MXPA01002014A - Television chat system - Google Patents
Television chat systemInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA01002014A MXPA01002014A MXPA/A/2001/002014A MXPA01002014A MXPA01002014A MX PA01002014 A MXPA01002014 A MX PA01002014A MX PA01002014 A MXPA01002014 A MX PA01002014A MX PA01002014 A MXPA01002014 A MX PA01002014A
- Authority
- MX
- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- conversation
- television
- user
- users
- group
- Prior art date
Links
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Abstract
A television chat system is provided that allows television viewers to engage in real-time communications in chat groups with other television viewers while watching television. Users of the television chat system may engage in real-time communications with others users who are currently watching the same television program or channel. The system allows real-time communications in a chat group to be transmitted between users at user television equipment devices via a television distribution facility. The television chat system of the present invention permits users to join chat groups related to television programs, channels, or categories of programs that the user may be interested in. Real-time communications may be textual messages, audio communications, or video communications. The television chat system may also allow users to send chat requests to ask other users to enter a chat group. The system also permits users to establish chat groups that television viewers are permitted to join. The television chat system may be based on an interactive television program guide or set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.
Description
* .. A TELEVISION CONVERSATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to television talk systems, and more particularly to techniques for supporting conversational communications in a television environment which may include an interactive television programming guide. . A popular aspect of the Internet is related to online conversation services. A user of such a service can gather a conversation group to analyze any topic within a certain variety.
The participants in a conversation are linked together through the Internet. Participants in a conversation can see the comments of other participants in real time, as the other participants write their comments using their computers. Television programs are frequently analyzed in conversation groups. However, there is usually no way in which a user of a traditional conversation service can easily watch a television program while participating in a conversation about that program. A user can place a television in the same room as his or her personal computer, but such an arrangement would be
uncomfortable to watch television. Moreover, many family groups place their televisions in the living room, but are reluctant to place their computers in the living room. Although personal computers may be equipped with tuner cards that allow television signals to be displayed on the computer monitor, many viewers would prefer to watch television on a traditional television. Televisions generally offer larger viewing areas than computer monitors, so users do not need to sit as close to a television screen as a computer monitor. Televisions are also typically located in rooms in the home that are more suitable for watching television than those where computers are typically located. A system that attempts to integrate aspects of the Internet with the experience of watching television is the one commercialized by WebTV Networks, Inc. of Palo Alto, California. The WebTV system allows viewers to access the Internet through a WebTV Receiver Plus connected to their television sets. The WebTV Receptor Plus allows users to browse the World Wide Web on their television, connecting their TVs to the WebTV Network
based on the Network (web), through a standard telephone line. The WebTV system allows users to see advertisements of television programs and "web" sites referring to television programs that appear in the program announcements. The WebTV system also provides TV Cross Links that allow users to access websites that are related to television programs. The WebTV Receiver Plus detects data such as web links (for example, universal resource locators (URLs)), which are incorporated in the video broadcast, and notifies users by means of a "watermark" on their screens of TV. Crossed TV links allow users to link through the Internet to websites related to the television program that the user is watching. The user can view the website and the television program simultaneously with the picture-in-picture function WebPIP. If the website supports conversation features, the user could then engage in an online conversation over the Internet while watching a television program. However, there is nothing in the WebTV system that ensures that participants in this type of web-based conversation are watching the same television program as the user. Therefore, the conversation may be
focused on the subject less than it would be if all the participants were actively watching the same television program. During certain television programs, the MTV television channel exhibits an overlay that moves and presents messages that indicate a conversation on MTV's ongoing television program. Users can connect to the conversation that is being displayed on the Internet. However, only those users whose television sets are located in the same room as their personal computers can participate in the conversation. Also, everyone who watches the TV show should watch the conversation, even if they are not interested in participating. The system can accommodate only one conversation group, so if those who wish to converse are more? A few viewers, it can be difficult or impossible to follow the thread. - interest of a particular conversation. The interactive television programming guides implemented in boxes that are placed on the television set (set-top box) allow users to see advertisements of television programs on their television sets. Such programming guides allow users to view advertisements of television programs in different formats of visual presentation, and execute other functions
diverse For example, a user may instruct the programming guide to display a grid ordered by channels of current program advertisements. The user can also use the programming guide to search for programs in a desired programming category such as sports, movies, news, or the like. If desired, the programming guide can be used to request paid programming. However, the interactive programming guides have not been able to provide functions related to the conversation. Another previously known system described in U.S. Patent No. 5,583,927 to Ely et al. presented a system in which users of cable television box controllers can participate in videoconferencing sessions among themselves using a camera and a video display device. An additional system previously described in US Patent 5,694,16 3 of Harrison presented a system for providing conversation messages in the range of video suppression of a television program signal to a user. The user can participate in the conversation group by transmitting the conversation text in a telephone connection in reverse channel to the online service hosting the conversation. In this way, the systems previously known by
In general, they have not given viewers the opportunity to engage in real time conversations with other viewers without having to rely solely on the Internet. Previously known systems have also not given a. viewers the opportunity to join conversation groups that are composed exclusively of other viewers of a program or television channel. The previously known interactive television programming guides have not supported conversation functions. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION It is an object * of the present invention to provide a television conversation system that is not based solely on the Internet to form conversational connections, and that allows users who are watching a program or television channel to engage in communications from conversation in real time with each other. It is zz: an object of the invention to provide an interactive television programming guide system that supports the conversation. These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention, providing a television conversation system that allows viewers to engage in real-time communications, in conversation groups with other viewers while watching television. The users of the
TV talk system can establish real-time communications with other users who are currently watching the same program or television channel. The system allows real-time communications in a conversation group, to be transmitted between users located on users' television equipment, through a server. For example, a cable system terminal containing a server can transmit such communications by coaxial cables that also carry television signals, or by other such communication channels. Accordingly, the system can eliminate the need to use additional communication channels separate from the channels carrying television signal broadcast channels, for the transmission of conversation communications. The television conversation system of the present invention allows users to join talk groups related to television programs, channels or categories of programs in which the user may be interested. Real-time communications can be messages with text, communications with audio, or communications with video. The television talk system can also allow users to send invitations to
conversation to ask other users to join a conversation group related to a program or television channel. An invitation to talk can be automatically displayed on the television screen of a receiver, or it can be accessed at the request of the user. The system also allows users to establish conversation groups to which viewers are allowed access. The television conversation system can be based on an interactive television programming guide implemented in the box that is placed on the set-top box. If desired, the system can be implemented in other appropriate user television equipment, such as a satellite receiver, an advanced television receiver (e.g., a high-definition television or HDTV receiver), a television in the which is integrated into the circuit of the box that is placed on the television set, or the like. Other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure IA is a diagram of a television conversation system in accordance with this
invention. Figure IB is a diagram of a user's television equipment having a user interface based on a wireless keyboard, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 1C is a diagram of a user interface with keyboard on the television screen, in accordance with the present invention. Figure ID is a representation of an illustrative display screen containing a list of standard words or messages, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2A is a system diagram showing how multiple television distribution facilities can be connected through a communication network, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2B is a diagram - 1 system showing how multiple television equipment of users can be connected to a television distribution facility and to a separate server, through neighborhood networks, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram of a system configuration in which multiple television distribution facilities are connected through a conversation facility associated with a television channel,
according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a representation of an illustrative display screen for entering profile information of a user of the family group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is a representation of an illustrative display screen allowing a user to select the * profile of a user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 is a representation of a display screen for entering information about a user who does not belong to the family group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a representation of an illustrative agenda of a programming guide, for users who do not belong to the family group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a flow diagram showing the steps involved in the creation of user identities, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 is a representation of an illustrative display screen containing video of a television program and a speech group display region, related to the program, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 10 is a diagram of an illustrative system for transmitting real-time audio talk communications to the user's television equipment, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 11 is an illustrative display screen showing video images of participants in a conversation group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is a diagram of an illustrative system for transmitting video conversation images, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 13 is a description of an illustrative display screen allowing a user to join a conversation group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14 is a representation of a visual display screen illustrated =. which allows a user to choose a conversation group option, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 15A is a representation of an illustrative display screen for allowing a user to choose a conversation group option related to the ongoing television program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 15B is a representation of a screen of
illustrative visual presentation of an interactive television programming guide, to allow a user to select from a list a scheduled conversation group, to join it, record his sessions or establish a reminder to participate in it, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 16 is a representation of an illustrative display screen containing multiple talk groups together with a television program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 17 is a representation of a display screen for allowing a user to enter a conversation group related to an ongoing television program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 18A is a flow chart showing the intervening steps in a zz-zdo to provide a user with an opportunity to join a conversation group, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 18B is a flow diagram showing the intervening steps in a method for providing a user with an opportunity to join a conversation group between users located on other television sets, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 18C is a flow diagram showing the
intervening steps in a method for giving a user who is watching a television program an opportunity to join a conversation group only between users who are watching the television program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 19 is a representation of an illustrative display screen allowing a user to send an invitation for conversation to other users, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 20 is a representation of an illustrative display screen for displaying invitations for conversation, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 21 is a representation of an illustrative display screen for displaying an invitation for conversation and allowing a user to join the conversation group and / or sir. .I2ar the respective channel, 7-compliance with the present invention. Figure 22 is a flow chart showing the intervening steps in a method for distributing an invitation to conversation and supporting a conversation group with the user and other users, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 23 is a flow chart showing the steps involved in a method to establish a group
of conversation with the user and other users, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 24 is a flow chart showing the intervening steps in a method for inputting the user into a conversation group, in response to an invitation to talk, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 25 is a diagram of an interactive remote control device with display, for sending and receiving conversation messages in a conversation group, and invitations for conversation, in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An illustrative television conversation system 10, according to the present invention, is shown in Figure IA. The main installation 12 may contain a base of d? 7 s 14 of the program guide: .on for storing information of the programming guide such as data of the announcements of the television program guide, information of orders of paid programs, etc. The database 14 allows the system 10 to support an interactive television programming guide, if desired. Although the television talk functions of the present invention can be supplied using a television talk system without a programming guide,
