U.S. patent number 7,143,428 [Application Number 09/296,452] was granted by the patent office on 2006-11-28 for concurrent viewing of a video programming and of text communications concerning the video programming.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Microsoft Corporation. Invention is credited to Timo Bruck, Scott J. Kleper.
United States Patent |
7,143,428 |
Bruck , et al. |
November 28, 2006 |
Concurrent viewing of a video programming and of text
communications concerning the video programming
Abstract
A system in which a video signal, such as a television program,
is received and displayed to a viewer. The system has a
user-selectable chat option in which the viewer can enter text
messages that will be displayed to other viewers of the video
signal who have also selected the chat option. A transcript of the
text messages from all of the viewers who have selected the chat
option is displayed to all such viewers. The video signal is
simultaneously displayed on a graphical user interface having a
video region for display of the video signal and a chat region for
display of the transcript of text messages.
Inventors: |
Bruck; Timo (Mountain View,
CA), Kleper; Scott J. (Pittsford, NY) |
Assignee: |
Microsoft Corporation (Redmond,
WA)
|
Family
ID: |
23142063 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/296,452 |
Filed: |
April 21, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/37; 715/762;
725/110; 725/43; 725/51; 725/112; 725/109; 715/758; 709/204;
348/E5.105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/4316 (20130101); H04N 21/4788 (20130101); H04N
21/4622 (20130101); H04N 21/6125 (20130101); H04N
21/47 (20130101); H04N 21/6175 (20130101); H04N
5/44543 (20130101); H04N 21/4786 (20130101); H04N
21/42676 (20130101); H04N 21/4782 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/173 (20060101); G06F 15/16 (20060101); G06F
17/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;725/32,34,109,110,121,44,51,39-43,112 ;709/204
;345/751,759,716,719,726 ;715/758,759 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 834 798 |
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Apr 1998 |
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EP |
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0 852 361 |
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Jul 1998 |
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EP |
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WO 98/53611 |
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Nov 1998 |
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WO |
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WO 99/03034 |
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Jan 1999 |
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WO |
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WO 99/04561 |
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Jan 1999 |
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WO |
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WO 99/35831 |
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Jul 1999 |
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WO |
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WO 00/13416 |
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Mar 2000 |
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WO |
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WO 0013416 |
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Mar 2000 |
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WO |
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Other References
Presto's Tribes Client Scripter- Apr. 4, 1999-
www.planettribes.com/presto/features.shtml. cited by
examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Kelley; Chris
Assistant Examiner: Huynh; Son P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Workman Nydegger
Claims
We claim:
1. In a client system comprising a display for showing video
programs received from one or more video sources and chat
communication from one or more chat rooms, a method of the client
system displaying a particular video program and chat communication
corresponding to the particular video program, the method
comprising: receiving a video program from a video source;
receiving chat communication from a chat room that is associated
with the video program; storing a plurality of distinct user
interface templates, each of the plurality of distinct user
interface templates defining a video region, for displaying the
video program, and a chat region, for displaying chat
communication, that differ from one user interface template to
another; automatically, and without user intervention, selecting
one of the plurality of distinct user interface templates for use
in customizing display of the video program and the chat
communication based on at least one of (i) an episode of a
television series included in the video program, (ii) a television
series corresponding to the video program, (iii) a television
network affiliate providing the video program, or (iv) a network
providing the video program; and displaying the video program and
the chat communication in accordance with the selected user
interface template and thereby creating a customized user interface
for the video program and chat communication.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving chat link
data indicating that the client system may display a user
selectable chat link for connecting to the chat room; displaying
the user selectable chat link simultaneously with the video
program; receiving user selection of the chat link; sending a chat
request to a host server; receiving a chat room identifier from the
host server that identifies the chat room; and connecting to the
chat room at a chat server.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the host and chat servers are the
same server.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the video program and the chat
link data are received in a signal broadcast from the video
source.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein an identifying characteristic of
the video program is displayed outside of the video region of the
display.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying characteristic
identifies an episode of a television series included in the video
program.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying characteristic
identifies a television series corresponding to the video
program.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying characteristic
identifies a television network affiliate providing the video
program.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying characteristic
identifies a television network providing the video program.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying characteristic
includes a background underlying other displayed data.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat region of the selected
user interface template is adjacent the video region of the
selected user interface template.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat region of the selected
user interface template overlies the video region of the selected
user interface template.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the video program is a first
video program, the chat communication is a first chat
communication, the chat room is a first chat room, and the selected
user interface template is a first user interface template, the
method further comprising: receiving a second video program;
receiving a second chat communication from a second chat room that
is associated with the second video program; automatically, and
without user intervention, selecting a second one of the plurality
of distinct user interface templates for customizing display of the
second video program and second chat communication based on at
least one of (i) an episode of a television series included in the
second video program, (ii) a television series corresponding to the
second program, (iii) a television network affiliate providing the
second video program, or (iv) a network providing the second video
program; and displaying the second video program and the second
chat communication in accordance with the second user interface
template, wherein the second user interface template differs from
the first user interface template.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second user interface
template is selected because (i) an episode of a television series
included in the second video program differs from an episode of a
television series includes in the first video program, or (ii) a
television series corresponding to the second video program differs
from a television series corresponding to the first video
program.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second user interface
template is selected because (i) a television network affiliate
providing the second video program differs from a television
network affiliate providing the first video program, or (ii) a
network providing the second video program differs from the a
network providing the first video program.
