Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-10-16
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S039000, C348S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305016
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to interactive video communications and more particularly concerns viewer controlled channel programming guide displays.
Programming guide information is presently displayed to the home TV viewer in a non-interactive scroll on a single channel dedicated to programming guide information.
When the home viewer selects the programming guide channel, viewing of the channel previously selected is interrupted. While the viewer executes is best judgment to when to make the change, key portions of the program on the previously selected channel may be missed. This is especially probable in cases of live programming. It is also especially irritating to the viewers not in possession of the controller.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may interactively control a channel programming guide. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware in which the scroll can be simultaneously superimposed on and displayed with the programming of any channel accessible to the home viewer. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may control the comparative weight of the programming guide or superimposed signal in relation to the basic programming signal over which it is superimposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays a scroll program guide superimposed on the normal programming displayed on any is channel accessible to the viewer's display screen. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal of any selected one of the channels to a signal combiner. A computer receives any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal of any selected channel in response to one of the control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. The signal combiner combines the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner with the output picture image signal from the computer to provide a display signal with the program guide display superimposed over the channel programming display for input to the viewer's display screen. The computer is responsive to a control signal from the remote to change the weight of the superimposed signal in relation to the base or normal programming signal.
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“Addressable Converte
Allison Donald W.
Lemmons Thomas R.
Marshall Connie T.
Byrne Matthew T.
Fish & Neave
Kostak Victor R.
McShane Sheila F.
United Video Properties, Inc.
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