 Method and apparatus for compressing hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) messages |
| The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for compressing Internet, or any digital ... |
|
| Security mechanism and architecture for collaborative software systems using tuple space |
| According to the present invention, a secure agent communications system is provided for operation ... |
|
| Apparatus and method for displaying program contents (EPG) |
| In accordance with the present invention, the aforesaid object is accomplished by the apparatus for ... |
|
| Time-adaptive control of television viewing functionality |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention now will be ... |
|
| Animated "on-screen" display provisions for an MPEG video signal processing system |
| OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described with reference to a digital satellite television ... |
|
| Video indexing and image retrieval system |
| The present invention relates generally to video signal processing. More particularly, the ... |
|
| CATV telephone system |
| It is an object of the present invention to provide center device and terminal devices capable of ... |
|
| Decoder buffer for streaming video receiver and method of operation |
| The present invention is embodied in an Integrated Transport Decoder (ITD) buffer model. One key ... |
|
|
System for generating, distributing and receiving an interactive user interface
| Details |
Inventors: Gordon, Donald F.; Ludvig, Edward A.; Osborn, Nathan W.; Edmonds, Jeremy S.; Bayrakeri, Sadik;
Assignee: Sedna Patent Services, LLC (Philadelphia, PA)
Primary Examiner: Tran; Hai
Assistant Examiner: Huynh; Son P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Moser, Patterson & Sheridan, LLP
Method and apparatus for generating, transmitting and receiving a user interface for an interactive information distribution system. The user interface is generated in a head end of the system as a digital bitstream and transmitted to subscriber equipment for display. Operation of the user interface is facilitated by functions on both a local level within the subscriber equipment and on a system level within the head end. One embodiment of the user interface is an interactive program guide. |
|
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is an information distribution system comprising a head end wherein a user interface is generated as a digital bitstream, a distribution network for transmitting the user interface to viewers, and subscriber equipment for receiving the user interface and producing a display containing the user interface.
The user interface is illustratively embodied in an interactive program guide (IPG).
More specifically, the user interface comprises a graphical region and a video region.
In the illustrative IPG embodiment, the graphical region contains a time axis and a channel axis.
Certain programming information, for example, program titles are aligned with the axes to form a grid-like pattern that enables a viewer to rapidly comprehend the identity of a program, the time that it is to be broadcast and the channel upon which the program can be found.
The IPG further comprises a video region that produces a video image and sound for advertisements of goods and services, previews of programming, and the like.
Additionally, the IPG may contain a text region that displays text related to a selected program or other object in the graphics region.
Such text may include a description of the selected program, the duration of the program, the actors/actresses in the program, and the like.
The user interfaces may be produced as a plurality of individual interrelated interfaces that enable the viewer to seamlessly move from interface to interface.
Selecting various objects within the interface initiates various information distribution sessions referred to herein as "contexts".
For example, a user may initiate a video-on-demand (VOD) context by selecting a VOD button.
Similarly, the user may initiate a broadcast television session by selecting a program title in the program guide graphical region of the interface.
Or, a preview context may be initiated if the user selects a program title that is listed as being available in the future.
|
| Related patents |
|
|
MPEG transport stream remultiplexer
OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 shows a remultiplexer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the remultiplexer 100 has a main board 130, an I-bus 120...
|
|
|
MPEG transport stream remultiplexer
OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 shows a remultiplexer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the remultiplexer 100 has a main board 130, an I-bus 120...
|
|
|
Remultiplexer for video program bearing transport streams with program clock reference time stamp adjustment
OF THE INVENTION For sake of clarity, the description of the invention is divided into sections. Remultiplexer Environment and Overview FIG. 1 shows a basic ...
|
|
|
Apparatus and method for multiplexing with small buffer depth
It is known that the delay introduced by a multiplexing system increases when buffer sizes or depth increases. Therefore, a multiplexing method that introduces minimum ...
|
|
|
Adaptive rate control for insertion of data into arbitrary bit rate data streams
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adaptive control of the rate of data insertion into an outgoing bit stream, based on the available capacity ...
|
|
|
Brandwidth optimization of video program bearing transport streams
These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention. An illustrative application of the invention is the remultiplexing one or more MPEG-2 compliant ...
|
|
|
Method and system for emulating and HTTP server through a broadcast carousel
OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Interactive Television Architecture Interactive television provides a way to transmit interactive content to a television. Interactive ...
|
|
|
Display control apparatus and method and display apparatus
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a display control method and apparatus, and a ...
|
|
|
Method and apparatus for displaying images
What is claimed is: 1. A method for picture display, comprising: a first step of determining kind of an input video signal based on prestored characteristic information ...
|
|
|
Broadcasting receiver for receiving and regenerating records of digital broadcasting
There, main purpose of the invention is providing broadcasting receiver which suppresses amount of information recorded in storage media as much as possible by ...
|
|
|
Television 
