INTERACTIVE SPECIAL EVENTS VIDEO SIGNAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM
A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays current or future programming information superimposed over the normal programming displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer's display screen. Identification signal data are accessed and generated by the computer for durations defined in the identification signal data either automatically or in response to the TV viewer remote. Information signal data are accessed and generated by the computer in response to the TV viewer remote. A signal combiner superimposes the identification signal or the information signal over the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner. The identification signal may include data defining an icon or textual matter alerting a viewer to the availability of information data. The information signal may include program descriptive data, schedule data, pricing data and/or payment authorization and recording prompt data and the like sequenced for interactive control of the computer by the viewer. The identification signal may be specially dedicated to a normal programming information channel so that the viewer can interact with respect to specific programs identified without changing from the programming information channel. Thus, the viewer is able to receive an automatic alert to availability of current and future programming and to elect to interactively exercise a variety of options with respect to such current and future programming without interruption of presently viewed programming.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/610,981, filed Jun. 30, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/026,355, filed Dec. 21, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,128, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,729, filed Jun. 11, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,926, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/561,486, filed Nov. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,413.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to interactive video communications and more particularly concerns viewer controlled selection of programming guide information and programming.
Programming guide information is presently displayed to the home TV viewer in non-interactive pages or scrolls of characters conveying programming guide information. Presently known in-home video guide hardware is either attached to or manufactured within a television set and produces interactive program guides that allow users, at their leisure, to peruse program information and make a viewing selection based upon information presented. However, the viewer either has to wait through a scroll of the information, view the information on a page of text, or manually navigate to the information. Unless the viewer manually navigates to event information provided or happens to view the information in a scroll or pages of text, the viewer is unaware of the current and future events that are available.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware by which a home viewer may be informed, in real-time, of events that are available currently or will in the future be available for viewing. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which alert a viewer to the availability of selected current or future program events. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit a viewer to access information about selected programming without changing channels. Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit a viewer to interact with information and prompts respecting selected programming without changing channels. A further object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which ascertain whether an event is current or future.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit the viewer to choose whether a program will be recorded or not recorded. It is also an object of this invention to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit the viewer to choose whether a program will be recorded with or without copy protection. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit the viewer to view a display of the cost of the event. And it is an object of this invention to provide a process and in-home video guide hardware which permit the viewer to authorize payment for access to a selected program.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the invention, a system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays current or future programming information superimposed over the normal programming displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer's display screen. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal of any selected one of the channels to a signal combiner. A computer receives any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also receives from the tuner and stores data contained in a current and future programming identification signal and data contained in a current and future programming information signal. The identification signal contains data indicating the availability of the information signal. The information signal contains data descriptive of and/or facilitating interaction with current and future programming. Portions of the stored identification signal data are accessed and generated as an output identification signal by the computer for durations defined in the identification signal data either automatically at times defined in the identification signal data or in response to a selected one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. Portions of the stored information signal data are accessed and generated as an output information signal by the computer in response to a selected one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. The signal combiner superimposes the identification output signal or the information output signal over the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen. The identification signal may include data defining an icon or textual matter alerting a viewer to the availability of information data or may include data enabling access to such icon or textual matter data as may be already stored elsewhere in the computer. The information signal may include program descriptive data, schedule data, pricing data and/or payment authorization and recording prompt data and the like sequenced for interactive control of the computer by the viewer and may also include data programming the interactive operation of the computer or data initiating operation of an interactive operating program resident in the computer.
In one specially preferred embodiment, the identification signal may be specially dedicated to a normal programming information channel so that the viewer can interact with respect to specific programs identified without changing from the programming information channel. Furthermore, the identification data can be incorporated in the normal programming signal so that no identification signal need be sent to or received from the computer.
Thus, the viewer is able to receive an automatic alert to availability of current and future programming and to elect to interactively exercise a variety of options with respect to such current and future programming without interruption of presently viewed programming.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONTurning first to
The above-described interactive special events video signal navigation system components operate in response to the control of the computer 11. As shown in
Turning to
It is further contemplated that the icon 51 employed in the navigation system may be specifically correlated to the nature of the special event identified. For example, icons configured as a projector might indicate a movie event, as a tornado might indicate a weather event, as a guitar might indicate a musical event, as an open newspaper might indicate a news event, as a football helmet might indicate a sporting event and so on.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an interactive special events video signal navigation system that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, comprising:
- automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and
- displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising enabling the television viewer to place the order.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order comprises displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place an order that requires authorization
4. The method defined in claim 3 further comprising enabling the user to enter a personal identification number to provide authorization.
5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein displaying the icon further comprises displaying the icon over the television program for a specified duration.
6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein displaying the icon comprises displaying a football-shaped icon.
7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein displaying the information comprises displaying order price information.
8. A method for recording a television event, comprising:
- automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television;
- displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon
- receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and
- recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises pressing a key on a remote control device.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the icon is automatically removed from display after a given period of time.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user response comprises a first type and a second type, wherein the icon is removed from display in response to receipt of the first type of user response and the record option prompt is displayed in response to receipt of the second type of user response.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the icon indicates a genre of television event to which the television event belongs.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the television event is related to the television programming currently displayed on the television.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the television event is a future television event.
15. A system for providing a television viewer with ordering opportunities when watching television programming on a display, the system comprising:
- means for automatically displaying an icon on the display over the television programming, wherein the icon is shaped to be specifically correlated to the nature of what would be ordered; and
- means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order when the television viewer responds to the icon.
16. The system defined in claim 15 further comprising means for enabling the television viewer to place the order.
17. The system defined in claim 16 wherein the means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place the order comprises means for displaying information over the television programming to prompt the television viewer to place an order that requires authorization
18. The system defined in claim 17 further comprising means for enabling the user to enter a personal identification number to provide authorization.
19. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the means for displaying the icon further comprises means for displaying the icon over the television program for a specified duration.
20. The system defined in claim 15 wherein means for displaying the icon comprises means for displaying a football-shaped icon.
21. The system defined in claim 15 wherein means for displaying the information comprises means for displaying order price information.
22. A system for recording a television event, the system comprising:
- means for automatically displaying an icon that indicates the availability of the television event, wherein the icon is overlaid over television programming currently displayed on a television;
- means for displaying a record option prompt in response to a user response to the displayed icon;
- means for receiving user input in response to the displayed record option prompt; and
- means for recording the television event on user equipment in response to receipt of the user input.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the user input comprises pressing a key on a remote control device.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the icon is automatically removed from display after a given period of time.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the user response comprises first type and a second type, wherein the icon is removed from display in response to receipt of the first type of user response and the record option prompt is displayed in response to receipt of the second type of user response.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein the icon indicates a genre of television event to which the television event belongs.
27. The system of claim 22, wherein the television event is related to the television programming currently displayed on the television.
28. The system of claim 22, wherein the television event is a future television event.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2009
Publication Date: May 6, 2010
Inventors: Michael T. Hanafee (Tulsa, OK), Connie T. Marshall (Muskogee, OK), Timothy S. Emmert (Broken Arrow, OK)
Application Number: 12/551,436
International Classification: H04N 7/16 (20060101); H04N 5/445 (20060101); H04N 5/44 (20060101); H04N 7/173 (20060101);