Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-01-30
Flynn, Nathan (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S039000, C725S046000, C725S047000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182287
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to the creation, management and navigation of favorite service lists, e.g. favorite video channel lists, in a multimedia video decoder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Home entertainment systems which combine Personal Computer and television functions (PC/TV systems), are increasingly becoming, generic, User interactive, multiple source and multiple destination communication devices. Such systems are required to communicate in different data formats between multiple locations for a variety of applications in response to User requests. For example, a PC/TV system may receive data from satellite or terrestrial sources comprising High Definition Television (HDTV) broadcasts, Multi-point Microwave Distribution System (MMDS) broadcasts and Digital Video Broadcasts (DVB). A PC/TV system may also receive and transmit data via telephone (e.g. the Internet) and coaxial lines (e.g. cable TV) and from both remote and local sources such as Digital Video Disk (DVD), CDROM, VHS and Digital VHS (DVHS™) type players, PCs, and many other types of sources.
A number of problems arise in devising a User interface for a PC/TV system that supports complex User interactive tasks whilst providing a simple command interface suitable for the general public. Specifically, problems arise in providing an interface enabling a User to create, manage and maintain favorite service lists across a spectrum of multimedia services. It is desirable that such lists should facilitate User navigation through the complex array of multimedia services provided in a multimedia decoder. These problems and derivative problems are addressed by a system according to the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A video decoder on-screen display interface system generates an abbreviated menu list of favorite multimedia services available from both local and remote sources to enable navigation through user selected favorite services. A database associates individual services and corresponding menu items in the favorite services menu with their respective sources and supports service selection, tuning and acquisition. Additional abbreviated lists of favorite multimedia services, comprising sub-sets of parent service lists, are also hierarchically displayed in response to User command in order to facilitate and refine a search for a desired service.
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Dinwiddie Aaron Hal
Rhoads Steven Charles
Schneidewend Daniel Richard
Burke Alexander J.
Flynn Nathan
Kurdyla Ronald H.
Srivastava Vivek
Thomson Licensing S.A.
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