16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video program has a
beginning and an end, and further including an act of displaying a
new chat link with the video program, and prior to the end of the
video program, the new chat link linking to a new chat room that is
associated with a different video program.
17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the chat room is
maintained by the chat server only until the user leaves the chat
room, wherein the user is determined to be a last participant to
leave the chat room.
18. For one or more host servers receiving one or more chat
requests from one or more client systems that show video programs
received from one or more video sources and chat communication from
one or more chat servers corresponding to the received video
programs, a computer program product comprising one or more
computer readable media having encoded thereon computer-executable
instructions for implementing a method of a host server controlling
a client system's display of a particular video program and chat
communication corresponding to the particular video program, the
method comprising: receiving a chat request from a client system,
the chat request including a video program identifying
characteristic, for a video program, that identifies at least one
of (i) an episode of a television series included in the video
program, (ii) a television series corresponding to the video
program, (iii) a television network affiliate providing the video
program, or (iv) a network providing the video program; storing a
plurality of distinct user interface templates, each of the
plurality of distinct user interface templates defining a video
region, for displaying the video program, and a chat region, for
displaying chat communication from a chat server, that differ from
one user interface template to another; automatically, and without
user intervention, selecting one of the plurality of distinct user
interface templates based on the video program identifying
characteristic; and sending the selected user interface template to
the client system for use in customizing display of the video
program and the chat communication at the client system in
accordance with the selected user interface template.
19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the host and
chat servers are the same server.
20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein selecting one
of the plurality of distinct user interface templates based on the
video program identifying characteristic comprises selecting a user
interface template for (i) an episode of a television series
included in the video program, if one exists, and if not (ii) a
television series corresponding to the video program, if one
exists, and if not (iii) a television network affiliate providing
the video program, if one exists, and otherwise (iv) a network
providing the video program.
21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the chat
region of the selected user interface template is adjacent the
video region of the selected user interface template.
22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the chat
region of the selected user interface template overlies the video
region of the selected user interface template.
23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the
identifying characteristic of the video program is displayed
outside of the video region of the display.
24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the
identifying characteristic identifies an episode of a television
series included in the video program.
25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the
identifying characteristic identifies a television series
corresponding to the video program.
26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the
identifying characteristic identifies a television network
affiliate providing the video program.
27. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the
identifying characteristic identifies a television network
providing the video program.
28. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the
identifying characteristic includes a background underlying other
displayed data.
29. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the video
program is a first video program, the video program identifying
characteristic is a first video program identifying characteristic,
the chat communication is a first chat communication, the chat room
is a first chat room, and the selected user interface template is a
first user interface template, the method further comprising:
receiving a second chat request from the client system, the chat
request including a second video program identifying
characteristic, for a second video program, that identifies at
least one of (i) an episode of a television series included in the
second video program, (ii) a television series corresponding to the
second video program, (iii) a television network affiliate
providing the second video program, or (iv) a network providing the
second video program; selecting a second one of the plurality of
distinct user interface template based on the second video program
identifying characteristic; and sending the second user interface
template to the client system for use in customizing display of the
second video program and the second chat communication at the
client system in accordance with the second user interface
template.
30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein an episode of
a television series included in the second video program differs
from an episode of a television series included in the first video
program.
31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein a television
series corresponding to the second video program differs from a
television series corresponding to the first video program.
32. The computer program product of claim 31, a television network
affiliate providing the second video program differs from a
television network affiliate providing the first video program.
33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein a network
providing the second video program differs from a network providing
the first video program.
34. In one or more host servers receiving one or more chat requests
from one or more client systems that show video programs received
from one or more video sources and chat communication from one or
more chat servers corresponding to the received video programs, a
method of a host server controlling a client system's display of a
particular video program and chat communication corresponding to
the particular video program, the method comprising: receiving a
chat request from a client system, the chat request including a
video program identifying characteristic, for a video program, that
identifies at least one of (i) an episode of a television series
included in the video program, (ii) a television series
corresponding to the video program, (iii) a television network
affiliate providing the video program, or (iv) a network providing
the video program; storing a plurality of distinct user interface
templates, each of the plurality of distinct user interface
templates defining a video region, for displaying the video
program, and a chat region, for displaying chat communication from
a chat server, that differ from one user interface template to
another; automatically, and without user intervention, selecting
one of the plurality of distinct user interface templates based on
the video program identifying characteristic; and sending the
selected user interface template to the client system for use in
customizing display of the video program and the chat communication
at the client system in accordance with the selected user interface
template.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the host and chat servers are
the same server.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the video program is a first
video program, the video program identifying characteristic is a
first video program identifying characteristic, the chat
communication is a first chat communication, the chat room is a
first chat room, and the selected user interface template is a
first user interface template, the method further comprising:
receiving a second chat request from the client system, the chat
request including a second video program identifying
characteristic, for a second video program, that identifies at
least one of (i) an episode of a television series included in the
second video program, (ii) a television series corresponding to the
second video program, (iii) a television network affiliate
providing the second video program, or (iv) a network providing the
second video program; automatically, and without user intervention,
selecting a second one of the plurality of distinct user interface
templates based on the second video program identifying
characteristic; and sending the second user interface template to
the client system for use in customizing display of the second
video program and the second chat communication at the client
system in accordance with the second user interface template.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein an episode of a television
series included in the second video program differs from an episode
of a television series included in the first video program.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein a network providing the second
video program differs from a network providing the first video
program.
