Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system components – Receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-30
2004-05-25
Srivastava, Vivek (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system components
Receiver
C725S133000, C725S136000, C725S141000, C348S552000, C348S473000, C348S460000, C434S393000, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06742188
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, relates to encoding data in the horizontal overscan portion of a video signal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of consumer products available today rely upon the use of wireless communication. Examples include cordless phones, garage door openers, remotely controlled appliances, and remotely controlled toys. A common motivation that drives manufacturers of these and similar products is minimizing the cost associated with providing the wireless communication capability. Thus, techniques for minimizing the cost of radio equipment for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals while maintaining reliable communication are continuously explored.
Interactive toys, games, and learning products for the home could be particularly useful applications of wireless communication technology. Wireless systems eliminate the use of wire-line communication links and, therefore, are preferable for many household applications. For example, wireless toys, games, and learning products eliminate wires that small children might tangle or pull free, or that dogs might chew. Wireless products also avoid the need for universal plugs or adapters and allow a large number of wireless devices to be controlled by a single controller without requiring a large terminal port for plugging-in the controlled devices. Wireless communication links are therefore safer, more robust, more versatile, and in many cases less expensive than wire-line communication links.
There are a number of often competing objectives in designing wireless products, such as toys, games, and learning products, for use in a home environment. First, the entire system should be priced within an acceptable range for a children's entertainment product. Furthermore, because each child may desire new controlled devices over time, the cost of each controlled device should be as low as possible. This means that the controlled devices should include inexpensive wireless communication equipment, such as conventional amplitude modulation (AM) radio equipment and digital data handling equipment.
Second, it is advantageous for several wireless devices to be controlled simultaneously by a single controller. In the context of a wireless toy environment, this allows several children to interact with their own toys at the same time. For example, one child may interact with a “FRED” toy, while another interacts with a “WILMA” toy, while yet another interacts with a “DINO” toy, etc. In addition, it is advantageous for a variety of different toys to be available so that children have a selection of toys to choose from and collect. Moreover, in a progressive learning system, it is advantageous to have a series of toys associated with different skills so that a child can progress through the skills learned by interacting with the different toys.
Third, it is advantageous for the controller and the controlled devices to be operable for engaging in bidirectional communications. This is particularly useful in an interactive learning environment in which a child interacts with a controlled device. For example, the controller may direct a controlled doll to say, “Please squeeze my left hand.” The controlled doll may then transmit the child's response back to the controller, which responds accordingly. For example, if the child squeezes the doll's right hand, the controller directs the doll to say, “No that's my right hand, please squeeze my left hand.”
A fourth consideration is forward compatibility. This means that the original controller can be used to operate future versions of controlled devices. For example, an interactive toy product may initially be introduced with only one or two controlled devices (e.g., “FRED” and “WILMA”). But over the next several years, dozens of new controlled products may be released to upgrade the system (e.g., “DINO,” “BAM-BAM,” etc.). Forward compatibility allows the new controlled devices to be operated by the original controller.
In addition, control data must be provided to the controller, which in turn transmits the control data to the controlled devices through a local wireless communication link. Although the control data may be generated locally, for example by a computer located in close proximity to the controller, it is also desirable to transmit the control data from a remote location using a broadcast-level communication link, such as an air-wave or cable television signal. In particular, it would be advantageous to broadcast the control data along with a standard video signal for driving a display device, such as a television or monitor. In this manner, the controlled devices may be caused to operate in synchronism with the programming information defined by the video signal. For example, a controlled device may operate as a character in a video program displayed on the television or monitor.
In order to effectively broadcast the control data in connection with a video signal, several often competing objectives should be attained. First, as noted above, the control data should be temporarily synchronized with the video signal so that the actions of the controlled devices operate in synchronism with the programming information displayed on the television or monitor. Second, the control data should be easily concatenated with a standard video signal for transmission in a variety of broadcast media using standard equipment. Third, the control data should not interfere with the video signal or visibly disrupt the display of the video signal. Fourth, sufficient bandwidth should be provided in the upstream communication link (e.g., a broadcast-level communication link) to fully satisfy the bandwidth requirements of the downstream communication link (e.g., local wireless communication link). In addition, it would be advantageous for additional bandwidth to be available in the upstream communication link for transmitting additional information for other data sinks to provide advertising, subscription, or emergency warning services, such as e-mail, foreign language subtitling, telephone pages, weather warnings, configuration data for a set-top box, and so forth. It would also be advantageous for the bandwidth of the upstream communication link to be adjustable to meet the cost and performance needs of a wide variety of consumers.
As with the downstream wireless communication link, the protocol for the upstream communication link should be addressable so that several wireless controlled devices, as well as other data sinks, may be controlled simultaneously. The protocol should also be error tolerant and accommodate forward compatibility for future wireless controlled devices and other services that may be provided through the broadcast media. All of these attributes should be implemented at a-cost that is feasible to deploy in connection with a system that is primarily intended to be a children's entertainment product.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system for encoding control data for wireless controlled devices in connection with a video signal so that the actions of the controlled devices operate in synchronism with the programming information defined by the video signal. There is a further need for a method and system for encoding additional data in connection with the video signal for providing services, such as e-mail, intercom capability, foreign language subtitling, telephone pages, weather warnings, configuration data for a set-top box, and so forth. There is a further need for a protocol for encoding data in connection with a video signal that is be addressable, forwardly compatible, error tolerant, and feasible to deploy in connection with a system that is primarily intended to be a children's entertainment product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the needs described above by providing a method and system for encoding control data in the horizontal overscan portion of a video signal. Because the control data is concatenated with the video
Anderson Ronald M.
Microsoft Corporation
Srivastava Vivek
Vu Ngoc
LandOfFree
Method and system for encoding data in the horizontal... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and system for encoding data in the horizontal..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and system for encoding data in the horizontal... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3239253