certain aspects of the invention will be described primarily in the context of an interactive television programming guide system configuration, for greater specificity and clarity. The information of the database 14 can be transmitted to the television distribution facility 16 by the communication link 18. The link 18 can be a satellite link, a link by telephone network, a link by optical fiber, a link by cable, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable means of communication. The television distribution facility 16 is an installation for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system terminal, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. In Figure IA there was only one television distribution unit 16 to avoid complicating the drawing too much. However, in general, the main facility 12 distributes information to multiple television distribution facilities. The information of the programming guide transmitted by the main installation 12 to the television distribution facility 16 includes data of the television program announcements, such as schedules of the
programs, channels, titles, descriptions thereof, etc. The information transmitted from the main facility 12 may also include information about the talk groups that are available for particular programs or television channels. If desired, some of the data in the programming guide and other information may be supplied using data sources located in facilities other than the main facility 12. For example, data relating to conversation groups that are available and which are specific for certain programs, they may be provided by a conversation installation associated with a television channel or other installation that is separate from the main installation 12 and the television distribution facility 16. The television distribution facility 16 distributes data:. - the programming guide. and other information to the television equipment 20 of multiple users through the communication channels 24. The communication channels 24 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow the television distribution facility 16 to distribute scheduled television programming, paid programming, communications in time, real, invitations for conversation and other video and audio information to the user's television team 20,
in addition to the communications and the information of the programming guide that are not in video. The real-time communications supported by the communication channels 24 can be text-based or, if there is more bandwidth available, they can be audio or video communications. Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both, analog and digital) can be supplied to the boxes that are placed on the television set, 26, through the communication channels 24. If each track 24 includes a number of traditional analog television channels, one or more of these channels can be used to support a number of digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel that is used to support digital channels can support ten or more such digital channels. Bi-directional digital channels require more bandwidth than unidirectional digital channels. Such bi-directional digital channels can support bi-directional communications in real time between the boxes 26 and the television distribution installation 16. If the bidirectional communications between the boxes 26 and the television distribution installation 16 involve only text or audio signals, the width band required to support such bidirectional communications may be substantially less than the
bandwidth required to support bidirectional communications that include video. Real-time communications and conversational invitations can be distributed via communication channels 24 using any number of suitable techniques. For example, text conversation communications and conversation invitations can be distributed using out-of-band channels on tracks 24, using out-of-band modulators. Conversation communications with video or audio can be transmitted more efficiently using one or more digital channels on channel 24. Such digital channels can also be used to distribute text and graphics. For the transmission of real-time communications and invitations for conversation, digital or a-logical channels specialized in _ "communication channels can be used 24. Such special channels are separated from the channels used to transmit television program broadcast signals to the equipment. of the user's television Because the communication paths 24 support the transport of real-time communications and invitations for conversation between the user's television equipment 20 and the distribution facility
16, the arrangement of the system 10 eliminates the need for separate telephone lines connected to the user's television equipment 20, to transmit real-time communications (although such telephone lines could be used with certain aspects of the invention, if you want). If desired, television programming may be transmitted to the user's television equipment 20 via a communication path such as a cable link to a cable terminal, while real-time communications are transmitted between the television sets of the subscribers. users 20 by a second communication channel such as a satellite link. Each television distribution facility 16 may distribute real-time communications and conversation invitations at least among the television equipment of the users associated with that installation. A television distribution facility can establish a forum for real-time communications, called a conversation group, using a conversation equipment 22, such as a server for conversation. A conversation group on television (sometimes referred to simply as a conversation group here) is an electronic forum in which a group of users engage in real-time discussions through their television teams. Real-time communications,
such as conversation messages, are sent from one party to another among the participants of the conversation group. The television distribution facility 16 preferably has a server or other computer equipment or suitable audio or video equipment (collectively referred to herein as "conversation equipment 22") to support real-time communications and the transmission of invitations for conversation between users. For clarity, certain aspects of the invention are described simply as implemented by the use of a server for conversation. However, if desired, these functions can also be supplemented typically by using a conversation equipment such as a team based on a computer for audio and video conferencing (i.e., audio bridges, video bridges and others of that td). .;, or using a computer r: ._- a conversation based on another suitable computer equipment, or a combination thereof). The conversation equipment 22 (for example, a conversation server) can handle real-time communications and conversation invitations that include text, graphics, video or audio data. If desired, the requirements regarding bandwidth of the conversation equipment 22 can be reduced by restricting communications to text and audio, or
only to text, instead of including video. The conversation equipment 22 located in the television distribution facility 16 can be configured in a client-server arrangement in which each unit of the user's television equipment 20 acts as a client processor. Each user has a receiver, which is typically a box that is placed on the television set, such as box 26, but which can also be other suitable television equipment in which circuits similar to the circuits of the box have been integrated. that is placed on the television set. For example, the user's television equipment 20 may be based on an advanced television receiver such as a high-definition television (HDTV) receiver or other such platform based on a television. A box that is placed on the television set. It may include a DOCSI modem for use in bidirectional communication to and from a server or television distribution facility. As defined herein, the user's television equipment 20 does not include equipment based on personal computers. For clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the context of the user's television equipment 20 which is based on the boxes 26. As shown in Figure LA, each box 26 may have a memory 25.
The memory 25 can be used, for example, to maintain a database of program announcements. The information of the programming guide can be distributed to the boxes 26 continuously (in real time), periodically, on request (using a client-server arrangement), or using a combination of these techniques. Real-time communications and conversational invitations can be distributed to boxes 26 in real time. The television distribution facility 16 may also receive 26 real-time communications or conversational invitations from the box, in real time or periodically. The main installation 12 preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Each box 26 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with the implementation: *. - ration of an application _ - b is an interactive television programming guide containing conversational functions (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a programming guide) or a separate application for conversation in the box 26. The television distribution facility 16 preferably contains one or more processors (for example, in conversation equipment 22) for tasks associated with the distribution of real-time communications and invitations to
conversation, and for tasks associated with the provision of data from the programming guide to the programming guide of the boxes that are placed on the television set. It should be understood that some or all of the functions of the programming guide or of the application of the box that is placed on the television set for conversation described hereinafter, can be integrated into an operating system in said box, implemented in a of independent application in the box, or executed by the equipment for conversation (for example, a server, a video bridge or an audio bridge) operating in the television distribution facility or separate from the television distribution facility. In a client-server architecture, the box that is placed on the television sets sends data or orders to the server, to be recessed. The server can store the data and send the results of an order back to the box, so they can be processed, displayed or stored. Any functionality of the application of the box that is placed on the television set, an application that will be described hereinafter, can be implemented in a client-server architecture. Various mechanisms can be used to initiate
an application for conversation from an application that is a programming guide, located in the box that is placed on the user's television set. A mechanism includes using an active link to launch the application for conversation. The use of the active link involves invoking an application that is not from the programming guide such as an application for conversation with information such as a website address, an email address, a conversation group, or other information that has been preselected based on the current content of the programming guide or the status of the box 26. For example, if the user is watching a program, watching a program advertisement, viewing a program description, or executing another action within the programming guide, which is related to a given program, channel or channel type, or other similar elements, and the user: instructs the programming guide to start an application that is not from the programming guide , the programming guide can start that application that is not from the programming guide and direct it to execute an action related to the program, the channel or the type of channel dice, or other similar elements. Active links can be activated through specialized buttons, a start button, options for
menu, or any other suitable technique. For example, a remote control may be provided with a special button for conversation, and similar buttons associated with other applications that are not the programming guide. When the user presses the conversation button, the programming guide starts the conversation application and instructs the conversation application to set up a conversation group with other users or a character in the program, or to enter the user into a group of existing conversation. Other features of an illustrative active link system are described in the U.S. patent application. Ellis et al, No. of
Series, presented concurrently with this
(File of Representative No. UV-85), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Each box 26 is typically connected to a vide > optional recorder (VCR) 28 = another storage device located at home or in a remote location, so that selected television programs or conversation sessions can be recorded. When a user indicates to the application of the box that is placed on the television set that they record a TV program that has
'one or more associated conversation sessions, the application can record the conversation session together with the audio and video of the program. When the user plays the
program, you can access the conversation session to see it, but not to actively participate in it. The conversation system can be configured to play the conversation session in a format selected by the user. For example, the conversation session can be played as an overlay on the program, or the program and conversation session can be displayed together in small windows on the TV screen. Also, a user may have the possibility to indicate at any time the application of the box that is placed on the television set that records only one conversation session without recording the program. That conversation session can be stored (either text, audio, video or a combination) and viewed at a later time. Schedules and conversation sessions can also be recorded, for example, er. . -. DVD device, on a hard disk in the box that is placed on the television set, or on a remote server. Each video recorder 28 (or box 26) is connected to a television 30. Other features of a program recording system are described in the U.S. patent application. Ellis et al, Serial No. 09 / 332,244, filed June 11, 1999, and patent application Ü.S. Hassell et al, Serial No. 09 / 157,256,
presented on June 17, 1998, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To record a program, the box 26 tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to the VCR 28 (e.g., using an infrared transmitter); those control signals direct the VCR 28 to start and stop recording at the appropriate times. During the use of the television talk systems, box 26 displays 30 real-time communications and invitations for conversation on the television. If the television talk system includes an interactive television programming guide, the interactive television programming guide may display program advertisements on the television 30. The programming guide may also be used to display real-time communications and invitations to television. conversation. Each box 26, vi recorder 28 and television 30 may be controlled by one or more interfaces 32 which may include a remote control, mouse, trackball, microphone, digital video camera, specialized keypad, etc. As shown in Figure IB, the user interface 32 may contain a wireless keyboard 34 which sends signals 36 (eg, infrared signals) to the box 38 which is placed on the television set, which
is connected to the television 40. The data entry by the user can be displayed as part of a visual display screen on the television 40, as the entry is made through the wireless keyboard 34. If the conversation system by television 10 is based on an interactive television programming guide, the visual presentation screen provided on television 40 by box 38 can be on a visual presentation screen of an interactive television programming guide; This screen contains, for example, program announcements. The user interface 32 may also be based on a keyboard 50 on the television screen, as illustrated in Figure IC. The user can select letters of the displayed alphabet to compose a message 52. In particular, the user can select letters of the alphabetic keys 54 and espa.-ts of the spar 56. The user can select a letter so that it is highlighted ( such as a letter L 58), by pressing arrow keys and an enter key (or also an "OK" or "select" key) on a remote control. Pressing the enter key on the remote control directs the programming guide that contains conversation functions, or the independent application for conversation, so that you place the selected letter in a position adjacent to the
cursor 62. The user can select the UPPERCASE option 51 to place a capital letter in message 52. In this way, a user can compose the text of a conversation message. If desired, the user can compose messages by selecting from a list of standard messages 70 or by selecting words 72 displayed on a visual display screen such as the display 75, as shown in Figure 10. A word or a message they can be selected by pressing arrow keys on a remote control, to place the highlight region 76 on a particular word or message, such as message 2 in Figure ID. The user can then select the highlighted word or message by pressing an enter key (or "select" or "OK") on the remote control. The system 10 allows users located on the television equipment 20 to participate in real-time conversation communications related to television programs, while watching television, without the cost and complexity of learning to operate a personal computer and the computer programs associated with it. In addition, the system 10 allows users to maintain the high quality of the video and the wide range of channels when it comes to watching television, while participating in conversations in real time with users.