39. For a client system comprising a display for showing video
programs received from one or more video sources and chat
communication from one or more chat rooms, a computer program
product comprising one or more computer readable media having
encoded thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing a
method of the client system displaying particular video program and
chat communication corresponding to the particular video program,
the method comprising: receiving a video program from a video
source; receiving chat communication from a chat room that is
associated with the video program; storing a plurality of distinct
user interface templates, each of the plurality of distinct user
interface templates defining a video region, for displaying the
video program, and a chat region, for displaying chat
communication, that differ from one user interface template to
another; automatically, and without user intervention, selecting
one of the plurality of distinct user interface templates for use
in customizing display of the video program and the chat
communication based on at least one of (i) an episode of a
television series included in the video program, (ii) a television
series corresponding to the video program, (iii) a television
network affiliate providing the video program, or (iv) a network
providing the video program; and displaying the video program and
the chat communication in accordance with the selected user
interface template and thereby creating a customized user interface
for the video program and chat communication.
40. The computer program product of claim 39, the method further
comprising: receiving chat link data indicating that the client
system may display a user selectable chat link for connecting to
the chat room; displaying the user selectable chat link
simultaneously with the video program; receiving user selection of
the chat link; sending a chat request to a host server; receiving a
chat room identifier from the host server that identifies the chat
room; and connecting to the chat room at a chat server.
41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the video
program and the chat link data are received in a signal broadcast
from the video source.
42. The computer program product of claim 39, the video program is
a first video program, the chat communication is a first chat
communication, the chat room is a first chat room, and the selected
user interface template is a first user interface template, the
method further comprising: receiving a second video program;
receiving a second chat communication from a second chat room that
is associated with the second video program; automatically, and
without user intervention, selecting a second one of the plurality
of distinct user interface templates for customizing display of the
second video program and second chat communication based on at
least one of (i) an episode of a television series included in the
second video program, (ii) a television series corresponding to the
second video program, (iii) a television network affiliate
providing the second video program, or (iv) a network providing the
second video program; and displaying the second video program and
the second chat communication in accordance with the second user
interface template, wherein the second user interface template
differs from the first user interface template.
43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the video
program has a beginning and an end, and further including an act of
displaying a new chat link with the video program, and prior to the
end of the video program, the new chat link linking to a new chat
room that is associated with a different video program.
44. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the chat room
is maintained by the chat server only until the user leaves the
chat room, wherein the user is determined to be a last participant
to leave the chat room.
45. In a client system comprising a display for showing video
programs received from one or more video sources and chat
communication from one or more chat rooms, a method of the client
system displaying a particular video program and chat communication
corresponding to the particular video program, the method
comprising: receiving a video program from a video source; creating
a chat room that is associated with the video program; receiving
chat communication from the chat room; storing a plurality of
distinct user interface templates, each of the plurality of
distinct user interface templates defining a video region, for
displaying the video program, and a chat region, for displaying
chat communication, that differ from one user interface template to
another; automatically, and without user intervention, selecting
one of the plurality of distinct user interface templates for use
in customizing display of the video program and the chat
communication based on at least one of (i) an episode of a
television series included in the video program, (ii) a television
series corresponding to the video program, (iii) a television
network affiliate providing the video program, or (iv) a network
providing the video program; and displaying the video program and
the chat communication in accordance with the selected user
interface template and thereby creating a customized user interface
for the video program and chat communication.
46. In a client system comprising a display for showing video
programs received from one or more video sources and chat
communication from one or more chat rooms, a method of the client
system displaying a particular video program and chat communication
corresponding to the particular video program, the method
comprising: receiving a video program from a video source;
receiving chat communication from a chat room that is associated
with the video program; storing a plurality of distinct user
interface templates, each of the plurality of distinct user
interface templates defining a video region, for displaying the
video program, and a chat region, for displaying chat
communication, that differ from one user interface template to
another; automatically, and without user intervention at any time,
selecting one of the plurality of distinct user interface templates
for use in customizing display of the video program and the chat
communication based on at least one of (i) an episode of a
television series included in the video program, (ii) a television
series corresponding to the video program, (iii) a television
network affiliate providing the video program, or (iv) a network
providing the video program; displaying the video program and the
chat communication in accordance with the selected user interface
template and thereby creating a customized user interface for the
video program and chat communication; and shutting down the chat
room upon completion of the video program.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to text communications over
a communications network such as the Internet. More particularly,
the invention concerns concurrent viewing of video programming and
of text communications between viewers of the video
programming.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, communications networks such as the Internet have
become popular for their ability to enable people to communicate a
virtually limitless variety of information across great distances.
