Abstract: An interactive television system is provided with an interactive information system by which channels or services interact together. The information system provides informational messages that prompt a user to select an associated channel or service. If selected, the system transfers control to the selected channels or services. If necessary, information associated with the informational messages is provided to the selected channel or service. In a preferred embodiment the informational messages are sequentially displayed video segments. The video segments may be associated with other channels or services in the interactive viewing system. The user may use an input device, by depressing a single button, and launch another channel or service that is associated with the currently displayed video segment.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of selectively delivering programming to a viewer station (e.g., a home) on an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. The method includes delivering a message to a selected viewer station having a selected video display set. The message may be delivered while the selected viewer station receives virtually any programming over the interactive televideo system, including selected programming that is chosen by a viewer at the selected viewer station and is carried on a selected programming channel. With reference to a preferred embodiment, the IT system transmits a message signal to the selected viewer station on a communication channel different from the channels carrying the programming, including the selected programming channel. The interactive station controller receives the message signal and generates from it a viewer message.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of providing programming information to viewers using an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. The programming information includes video display images, and preferably a multi-frame video segment of or relating to the programming on at least one of the selected channels. In a preferred embodiment, the IT system obtains programming images corresponding to programming available on selected channels during a selected programming schedule period. Preferably, at least one of the programming images includes a video segment relating to programming available on one of the selected channels, and the remaining programming images include single frame images relating to the programming available on the remaining ones of the selected channels. The programming images for the selected programming are rendered simultaneously on the video display set of the selected viewer station.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and displaying programming information in response to selection of a category of programming information. Programming information is presented via a schedule display having a category display, a subcategory category display, and a program display. The category display displays an array of category tiles representing categories of programming information. The subcategory display displays an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories that are associated with the categories of the category display. The program display displays an array of program tiles that are associated with the subcategories of the subcategory display. A viewing panel extends along each of the displays for displaying one each of the category, subcategory, and program tiles. Classes of programming information are selected by scrolling the tiles of the associated displays until the desired class items are presented within the viewing panel.

Abstract: A program recording system is provided to allow a user of an interactive viewing system to record a preselected program. The interactive viewing system includes at least one program guide that allows user selection of a program for recording. In response to the user selection, the system sets a record tag that is associated with the selected program and identifies the selected program for recording. The record tag is monitored and, at the appropriate time, prompts the system to control the recording of the selected program.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of selectively delivering programming to a viewer station on an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. Determinations as to whether programming is to be delivered are based upon the content or service level of the programming. With reference to content-based delivery of programming, the IT system identifies predetermined characteristics of the available programming. Each viewer at a selected viewer station is assigned a personal programming service level. The personal programming service level of each viewer is related to the particular characteristics and distinguishes appropriate and inappropriate programming for the viewer. The IT system compares the predetermined characteristics of the programming available at a time with the appropriate programming service level. The IT system delivers to the viewer station the available programming with predetermined characteristics that conform to the appropriate viewer service level.

Abstract: An interactive television system has a centrally located head end server coupled to service multiple, remotely located set-top boxes. Each set-top box runs an electronic programming guide that provides an on-screen program grid listing program titles in relation to their scheduled viewing times and channel numbers. The viewer is permitted to scroll through the program grid to list titles of past, current, and future programs. A database, resident at the head end server, supplies the program titles and scheduled viewing times of the past, current, and future programs to the electronic programming guide. The head end server transmits real-time video data streams of the available programs to the EPG. A continuous media server, resident at the head end server, stores the video data streams to build a reserve of previously played programs. The media server can also store video preview clips of future programs.

Abstract: An interactive computer system displays informational and control objects consisting of multiple panels that facilitate browsing and selecting an element from a group of menus. Multiple menus are presented in a three-dimensional structure that contains one panel for each menu. Each panel is connected to another to form the three-dimensional object. When the menu is opened, the computer system provides high quality animation that illustrates the three-dimensional nature of the object and the relationship between the panels. The user can spin or rotate the three-dimensional object to reveal other menu panels. As each panel is revealed, the three-dimensional object is animated to show the spinning of the menu structure and the relationship between the menu panels.

Abstract: The interactive entertainment network system has a headend connected to multiple user interface units in individual homes via a distribution network. The user interface units are operable in a video-on-demand (VOD) mode to order and receive video content programs from the headend. The VOD mode is activated when the viewer tunes to a designated VOD channel. In the event that a viewer orders a video content program, the headend transmits the ordered video content program to the particular user interface unit. The viewer can watch the program at their leisure. In the event that the viewer changes from the VOD channel to a non-VOD channel prior to completion of the ordered program, the headend automatically pauses transmission of the ordered video content program. When the viewer once again tunes to the VOD channel, the headend automatically resumes transmission of the ordered video content program to the user interface unit.

Abstract: A program reminder system is provided to remind a user of an interactive viewing system when a preselected program is available. The interactive viewing system includes at least one program guide that allows user selection of a program for which a reminder is to be set. When a reminder has been set, the system displays a reminder panel shortly before the selected program becomes available. The reminder panel identifies the selected program, informs the user that it will shortly be available, and allows the user to turn to the appropriate channel for viewing the selected program.

