Method and apparatus for providing message information to subscribers in a cable television system

A method of displaying barker screens providing channel status information on a television in an in-band television system in which in-band data is transmitted within one or more channels from a headend controller to a subscriber terminal coupled to the television, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining a plurality of said barker screens;
• storing display information corresponding to one of said plurality of barker screens in a memory of said subscriber terminal;
• transmitting, from said headend controller to said subscriber terminal, a barker transaction including a barker location field indicating where a corresponding barker screen is located;
• receiving said barker transaction at said subscriber terminal;
• extracting said barker location field from said barker transaction;
• tuning a tuner of said subscriber terminal, in response to said barker location field containing a first location, to a channel having a video portion comprising a first barker screen corresponding to the first location;
• retrieving from said memory, in response to said barker location field containing a second location, said stored display information and generating a second baker screen therefrom;
• tuning said tuner of said subscriber terminal, in response to said barker location field containing a third location, to a channel having said in-band data including data for generating a third barker screen corresponding to the third location;
• and
• displaying one of said first, second or third barker screens on said television.

A subscriber terminal apparatus for use in an in-band television system in which in-band data is transmitted within one or more channels, said subscriber terminal apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus input terminal for receiving a television signal comprising a plurality of channels including said one or more channels containing said in-band data;
• an apparatus output terminal adapted to be connected to a television;
• a tuner, coupled to said apparatus input terminal, for selectively tuning to one of said plurality of channels including said one or more channels containing said in-band data;
• barker definition extraction means, coupled to said tuner, for extracting a barker definition from one of said channels containing said in-band data, said barker definition comprising a barker location field indicating where a corresponding barker screen is located;
• a memory for storing a plurality of said barker screens, said barker screens providing channel status information to a television viewer;
• an on-screen display control circuit, coupled to said apparatus output terminal, for controlling display of said barker screens on said television;
• and
• processing means, responsive to said barker location field, for retrieving one of said barker screens and directing said on-screen display control circuit to display said retrieved barker screen.

A subscriber terminal apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for tuning to and receiving a plurality of channels, at least some of said channels containing in-band data;
• first data extraction means for extracting, from a first channel to which said receiver is tuned, a message definition addressed to said subscriber terminal apparatus, said message definition comprising a message alert and tuning information indicating a second channel in which a message transaction containing characters for generating a screen display is located;
• second data extraction means, responsive to said tuning information, for tuning said receiver to said second channel and extracting said message transaction corresponding to said message definition;
• a memory for storing said message definition;
• a message indicator;
• and
• processing means, responsive to said message alert, for directing said message indicator to indicate to a user of said subscriber terminal apparatus that said message definition has been extracted.

A subscriber terminal apparatus for use in an in-band television system in which in-band information is transmitted within one or more channels of a television signal, said subscriber terminal apparatus comprising:

• a tunable receiver for tuning to and receiving said one or more channels of said television signal;
• first data extraction means, coupled to said tunable receiver, for extracting a message definition from a first currently tuned channel of said television signal, said message definition comprising tuning information indicating the location of a corresponding message transaction, and display attributes indicating an appearance of a corresponding display, said message transaction comprising characters for display on a television;
• a memory, coupled to said first data extraction means, for storing said extracted message definition;
• a message alerting means, responsive to said first data extraction means, for alerting a subscriber that said extracted message definition has been extracted;
• tuning means, responsive to a subscriber-supplied signal, for tuning said tunable receiver to a second channel of said television signal corresponding to said tuning information contained in said extracted message definition;
• second data extraction means, coupled to said tunable receiver and responsive to said tuning information, for extracting said message transaction from said second channel;
• an on-screen display control circuit for displaying said characters;
• and
• processing means, responsive to said display attributes, for directing said on-screen display control circuit to display said characters.