More importantly, the development of the Internet has enabled
persons even with relatively little technical training to find,
send and receive information using a browsing device (e.g. a
personal computer or a television set-top box (STB)) running a
browser program (e.g. MICROSOFT.RTM. Internet Explorer or Netscape
Navigator). This, in turn, has led to meteoric growth in Internet
use.
One Internet feature which has gained particular popularity
provides for real-time text conversations between users. These
conversations, referred to as "chat", typically involve a number of
individuals, each of whom is in communication with a chat server
where messages from each participant are received for distribution
to all other participants. Once received by the chat server, the
messages are available to the browsing devices where they are
presented to respective participants. The chat server thus
establishes a virtual "chat room" where participants can carry on a
text conversation over the Internet.
Due to the vast number of Internet users, and the similarly vast
number of chat rooms, it has become common practice to define a
topic for discussion in a given chat room. The topic may be defined
by agreement of the participants, but more typically is established
by the chat service provider upon creation of the chat room. The
topic may be maintained by the chat service provider policing the
chat room, and limiting participation to those who engage in
discussion on the defined topic. Alternatively, the chat room may
be controlled by the participants themselves. In either event,
however, the chat room typically is a somewhat permanent fixture
available to participants throughout the day.
In order to access the Internet, many users subscribe to Internet
access services which provide a convenient standardized interface
between users and the vast number of Internet sites. One such
Internet access service is the WEBTV.RTM. Internet access network
(WEBTV is a registered trademark of WebTV Networks, Inc. of
Mountain View, Calif.). The WEBTV Internet access network links a
large number of browsing devices, referred to as client terminals,
with at least one host server which directs the flow of information
to and from the client terminals. The client terminals are
connected to the host server via conventional modem pools, either
by Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connections,
telephone lines, or other data links. Using these connections,
users are able to access informational sites established by
Internet publishers, and are able to access "chat rooms" whereby
they may participate in interactive text conversations online. The
host server also may offer supplemental services, such as email,
news reports, television program guides, and enhanced access to
certain web pages for subscribers of the service.
Although chat rooms are accessible to most users of the Internet,
it can sometimes be difficult to find a chat room directed to a
particular topic, especially when that topic has a limited period
of relevance. Chat rooms relating to television programs fall into
this category. For example, a chat room relating to a particular
television show is of greatest interest for a short period around
the time the show is aired. Unfortunately, there may not be a
permanent chat room dedicated to a particular show where viewers
can congregate and, even where such a chat room exists, a viewer
may have difficulty locating the particular chat room and thus may
be discouraged from experiencing chat rooms.
In the past, some television broadcasters have attempted to make
chat available to viewers by providing chat rooms related to
particular programming. Others have attempted to incorporate
selected excerpts from relevant chat rooms into the broadcast
itself. However, until now, viewers have not been provided with a
system and method whereby they are able to simultaneously view a
video program and participate in a chat room related to the video
program using the same display. Moreover, viewers have been unable
to select a chat option while viewing a video program so that the
viewers may chat during the video program.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A method and a system are provided for linking chat rooms and
television viewing. More particularly, a system is provided in
which a video signal, such as a television program, is received and
displayed to viewers. The system has a user-selectable chat option
in which viewers can enter text messages that will be displayed to
other viewers of the video signal who have also selected the chat
option. In one embodiment, the video signal is displayed on a
graphical user interface in the form of a template having a video
region for display of the video signal and a chat region for
display of the text messages.
In some embodiments, the system also provides a viewer the ability
to select among a plurality of different television programs to
display. The system then provides a plurality of separate chat
rooms, each associated with a corresponding television program.
Upon selection of the chat option when viewing a particular one of
the television programs, a viewer is placed in a chat room
corresponding to the displayed television program. Thereafter, text
messages from viewers of the same program who have likewise
selected the chat option are displayed to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view of a browsing device in the
form of a set-top box configured for use in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the architecture of the
browsing device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a browsing device in the form of a
personal computer configured for use as part of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the structure of a communications
network for use by browsing devices as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a user interface according to the
present invention, illustrating a chat icon superimposed over a
television program.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a chat user interface according to
the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an alternative chat user
interface.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an alternative chat user
interface.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an alternative chat user
interface.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an alternative chat user
interface.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an alternative chat user
interface.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a user interface providing access to
a chat room according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an alternative user interface
providing access to a chat room.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the operation of a chat room
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 14 and the following discussion are intended to provide a
brief, general description of a suitable networked computing
environment in which the invention may be implemented. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be
practiced with other networked computer devices, including
hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe
computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in
distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by
remote processing devices that are linked through a communications
network.
FIG. 1 depicts a control unit or browsing device 10 in the form of
a client system. As indicated, the client system includes an
electronics unit 12, a television 14, and a remote control 16.
Electronics unit 12 typically is referred to as a set-top box
(STB), because of its usual placement on top of television 14.
Set-top box 12, however, may be built into television 14, forming
an integral unit. The client system uses television 14 as a display
device for displaying both video data and a graphical user
interface, and as a loudspeaker device for emitting audio data. The
set-top box is coupled to the television by a communications link
18. The link is an RF (radio frequency), S-video, composite video,
or other equivalent form of communications link.
