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WO2008018866A1 - système et procédé de télévision interactive - Google Patents

système et procédé de télévision interactive Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008018866A1
WO2008018866A1 PCT/US2006/030851 US2006030851W WO2008018866A1 WO 2008018866 A1 WO2008018866 A1 WO 2008018866A1 US 2006030851 W US2006030851 W US 2006030851W WO 2008018866 A1 WO2008018866 A1 WO 2008018866A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
viewer
program
television
program content
dvd
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2006/030851
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas F. Novotny
Christopher J. Novotny
Jay A. Schillinger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PULSE COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Original Assignee
PULSE COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PULSE COMMUNICATIONS LLC filed Critical PULSE COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Priority to PCT/US2006/030851 priority Critical patent/WO2008018866A1/fr
Publication of WO2008018866A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008018866A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/21—Server components or server architectures
    • H04N21/218—Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
    • H04N21/21805—Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/236—Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/2365—Multiplexing of several video streams
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4347—Demultiplexing of several video streams
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/488—Data services, e.g. news ticker
    • H04N21/4882—Data services, e.g. news ticker for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8541—Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to televisions and to television user interfaces that allow the user to change the screen display of the television. More particularly, it relates to an interactive television system, and a related method, that allows a viewer to systematically select variable screen displays and to vary the content of the screen display and alter the viewing experience, all in accordance with a pre-programmed scheme and at the choosing of the viewer. It also relates to such a system that allows the viewer to achieve the same interactive functionality from, and to select content from, a variety of different sources, including pre-recorded content and television broadcast content.
  • Televisions have been an important media for decades.
  • the television is an important source of news, education and entertainment in most households in this country and throughout the world.
  • Televisions and systems for televisions allow television sets of current manufacture to receive and display feed from multiple broadcast channels.
  • very basic interactivity with a television set is allowed where the television viewer is free to activate and move between channels to alter program selections. This is typically accomplished by using an infrared light emitter disposed within a remote control device and an infrared receiver built within the television set.
  • broadcast communications including television, multiple sources of information are combined by multiplexing such that program content can be converted, transported, and then converted again. That is, the program content is transported in a manner that is different from that in which it is used.
  • multiplexing can be the combination of two or more higher level channels of program contents into a single lower level channel.
  • the current basic forms of multiplexing are time-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing, and wavelength-division multiplexing, the last typically being limited to optical communications. Multiplexing also results in the ability to interleave audio and video program content into one coherent stream, as well as to interleave portions of different signals in time, frequency or wavelengths.
  • Interleaving can be done in units or blocks of units of information, such as bits or bytes.
  • a television set When coupled with a device for playing back pre-recorded content, such as a digital video disk, a television set is also capable of receiving and displaying feed from the media contained within the play back device. Just as controls allow the viewer to change channels, the same or similar controls allow the viewer to alter the display feed from the play back device. Using the same infrared light technology, a viewer can use a remote control to play and re-play certain portions of pre-recorded content from the media and can move ahead to skip other content, pause, fast forward, rewind, and so on. The playing device and its control also allow the viewer some additional limited interaction with the content.
  • a typical DVD that contains movie content will allow the viewer, when prompted, to "play” the content or to "scroll down” along a "menu” to select from a list of other options such as “special features” and the like. All of this technology is well known in the art.
  • DVD players operate using optical red laser technology to read the content of a disk that is produced under a DVD video standard.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • DVD players are typically connected to a television set, there are some portable devices that have an integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) screen for convenient viewing of program content wherever the user may be.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • a DVD player must read the DVD disk in ISO-UDF version 1.2 universal disk format. The player optionally decrypts the data using contact-scrambling system (CSS) and/or Macrovision algorithms.
  • CSS contact-scrambling system
  • the player then decodes the MPEG-2 video stream with a maximum of ten Megabits/second (at peak playback) or eight Megabits/second (at continuous play).
  • the DVD player decodes the sound content in MP2, PCM or AC-3 format and output (with optional AC-3 to stereo down sampling) on a stereo connector, optical or electric digital connector.
  • the DVD player will then output a video signal, either an analog signal (in phase alternative line (PAL), NTSC, or SECAM format) on the composite, s-video, or component video connectors, or a digital signal on the DVI or HDMI connectors.