located similarly. As shown in Figure 2A, real-time communications and conversational invitations can be distributed on communication paths 24 from a user's television equipment 20, associated with a given television distribution facility 16, to other equipment of the user 20 associated with that installation, using a server for conversation located in the installation. For example, real-time communications and conversation invitations sent between two or more television sets of users 20 associated with the television distribution facility 16 of Figure 2A can be handled by the talk server 90 which is in the television distribution facility 16. An advantage of limiting the operation of the conversation system to the distribution facilities. The individual television channel, is that in this way it allows that individual operators of cable systems (for example) control their systems, and should not coordinate conversations between different areas or different time zones. However, if desired, real-time communications and conversation invitations exchanged by the user's television equipment 20 can be handled by a conversation server 88 which is connected to the
television distribution facility 16 through the communication network 86. The communication network 86 can be any suitable communication network such as the Internet, a public or private telephone network, a network including satellite or wireless links, a network by cable, etc. The conversation system can also be configured so that users located on one or more television sets 84 of the users can participate in a real-time discussion or exchange invitations for conversation with one or more users' television equipment 20. In this way, the user's television equipment 84 is associated with a different television distribution facility than the user's television equipment 20. The television equipment 84 of the users is connected to the television distribution facility 80 through communication channels 82. The conversation server is used to handle real-time communications and conversational invitations for the television equipment 84 of the users. The configuration of the server 92 and the user's television equipment 84 may be based on a client server arrangement. The television distribution facilities 80 and 16 are connected to each other through the communications network 86. The
Real-time communications and conversation invitations sent between the user's television equipment 20 and the user's television equipment 84 can be handled by the conversation servers 88, 90 and 92. If desired, numerous television distribution facilities they can be connected to each other through the communications network 86 or other such communication networks, to allow the television equipment of the users, associated with these television distribution facilities, to establish real-time communications with each other. Real-time communications and conversational invitations can be handled on a server that is not located in the television distribution facility, as shown in Figure 2B. For example, real-time communications and conversational invitations can be transmitted between television users 97 and 98, through neighborhood nodes 95 and 96. The user's television equipment 97 it is connected to the neighborhood node 95 through the communication path 99, and the user's television equipment 98 is connected to the neighborhood node 96 via the communication path 101. The neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 reduce the requirements as to bandwidth in the communication channels 103 for a given number of equipment of
television 97 and 98 of the users. Neighbor nodes 95 and 96 route television programming from the 93 television distribution facility to the equipment
* 97 and 98 TV users. The neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 also route invitations for conversation, real-time communications, conversation group information, etc., between the server 91 and the television sets 97 and 98 of the users. The neighbor nodes 95 and 96 can also route requests to execute many of the functions of the conversation system described here, from the television sets 97 and 98 of the users to the server 91. The responses coming from the server 91 are routed back to the equipment television of the appropriate user through a neighborhood node. As shown in Figure 3, a conversation installation 100 _e associated with a particular "view" channel may contain a conversation server 102 for handling real-time communications and conversation invitations sent between television sets 106 and 108 of the users, and other television equipment of the user.The television sets 106 and 108 of the users are connected through the communication routes 110 and 112 to the television distribution facilities 104 that are connected to their
once to the installation for conversation 100 of television channel, through the communication channels 114. If desired, the user located in a particular television team can enter data of a profile that will form the identity of a particular individual. . The individual can be the user himself or another member of his family group. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a visual display screen 120 that can be provided by the interactive television programming guide with talk functions, or by the separate application for conversation, to provide the user with an opportunity to enter information with profile data. , referred to a specific individual within the family group. The user's profile data can include the user's name, which can be entered in box 121. The user's profile data can also include the user's favorite program, which can be found in box 122 ( either directly or by selecting from a menu or from another suitable program list). The user's favorite programs, associated with the user's profile, can be the same favorite television programs that are stored in the database of the programming guide, or a subset of them. If desired, the favorite programs of the user's profile may be different from the favorite television programs that
they are in the database of the programming guide. The user can also select option 124 to enter more favorite programs (for example, providing more boxes 122). The user profile screen 120 may also present the user with an option to enter a favorite television channel, such as ABC-W, in box 126. Television channels include television networks such as ABC, local branches, stations local broadcasting, paid channels, cable channels such as HBO and CNN, etc. The user may select option 130, so that additional favorite channels may appear on the profile screen of user 120. The user profile screen can also present the user with an option to enter favorite categories of programs, such as sports programs, movies, news segments, comedy shows, etc. In box 13i of Figure 4, the user has entered "movies" as a favorite category. The user can select option 136 so that additional categories can be entered in the profile screen of user 120. If desired, the programming guide (or the standalone conversation application) can present the user with a unique, optional user identification code (shown in box 138), to help the system distinguish the
user of other users who are on the same television equipment when receiving from outside a real-time communication or an invitation to talk. In this way, real-time communications and conversational invitations can be directed to specific users. The user can also enter in box 133 a nickname for himself. A nickname can be used to maintain anonymity in a conversation group, or as a creative pseudonym related to the subject of the conversation. Alternatively, the screen 120 may provide the user with an opportunity to enter, instead of a nickname, an icon that identifies the user in the chat room.
The user can select the option "DONE" when he has finished entering his profile data, or he can press a key on the remote control (for example, the "EXIT" key). Once a user has: a-added profile data, the data is stored for later retrieval. The user profile data can be stored in the box that is placed on the television set, in a server as described above, or in another place in the user's television set 20, such as a separate storage unit connected to the television set. the box that is placed on the television set. Other characteristics of an illustrative system to enter
User profile information is described in the U.S. patent application. Ellis et al, Serial No. 09 / 034,934, filed March 4, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. When the user is watching television, the programming guide with conversation functions or the independent application for conversation (hereinafter collectively referred to as the application of the box that is placed on the television set) allows the user to identify himself by selecting one of the identities of the profile of the user that were previously entered, or by adding a new identity of the user's profile. The display 150 of Figure 5 is an illustrative display screen that can be used to display all the members of the family group for which it will be made. identities have been established using the application of the box that is placed = .ere the television set. The application of the box that is placed on the television set can provide a visual display screen such as the display screen 150 of Figure 5 each time the user activates the box 26 or each time the user has indicated a desire to identify For example, if mom is watching television, she will select box 152. The box that
is placed on the television set will then access the data of the profile of mom. If desired, the identities of the users can be placed under a password control. If a new member of the family group is watching television, that user can "click" in box 154 to add a new identity with a user profile. The application of the box that is placed on the television set will then provide the visual presentation screen 120 (Figure 4), so that the user can enter the data of his profile. If the user does not wish to identify himself or does not wish to enter a new profile, the user can select the option "cancel" 156 to cancel the display of the visual presentation screen 150. If the application of the box that is placed on the television set includes a programming guide, user profiles can be used both for functions related to the conversation and for functions of the programming guide. The programming guide may also present the user with the option of entering identity data relating to users of another user's television equipment. Users of another user's television equipment may be recipients of real-time communications or conversation invitations sent by a user of the
family group. These recipients of real-time communications or conversational invitations are called users who do not belong to the family group. These users can send real-time communications and conversational invitations that are received by a user of the family group. Figure 6 illustrates a display 160 that the application of the box that is placed on the television set can present on a user's television when the user indicates a desire to enter identity data relating to a user that does not belong to the family group. The name of that user can be entered in box 162 and its address can be entered in box 164. The address of a user is a unique identifier assigned to a particular user, which allows a server for conversation to transmit comur._ Real-time conversations - invitations to talk to the right recipient. A user of the family group can enter on the television screen 160 the favorite programs and channels and the favorite categories of programs of a user who does not belong to the family group. A user of the family group can determine the preferences of a user who does not belong to the family group, chatting with that person in a conversation group. The programs
favorites of the user that does not belong to the family group can be entered in box 166, and on TV screen 160 additional empty boxes will be displayed to enter more favorite programs, if the user selects the option "more" 168. The favorite channels of the user who does not belong to the family group can be entered in box 170, such as channel 2. The user can select option 174, so that additional channels can be entered on television screen 160. Favorite categories of user programs that does not belong to the family group, such as sports programs, movies, news segments, situation comedies, etc., can also be entered on the television screen 160. The user can enter a favorite category of programs, such as sports, in box 172. The user can select the "plus" option so that additional categories of programs can be entered. The user preferences information that does not belong to the family group, entered in the visual presentation screen 160, can be useful to send invitations for conversation to other users who may be interested in talking about the same programs, channels or program categories. 'that the user of the family group. The user can also enter information of the
on the television set. Furthermore, it should be understood that a profile of the user of the conversation system, such as those described above, could incorporate information about a user of the family group and a user who does not belong to the family group, into a single identity (for example, a husband-wife couple). In addition, the conversation system can be configured in a similar way to the ICQ system (phonetic simulation of "I seek you"), so that a user can make this information public about the profile so that other users can have access to the same. The ICQ is an Internet tool that informs the Internet user who is online at any time and allows users to make contact with those people at will. The ICQ can search for individuals who are online and notify a user when those individuals connect. The ICQ allows a user to ccc.versar, send messages, files, URLs, play games, or just hang out with other Internet users while surfing the Internet. Through the conversation system, a user can fill out a questionnaire that includes information referring to the user's preferences in terms of television programs, as well as additional information about himself, not referred to television, such as his
hobbies (for example, using the visual display screen 120). The user profile information can be useful to 'form groups of conversation between users. The information of the user profile can be stored on a remote server or jointly in the boxes that are placed on the television set. A user can access profiles that have been made public and form a "peer list" or an agenda of other users who have the same interests. The list of partners can include a user's identity, television preferences and other interests. The conversation system can be configured so that a user must obtain permission from a second user in order to add the second user to his or her peer list. For example, the conversation system can send the second user ur. message indicating that the first user has requested information from the profile of the second user. If the second user accepts the request, the conversation system allows the first user to add the second user to his or her mailing list, so that the first user can have access to the second user's profile information and can initiate conversation sessions with that user In addition, the conversation system can ask the second user if you want