The set-top box includes hardware and/or software for receiving and
decoding a broadcast video signal 20, such as an NTSC, PAL, SECAM
or other TV system video signal, and providing video data to the
television via link 20. Set-top box 12 also includes a browser
program, which may be implemented in hardware and/or software, to
cause a graphical user interface 22 to be displayed on television
14. The browser program enables a user to access various WEBTV
network services, browse the World Wide Web, send email, or
otherwise access the Internet.
Client system 10 may include a standard modem or an ISDN modem,
such that the communication link between set-top box 12 and the
Internet can be either a telephone (POTS) connection 24 or an ISDN
connection 26. Alternatively, client system 10 may include a DOCSIS
modem for communicating via a cable system or an antenna for
wireless communications such as via satellite. As a further
alternative, client system 10 may receive data via one type of
communication line and send data or requests for data over a
different medium. The set-top box receives power through a power
line 28.
Remote control 16 is operated by the user to control television
viewing, and to control the client system while browsing the World
Wide Web, sending email, or performing other Internet-related
functions. Remote control 16 typically includes a keyboard to allow
an operator to enter text data, such as for email, and may also
include a pointing device, microphone or other input device. The
set-top box receives commands from remote control 16 via an
infrared (IR) communication link. Alternatively, the link between
the remote control and the set-top box may be an RF communication
link or any equivalent communication link (e.g., wires, etc.).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating internal features of set-top
box 12. In this illustration, operation of the client system is
controlled by a processing unit, such as central processing unit
(CPU) 30, which is coupled to an Application-Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) 32. The CPU executes software designed to implement
various features of the present invention. ASIC 32 contains
circuitry which may be used to implement these features. ASIC 32 is
coupled to an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 34 which
provides audio output to television 14. In addition, ASIC 32 is
coupled to a video encoder 36 which provides video output to
television 14. An IR interface 38 detects IR signals transmitted by
remote control 16 and, in response, provides corresponding
electrical signals to ASIC 32. A standard telephone modem 40 or an
ISDN modem 42 are coupled to ASIC 32 to provide for connection(s)
to the Internet. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
set-top box also may include a cable television or radio frequency
modem or other system for sending and/or receiving data (not
shown).
A receiver 44 receives broadcast video signals, such as an NTSC
video signal. The video signal may be received and decoded directly
by the receiver or may be a feed from a separate box, such as a
cable decoder or a satellite receiver (not shown). Typically, the
receiver is able to tune into a selectable channel or
control/monitor the tuning of an external device such as the
satellite receiver. This capability allows the set-top box to know
what video signal is being processed, which in turn enables various
functional capabilities described hereinbelow.
The receiver is coupled to ASIC 32 to provide corresponding
electrical signals to ASIC 32. This allows video data carried in
broadcast video signal 20 to be presented to the viewer on
television 14. More specifically, receiver 44 is configured to
digitize the incoming video signal, which is stored in RAM 48, so
that ASIC 32 and CPU 30 can process the video signal before
displaying it on the television. This configuration enables the
set-top box to generate shared screen viewing where the video
signal only occupies a portion of the screen. The remaining screen
area then can be used to display various user interface controls or
data, as described in more detail below.
By virtue of the combined video and Internet browsing capabilities
of the set-top box, it is possible to provide functional
integration between television viewing and Internet browsing. For
instance, one feature of set-top boxes, as described herein, is
provision of an electronic programming guide for television
viewing. The electronic programming guide is an electronic database
on the client which is periodically updated by the host server. The
database includes scheduling, rating and other information about
the television shows available to the user. Among other things, the
electronic programming guide also can include links to websites
associated with various shows. Using information associated with
the programming guide, users are, for instance, able to
conveniently access websites that relate to television shows using
on screen links.
Also coupled to ASIC 32 is memory, including random access memory
(RAM) 48 and read-only memory (ROM) 46, which provides for storage
of program code for implementing application software to be
executed by the set-top box. Note that ROM 46 may be a programmable
ROM (PROM), or any form of erasable PROM (EPROM), or flash memory.
A mass storage device 50 optionally may be provided and coupled to
ASIC 42. The mass storage device may be used to input software or
data to the client terminal or to store downloaded software or
data. Mass storage device 50 can be any suitable device for storing
machine-executable instructions, such as a magnetic drive, optical
drive, and the like.
FIG. 3 depicts an alternate browsing device in the form of a
conventional personal computer 11, including a central processing
unit (CPU) 52, a memory 54, and a bus 56 that couples various
components (including the memory) to the CPU. Bus 56 may be any of
several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory
controller, a peripheral bus, or a local bus using any of a variety
of bus architectures. The memory includes read-only memory (ROM) 58
and random access memory (RAM) 60. A basic input/output system 62
(BIOS), containing basic routines which help to transfer
information between elements within the personal computer (such as
during start-up), is stored in ROM 58.
