Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing – Computer-to-computer data streaming
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-27
2001-03-20
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Computer-to-computer data streaming
C709S203000, C709S219000, C348S014030, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205485
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the area of multimedia communications, and pertains more particularly to systems for delivering multimedia content by both satellite and land-based network connections.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention is related to copending patent application 08/791,249, and to copending patent application 08/629,475 of which the former is a Continuation-in-Part, and the disclosures of these prior applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At the time of filing the present patent application many new systems have been publicly introduced for delivery of multimedia content, which is broadly defined in the disclosure as any stored data and information which may be transmitted to end users for their use. Examples are music, video clippings, TV programs of all sorts, and WEB pages from WEB servers interconnected through the world-wide public network well-known as the Internet.
The term multimedia came into use as a result of a concept and effort to combine and integrate systems to deliver such information for a broad range of uses, many of which have a commercial aspect. Many such systems have been introduced at the time of this filing, and many more are in the offing. A good example is what is broadly known as a set-top box, which is an electronic unit adapted to be connected to a television set, and to receive and cause to be played (both audio and video presented), typically through the television apparatus. In many instances set-top boxes have a CPU and are connectable to personal computers, and may also interface to computer peripheral equipment such as keyboards and printers, and may respond as well to input devices like infra-red remote controllers.
In any case, set-top boxes, cable TV delivery (both analog and digital), satellite TV (both analog and digital), analogue and digital audio, and information accessed as WEB pages from Internet-connected servers via satellite, land, and wireless connections are all well-known in the art, and the general standards by which all of this apparatus works is similarly well-known. A detailed description of underlying hardware, software, and the like for such systems is not attempted in this disclosure, as such information is readily available to both the present inventor and to any worker with skill.
Although much has been done to bring WEB-based information and television programming together, much innovative work remains to be done. The inventor takes notice for example, that even with the advent of computerized set top boxes, a user must operate in one realm or another. For example, the user can switch between TV channels to watch TV, or he/she may operate the set top box as a WEB browser, with the television CRT acting as the display monitor. Alternatively (In some systems known to the inventor) the user may operate the TV and set top box as a personal computer, running various computer applications.
Only relatively recently have set top box systems been adapted for receiving WEB-based information (meaning information stored as web pages on servers interconnected on the Internet) delivered by satellite, but now this phenomenon is relatively common. Intel™ Corporation has recently announced a joint venture with satellite companies to deliver multimedia content by satellite. Still such systems are not truly integrated, and a user must switch between one mode of operation and another.
What is clearly needed is a system for delivery of multimedia content wherein the boundaries between TV programming and such as WEB browsing are removed, and a user may seamlessly operate in any realm with a single user interface and interactive tools, perceiving to be only in one virtual realm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a set top box is provided, comprising a broadband receiver for receiving multimedia information including a data stream constituting a command and a displayable indicia associated with the command; tuner/demultiplexer circuitry for separating a displayable data stream from the multimedia information, and for sending the displayable data stream including the displayable indicia to a display monitor, forming a display with the displayable indicia thereon; and user-operable apparatus adapted for selecting the displayable indicia. In response to the user selecting the displayable indicia, the display is altered. In some embodiments alteration of the display comprises switching the display to a channel associated with the selected indicia.
In preferred embodiments a portion of the multimedia information received comprises WEB pages in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). Also in preferred embodiments the broadband receiver comprises a satellite data link adapted to download a satellite-broadcast data stream, and the multimedia information includes a data stream constituting a command and a displayable indicia associated with the command. A portion of the multimedia information received by satellite data link comprises Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).
A first portion of the multimedia information in certain embodiments of the invention comprises television programming, and a second portion comprises program schedule information associated with the television programming, the program schedule information including the command and displayable indicia associated with the command. There is in some preferred embodiments a cache memory system wherein the program schedule information including the command and displayable indicia associated with the command are stored, and a driver adapted to coordinate the cache and the second portion of the multimedia information. There ma also be a land-based modem, and the multimedia information including a data stream constituting a command and a displayable indicia associated with the command may be received by either one of the satellite data link and the land-based modem. The set top box in many embodiments further comprises a user-operable WEB browser for browsing for HTML-based WEB pages.
In another aspect of the invention a WEB server is provided, comprising a scanner for periodically scanning HTML-based WEB pages stored on the server; and a satellite uplink system coupled to the scanner. In these embodiments the scanner is adapted for selecting especially-marked WEB pages, and uploading those pages via the satellite uplink system. The WEB server may further comprise a land-based Internet connection.
In yet another aspect a system is provided for controlling presentation of multimedia broadcasts, comprising a WEB server upon which program schedule information is stored in one or more especially-marked WEB pages, wherein the content of the WEB pages includes commands and displayable indicia associated with the commands; a satellite uplink system coupled to the WEB server; a scanner adapted for periodically scanning content of the WEB server and uploading the especially-marked pages to the satellite uplink system; and a receiver adapted for receiving both the mutimedia broadcasts and the especially-marked WEB pages including commands and displayable indicia associated with the commands, and further adapted for displaying the program schedule information on a display monitor in a manner that the displayable indicia become user-selectable interfaces for initiating the commands at the receiver.
Methods for practicing the invention are also disclosed.
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Boys Donald R
Central Coast Patent Agency
Lextron Systems, Inc
Maung Zarni
Prieto Beatriz
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