add the first user to your mates list. A user can add more information to the profile, based on his knowledge of the preferences of the other user (for example, through the visual presentation screen 160). The conversation system may also allow users to search for partners to converse, based on a user's identification number, an email address, preferences regarding TV programs, and / or other preferences. The identities of the users that do not belong to the family group and whose names, addresses and other corresponding information have been entered, can be displayed by the application of the box that is placed on the television set in a calendar format on the screen of user's television. In Figure 7 an example of a display screen 180 of a calendar is shown. The display screen of the agenda, 180, displays a list of identities 182 of users who do not belong to the family group or subgroups of users who do not belong to the family group. Users who do not belong to the family group can be individuals such as Mary Smith, or groups of individuals such as the Jones Family, as illustrated by the names listed in the list 182. An individual user can be part of more than one group that appears in the agenda. For example, Mary
Smith can appear on the agenda as an individual, and be a member of the "Seinfeld Admirers Club" and "Movie Lovers" groups. The user can send an invitation for conversation by selecting an identity or identities listed. The list may contain groups of individuals who are interested in a specific program, type of program or conversation group, or in any other group identified by the user, such as the "Jones Family", "Members of the Hiking Club", " Admirals Club of Seinfeld "," Lovers of the Cinema "or" Dallas Cowboys Chat ". The groups do not need to be related to the TV. If desired, the application of the box that is placed on the television can present a sudden appearance option on the television screen, and send an invitation for conversation to the individuals that appear in a list -the agenda, when the user is watching a related television program (for example, Seinfeld). Option 184 is highlighted to indicate that the user has chosen "Friends who Watch the News at 6". This can be a group of the user's friends who enjoy watching the "News at 6" program and may wish to form a conversation group with the user. The user can choose as many recipients of the
invitation for conversation as you wish, selecting names from the list. The user can choose to enter additional identities of users that do not belong to the family group, selecting option 186, which will take the user to the television screen 160 of Figure 6. When the user has selected the recipients of the conversation invitation, the user can select the option "FACT" 188. The application of the box that is placed on the television set will then retrieve the address of each recipient of the conversation invitation and will deliver the invitation for conversation to each of the recipients. The user can select the "cancel" option 189 to leave the visual presentation screen of the calendar, 180. Figure 8 shows an illustrative process to create the identities of users of the family group and users who do not belong. r. to the family group, what will you do? Analyzed with respect to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. In step 190, the application of the box that is placed on the television set (ie, the programming guide with speech functions or the independent application for conversation) provides the user with an opportunity to enter identity data with respect to a user of the family group or a user who does not belong to the family group, exhibiting for example the screens of
user interface television 120 or 160, respectively. The user then enters the data that is requested by the user interface television screen. Once the user has finished, the application of the box that is placed on the television set will create in step 192 an identity data structure that contains the information that was entered for that particular user that is from the family group or that does not belong to the family group. The application of the box that is placed on the television set will append the data structure to the appropriate group, in step 194. The group to which the data structure is appended can be a group of users of the family group, the agenda of users that do not belong to the family group, or a subgroup of users that do not belong to the family group and are included in the agenda. The steps 190, 192 and 194 of Figure 8 can be executed by the application of the box. It is placed on the television set, implemented in the user's television equipment, but can also be implemented at least partially by a user. server for conversation, using a client-server architecture. For example, the data entered on screens 120 and 160 can be sent to the server by the box that is placed on the television set, so that they can be processed.
A user can use the application of the box that is placed on the television set to send and receive real-time communications to and from other users located in a forum called a conversation group. All users who are participants in the conversation group can send and receive real-time communications from all other participants. Real-time communications in the conversation group can be messages or other communications that are text, audio, video or HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). A user can enter a URL for a web page, for example, as part of a conversation message in a conversation group, using HTML, so that other users of the conversation group can easily link to that web page. The text has the advantage of presenting reduced requirements in cuap. to the bandwidth. The audio -? e be convenient for users who like the immediacy of voice communications, but may not be convenient for users who prefer the anonymity of the text. In this respect, the video is similar to audio. The choice of whether to support text, audio or video in a particular conversation system depends on a variety of factors such as these. In addition, a conversation group can be established as a group of media
of mixed type, so that it accepts the entry of text, audio, video and HTML coming from different users. For example, a conversation group with three users can have a user that enters communications with audio, another that enters communications with text and HTML, and another that enters communications with video. In a conversation with mixed media, real-time communications can be received in the form in which they are sent, or converted to another form (for example, text converted to audio for a blind person). The aspects of the present invention are applicable to all these configurations, although for clarity the invention is described mainly in relation to text-based conversations. The real-time communications are transmitted through the communication channels that are shown and described in relation to 7_gures 2A, 2B and 3. The conversation room is called a conversation group in which the participants write messages in real time that are transmitted in the form of text messages to all other participants in the conversation group. Figure 9 is an example of how real-time communications can be displayed by the application of the box that is placed on the television set in the form of text messages in a conversation room. He
television program 202 may be displayed in region 203 of display 200, while a conversation room region 206 may be displayed simultaneously at the bottom of display 200. Advertisement 201 may also be displayed. to be displayed simultaneously in region 205 of display screen 200. The advertisements may accompany any of the display screens of the user interface screens of the present invention. This provision is merely illustrative. Any suitable arrangement can be used to simultaneously display talk messages and television programming. For example, the conversation room region, 206, may be displayed in the form of an opaque or translucent overlay of the television program 202. The participants in the conversation room - give conversational messages. falls appear in region 206. A conversation participant can send a conversation message with HTML, such as a URL for a website. In the display 200, the topic of the conversation, 204, may be related to the television program 202, as can be seen from the contents of the messages 208 and 210. The user may enter messages using the keyboard 34 ( Figure IB)
before they are displayed in the conversation room at cursor 212. The user's conversation message can be sent to the server for conversation when the user presses a "Send" button or other suitable buttons of a remote control or a keyboard. If desired, the conversation system can be configured so that the characters are sent one by one to the other participants of the conversation group, as the user writes them. With this functionality, the errors that the user commits' can be seen by the other users of the conversation group. If desired, the application of the box that is placed on the television set may allow the user to send real-time communications to a conversation room, using an interactive television screen, such as the keyboard screen 50 (Figure 1C) or the display screen 75 (Figure d) The conversation system can be configured so that a user can incorporate another user of a conversation group to his or her companion list or to his agenda, selecting the nickname (or icon) of that In the conversation group, for example, the program guide application can recognize an order such as "add to Sally" that indicates that the user wants to add Sally to her mates list.
Conversation may require the first user to obtain the permission of the second user, so that the first user can add the second user to his or her peer list. In addition, the conversation system can be configured to allow a user to block conversation messages from specific users of a conversation group, with whom they do not want to communicate. For example, the application of the box that is placed on the television can recognize a user's order, written in a position adjacent to the cursor 212, such as "block Joe", which indicates that the user wishes to block from now on Joe's conversation messages. The user can write an order such as "unlock Joe" to start receiving Joe's conversation messages again. Can they build? -, in the conversation system * other protective functions designed to protect children from obscenity. For example, the conversation system can be configured to block certain vulgar words in conversation groups. As another example, parents can be allowed to block certain offensive conversation groups so that their children can not access them. The divided form of the screen 200 allows the
Users watch a television program and simultaneously send real-time communications to other users who are watching the same program at the same time. In this way, the conversation room 206 is directly linked to the actions that occur in the program 202, considering that a user can send and receive comments about the content of the program as it is displayed on the screen of your television. A conversation room may end at the end of the program or may continue beyond the end of the program, until all users have left the chat room. Real-time communications can be stored on a server for conversation (for example, located in a television distribution facility). The communication paths illustrated in Figures 2A, 2B and 3 _ .. ^ den to be used for enea. - '.ar communications in real time to the user's television equipment connected to different television distribution facilities. Accordingly, the real-time communication system of the present invention allows real-time communications to be transmitted between users of television equipment that are connected through numerous television distribution facilities, such as the network of Figure 2A .
If desired, a simpler configuration of the system can be used, in which all the participants in the conversation are linked to a common conversation server, and to a single associated television distribution facility. Although this provision is more limited than the more interconnected arrangements involving multiple television distribution facilities, it has the advantage of being easier to implement because there is only one time zone and all potential participants have access to the same programming. A conversation group maintained by a conversation server associated with a particular television distribution facility may also be restricted to users connected to that particular television distribution facility, in order to limit the size of the conversation group. If desired, a conversation group can be limited to those television distribution facilities that transmit to users in a particular time zone, to ensure that all users participating in the conversation group can look to the At the same time the television program that is the subject of the conversation group. In addition, a conversation group may be limited to television distribution facilities that transmit only to users in a local area in
particular. This may be convenient, for example, if the topic of the conversation group is a local news segment or a local television channel. In another possible configuration, a conversation session can be recorded while a program is broadcast in a time zone, and can be played while the program is broadcast at a later time in another time zone. This allows the users of the latest time zone to see the comments previously entered by the users of the other zone, while the comments of the users of the current time zone where the program is being viewed are entered. Conversation messages from the second time zone can also be recorded and reproduced in a third time zone at a later time, together with the conversation messages of the first time zone. However, users can not communicate in real time with users in other time zones using this system, unless the program is broadcast at the same time in multiple time zones, or if users participate in the conversation group before and / or after the program is broadcast in your area. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the box that is placed on the television set to support audio communications in time.