The personal computer further includes a hard disk drive 66 and an
optical disk drive 70 for reading from or writing to a removable
optical media such as a CD-ROM or other optical storage. Hard disk
drive 66 and optical disk drive 70 are connected to bus 56 by a
hard disk drive interface 72 and an optical drive interface 76,
respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable
media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for
the personal computer.
A video capture card 68 is connected to bus 56. Video capture card
68 provides functionality similar to that of the receiver of the
set-top box of FIG. 2. In particular, the video capture card
receives a video signal and feeds a digitized output to memory 54
or video memory on a video adapter. The video capture card is
typically able to receive either an RF video input or a direct
video/audio input. In the case of RF input, the user is normally
able to control the channel or tuning through a software
interface.
Although the exemplary environment shown in FIG. 3 employs a hard
disk and a removable optical disk, it should be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable
media which can store data which is accessible by a computer (e.g.
magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,
Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only
memories (ROMs), etc.) also may be used.
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk,
magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM 58, or RAM 60, including an
operating system, one or more application programs, other program
modules, and program data. A user may enter commands and
information into personal computer 11 through input devices such as
a keyboard 78 and/or a pointing device (mouse) 80. Other input
devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad,
satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices
often are connected to central processing unit 52 through a serial
port interface 82 which is coupled to the bus. However, the input
devices may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel
port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB).
A monitor 84 or other type of display device is also connected to
bus 56 via an interface, such as a video adapter 86. In addition to
the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral
output devices (not shown) such as speakers and printers. Finally,
personal computer 11 includes a browser program, which may be
implemented in hardware and/or software to cause a graphical user
interface to be displayed on monitor 84. The user employs the
graphical user interface to browse the World Wide Web, send email,
and otherwise access the Internet. In a typical graphical user
interface, the user is also able to dedicate a portion of the
screen to display of video content such as acquired through the
video capture card. The personal computer also typically includes a
modem 88, such as an ISDN modem or telephone line modem, connected
to the serial bus for communication with remote computers through a
communications network.
FIG. 4 illustrates a basic configuration of a network computing
environment in which a browsing device, such as a client terminal
or personal computer, typically operates. A number of browsing
devices 10 are coupled to a modem pool 90 via bi-directional data
connections 92, which may be a telephone connection, ISDN
connection, or any other similar type of connection, such as cable
and satellite forward channels. Modem pool 90 typically is coupled
through a router, such as that conventionally known in the art, to
a server arrangement including a number of remote servers 94 via a
conventional communications network 96, such as the Internet.
Connected to the communications network is a host server 98, which
specifically supports and communicates with browsing devices 10 and
forms part of the server arrangement. The browsing devices each
have a connection to host server 98 through modem pool 90 and the
Internet. Note that modem pool 90 is a conventional modem pool,
such as is found today throughout the world providing access to the
Internet and private networks. A chat server 99 is accessible via
the Internet to handle chat room operation as described below.
The present invention preferably is implemented on a communications
network navigable by hypertext links, such as the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web encompasses a vast collection of web pages
residing as data files on remote servers connected to the Internet.
Each web page is downloadable and viewable by a browsing device,
and often contains hypertext links, which, if selected, cause the
browsing device to point to, or download and display, a new web
page.
Within the World Wide Web, a collection of related web pages forms
a website. Individuals or organizations that provide content to the
World Wide Web are known as publishers. A single publisher on the
Internet may establish a single page, an entire website, or
multiple websites. Web pages are stored as data files on remote
servers, and transmitted to browsing devices upon request from each
browsing device. Each remote server has a unique identifier such as
an Internet protocol (IP) address which marks its location on the
Internet. Most have an alphanumeric domain name, associated with
the IP address, providing an alternative, easy-to-remember address
at which the remote server may be contacted. Each data file which
contains web page data has a unique file path to indicate its
location within the remote server.
To download and present data from a remote server over the
communications network, browsing device 10 contacts one of remote
servers 94 through communications network 96 using a network
address such as a universal resource locator (URL). The URL, it
will be appreciated, specifies the protocol by which the data is to
be transferred, as well as the unique identifier (e.g. domain name
or IP address) at which the remote server is located, and the file
path of the specific file to be transferred. The remote server then
transmits the requested data to the browser program, which in turn
displays the data according to predefined conventions.
Data files containing web pages typically are transmitted using the
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and encoded using the HyperText
Markup Language (HTML). The HTML language provides a standard for
interpretation of text data, formatting instructions, and other
behavioral attributes of a web page, including links to other web
pages or resource files containing image, video, and audio
data.
FIG. 5 illustrates a user interface 100 having a television program
displayed thereon, as indicated by the large letters TV. A chat
icon 104 appearing generally like a cartoon dialog bubble is
selectively superimposed over the television program to provide the
user with a chat option relating to the video program presented on
the display. When the chat icon is displayed, a user can select or
activate a link represented by the icon by pressing a particular
button on the remote control such as "GO" or "RETURN".
