Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-05-15
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S054000, C725S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233734
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and method for controlling the broadcast and recording of television programs and for distributing information to be displayed on a television screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many known systems for controlling the operation of a television and a video recorder and for providing information on a television screen. One of the primary types of information that is displayed to viewers is programming information which may include current program information as well as future program information. Viewers often have a need to access current and future schedule information and often that requires locating an appropriate television directory in either a newspaper or weekly magazine.
For many years, users have also encountered significant difficulties in programming video recorders. In recent years systems have been developed which simplify the recording process so that it is easier for a user to program. These systems (for example, the VCR+ system), however, require that the user locate program listings in some other source before he or she can program the VCR to record. If a program listing includes code information (termed “plus codes”), the user can use depress keys on a VCR+ infrared remote control device in a pattern determined by the code information to, in turn, program the VCR. The code information identifies channel, broadcast time and duration for a program that the user wishes to record. This must be done for each program to be recorded, and for each, for example, weekly episode.
In many known systems which provide programming information to the user, the programming information is loaded at some periodic basis. Television stations, however, often change the programs that will be aired and there is no way for updating such systems of last minute programming changes. Therefore, if a user views programming information on his television and either sets a recorder to record the program or makes plans to be able to watch a program at a certain time and the station changes that programming information, either the wrong program will be recorded or the user would not be able to watch the program that he desired to watch.
In another system, called “Starsight”, program information may be broadcast by a television broadcasting station on an interleaved basis while it is broadcasting television programs, in particular during a portion of the television signal termed the “vertical blanking interval.” When the information is displayed, a program may be selected for viewing or recording by moving a highlight cursor to a program title on the display and depressing a button on a remote control device. However, it is not economical to guarantee that the information is available in the vertical blanking interval of every transmitted channel, so this system generally cannot receive information updates while channels other than those carrying the information signal are being viewed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a new and improved system and method for controlling the broadcast and recording of television programs and for distributing information to be displayed on a television screen.
In brief summary, the new system includes a central broadcasting computer which receives television schedule and episode, news, sports and other information from various sources. The central broadcasting computer transmits this information over a wide area network to a multiplicity of radio transmitters covering a wide area, such as the entire continental United States. These transmitters transmit the information to individual set-top boxes in homes and businesses using a reserved nationwide pager frecuency. Each set-top box includes a CPU and a memory means. The broadcast information is processed by the CPU and stored in the memory means until accessed by the user.
Each set-top box is configured so that the user may use a single, ergonomically-designed user control device, such as an IR remote control to control his television and external devices (such as VCRs, video disk players, cable decoders and antennas). Using the user control device, the user can also cause the television to display the broadcast information in various easy-to-understand formats. Among these display screens are grids of television and cable programming organized by channel and time, news headlines and supporting information, and up-to-date sports scores and highlights. By selecting programs or other options from these screens, the user may cause the television to change channels to the desired program or may program the VCR to record certain programs. By selecting other menu options, the user may also cause the television to automatically be muted or switch to another channel during commercial breaks, and to skip commercial breaks when recording programs.
In a preferred embodiment, the RF transmitters broadcast information using the nationwide pager bandwidth around 931 MHz. Information is encoded using any of a number of well-known transmission protocoals, such as the POCSAG protocol or the Motorola FLEX protocol. The system includes a unique method of reducing noise and interpreting broadcast data in this format.
The attainment of the foregoing and related objects, advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art after review of the following detailed description of the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Macrae Douglas B.
Westberg Thomas E.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Kostak Victor R.
Videoguide, Inc.
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