real. Real-time audio communications may be linked to a particular television program. For example, a talk show can have a live question and answer session, with various users who are watching it. Users can be given the opportunity to join a conversation group with audio. A selected group of users can then be incorporated into the conversation group with audio. The participants in the audio conversation group will be given the opportunity to ask questions or make verbal comments about various issues discussed during the talk show. The participants in the audio conversation can also be allowed to send questions in text form and to receive responses in text form, such as in a conversation room. Certain questions from the users who participate in the conversation can be analyzed live in the television program. Audio conversation participants can also send live video images (for example, of themselves), as in the video conversation, which is discussed later. A video image of a participating user can be passed live in the TV program while the question or comment of that user is being discussed in the TV program. Figure 10 illustrates an example of a system of
audio conversation in which real-time audio communications can be transmitted between different user's television equipment 226 through the television distribution facility 220. The user's television equipment 226 is connected to the distribution facility of the user. television 220 through communication channels 224. Real-time audio communications are transmitted on communication paths 224 and processed by the server for conversation 222 or a suitable equipment for audio conferencing. The conversation server 222 may be located in the television distribution facility 220, as shown in Figure 10, or may be separate from the television distribution facility 220. The audio conversation system may be configured to cancel the audio of the TV program in progress, in the messages of cor.versación with audio that the user sends, so that the receiving user does not listen to the audio of the TV program together with the audio messages of the sender. This procedure can be performed by the microphone and using signal subtraction, where the input to the microphone is compared with the audio of the TV program, and the server is passed on to talk only what the user enters. Real-time audio communications can be
also transmitted between television equipment of users who are connected to different television distribution facilities, using communication networks such as those shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 3. Real-time audio communications can be transmitted from the user's television equipment 226 to a conversation facility associated with a television channel, by a communication network such as that shown in Figure 3, so that a driver (moderator) of conversations with audio or a personality of the television can participate in the conversation group. The moderator can determine who in the conversation group can speak at a certain time. A conversation based on text or video can also have a moderator, although this is less convenient in the case of a text-based conversation group that has a small number of participants. If desired, a conversation group can be configured in such a way that participants are allowed to send a conversation message only when it is that person's turn. The determination of who is enabled to send a conversation message at any given time can be done automatically. The television distribution facility can
provide telephone service through the same lines of communication that provide television service. This type of television distribution facility is called the central office (OC) of a telephone system. The conversation with audio can be established using the telephone facilities of that system. This would take advantage of the telephone infrastructure that many cable systems build over a broadband cable network. The television channels and the telephone service can be transmitted by the same cable line, although logically the information in each way would be separable. Each user's television set 226 of Figure 10 contains a box that is placed on the television set, 228, which receives audio communications in real time from the talk server 222, and a television 230 to watch programs. Audio communications in real time can -. be sent by a user, speaking in the microphone 232. The user's voice is converted into a signal that can be received by the box 228. The box 228 transmits the voice signal of the user to the server for conversation 222. The server for conversation 222 or other suitable equipment such as an audio bridge (i.e., audio conferencing equipment) distributes the voice signal of the user to other users who are participants in the same conversation group with
Audio. Real-time communications can then be heard by a user on speaker 234, which is connected to television 230 or box 228, or is part of television 230. The real-time audio communication system of the present invention allows Users who are watching a particular television show talk to each other as they watch the program. It can also allow users to talk with a conversation moderator, located on a television channel or a television distribution facility. It can also allow users to talk to a personality on the television show while that personality is appearing on the television show. In these last two cases, conversational communications with audio would involve connecting the user to the installation for conversation associated with the television channel or the distribution facility where the conversation moderator or the personality of the television program is located, through channels of communication such as those shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 3. If desired, the conversation system can also transmit video conversation images, such as real-time communications. Video conversation images can include audio or they can be silent
(for example, if participants use sign language or body language, or if there is a conversation text attached). The video may also include accompanying text communications. Figure 11 illustrates an example of how the live video images of various users of a conversation group can be displayed on the display 240, in the display regions 241-245. The topic of the video conversation may be displayed in the visual presentation region 246. This function of the present invention allows users to view images of other users of the conversation group to which they are exposed. they are talking. If desired, the user can view video images of participants of multiple conversation groups. For example, the display regions 241, 242 and 243 may contain video images of the participants in a conversation group, while the display regions 244 and 245 may contain video images of the participants in another conversation group. . The application of the box that is placed on the television set can provide the user with an opportunity to select from which groups he wishes to receive communications. This allows the user to watch video images from more than one conversation group while listening to a television program or communications from
Real-time audio from one of the conversation groups, as desired by the user. Participants in a video conversation can communicate with each other in real time through images and visual cues. For example, users have the advantage of being able to see the reactions of other users to the comments made during a conversation, observing their facial expressions and body language. In one of the display regions 241-245 a video image of a conversation moderator or a television program personality can be provided. If desired, a television program can be displayed in the display regions 241-245. With this type of disposition, the topic of the conversation group may be related to the action that takes place in the television program or to a question analyzed in the television prog? 7.a. Figure 12 is an example of user television equipment 250 for implementing the video image function of the present invention. The signals that come from the equipment for conversation (for example, a video bridge) and which contain the video images of other users who participate in a conversation group, can be received by the box 252 that is placed on the television set . The application of the box that goes
placed on the television set exhibits the images on television 254. The signals may contain audio communications. The image of each user can be obtained using a video camera such as the video camera 256 connected to the box 252. The application of the box placed on the television set can transmit the signal containing the user's image. to the conversation equipment associated with the user's television equipment, so that that signal is redistributed to other participants of the conversation group through the communication networks such as those shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 3. A user You can obtain and transmit video images of any person or object, for transmission to the other participants of a conversation group. A user can communicate through video images. For example, ur. The schedule can display in front of the video camera 256 written messages that can be read by other users on the screens of their televisions. A single conversation group could use audio, video, text, HTML or any other means of communication. The conversation equipment that coordinates the conversation with video or audio can implement the transmission of messages between users, using some of the technologies currently available for the management
of conferences with video or audio. For example, a conversation system can be implemented by a server for conversation in order to route the communications in real time, from the participants of a conversation group, to the other participants in the conversation group. If desired, the generator of a message, such as a text message, can be presented with all the messages from each participant in the conversation group, including its own message. With respect to audio conversation, there is usually no need to redistribute a message back to your generator, because a user does not want to be heard. Therefore, a conversation system with audio can ensure that whoever sends a communication in real time does not receive its own communication. In conversation with video, the conversation system can be configured, for example, to display on the television screen only the image of the person speaking at that moment. The conversation system may incorporate a user into a conversation group when the user has indicated a desire to join a particular conversation group. The wishes of the user can be determined, for example, through a visual presentation screen provided by the application of the box that is placed
on the television set, such as the display 270 of Figure 13. The interface region 274 is superimposed on the television program 271, so that only the upper part of the program 271 is visible. The interface region of the user 274 provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to join a conversation group by selecting the option "276. The user interface screen 274 also allows the user not to join a conversation group by selecting the option? "NO" 278. If the "NO" option is selected, the user interface screen 274 disappears.The user interface screen, 274, can be automatically displayed by the application of the box that is placed on the television set whenever a conversation group related to the television program that the user is watching is available or available, or could be displayed based on a reminder previously established by the user. In the interface screen 274, the advertisement 275 may also be displayed. If desired, the user interface screen 274 may be displayed when the user selects a "converse" option from a visual presentation screen of a programming guide. , or press a special button for conversation on a remote control, or use any other user interface to indicate a
desire to join a conversation. As an alternative, this screen could be skipped and the user could continue directly to the conversation group if the user has selected a "chat" option. The conversation group can continue beyond the completion of program 271. Referring now to Figure 14, the application of the box that is placed on the television set can provide the user with an opportunity to join one or more groups of conversation at the user's choice. The conversation group options that are provided to the user by the application of the box that is placed on the television set can be conversation groups that are related to a particular program or television channel that the user is tuning in when the options of conversation groups are exhibited initially. Information relating to real-time communications, such as announcements of conversation groups that are available for a particular program or television channel, can be provided to the application of the box that is placed on the television set using any technique adequate distribution of data. For example, information on scheduled conversation groups can be provided by a
server to the box that is placed on the television set, on request. That information can also be obtained with the announcements of the programming guide, from the main installation. If desired, the information about the available conversation groups can be digitally encoded in band, with the signal from the television program in a digital channel. The conversation information can be decoded by a digital box that is placed on the television set, together with the signal of the television program. As another example, information about which conversation groups are supported can be maintained in a television distribution facility and distributed to the applications of the box that is placed on the television by the vertical suppression interval (VBI) of a standard analog television signal. A VBI decoder located er. the box that is placed srcre the television set can be used to decode the data contained in the VBI of the received television signal. The decoded data can then be used by the application of the box that is placed on the television set to determine, based on the received data, if there are conversation groups available for a program or channel. If desired, information relating to real-time communications, such as groups of
Available conversation can be provided using an out-of-band data transmission path. Such information may also be provided in the form of a digital data stream that accompanies another digital data stream (such as digital data from various television programs). The display 280 is an example of an options screen that can be displayed by the application of the box that is placed on the television set to give the user an opportunity to join various conversation groups related to a program or program. channel that is being seen. If the user is watching the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" on channel 3, the user can be given an opportunity to join a Conversation Group on Telenovelas, selecting option 282, to the Conversation Group on Channel 3 selecting the option 284, or Conversation Group on "Days of Our Lives" by selecting option 288. The user can join multiple conversation groups. Multiple conversation groups can be selected with a remote control or a wireless keyboard. The conversation system can incorporate the user to all the selected conversation groups. The user can also be given an opportunity to create a new conversation group by selecting the option
286. The user can search for more conversation groups by selecting option 290. The user can set a reminder for their own participation in a scheduled conversation group by selecting option 281. If option 281 is chosen, the conversation system can set a reminder for a previously selected conversation group, or provide the user with a list of conversation groups from which to choose. If the user does not wish to join a conversation group, the user can select the option "exit" 292, which directs to the box that is placed on the television set so that it leaves the visual presentation screen 280. In the Figure 15A is another example of a way in which the user can be presented with an opportunity to join various conversation groups that are related to a particular television program. In a part 310 of the display 300 there is a reduced size version of a television program such as the News of the 6, simultaneously with a region 312 of the user interface in the lower part of the visual presentation screen 300. Also, on the display 300 the advertisement 311 may be displayed together with the user interface 312. The user interface region 312 may allow the
user join conversation groups related to the news segments that are given in the News of the 6. The user can join one or more of the conversation groups (1), (2), (3) and (4) (corresponding to options 302, 304, 306 and 308, respectively), by pressing the appropriate number on your remote control. If the user does not want to enter a conversation group, he can press (5) (which corresponds to the option "Exit" 314) to exit the visual presentation screen 300 and return to a programming guide menu or a full screen of visual presentation of the News of the 6. The visual presentation screen 300 can be displayed by the application of the box that is placed on the television set at the request of the user or automatically at an appropriate time during the television program. Conversation groups can continue beyond the end of the program, * c = .ra allow participants to discuss complementary issues. The conversation group ends when all participants have left. The television screen 500 of Figure 15B is a visual display screen of an interactive television programming guide, which gives the user an opportunity to view a schedule of the upcoming conversation groups related to the TV programs listed.