  • Most DVD players include a home cinema decoder, such as Dolby Digital or Digital Theater Systems (DTS).
  • DTS Digital Theater Systems
  • HD DVD is a next-generation digital optical media format that has substantially greater storage capacity than DVD technology.
  • HD DVD typically has a single-layer capacity of 15 Gigabytes and a dual-layer capacity of 30 Gigabytes of storage, greatly surpassing that of the typical DVD at 4.7 Gigabytes and 8.5 Gigabytes, respectively.
  • HD DVD also has the potential for backward compatibility with DVD technology. That is, HD DVD players are being developed to allow viewers to have a single drive to play both DVD and HD DVD disks with the same playback unit. Players of this type use a single-lens optical head that includes both red and blue laser diodes since HD DVD operates using a shorter wavelength (405 nanometers) blue laser.
  • HD DVD format employs the same video compression techniques (MPEG-2, etc.) as DVD technology.
  • BD is another next-generation optical disc format meant for storage of high- definition video.
  • BD gets its name, "blu-ray,” from the blue-violet laser that it uses to read and write to the disk.
  • a BD is able to store substantially more data than a DVD because of the shorter wavelength (also 405 nanometers) of the blue- violet "read” laser.
  • DVD uses a longer wavelength (650 nanometers) red “read” laser. It is this higher storage capacity of the BD technology that allows much greater content to be written onto the disk, thus allowing greater viewing time and viewing options to be written onto the BD as well, thus making BD technology competitive with HD DVD technology.
  • a viewer who is watching a program could, for example, watch a program segment up to a certain point. At that point, the viewer would be cued or prompted to select from at least two program options. Selection of a first program option would allow the viewer to watch a first segment of optional program content. Selection of a second program option at this point would, instead, allow the viewer to view a second segment of optional program content.
  • a plurality of such points could be contained within the program content such that the viewer could create, for example, a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer. This type of a system and method would maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer.
  • system and method of the present invention could utilize un-cued or un-prompted interruption of the program content, initiated at the discretion of the viewer, to change the program content at a point chosen by the viewer. This would, for example, allow a viewer to change the viewing field from that of an observer to that of a participant in the program content. It could also allow the viewer to change viewing vantage points and other viewing alternatives could be selected as well.
  • the system and method of the present invention could be used for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment.
  • the viewer would be. able to similarly select story lines during the broadcast of television content using multiplexing technology, for example, to carry the variable story lines along a single broadcast channel.
  • the viewer could accomplish the same but when using "on demand" broadcast technology. In this way, each individual viewer could control the content of his or her viewing experience. In "live" broadcast situations, each individual viewer that accesses the program content would be able, for example, to alter his or her viewing experience by following a favorite player in a sporting event and the event develops, or follows a specific participant in a reality television program, all the while also broadcasting the primary program content to those who choose to view it.
  • IT is yei another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of such points within the program content such that the viewer can create a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer. It is still another object of the present invention to provide this type of an interactive television system and method to maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an interactive television system and method for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment.
  • the present invention provides for a system that includes a television set having a screen display and an audio speaker.
  • the television set receives its input program signal directly from a playback device by way of an electrical connection between the television set and the playback device.
  • a remote control device is aimed at an infrared receiver in the playback device reads the infrared light emitted from the remote control device.
  • an input processor that receives the signal from the remote control unit and then processes that input to prompt a program content processor which retrieves data in electronic format from a data store.
  • the data store would be the DVD, HD DVD or BD disk itself, as well as any other media that has yet to be developed.
  • the program content processor is then used to feed signal and program content to the playback, or drive, circuitry which is the source of the program content that is viewed on the user interface.
  • the input processor and the playback circuitry are used to select program content such that a user viewing a visual field of program content is periodically prompted or cued to select between two or more program options.
  • the program option selected is displayed until the next prompt or cue is presented where the user again selects between two or more additional program options.
  • Various options are presented until the program content concludes.
  • An alternative embodiment provides the ability to play back alternative program options is accomplished by means of conventional broadcast (i.e., terrestrial aerial or satellite) or cable television programming.
