Response timing
AssigneeChello Broadband NV
InventorRobert Van Noetsele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for transmitting a message in an interactive television system, comprising receiving at a receiver unit a video stream including video data and a timing stream indicative of the timing of the video data; receiving at the receiver unit an instruction from a user to transmit a message from the receiver unit and in response to the instruction forming the message so as to include a timing indication based on current data from the timing stream; and transmitting the message from the receiver unit.
Claims49
A method for transmitting a message in an interactive television system, comprising:
- receiving at a receiver unit a video stream including video data and a timing stream indicative of the timing of the video data;
- receiving at the receiver unit an instruction from a user to transmit a message from the receiver unit and in response to the instruction forming the message so as to include a timing indication based on current data from the timing stream;
- and
- transmitting the message from the receiver unit.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the video data is MPEG data.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the timing stream is a Program Clock Reference.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the timing stream has a frequency greater than 1 kHz.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the timing stream has a frequency greater than 1 MHz.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the timing stream has a frequency greater than 27 MHz.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the receiver unit is a set-top box.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the message is formed by an enhanced television application in the receiver unit.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the message includes data identifying the receiver unit from which it was transmitted.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the message includes data identifying the user of the receiver unit from which the message was transmitted.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the video stream includes enhanced content.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the video stream includes an image comprising an invitation to the user to send a message in response.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the message is transmitted to a server via a network to which the receiver unit is connected.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the message also includes data related to input of the user.
A receiver unit for use in an interactive television system, the receiver unit comprising:
- a receiver arrangement for receiving a video stream including video data and a timing stream indicative of the timing of the video data;
- a receiver arrangement for receiving an instruction from a user to transmit a message from the receiver unit;
- a message former for forming the message in response to the instruction, the message including a timing indication based on current data from the timing stream;
- and
- a transmission arrangement for transmitting the message from the receiver unit.
A receiver unit according to any preceding claim wherein the message includes data identifying the receiver unit.
A receiver unit according to any preceding claim wherein the message includes data identifying the user of the receiver unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.