in the programming guide. The user can move to the appropriate time slot 506 by manipulating the arrow options 508. The TV programs are displayed in column 502 and the corresponding talk groups are displayed in column 504. A user can select a conversation group by placing the highlighting region 509 on a conversation group. The user can then set a reminder to participate in the selected conversation group by selecting option 505. The user can join the selected conversation group by selecting option 503. The user can also record a conversation session of the selected conversation group , selecting option 501. The user can also see additional programs and conversation groups, by manipulating the arrows 510. The television screen 295 of Figure 16 illustrates how the application of the cajs. which is placed on the television set may allow the user to participate in a plurality of conversation groups together. In the upper left quadrant 315 of the television screen 295 a television program called "News Program" is displayed. The user can see "News Program" and participate together in three different conversation groups displayed in quadrants 316, 317 and 318. In the upper right quadrant 316 and the lower quadrant
left 317 real-time text communications of two chat rooms are displayed. Each topic of conversation refers to issues analyzed in the "News Program". The topic of the conversation room in quadrant 316 is the "Clinton Political Trial". The topic of the conversation room in quadrant 317 is the "Lewinsky Testimony." In quadrant 318, the video image of a participant in a third video conversation group is displayed. Audio messages can also be sent and received addressed to the participants of the video conversation room and coming from them. If multiple chat rooms to which the user has been incorporated use audio, the application of the box that is placed on the television set may allow the user to alternate between the various groups, so that the audio component of a television is activated. only group at a time. Figure 17 shows another example of a visual presentation screen that provides the user with an opportunity to enter a conversation group that is related to a television program. On the "Monica Lewinsky New Segment" 321, which is on the display 320 of Figure 17, the display 324 is superimposed so that only the top 322 of the program 322 is visible.
"Nuevo Segmento de Mónica Lewinsky" 321 of the television program, the application of the box that is placed on the television set will automatically indicate the user to enter the Conversation Group about Monica Lewinsky, displaying the message that is shown in the visual presentation 324. The Conversation about Monica Lewinsky group can be a group of users who are watching the television program and want to analyze issues related to it that are presented in the program. The user can press the "Talk" button on his remote control, to enter the Conversation Group about Monica Lewinsky, or he can press "cancel" on his remote control to return to the normal way of watching television, removing the message from the visual presentation 324. The conversation server can be configured to support the Monica Lewinsky Conversation Group only for the duration of the news program and the talk show. As an alternative, the conversation group can continue beyond the end of the program, so that the participants can analyze complementary questions. The Conversation Group on Monica Lewinsky and any of the other illustrative conversation groups discussed here can be text conversation groups, audio conversation groups, video conversation groups (silent or
audio), or combinations of such conversation groups. Figure 18A shows an illustrative process to allow a user of a television team to join a conversation group. In step 340, the application of the box that is placed on the television set, which is implemented on the user's television equipment, gives the user an opportunity to indicate a desire to join a conversation group in real time. The opportunity can be provided automatically (for example, at a particular time in the course of a television program) or in response to a user's indication (for example, the user chooses an option on the screen or a choice of a guide menu of programming, which indicates your desire to see available conversation groups). The real-time conversation group can be presented in the form of written communications, with audio or ccr. video (silent or with audio,), c an appropriate combination of such communications. The opportunity for the user to indicate a desire to join a conversation group can be provided, for example, by using visual presentation screens such as the visual presentation screens 270, 280, 300, 500 or 320 of Figures 13, 14. , 15A, 15B or 17, respectively, or any other suitable display screen. The application of the box that is placed
on the television set can also provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to join a conversation group by having the ability to respond to a signal from another type of user interface mechanism (for example, a special button for conversation on a remote control). The conversation group to which the user joins can be determined by the user or by the programming guide. The user may be provided an opportunity to select a conversation group from a set or predetermined list of available conversation groups, as described in relation to the display screens 280, 300, 500 of Figures 14, 15A and 15b , respectively. Option 290 of Figure 14 provides the user with an opportunity to search for more conversation groups and to select a conversation group, based on the results of the search. The user can be given an opportunity to search for a conversation group, based on a topic of conversation or by writing the name of the conversation group and other information needed to identify the conversation group. If desired, the conversation system can automatically determine which conversation group the user should join. For example, display screen 320 of Figure 17 may provide the user with an opportunity to
Indicate a desire to join an available conversation group that is related to the program that is being viewed. If desired, the information referred to which conversation group the user should join may be based, for example, on the number of current participants in a group, which may be limited (for example, to a maximum of 20 participants). The information on available conversation groups can be maintained by the television distribution facility or a server for conversation. When a user instructs an application of the box that is placed on the television set to incorporate that user into a conversation group, the box that is placed on the television warns the server, which can then be entered by the user to the next group available. The information that identifies the available conversation groups can be provided to the application. ie the programming guide together with the broadcast signal of the television program, and decoded by the application of the box that is placed on the television set, on the user's television equipment. After the user has indicated a desire to join a conversation group, the conversation system will incorporate the user to the conversation group and support the conversation group
distributing real-time communications to the users of the conversation group, in step 342. For example, the application of the box that is placed on the television set can make a connection to the conversation equipment that maintains the communications in real time of the conversation group, which then incorporates the user into the conversation group. After the user has been incorporated into the conversation group, the conversation group is supported by the conversation equipment (for example, the conversation server), and the user can send and receive real-time communications addressed to other participants of the conversation group. conversation group and coming from them. Step 342 can be executed by the conversation equipment in the television distribution facility, in a conversation facility associated with a television channel, or a separate conversation equipment. If desired, equipment such as an audio or road bridge may be used in a television distribution facility or other suitable place to form and support conversation groups. Referring now to Figure 18B, an illustrative process is shown to allow a user of a television set to join a conversation group restricted to users located on television sets. In step 344, the application of the box that is placed
on the television set, implemented on the user's television equipment, provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to join a conversation group. The characteristics of this step are the same as the characteristics described with respect to step 340 of Figure 18A. After the user has indicated a desire to join a conversation group, in step 346 the conversation system will incorporate the user into the conversation group and support the conversation group by distributing real-time communications only among users of the conversation group. Conversation group that are located on the respective television equipment. The application of the box that is placed on the television set will indicate to the team for conversation that the user enters the conversation group. The conversation equipment will then support the credit group by distributing the communications in real time. Entrance to the conversation group is restricted to users located on the users' television equipment. The revenue may be restricted to users of television equipment connected to a particular television distribution facility or to users located on television equipment connected to one of a limited number of television distribution facilities.
TV. The conversation team can monitor requests to enter the conversation group, to ensure that all participants in the conversation group are on a user's television equipment, and not, for example, on a personal computer. For example, the conversation equipment could maintain entry codes in the television distribution facilities, so that access to a conversation group is restricted to only users' television equipment. Each television distribution facility would transmit to the conversation equipment the entry code together with an entry request made by one of its users' television equipment, so that the user can be incorporated into the conversation group. Only those requests for incorporation = 1 conversation group that present a valid entry code for a television distribution facility will be recognized. If desired, access to a TV conversation group may be restricted to users' television equipment, making the conversation group unavailable over the Internet. With reference to Figure 18C, an illustrative process is shown to allow a user of a television set to join a conversation group
related to a television program that the user is watching. In step 348, the application of the box that is placed on the television set, which is implemented in the user's television equipment, provides the user who is watching a particular television program with an opportunity to join a group of television sets. conversation related to the program. The television screen 300 of Figure 15A and the television screen 320 of Figure 17 are examples of how the application of the box that is placed on the television set can give the user an opportunity to join a related conversation group. with a particular television program, while the user is watching the program. The opportunity to join the conversation group can be provided by the application of the box that is placed on the television set in the course of the television program, or by the user's indication, for example, by pressing a button on the television. a remote control After the user has indicated a desire to join a conversation group, in step 350 the conversation system will incorporate the user into the conversation group and support the conversation group by distributing real-time communications only among users of the conversation group. conversation group that are watching
the same television program. The application of the box that is placed on the television set will indicate to the team for conversation that the user enters the conversation group. The conversation equipment will then support the conversation group by distributing real-time communications only between users of the conversation group who are watching the program. Each application of the box that is placed on the television set will ensure that the user is not provided with an opportunity to join the conversation group if the user has not tuned the channel that is broadcasting the television program. If desired, the user may have the option to join the conversation group related to the program at any time, but the application of the box that is placed on the television set will tune the television program as soon as the user _- Caque a desire to join the conversation group related to the program. Another aspect of the present invention includes providing the user with an opportunity to send a conversation invitation to other users who may be interested in joining a conversation group. An invitation to talk is an invitation made to other users (for example, from an application of the box that is placed on the television set or a guide application)
of interactive television programming) to join a conversation group. In Figure 19 there is shown an illustrative display screen 360 of invitations for conversation, which can be used to provide a user with an opportunity to choose groups of other users who may be interested in joining a conversation group of a list. The user can send an invitation to talk to all other users who are watching the same television program that the user is tuning, by choosing option 362. The conversation system would then distribute the invitation for conversation to the recipients, through the communication channels and networks shown in Figures A, 2A, 2B or 3. The conversation equipment can distribute all the invitations for conversation that it receives and that are addressed to users associated with t: - * a television distribution facility , to each user's television equipment connected to that television distribution facility. Invitations for conversation can then be filtered by the application of the box that is placed on the television set, located on the television equipment of the receiving user. The application of the box that is placed on the television set can display the invitation for conversation in the
television screen of the receiver only if the receiving user is watching the television program related to the invitation to talk. The user can also block, in his box that is placed on the television set, all incoming conversation invitations or conversational invitations that are sent by specific individuals. If desired, the box that is placed on the television set can be configured to notify the user only of those invitations for conversation sent by certain individuals. The user may also indicate to his application of the box that is placed on the television set that he only wishes to receive invitations for conversation that are related to programs, channels, categories of particular programs. The application of the box that is placed on the television set would then display on the television only those invitations for conversation received that are related to the preferences indicated by the user, If desired, any user can see all the available invitations for conversation that they are related to a given television show, as a potential recipient of an invitation to talk. The display screen 380 of Figure 20 is an example of a menu format that can be used for
present the receiving users with an opportunity to accept an invitation to talk related to the ongoing television program (option 382). The conversation invitations displayed on the visual display screen 380 may also be related to a television program that is not in progress and that is chosen from the program announcements, a channel or any category of programs. This information would also be displayed as part of option 382. The incoming conversation invitations may be displayed in a list, as part of the visual presentation screen 380. The receiving user may accept an invitation to talk and join the corresponding conversation group. , by choosing one of the invitation options for conversation 384, 386 or 388. In the example of Figure 20, the receiving user can be entered into a convolution group by entering on the remote control a number of an invitation to desired conversation. The user can also have the ability to block all invitations to chat inbound, for a period of time or indefinitely, by selecting option 381. This feature allows the user to maintain their privacy. The user can block invitations to chat that come from certain individuals by entering their names or addresses in the
regions 383. The user can also program the conversation system to allow the box (which is placed on the television set) of that user to receive only conversational invitations from certain individuals. The user can enter the names or addresses of these individuals in 1 * 25 regions 390, The user can desisti from joining any of the conversation groups to which he has been invited to join, by pressing a "Cancel" button on the remote control . Referring again to Figure 19, a user who wishes to send a conversation invitation may choose to send an invitation to talk to other users who are interested in the particular television program that the sending user is tuning in; this is done by choosing option 364. Option 364 is highlighted to indicate that it has been selected by the sending user. The sending user can use arrow keys on his remote control to select option 364. The user can then press an "OK" button on the remote control to enter his selection. The sending user can select option 366 to send an invitation for conversation to other users who are interested in the channel that transmits the current program. The sending user can select
also option 368 to send an invitation for conversation to other users who are interested in the category of programs that corresponds to the category of the program that the user is currently looking at. The invitation for conversation can be sent to the team for conversation (for example, the server), which sends the invitation for conversation to the appropriate recipients. For example, conversation invitations may be sent to users who have indicated to the team for conversation or to the television distribution facility that they have an interest in receiving invitations for conversation relating to a particular program, channel or program category. If desired, the application of the box that is placed on the television can help the filtering process that is used to ensure that Conversation invitations are only given to the appropriate users. For example, if a conversation invitation is to be distributed to all users who are tuning in to channel 4, the conversation server located in a television distribution facility can distribute an invitation to talk to all users, with information that specifies that the invitation will be restricted to viewers whose boxes are placed on the device
of television are tuned at that time on channel 4. The application of the box that is placed on the television set, of each receiving user, determines if the user is tuning the channel 4. If the box that is placed on the apparatus TV is not tuned to channel 4, the invitation for conversation will not be displayed, Some filtering operations can be executed on the server. If desired, users can specify certain conversational preferences for the conversation team.