  • the program content processor would be hosted by the broadcast or cable television source or by a local "set-top” box.
  • an integrated cable return path enabled platform would allow the viewer to use the "transmit" cable as a "return path” cable.
  • interaction with programming that is broadcast can be downloaded to a set-top box that would allow the viewer to choose alternative program content.
  • This alternative program content could include alternative story lines or the ability of the viewer to follow a specific character throughout a story, among other things.
  • the program content of a given embodiment of the invention is best represented as a hierarchical tree structure having a plurality of nodes and branches. Each node, other than the root node which would represent initial program content, provides an alternative program segment and each branch connects nodes to allow program development to diverge in multiple directions. As a viewer views initial program content starting at the root node and branches into other nodes of alternative program content, a unique viewing experience is provided to the viewer. This also allows the viewer to develop alternative viewing experiences.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system that uses a broadcast channel that is fed to a television set in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an alternative system that uses a playback device to feed program content to the television set in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the system shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the functional components in greater detail.
  • Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the method that is used with the system in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the functionality of the flow chart shown in Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic tree structure illustrating the hierarchical nature of one embodiment of program content in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a system that is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system includes a conventional television set 10 having a viewing screen 12 and an audio speaker 14.
  • the viewing screen 12 conveys visual program content to the user and the speaker 14 conveys concomitant audio program content.
  • the television set 10 can be controlled in a conventional manner by aiming a remote control device 20 at an infrared receiver 16 of the television set, the remote control device 20 emitting an infrared light signal 24 upon actuation of a control button 22.
  • the remote control 20 would likely have more than one button 22 but rather a plurality of such buttons 20 for controlling the different modes of functionality of the television set 10.
  • Reception of a program channel that is being broadcast by a television station antenna 30 is received by means of an antenna device 18.
  • the antenna 18 is configured to receive and transmit the electromagnetic wave 32 that emanates from the tower 30 and carries the broadcast channel information with it.
  • the system illustrated in Fig. 1 could also be arranged to obtain broadcast program information by means of a dedicated cable television input line which would be substituted for the antenna 18 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the scope of the present invention is intended to encompass both transmission methods.
  • the electromagnetic wave 32 would be the carrier for multiplexed program content.
  • Fig. 2 it illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a system that is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system includes the same television set 10 having a screen display 12 and an audio speaker 14.
  • the television set 10 receives its input program signal directly from a playback device 40 by way of an electrical connection 19 between the television set 10 and the playback device 40.
  • the remote control device 20 can be used to control the playback device 40 by means of an infrared receiver 42 disposed within the playback device 40.
  • the remote control device 20 is aimed at the infrared receiver 42 and the control button 22 is actuated, the receiver 42 reads the infrared light 24 emitted from the remote control device 20.
  • the television set 10 which can also be considered to be a "user interface" device 10
  • the playback device 40 being controlled by the remote control unit 20 as previously described.
  • Contained within the playback device 40 is an input processor 50 that receives the signal 24 from the remote control unit 20 and then processes that input to prompt a program content processor 60 which retrieves data in electronic format from a data store 80.
  • the data store 80 would be the DVD, HD DVD or BD disk itself.
  • the program content processor 60 is then used to feed signal and program content to the piayDacK, or drive, circuitry fu which is the source of the program content that is viewed on the user interface 10.
  • the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 would need to be modified such that the data store 80 would essentially consist of the receive transmit from the terrestrial aerial or the cable path.
  • the viewer would be able to alter the viewing content by returning information to the broadcaster or by return information that is provided to a set-top box (not shown) to provide this interactivity.
  • Cable television viewers who receive their programs by means of a cable, where the integrated cable includes a return path- enabled platform, the viewer can use the same transmit cable as the return path cable.
  • the data store 80 could, for example, be a remote server that is simply accessed locally by the viewer.
  • the data store 80 would also be a remote server that is simply accessed locally by the viewer.
  • Broadcast viewers would experience difficulty in returning information to the broadcaster since the broadcast is typically a one-way transmit. Truly interactive systems would require that a signal be sent back to the broadcaster by some means, such as conventional telephone lines, etc. Interactivity in the conventional broadcast mode is, however, still enabled by broadcasting and downloading the program content to the data store 80 from which the viewer can choose alternative program content along the lines described above.