Abstract: A system for displaying a list of items containing information or alternative choices associated with a subscriber service of an interactive network system. At least one item in the list is displayed in its entirety. The items at the border of the list are only partially displayed to give the user an indication that the list extends beyond the borders of the list. Additional list items can be displayed by scrolling the list by manipulating a directional control on a remote control unit that operates in conjunction with a set-top terminal of the interactive system. An item in the list, or another control object on the display screen, is highlighted in a manner to give the user a visible indication that the list can be scrolled, or shifted, within the display to display new items in the list and remove previously displayed items.

Abstract: A program identification system is provided to inform a user of an interactive viewing system of the identity of a program being viewed. The system may be implemented in an interactive television system in which a head end in two-way communication with multiple viewer stations provides a variety of programs over different channels to each viewer station. The programs may be video-based programs, computer executed applications, or other types of programs. Each viewer station can query the head end to learn the identity of a program, regardless of type, being viewed. The identity is then displayed to the user. Additional program specific information can also be obtained and displayed.

Abstract: A video control user interface is provided for use in an interactive television system. The video control user interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-purpose, multi-direction actuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in different modes, including a movie-on-demand mode. In this mode, the set-top box receives digitally transmitted video data streams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. During display of a video movie, the set-top box can cause, at the viewer's request, the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon. The symbols relate to shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie. This user interface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls about the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of the multi-direction pad on the remote control handset.

Abstract: A random access animation user interface environment referred to as interFACE enabling a user to create and control animated lip-synchronized images or objects utilizing a personal computer for use in the users programs and products. A real-time random-access interface driver (RAVE) together with a descriptive authoring language (RAVEL) is used to provide synthesized actors ("synactors"). The synactors may represent real or imaginary persons or animated characters, objects or scenes. The synactors may be created and programmed to perform actions including speech which are not sequentially pre-stored records of previously enacted events. Furthermore, animation and sound synchronization may be produced automatically and in real-time. Sounds and visual images of a real or imaginary person or animated character associated with those sounds are input to a system and may be decomposed into constituent parts to produce fragmentary images and sounds.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and displaying programming information in response to selection of a category of programming information. Programming information is presented via a schedule display having a category display, a subcategory category display, and a program display. The category display displays an array of category tiles representing categories of programming information. The subcategory display displays an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories that are associated with the categories of the category display. The program display displays an array of program tiles that are associated with the subcategories of the subcategory display. A viewing panel extends along each of the displays for displaying one each of the category, subcategory, and program tiles. Classes of programming information are selected by scrolling the tiles of the associated displays until the desired class items are presented within the viewing panel.

Abstract: A random access animation user interface environment referred to as interFACE enabling a user to create and control animated lip-synchronized images or objects utilizing a personal computer for use in the users programs and products. A real-time random-access interface driver (RAVE) together with a descriptive authoring language (RAVEL) is used to provide synthesized actors ("synactors"). The synactors may represent real or imaginary persons or animated characters, objects or scenes. The synactors may be created and programmed to perform actions including speech which are not sequentially pre-stored records of previously enacted events. Furthermore, animation and sound synchronization may be produced automatically and in real-time. Sounds and visual images of a real or imaginary person or animated character associated with those sounds are input to a system and may be decomposed into constituent parts to produce fragmentary images and sounds.

Abstract: An interactive television system has a set-top box adapted for use with a television and a remote control handset. The set-top box is connected to receive a television broadcast that is filmed using multiple cameras situated at various camera viewpoints. The television broadcast has a primary channel, with which the viewer is familiar as carrying the desired television program, and multiple virtual channels associated with the primary channel. The virtual channels carry video signals from the multiple different cameras covering the event. The remote control handset has dedicated camera control buttons for selecting corresponding virtual channels to allow the viewer to choose a desired camera viewpoint. The dedicated camera control buttons are arranged in an intuitive pattern that correlates to the camera viewpoints.

Abstract: A program time guide for an interactive viewing system allows a user to control the time and channels for which program information is displayed. The user can navigate through the program time guide to identify and select desired programs. The program time guide displays information for various types and sources of programming by assigning each program source a channel number. Selecting a program on a particular channel causes the system to tune to an associated frequency to receive video signals, launch a computer executed application which generates displayed information, or to perform some other activity associated with that channel or program.

Abstract: A video control user interface is provided for use in an interactive television system. The video control user interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-purpose, multi-direction actuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in different modes, including a movie-on-demand mode. In this mode, the set-top box receives digitally transmitted video data streams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. During display of a video movie, the set-top box can cause, at the viewer's request, the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon. The symbols relate to shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie. This user interface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls about the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of the multi-direction pad on the remote control handset.

Abstract: A general purpose computer, such as a personal computer, is programmed for sound-synchronized random access and display of synthesized actors ("synactors") on a frame-by-frame basis. The interface between a user and the animation system is defined as a stage or acting metaphor. The user interface provides the capability to create files defining individually accessible synactors representing real or imaginary persons, animated characters and objects or scenes which can be programmed to perform speech synchronized action. Synactor speech is provided by well-known speech synthesis techniques or, alternatively, by inputting speech samples and communication characteristics to define a digital model of the speech and related animation for a particular synactor. A synactor is defined as combination of sixteen predefined images; eight images to be synchronized with speech and eight images to provide additional animated expression.