> conversation. For example, a user can specify that they want to receive conversation invitations related to programs, channels or program categories. The user can also specify that he wishes to block in his box that is placed on the television set all the invitations for conversation that enter, or those invitations for conversation that are sent by specific individuals. The user may even specify that he wants to receive only invitations for conversation sent by certain individuals. This information can then be sent to the team for conversation, to the television distribution facility or to the conversation facility associated with the television channel. The profile data relative to the preferences of the user of the family group that are
entered through a visual presentation screen provided by the application of the box that is placed on the television set, such as the display screen 120 of Figure 4, can be sent to the conversation equipment associated with the family group , so that the conversation team can use that information to filter invitations for conversation that are related to television programs, television channels or categories of television programs in which a user is interested. With this provision, only the invitations for filtered conversation are sent by the equipment for conversation to the receiving user. The conversation system can allow a user to send an invitation for conversation only to users who do not belong to the family group and who appear in the user's personal agenda and who have been identified as interested in a program, a channel or a category of programs related to the invitation for conversation. The conversation system can filter only those other users that appear in the agenda whose preferences correspond to the program, channel or category of programs related to the invitation to talk. The preferences of other users can be stored in the calendar along with the names and
addresses of the users. An interface such as the display 160 of Figure 6 can be provided by the application of the box that is placed on the television set, to enter such information about the preferences of the users. A user can select names of other users from his / her agenda, choosing option 370. In this case, the invitation to talk would only be sent to the particular people that the user chooses individually from his / her agenda. An invitation to such conversation can be automatically displayed on the television screen of the user who receives the invitation for conversation, as soon as the invitation for conversation is received. If desired, the conversation system can be configured to have only the ability to send conversational invitations to people listed on the mates list or er. ia the user's agenda. In addition, the conversation system can be configured so that a user receives only invitations for conversation from people who appear on their buddy list or in their calendar. The functionality of the filtering operations described with respect to the television conversation system of the present invention can be executed on a server, on the box (which is placed on the television set) of the receiver, or on the box (which goes
placed on the television set) of the sender. The 360 display may also present option 372 which allows the user to send a conversation invitation to a list of individuals who may wish to participate in a conversation group related to the program in progress. For example, the individuals listed can be the usual participants in a conversation group related to a weekly comedy situation. The list can be created by the user as it determines the identities of the weekly participants. As shown in Figure 21, the display 400 may be used to display a conversation invitation 410 at the bottom of the television screen of the receiving user. The invitation face conversation 410 is superimposed on the television program that the user is watching. The invitation for conversation 410 can be translucent, so as to minimize the interruption in the display of the program by the user. At the top 408 the program is not yet hidden. The invitation for conversation 410 indicates the name of the conversation group to which the recipient of the invitation is requested to be entered, and the name of the sender of the invitation to
conversation. The receiver of the invitation to talk can accept the invitation to talk and join the conversation group, selecting option 402. The receiver of the invitation to talk can tune to the channel in which the program is being broadcast, selecting the option 404. The receiver of the conversation invitation can reject the conversation invitation by selecting option 406. The recipient can be allowed to block future invitations from a receiver, or go to "private", that is, not allow any invitation to talk until new notice. Figure 22 shows an illustrative process to allow a user located on his television set to establish a conversation group between him and other users. In step 420, the application of the box that is placed on the television set, to be recorded on the user's television equipment, provides the user with an opportunity to establish a conversation group with other users. This opportunity can be provided by the box that is placed on the television set, using any appropriate user interface. The display 360 in Figure 19 is an example of a user interface that gives the user an opportunity to establish a conversation group with
other users, sending them an invitation to talk. If desired, other suitable arrangements may be used to implement the function of step 420. After step 420, the user may enter information about the establishment of the conversation group. The information about establishing the conversation group may include, for example, an identification of the intended recipients of the information for conversation, the name of the conversation group, a server identification for conversation that will support the conversation group, the program of television with which the conversation group will be related, and the channel in which the program is being broadcast. If desired, at least some of this information can be automatically inserted by the application. of the box that is placed on the television set. For example, because the application of the box placed on the television set knows in which channel the sender's box is tuned, the application of the box that is placed on the television set can automatically append this information to the invitation for conversation. The application of the box that is placed on the television set can also determine which program is
looking at the issuing user, accessing a data base (for example, a database of program announcements locally stored the box that is placed on the television set or on a server) and using information about the current time (for example , to which they have access the box that is placed on the television set or the server, using a clock). If desired, some information of this type can be attached to the invitation for conversation by the team for conversation or the server for conversation. For example, the application of the box that is placed on the television set can provide the server for conversation information about which channel the user is currently tuning in, and the server for conversation can then determine which program is being watched ( based on information about program announcements that is stored in the television distribution facility) and you can attach this information to the conversation invitation. In step 424, the conversation system distributes the invitation for conversation to the other users who may be interested in joining the conversation group. The actual recipients of the conversation invitation can be determined by the server for conversation, by the user's television equipment, in
the installation of television distribution, in the installation for conversation associated with a television channel, or by a combination of these. If desired, the invitation for conversation that is distributed can be blocked in the box (which is placed on the television set) of the receiver (for example, if that receiver has indicated its application of the box that is placed on the device). television that does not accept such invitations).