Upon activation of the link, the user is transferred into a chat
room related to the particular television show being viewed as
depicted in FIG. 6. In the chat room of FIG. 6, text messages from
the new user (as well as other participants in the chat room) are
displayed in a chat region 108 of a chat user interface 110, as
symbolized by the large "Chat Transcript" identifier. Text messages
between the various participants are transmitted to each other over
a communications network, which is typically the Internet. As
indicated, the chat user interface may include a text entry box 112
into which users are able to enter text messages using the remote
control. After entry of the message, the user typically selects and
actuates a send button 114 with the remote control to deliver a new
message to add to the chat transcript. A scroll bar 116 on the edge
of the chat user interface may be provided to allow the user to
scroll up and down to review older messages that may have scrolled
out of the chat region.
Chat user interface 110 also includes a video region 118 for
display of a video signal, i.e., a television program which the
user was viewing prior to entry of the chat room. The chat
interface may further include a logo region 120 for display of a
selected logo which may be associated with the chat room. An
informational region 122 also may be provided, the information
region including various data such as a clock 124, a television
program identifier 126, i.e., a show name, a program schedule time
128 and an interactive link 130. Interactive link 130 may be
provided to permit a user to jump to a website related to the
television content being viewed, or receive other interactive data
related to the television program. For instance, a user may be
linked to the NBC website during viewing of an NBC show or may
receive sports scores during a sporting event.
The area of the screen beneath the video and information regions
may include a background image 132 used to also display some
identifying characteristic of the television program. In FIG. 6 the
background image is the logo for the network supplying the show,
i.e., the NBC peacock logo. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG.
7, the background region may be used to display the logo associated
with the show, i.e., Third Rock From the Sun. Some other possible
identifying characteristics are a logo for the local network
affiliate which broadcasts the television show or the title of a
particular episode of the show.
An alternative user interface arrangement for a chat interface is
illustrated in FIG. 8. In the interface of FIG. 8, chat region 108
is smaller and is positioned at the top of the interface, with
video region 118 being located at the bottom. As indicated, text
entry box 112 and send button 114 may be positioned between the
video and chat regions. A status line 134 may be provided at the
top of the interface to report the number of participants in the
chat room. Additionally, a network logo (e.g., the Comedy Central
logo) associated with the current television show may be displayed
in logo region 120. An informational region 122 also may be
provided, the depicted informational region including a clock 124
and a television program identifier 126. Additionally, a user
selection area 136 may be provided such that the user is able to
select between an Online Store option 138 and a TV Schedule option
140, allowing a user to access a website where they could purchase
show-related goods online or access scheduling information related
to the current show or its network. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
9, the logo or informational regions may contain the logo of the
network service provider such as WEBTV and/or may contain
advertisements.
FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a chat user interface
arrangement. In particular, video region 118 in FIG. 10 is larger
than the video region shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8. Chat region 108 is
smaller and is disposed below the video region. As indicated, the
informational region may be positioned at the left side and may
include a clock 124 and a television program identifier 126. A logo
region 120 may be positioned in the upper left hand corner and can
display the network service provider logo, as shown, or may display
a television network, a local affiliate or a show logo as
previously described.
FIG. 11 depicts another chat user interface embodiment which
utilizes a full screen video region 118. As indicated, chat region
108, together with text entry box 112 and send button 114, may
occupy the entire screen and are superimposed over the television
program. This has the advantage of providing the maximum space for
both video and chat regions, but legibility of the text messages
may be reduced with some video content.
FIGS. 12 and 13 depict two alternative paths for a user to enter a
chat room related to a television program. FIG. 12 depicts a
program information interface in which information such as a show
time and episode description is presented for a particular
television show. An interactive link 150 allows a user to
automatically connect to a related website upon activation as
described previously for link 130. A similar chat link 152 may be
provided which transfers the user into the associated chat room
upon selection as with chat icon 104. Video region 118 displays the
selected television show if it is currently playing. Otherwise, the
video region will display the currently playing show on the
selected channel. The interface also typically provides user
selectable buttons 154, 156 and 158 to allow a user to control
recording of the show by an attached VCR (not shown), to set a
reminder to appear prior to the start of the show and to exit the
program information interface, respectively.
FIG. 13 depicts an options screen that can be actuated using the
remote control while viewing a television program. As indicated,
the options screen may include an interactive link 150, a chat link
152, and user selectable buttons 160, 162 and 164, which allow a
user to access a programming guide for a current day, access the
previously-described program information interface and access a
television favorites mode where still images from multiple channels
are displayed simultaneously on separate small areas of the screen.
The options screen also may include a user selectable button 166
which links the user to a chat room related to the current program
upon selection. Button 166 is shown in the highlighted condition in
FIG. 13.
It should be understood that, in the described embodiment, the
presence of a chat room for a particular show is optional. For
instance, the network service provider ultimately controls whether
or not a chat link is presented to the user by controlling the
display of the set-top box. Thus, a chat room may be provided only
for certain shows. A broadcast network may contract with the
network service provider to have a chat room for all of the shows
broadcast by that network. Alternatively, shows may be individually
selected to have an associated chat room based on user interest or
other considerations.
Whether or not a chat link shows up for a particular television
show typically is controlled by data in the electronic programming
guide. In the electronic programming guide, each show has a unique
identifier. Thus, a chat link may be created by simply changing a
corresponding field in the electronic programming guide entry for
the particular show. That field may then be monitored by the
set-top box to determine whether or not to display a chat link when
that show is active. Of course, the appearance of the chat link
could be controlled many other ways, such as by information
broadcast with the show. Such information could be a specific
control signal, or monitoring the closed captioning text for a
particular keyword, for instance.