  • the system and method of the present invention contemplates an interactive television system whereby the program content, as fed to the television set 10 by way of a live broadcast channel, a cable, a playback device, or even the internet, can be altered by a "prompt" or "cue” to the viewer to do so during program playback.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the flow chart for this concept. Starting with a visual display or visual field of program content 100 on the user interface 10, the visual field consisting of moving frames of program content, for example, runs to a point where the viewer is given a first program segment option cue 102. It is to be understood that the "prompt" or “cue” could be either visual alone or audio alone, or a combination of audio and visual.
  • the viewer selects one of two program segment options 104, 106.
  • the view can select program option "A" 104 or program option "B" 106.
  • the program options are not limited at any particular point of cue 102 to two program options 104, 106, and such is not a limitation of the present invention. Two or more program options may be used at any such point of cue 102, depending upon the program content or the program segment desired by the viewer. Assuming in this application that the viewer selects program option "A" 104, the visual field of program option "A" 108 is displayed and continues on the user interface 10, together with any associated audio program content.
  • a second program option cue 110 is provided to the viewer.
  • the point in time when this cue 110 occurs is subject to the particular program being played.
  • the viewer must again select alternative program segment options 112, 114.
  • the viewer selects either program option "AA” 112 or program option "AB” 114.
  • the viewer selects program option "AB” 116 and the visual field of the program option "AB” 116 is played, together with any associated audio program content as well.
  • This sequence continues in accordance with a pre-programmed scheme to provide the viewer with alternative viewing experiences, alternative story lines and alternative educational and entertainment experiences until the end of program content 118 is reached.
  • the program option cues 102, 110 could instead be used by the viewer to switch between scenes, characters, or other program variables used with the broadcast.
  • the viewer could observe the performance of a particular athlete who is participating in the sporting event.
  • the "cue” for this interactivity would be essentially continuous and would be a viewing option that is continuously accessible by means of multiplexing technology.
  • the cue for this interactivity would be essentially continuous and would be a viewing option that is continuously accessible by the viewer by means of multiplexing technology.
  • MPEG Motion Pictures Expert Group
  • MPEG-2 video is an extension of MPEG-1 video.
  • MPEG-1 video was targeted at coding progressively scanned video at bit rates up to 1.5 Megabits/second.
  • MPEG-2 extends the basic MPEG system to provide compression support for television quality transmission by providing extra algorithms for efficiently coding interlaced video and supporting a wide range of bit rates. In other words, MPEG-2 provides a way to compress digital video signal into a manageable bit rate. Because the MPEG-2 video standard provides good compression using standard algorithms, it has become the standard for digital television.
  • the key to MPEG-2 video is also the fact that the total "bit stream" may be structured in layers, starting with a base layer and adding refinement layers to reduce distortion or improve resolution, among other things. While analogous to multiplexing technology in that the viewing result is similar from the perspective of the viewer, the MPEG-2 video technology is quite different from true multiplexing.
  • the MPEG-2 video compression algorithm achieves very high rates of compression by exploiting the redundancy in video information. It removes both temporal redundancy and spatial redundancy that are present in motion video, for example. Temporal redundancy results when successive frames of video display images of the same scene result in content of the scene remaining fixed or changing only slightly between successive frames. Spatial redundancy arises because parts of the video picture are often replicated within a single frame of video.
  • the compressed video stream is therefore a variable bit rate stream where transmission links frequently require fixed transmission rates.
  • the key to controlling transmission rate is to order the compressed data in a buffer by decreasing detail.
  • a number of levels and profiles have been defined for MPEG-2 compression. Each describes a useful subset of the total functionality offered by MPEG-2 standards.
  • MPEG-2 also provides the ability to use a return channel to allow the user to control the content or scheduling of the transmitted video and audio data.
  • MPEG-2 defines an interaction channel using digital storage media command and control (DSM-CC).