In step 426, the conversation system supports the conversation group consisting of the user and other users who have decided to join the conversation group, by distributing real-time communications from each user of the conversation group to the other users. of the conversation group. The conversation group can be supported by the conversation equipment such as a server for conversation. Other users may be notified of the existence of the conversation group and may be given an opportunity to join, when the invitation for conversation appears on their television screens, as shown and described with respect to Figures 20 and 21. The group of other users who have decided to join the conversation group can be formed by those who have accepted the invitation to talk or those who have previously indicated a desire to join a group of
conversation. Figure 23 shows an illustrative process to establish a conversation group formed by the user and other users. In step 430, the application of the box that is placed on the television set, implemented in the user's television equipment, provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to establish a conversation group with other users or indicate a desire to join an already existing conversation group. Option 286 on the television display screen 280 of Figure 14 is an example of how the application of the box that is placed on the television set can provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to create a new conversation group. . The user interface region, 274, of Figure 13 is an example of how the application of the box that is placed on the television set is to provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to join an existing conversation group. or to a conversation group that is about to be formed. After step 430, users indicate their desire to establish a conversation group or to join an existing conversation group or conversation group that is about to be formed, for example selecting option 276 of Figure 13 or selecting the option 286 of Figure 14. The user can also
enter information about the establishment of the conversation group, such as the name of the group In step 434, the conversation system establishes a conversation group incorporating the user and the other users who have decided to join- The conversation group can be a new one conversation group that is created, for example, on a server for conversation, and the user can be incorporated into that new conversation group. The conversation group can also be an existing conversation group to which the user has joined. In the case of a new conversation group, it is created on a server for conversation or using other suitable equipment, such as an audio or video bridge. The user is then incorporated into the conversation group. The other users who have decided to join are also incorporated into the new conversation group, once it has been created. All users can now send and receive real-time communications from the other participants in the conversation group. Step 434 can be executed by the equipment for conversation (for example, a server or an audio or video bridge), by the application of the box that is placed on the television set (on the user's television equipment) , Or a combination of both
possibilities . Users can then access a list of currently available conversation groups, related to a television program or channel, from their television distribution facility, from a conversation installation associated with a television channel, or directly from the equipment to conversation (for example, the server) through the application of the box that is placed on the television set. The conversation system may incorporate the user to a selected group or groups of conversation, through a process such as those described in relation to Figures 18A and 23. In Figure 24 an illustrative process for incorporating a user into a user is shown. Conversation group, in response to an invitation to talk. In step 440, the application of the box that is placed on the television set, on the user's television equipment, displays an invitation for conversation that asks the user to join a conversation group. In step 442, the application of the box that is placed on the television set provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to join the conversation group. The display screens 380 of Figure 20 and 400 of Figure 21 are examples of how the
The box that is placed on the television can display invitations for conversation and provide the user with an opportunity to join a conversation group, in response to an invitation to talk. After step 442, when the user has decided to join a conversation group linked to a conversation invitation, the conversation system enters the user into the conversation group in step 446. For example, if the conversation group is functioning in a server for conversation, the user is linked to the conversation group that is on that server. If the conversation group is implemented using a computer for audio or video conferencing, the user is linked to the conversation group by connecting the user to the group, with the team for conference with audio or video. The information from the conversation group, required to connect the user to the conversation group, can be provided to the team for conversation by means of the conversation invitation. After the user is incorporated into the conversation group, the user can send and receive real-time communications from the other participants in the conversation group. In step 448, the application of the box that goes
placed on the television set provides the user with an opportunity to tune in to the television program that is the subject of the conversation. Option 404 of Figure 21 is an example of how the user can be given an opportunity to tune in to the television program that is the subject of the conversation. If the user selects this option, the box that is placed on the television set will automatically tune to the television channel that is broadcasting the television program that is the subject of the conversation. The information about which channel is broadcasting the program related to the conversation invitation can be provided to the box that is placed on the user's television set by means of the invitation to talk. This function allows the user to participate in the conversation group and simultaneously watch the television program that is the conversation territory. Step 446 is optional and may be omitted, if desired. Many of the functions of the present invention can be used with a bidirectional interactive remote control with screen. Figure 25 shows an example of the remote control with a screen. The remote control with display 480 contains the visual display screen 482 which can be any type of display screen. Using buttons 484, a user
you can compose a conversation message for another user in a conversation room. Pressing any of the buttons 484 causes the selected letter or number to appear simultaneously in the input region 483 and adjacent to the cursor 491. The user can erase a letter or number by pressing the Backspace button 486, and can enter uppercase letters by pressing the Shift button 488. The user can move the cursor in the display region 483 of the 482 display screen, using the arrow buttons 498. A user can use an icon such as " smiley face "on the 482 visual presentation screen, to represent himself. A remote control with a screen can also have a touch screen. Some or all of the keys (for example, the alphabet keys) can be displayed on the screen, instead of having normal keys. The remote control with screen gives the user additional privacy when sending and receiving messages in a conversation group. The remote control with screen can also be used to send and receive invitations for conversation. Accordingly, the remote control with display is a bidirectional interactive remote control in which messages can be composed and sent, as well as those messages can be received and read by the user.
user. Other functions of an illustrative remote control with display are described in the U.S. patent application. provisional, Herrington et al, Serial No. 60 / 138,868, filed on June 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A remote control with a screen can also be used to send messages between users. Other functions of an illustrative message transmission system are described in U.S. patent application. McKissic et al, Serial No. 09 / 356,245, jointly filed with the present, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims (37)
- CLAIMS A conversation system where users in user television equipment (20, 97, 98, 106, 226) connected to a television distribution facility (16, 93, 104, 220) by a communication channel (24 , 99, 101, 103, 110, 224) can communicate with each other in conversation groups, the conversation system comprises: various user television equipment (20, 97, 98, 10 106, 226), each configured to allow the user in this user television equipment to see a list of several currently available conversation groups related to television programming, to select one of 15 conversation groups, and to send and receive communications in real time through the communication channel., 24, 99, 101, 103, 110, 224) er. the conversation group selected between this user television equipment and the installation of 20 television distribution (16, 93, 104, 220), and each of which is configured to receive and display a television program from the television distribution facility (16, 93, 104, 220) in this way of 25 communication; a storage device (14, 22, 88, 91, 92, 102, 222) that maintains the list of currently available conversation groups, and transmits the list to each of the user's television sets; and a conversation team (22, 88, 90, 91, 92, 102, 222) in communication with the television distribution facility or located in the television distribution facility (16, 93, 10 104, 220) configured to distribute the real-time communications of each user in each conversation group to the other users in this conversation group in real time through the communication channels (24, 99, 101, 103, 110 , 224).
- 2. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein each user television set is configured to provide the user in this user television equipment the opportunity to join a conversation group. 20 related to a current television program presented on this user television equipment.
- 3. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein each user television set is configured to provide the 25 user on this user television equipment the opportunity to send a conversation request to other users on another user television equipment to ask other users if they wish to join a conversation group.
- 4. The conversation system defined in claim 3 wherein each user television equipment is configured to provide the user in this user television equipment the opportunity to block selected user conversation requests.
- 5. The conversation system defined in claim 3 wherein each user television equipment is configured to provide the user in this user television equipment with the 15 opportunity to allow only conversation requests from selected users.
- 6. The conversation system defined in claim 3 wherein each user television set is configured to provide the The user in this user television equipment has the opportunity to send the conversation request only to other users who are currently viewing a particular television program.
- 7. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein a programming guide Interactive television that allows users to participate in these groups among them is implemented at least partially on each user television equipment.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the conversation equipment comprises a conversation server (8, 90, 92, 102, 222) to handle communications textual in real time.
- The conversation system defined in claim 8 wherein the real-time communications of a conversation group are displayed on a display screen of a remote control to be viewed by the user.
- 10. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the conversation equipment is configured to support real-time audio cyclones.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the conversation equipment is configured to support video communications in real time.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein each user television equipment includes a cable television box (26, 38, 228, 252) in which a cable television box application is at least partially implemented which is used to send and receive real-time communications for this user television equipment.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the television distribution facility comprises a high frequency section of cable television system.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the user television equipment comprises a high definition television receiver.
- The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein at least one user television equipment connected to the television distribution facility is configured to provide the user in this user television equipment the opportunity to send and receive communications in real time to a user of a user television equipment (84, 108) connected to a different television distribution facility (80, 104).
- 16. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the television equipment of the user are further configured to receive television program guide lists from the storage device (14).
- 17. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the user television equipment offers the user the opportunity to record a conversation session.
- 18. The conversation system defined in claim 1 wherein the television equipment of The user provides the user with the opportunity to establish a conversation reminder.
- 19. A method for providing conversation groups in a conversation system in which users on various user television equipment (20, 97, 98, 15 106, 226) can communicate with each other in the conversation groups, each user television set is connected to a television distribution facility (16, 93, 104, 220) via a communication channel ( 24, 99, 101, 103, 20, 110, 224), comprising: providing television programming through each of the communication channels (24, 99, 101, 103, 110, 224) with the television distribution facility that is displayed on the equipment from 25 user television; providing a user in the user television equipment the opportunity to see a list of several currently available conversation groups related to television programming, and 5 to select one of the conversation groups in order to participate in this group of conversation, the list is transmitted from a storage device (14, 22, 88, 91, 92, 102, 222); and supporting the conversation group selected by the user by distributing real-time communications between each of the user television equipment (20, 97, 98, 106, 226) of the users in this conversation group in time. real 15 through the communication channels (24, 99, 101, 103, 110, 224).
- The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the support of a conversation group 20 related to a current television program displayed on this user television equipment.
- 21. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising the provision of a user in a user television equipment the 25 opportunity to send a conversation request to other users on another user television equipment to ask other users if they wish to join a conversation group.
- The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing the user in the user television equipment with the opportunity to block chat requests from selected users.
- 23. The method defined in the claim 21 further comprising providing the user in a user television equipment the opportunity to allow only selected user talk requests.
- The method defined in claim 21, further comprising offering the user in the user television equipment the opportunity to send the conversation request only to other users who are currently viewing a particular television program.
- 25. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the support of the conversation group employing conversation equipment that distributes real-time communications only between the users in the conversation group in the communication equipment. user television.
- The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the implementation of an interactive television program guide that allows users to participate in conversation groups among them and which is implemented at least partially in each user television equipment.
- The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the support of the conversation group using a conversation server (88, 90, 92, 102, 222) that handles textual communications in real time.
- The method defined in claim 27 wherein the real-time communications of a conversation group are displayed on a remote control display screen for the user to see.
- 29. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the support of the conversation group employing conversation equipment (22, 88, 90, 91, 92, 102, 222) configured to support audio communications in real time.
- 0. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the support of the conversation group employing conversation equipment (22, 88, 90, 91, 92, 102, 222) configured to support video communications in time real.
- The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the at least partial implementation of a cable television box application in a cable television box (26, 38, 228, 252) in each user television equipment used to send and receive real-time communications for this cable television equipment.
- 32. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the television distribution facility comprises a cable system high frequency section.
- 33. The method defined in claim 19 wherein at least one of the user television equipment comprises a high definition television receiver.
- 34. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the support of the conversation group further comprises the distribution of communications in time real between users of user television equipment (20, 106) connected to different television distribution facilities (84, 108).
- 35. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising distributing television program guide lists from the storage device (14) to the user television equipment.
- 36. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising offering the user the opportunity to record a conversation session.
- 37. . The method defined in claim 19 further comprising offering the user the opportunity to establish a conversation reminder. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A television conversation system is provided that allows viewers to engage in real-time communications with other viewers, within conversation groups, while watching television. The users of the system of conversation on television can establish communications in real time with other users who are watching the same program or television channel. The system allows real-time communications made in a conversation group to be transmitted between the users located on their television equipment, through a television distribution facility. The television talk system of the present invention allows users to join talk groups related to television programs, television channels or categories of television programs in which the user may be interested. Real-time communications can be messages with text, communications with audio, or communications with video. The television talk system can also allow users to send conversation invitations to ask other users to enter a conversation group. The system also allows users to establish conversation groups to which they allows to enter the viewers. The television conversation system can be based on an interactive television programming guide or on an application implemented in a box that is placed on the television set.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US60/099,301 | 1998-08-26 | ||
| US09/356,270 | 1999-07-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| MXPA01002014A true MXPA01002014A (en) | 2001-12-04 |
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