Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-11-06
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
C725S142000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314569
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the displaying of graphics objects such as text or sprites overlaying a multimedia television presentation, and more specifically to the display of animated graphics or play out of video or audio coordinated with a multimedia presentation.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many video applications, including interactive and multimedia applications, take advantage of the video viewer's equipment capability to display graphics overlays on the video screen such as a TV or a PC monitor. These graphics displays either dominate the entire screen, as in the case of many electronic program guides or menus, or sections thereof. The video behind these graphic overlays is entirely or partially obscured, thereby interfering with the viewing experience. Systems for the presentation of electronic program guides, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,737,030, 5,592,551, 5,541,738, and 5,353,121, display these guides either on a screen devoid of video or one which uses a still frame or moving video simply as a background, with no coordination between the location of items in the video and the location of graphics overlays.
Currently, Viewers' equipment, such as set-top boxes (STB), does not have the capability to determine where objects are located in the video. Determination of object's location in a video is necessary in order to place the graphics objects, such as the on-screen text or animate characters, in locations which do not interfere with objects appearing in the video presentation.
Systems such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,858 attempt to coordinate video and graphic displays by including in the broadcast stream, or pre-storing at the viewers' equipment, graphic overlay screens designed to be compatible with the video content. However, these screens must be created well in advance of the presentation, and thus lack the flexibility to create and display non-interfering graphics overlays adaptively. In addition, those systems display graphics at specific “trigger points” in the presentation, not at arbitrary points throughout the presentation.
Other systems which add graphics or audio content to an existing presentation, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,764, require the active participation of the viewer in the process of presentation. The viewer, for example, may be required to answer a number of questions before or during the presentation, the responses are then displayed on the screen at predetermined times.
Systems which allow the personalization of content for individual users are well known in the context of Web browsing. Other systems, such as systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,858 and 4,616,327, provide a limited number of introductions, by the viewers' equipment of predetermined text or graphics. Some systems, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,743, 4,786,967, and 4,847,700, provide audio and/or video personalization through the selection among a small number of alternate video and audio tracks which are broadcast simultaneously. The selection is performed at the viewer's equipment.
What is needed is a system whereby the location and timing of video objects and audio events are made available to the viewers' display equipment, giving that equipment the flexibility to add non-interfering graphics or audio when and where it sees fit, in an adaptive manner throughout a presentation, rather than at limited points. This ability will allow the viewers' equipment to create a tandem video/audio/graphics presentation without requiring viewers' active participation in the presentation process. That system must allow coordination of graphics content that is not pre-stored, such as broadcast news bulletins, and perform still or animated graphics overlay of video, addition or replacement of video, and audio replacement in coordination with the existing video and audio content of a presentation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for the definition and use of information which enables the display or playing of audio, video or graphics objects in tandem with the video and audio play of a digital video presentation. The presentation thus enhanced may be available via a broadcast or in a video-on-demand scenario. The video distribution system over which the video is made available can be a one-way system, such as a terrestrial television broadcast, or a two-way communication, such as a hybrid fiber/coaxial cable system with return channel capability.
The invention enables the tandem presentation of additional audio, video, or graphics by defining video and audio “holes” in the video or audio presentation at which there is no significant video or audio activity. “Holes” are locations and times in the video presentation. Graphics or audio objects are appropriately presented by the STB in those “holes”. The STB is notified as to the location and/or times associated with these “holes”, as well as other information which characterizes the material which the STB must present.
With this information, this invention allows the STB to judiciously place graphics objects on screen or play audio or video content, and avoid interference with video objects or audio events. The graphics objects displayed by the STB can be static or dynamic, i.e., animated. Thus, the invention also enables the creation of video presentations in which objects in the original video or animation interact and move in tandem with video or graphics objects which are added by the viewer's equipment. For example, a cartoon may be created in which several characters are seen on screen at once and a “hole” is left for the addition of an animated character which is added by the viewer's equipment such as an STB.
Alternatively, the “hole” could be defined at the location of a relatively less important character which can be obscured by the STB-animated character. The viewers whose STB does not support the present invention will still be able to see a presentation with no video “holes”. The information as to what type of character can be added, at what screen locations, at what times, and optionally, the motion of the added character must be delivered to the STB in advance of the display of the character.
Similarly, the invention allows tandem audio play between the audio content of the presentation and audio content which is introduced by the STB.
The invention allows for the personalization of the video, graphics or audio content introduced by the STB. The personalization is achieved by a viewer when he or she specifies several personal parameters, such as name and age through a viewer interface. To continue the above example, a child's name may be entered in the STB's personalization information. When viewing the prepared presentation, the STB-animated character can display this child's name, when this character is presented in the location of video “holes”. Alternatively, the STB can play an audio clip of the child's name during audio “holes.” Personalized audio or video clips may be recorded and stored in the STB for use in the tandem play.
Thus, the present invention allows a single version of material such as a cartoon presentation to be created and broadcast, yet be viewed and heard differently by various viewers, and tailored to them specifically. A hybrid presentation is in effect created, the sum of the original presentation and the graphics and/or audio which is introduced by the viewers' STB into the “holes.”
Accordingly, in the present invention personalization information, audio and video segments and possibly “hole” information are stored in the STB. The STB receives a multimedia presentation stream embedded with “hole” information. The “hole” information is embedded into the stream during an authoring stage, where the creator of the presentation determines the “hole” locations and times. That “hole” information is extracted on the STB, and audio and video segments and personalization information previous
Chernock Richard Steven
Dettori Paolo
Schaffa Frank Andre
Seidman David Israel
Brown Reuben M.
Cameron Esq. Douglas W.
Faile Andrew
International Business Machines - Corporation
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
LandOfFree
System for video, audio, and graphic presentation in tandem... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for video, audio, and graphic presentation in tandem..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for video, audio, and graphic presentation in tandem... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2597258