  • DSM-CC digital storage media command and control
  • the program option "AA” content 226 will not be viewed by the viewer. This sequence can continue over time 230 to present the viewer with a complete story line or other entertainment or educational viewing experience. In this way, the viewer is able to interactively experience alternative story lines, alternative adventures, and so on. It should also be noted that, in the example given above, although the program option "AA” content 226 is not viewed by the viewer at the time of his or her selection of program option "AB” content 228, the program option “AA” content 226 can still be viewed in a subsequent viewing of the program content 200, " with " the result that the viewer's viewing experience is different in that subsequent viewing, which is the intended result of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 it illustrates a graphical representation in tree structure form, generally identified 300, of an exemplary story line that could be used with the system and method of the present invention.
  • a character 304 given the name LITTLE SHERLOCKTM, holds a magnifying glass 302 that can be used graphically to fill a viewer screen 12 or user interface, as previously described.
  • the magnifying glass 302 is intended to be used to display images in it, such as the general story line illustrated. The magnifying glass 302 would fill the screen 12 with viewing options as they are presented to the viewer and viewing choices as they are made by the viewer.
  • the tree structure 300 illustrated also has a display, or node, that has no superior. That is, the starting node or display 310 would be considered as the "root” or “root node” of the tree structure 300. Lines are used to connect the elements or nodes to one another, if the elements or nodes are to be connected and a relationship established between such elements or nodes.
  • An element or node is considered to be a "parent” of another element or node if it is one step higher in the hierarchy and thus closer to the root element or node, uonversely, an element or node is considered to be a "child” of another element or node if it is one step lower in the hierarchy and thus further away from the root element or node.
  • An element or node that shares a parent element or node with another element or node, and at the same level of hierarchy, is considered to be a "sibling" element or node.
  • the lines that connect the elements or node together are "branches" of the tree structure 300.
  • the tree structure 300 hierarchy illustrated in Fig. 6 best describes the functionality of the method and system of the present
  • a first display 310 which reads as follows:
  • the screen would reveal three possible routes, or branches, for the interactive viewer to select from: a boat slip path 312, a city path 314, or a country path 316.
  • the root node or display 310 can be said to have three children, but such is not a limitation of the present invention. More or less branches and children may be presented to the viewer. If the viewer selects the boat slip path 312, a second display 322 is presented which reads as follows:
  • a third display 324 which reads as follows:
  • CITY PATH Freddy and Sherlock come to a railroad crossing with tracks running across the street. There is also a sign for the boat docks and an arrow that points in the opposite direction of the tracks. Freddy remembers that Donald likes both trains and boats, so they need to decide which way to go.
  • corresponding node or display 322, 324, 326, respectively is also preferably accompanied by audio and visual content that matches the display. That is, once the selection is made, the viewer will watch a portion of program content that relates to that selection. In the previous example given relative to Fig. 5, this could be realized as a first layer of program content 210 where three program options, instead of just two,
  • the screen and/or the audio component would reveal two possible branches or routes for the interactive viewer to select from: a dead end path 331 or the boat docks path 332. If the viewer selects the dead end path 331 , a fifth display 342 is
  • the tunnel is a dead-end and they find a clam that tells them a story. They turn around and get in the net.
  • This fifth, or dead end path, display 342 would be considered an "end node" since it has no nodes that are children nodes branching from it. If the viewer instead selects the boat docks path 332, a sixth display 344 is presented which reads as follows:
  • this sixth display 344 can also reach this sixth display 344 by selecting the boat docks path 333 at the conclusion of the city path display 324. If the viewer selects either one of the train tracks paths 334, 335 from the city path display
  • a seventh display 346 which reads as follows:
  • TRAIN TRACKS Freddy and Sherlock come across train tracks on the edge of town. They ask Teddy the train if they've seen him. He says they might want to try the new building that they are building. They go and see 2 buildings, one has iron skeleton, the other has window cleaners.
  • a ninth display 362 which reads as follows:
  • the policeman tells them that he doesn't know.
  • the screen reveals two possible routes: the Donald found path 353 or the window cleaners path 354. Selecting the window cleaners path 354, a tenth display 366 is presented which reads as follows:
  • the window cleaners explain to Freddy and Sherlock what they are doing and that the other building is being constructed. If the viewer selects either one of the Donald found paths 334, 335 from the boat docks display 344 or from the train tracks display 346, respectively, the last display 364 is presented which reads as follows:
  • the viewer has successfully, and entertainingly, reached the end of the story line.
