a split screen video for menus. The present invention is addressed to fulfill these needs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is a set top converter box or terminal for a television program delivery system. More specifically, the present invention is an advanced set top converter box that acts as a terminal in the viewer home. The set top terminal is a key component of a digital cable television delivery system. The set top terminal provides for menu generation and menu selection of television programming.
The set top terminal is the portion of the program delivery system that resides in the home of a subscriber. The set top terminal has input and output ports that enable it to communicate with other local and remote devices. In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal has an input port that is capable of receiving information from a cable headend. In addition, the unit has at least two output ports which provide communications from the set top terminal to a television, VCR or other electronic component in the viewer home. Also, the set top terminal contains a phone jack which can be used for maintenance, trouble shooting, reprogramming and additional customer features. The set top terminal may contain stereo/audio output terminals and a satellite dish input port.
Functionally, the set top terminal is the last component in the delivery system chain. In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal receives compressed program and control signals from the cable headend (or, in some cases, directly from the operations center). After the set top terminal receives the individually compressed program and control signals, the signals are demultiplexed, decompressed, converted to analog signals (if necessary) and either placed in local storage (from which the menu template may be created), executed immediately, or sent directly to the television screen.
After processing certain signals received from the cable headend, the set top terminal is able to store an array of menu templates for creating menus that are displayed on a subscriber&
Berkobin Eric C.
Bonner Alfred E.
Hendricks John S.
Discovery Communications, Inc.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Huynh Ba
LandOfFree
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