Referring to FIG. 14, operation of an exemplary entertainment
system is demonstrated, the depicted system including a chat
client, a host server and a chat server. As indicated, when a user
selects a chat option for a show X, a chat request typically is
sent to the host server, which responds by sending an HTML
formatted web page to the chat client for use in dynamically
creating the desired user interface. Alternatively, the HTML
formatted web page may be stored in memory at the chat client, or
elsewhere for ready retrieval by the chat client. The HTML
formatted web page thus may be employed as a user interface
template for use in quickly creating a desired user interface.
It will be appreciated that various alternative templates may be
used to create alternative user interfaces as described above.
Furthermore, the template employed may be selected based on an
identifying characteristic of the broadcast video signal. Upon
identifying such a characteristic, for example, a template may be
selected which defines a video region for display of the broadcast
video signal, a chat region for display of text communications, and
a logo region for display of a logo which reflects the identifying
characteristic of the broadcast video signal. It thus will be
appreciated that the interface may be customized based on the
particular show, episode, network, network affiliate or other
consideration.
The network, affiliate and program name, which are typically used
to control the branding or logo selection for the user interface,
generally are stored in the electronic programming guide in the
entry for the particular show. The server may use the show,
episode, network or affiliate information to select a particular
template. The template then may be used to provide for presentation
of a predefined user interface file for the particular show,
episode, network or affiliate being viewed. If there is more than
one interface that might apply to a particular show (e.g. an
interface for the network and an interface for the show are
available), the most specific interface (e.g. the interface for the
show) is typically chosen.
Referring still to FIG. 14, it will be noted that the server
response also includes instructions to the set-top box identifying
the chat server. This allows for communication between the chat
client and the desired chat room. It should be understood that the
chat server functionality could be integrated into the host server
system or could reside on any number of separate server
systems.
The set-top box automatically connects to the chat server into a
chat room identified using the show identifier for show X. The chat
room may, in fact, be created upon request of a chat client to chat
about a particular show. This tends to reduce the number of chat
rooms which must be serviced by the chat server at any given time.
If there is no interest in chatting about a particular show, the
server will not create a chat room for that show.
Using the show identifier in the chat room designation allows
simple and automatic linking of the various viewers of the show.
Also, because the show identifier is unique, it is unlikely that
two shows will have the same chat room designation. Users in the
chat room are typically identified by their user ID, although any
other suitable identifier could be used.
The chat server runs a standard chat server software such as ired.
The server software maintains a table of the various participants
in the chat room and echoes all messages from any of the
participants to all of the participants. The set-top box runs
corresponding client software which forwards messages entered in
the text entry box to the chat server and displays the messages
forwarded from the server. In the case of a personal computer based
client, the user might have custom software to link to the chat
room corresponding to a video program being viewed. Alternatively,
a personal computer user could link to the chat by running a
standard chat client program such mIRC and entering the appropriate
chat server identification and chat room identification. If the
personal computer user does not have access to electronic
programming guide data as described above, the PC user could be
provided with the necessary information via a website related to
the current show, via data embedded in the broadcast signal of the
show, or by requesting the information from the host server.
Normally, participants in the chat room for a particular show will
leave within a short period following the end of the show. However,
if participants do not exit the chat room spontaneously, they may
receive a "Shows Over" reminder in place of the show time to
encourage closure of the chat room. After a predetermined duration
of time, the chat server may unilaterally close the chat room. This
is helpful in ensuring that the chat server is able to adequately
serve chat rooms for all shows currently being broadcast. Urging
users to exit the chat room may also help to avoid chat between
chat clients viewing the show in different time zones.
It is also possible, however, that the chat room could simply be
maintained until such time as the last participant has left the
chat room. Moreover, interactive link 130 may be changed to be a
link to the chat room for the next show playing on that network.
Thus, a user would be encouraged to continue viewing and chatting
about the particular network's shows. It should be noted that the
video region will be displaying the current show on the network, so
that the new chat link would take the user to the chat room for the
show playing after the end of the show associated with the current
chat room.
As indicated above, one challenge presented by chat rooms linked to
a particular show is that the show may play at different times in
different time zones. Thus, depending on the length of the show,
the show may or may not have ended by the time it starts in the
next time zone. Thus, it may be desirable to create time zone
specific chat rooms to eliminate the possibility of intersecting
usage by participants in different time zones. The various changes
that may occur at the end of a show are implemented by the set-top
box which, using the show data in the electronic programming guide,
can determine when a particular show has ended by comparing the
show time to an internal clock. Fortunately, the internal clock is
specific to the particular time zone and thus correctly tracks show
play times in the current zone.
While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, the
specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein
are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations
are possible. Applicants regard the subject matter of the invention
to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and
subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or
properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element
or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The
following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations
which are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Other combinations and
subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties
may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or
presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such
claims are also regarded as included within the subject matter of
applicants' invention irrespective of whether they are broader,
narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims.
* * * * *
References