  • the viewer may replay the program content with a completely different story line and adventure, depending upon the nodes or displays and branches used by the viewer in the hierarchy of the tree structure 300.
  • the functionality described above could be accomplished with a terrestrial or cable transmission-based system where the television signal is multiplexed such that multiple transmit signals can be used to contain multiple program content and multiple receive signals for feed back from the viewer option selections as made above but by using a set-top box for accessing variable story lines contained within the multiplexed channel. It is also to be understood that the functionality described above could be accomplished by a data store 80 that is in a location that is remote from the viewer, such as in the case of the internet-based use, or local to the viewer, such as where a playback device 40 is used.
  • Selection of a second program option at this point would, instead, allow the viewer to view a second segment of optional program content.
  • the system and method of the present invention provides a plurality of such points within the program content such that the viewer can create a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer.
  • the system and method of the present invention provides this type of an interactive television system and method to maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer.
  • the system and method of the present invention provides such an interactive television system and method for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment.
  • the system and method of the present invention provides yet another alternative embodiment where the viewer would be able to similarly select story lines during the broadcast of television content using multiplexing technology to carry the variable story lines along a single broadcast channel and to follow particular characters during the broadcast or to view particular areas and subjects of interest to the viewer, and at the interactive viewer's discretion.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système et un procédé utilisant un contenu de programme d'un magasin de données et comprenant un processeur d'entrée qui invite un processeur de contenu de programme à communiquer un signal et un contenu de programme à un poste de télévision. Le processeur d'entrée est utilisé pour sélectionner un contenu de programme grâce à quoi un utilisateur visualisant le contenu de programme réplique sélectivement en choisissant entre deux options de programme ou plus. L'option de programme sélectionnée est affichée jusqu'à la présentation de la réplique suivante où l'utilisateur sélectionne de nouveau entre deux options de programme additionnelles ou plus. Diverses options sont présentées jusqu'à la conclusion du contenu de programme. Un mode de réalisation alternatif obtient la capacité de sélectionner des options de programme alternatives au moyen d'une programmation de télévision à diffusion conventionnelle (c'est-à-dire, terrestre, aérienne ou satellite) ou par câble. Cette capacité de visualisation de programme alternative pourrait également comprendre un contenu de programme à diffusion 'en direct' où l'observateur peut choisir sélectivement de suivre des emplacements spécifiques, des personnages spécifiques, entre autres choses, pendant la diffusion en direct.
PCT/US2006/030851 2006-08-09 2006-08-09 système et procédé de télévision interactive Ceased WO2008018866A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2006/030851 WO2008018866A1 (fr) 2006-08-09 2006-08-09 système et procédé de télévision interactive

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2006/030851 WO2008018866A1 (fr) 2006-08-09 2006-08-09 système et procédé de télévision interactive

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008018866A1 true WO2008018866A1 (fr) 2008-02-14

Family

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PCT/US2006/030851 Ceased WO2008018866A1 (fr) 2006-08-09 2006-08-09 système et procédé de télévision interactive

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Country Link
WO (1) WO2008018866A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105847386A (zh) * 2016-04-20 2016-08-10 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 直播流的处理方法、装置及系统
CN110225388A (zh) * 2019-06-06 2019-09-10 腾讯科技（深圳）有限公司 直播互动的处理方法、装置、电子设备及存储介质

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6260194B1 (en) * 1995-08-31 2001-07-10 U.S. Philips Corporation Information handling for interactive apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6260194B1 (en) * 1995-08-31 2001-07-10 U.S. Philips Corporation Information handling for interactive apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105847386A (zh) * 2016-04-20 2016-08-10 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 直播流的处理方法、装置及系统
WO2017181601A1 (fr) * 2016-04-20 2017-10-26 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 Procédé de traitement de diffusion en continu de diffusion en direct, appareil, dispositif électronique et système
CN110225388A (zh) * 2019-06-06 2019-09-10 腾讯科技（深圳）有限公司 直播互动的处理方法、装置、电子设备及存储介质
CN110225388B (zh) * 2019-06-06 2023-01-06 腾讯科技（深圳）有限公司 直播互动的处理方法、装置、电子设备及存储介质

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