Interactive information services control system

A method of providing at least one of video, audio, and data programs requested by a customer from a data service provider (SP) and routing a requested program over a transmission link having a predetermined bandwidth to a set top terminal (STT) associated with an information presentation device of said customer, and for providing said customer with real-time interactive access to said requested program during presentation of said requested program to said STT by said SP, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a unidirectional communication path from said SP to a plurality of STTs including said customer's STT for providing said requested program to said customer's STT for presentation of said requested program via said customer's information presentation device, said unidirectional communication path including said transmission link;
• establishing a bi-directional communication path between said STT and said SP for communicating data and presentation control commands between said STT and said SP during presentation of said requested program to said customer's information presentation device, said bi-directional communication path also including said transmission link;
• and
• initiating and controlling presentation of said requested program on said information presentation device in a real-time manner in response to said presentation control commands communicated between said STT and said SP via said bi-directional communication path.

A method of establishing an information session connection between a customer's set top terminal (STT) and a data services provider (SP), comprising the steps of:

• establishing a first bi-directional communications path between said SP and a connection management computer (CMC);
• establishing a second bi-directional communications path between said STT and said CMC, said second bi-directional communications path including a information service connection between said STT and said CMC;
• and
• upon request by said STT, said CMC connecting said first and second bi-directional communications paths to each other to establish said information session connection between said SP and said STT, said information session connection permitting presentation control commands and data to flow from said SP to said STT and from said STT to said SP during presentation of a data service by said SP to said STT via an information service communications path, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling, on a real-time basis, presentation of said data service to an information presentation device connected to said STT.

A method of providing at least one of a video, audio, and information data service from a data service provider (SP) to a customer's set top terminal (STT), comprising the step of:

• providing said data service from said SP to said STT via a first communications path;
• said STT providing presentation control commands and data to said SP via a second communications path from said STT to said SP, said first and second communications paths including a common communications link connecting at least said STT to a headend, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT;
• and
• said SP varying, on a real-time basis, its presentation of said data service to said STT via said common communications link in response to said presentation control commands and data received from said STT via said common communications link.

A method of transmitting presentation control commands and data from a customer's set top terminal (STT) to a data service provider (SP) via a reverse communication path from said STT to said SP, said reverse communication path connecting at least said STT to a headend and including a communications link which also transmits a data service from said P to said STT, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, comprising the steps of:

• assigning each STT connected to said communications link at least one time slot in a data stream transmitted over said communications link from said STT to said SP;
• inserting said presentation control commands and data from said STT in its assigned at least one time slot;
• and
• transmitting said data stream via said communications link from said STT to said SP.

A system for transmitting presentation control commands and data from a customer's set top terminal (STT) to a data service provider (SP) via a reverse communication path from said STT to said SP, said reverse communication path connecting at least said STT to a headend and including a communications link which also transmits a data service from said SP to said STT, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, said system comprising:

• means for assigning each STT connected to said communications link at least one time slot in a data stream transmitted over said communications link from said STT to said SP;
• means for inserting said presentation control commands and data from said STT in its assigned at least one time slot;
• and
• means for transmitting said data stream via said communications link from said STT to said SP.

A method of providing digital data comprising at least one of digital video, audio, and information data from a data service provider (SP) to a communications network for transmission to a customer's set top terminal (STT), comprising the steps of:

• formatting said digital data from said SP into asynchronous data packet streams having a predetermined packet format;
• multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;
• interleaving error correction data with said data packet streams in said synchronous data payload envelope;
• transmitting said synchronous data payload envelope to a headend over said communications network;
• demultiplexing de-interleaving, and error correcting said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope at said headend;
• modulating, at said headend, said demultiplexed, de-interleaved and error corrected data packet streams onto analog video carriers corresponding to predetermined video channels of said STT;
• and
• transmitting said analog video carriers from said headend to said STT.

A system for providing digital data comprising at least one of digital video, audio, and information data from a data service provider (SP) to a communications network for transmission to a customer's set top terminal (STT), comprising:

• means under control of said SP for formatting said digital data from said SP into asynchronous data packet streams having a predetermined packet format;
• means for multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;
• means for interleaving error correction data with said data packet streams in said synchronous data payload envelope;
• means for transmitting said synchronous data payload envelope to a headend over said communications network;
• means for demultiplexing, de-interleaving, and error correcting said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope;
• means for modulating said demultiplexed, de-interleaved and error corrected data packet streams onto analog video carriers corresponding to predetermined video channels of said STT;
• and
• means for transmitting said analog video carriers from said headend to said STT.

A method of establishing a bi-directional connection between a data services provider (SP) and a customer's set top terminal (STT) for passage of presentation control commands and data between said SP and said STT during the presentation of a data service from said SP to said STT, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, said method comprising the steps of:

• said STT sending to a connection management computer (CMC), via an information service connection connecting said STT to said connection management computer, a request for a connection to a particular data service provided by said SP;
• said CMC sending, via a communications link with said SP, a request to said SP indicating that said STT has requested a connection to said particular data service;
• if said SP indicates that said particular data service is available to said STT, said CMC allocating a portion of a bandwidth of said information service connection for transmission of said particular data service and assigning a program number to said particular data service and an input channel by which said SP is to connect over a digital network to said CMC;
• said CMC notifying said SP of said program number and said input channel;
• said SP connecting to said CMC over said digital network via said input channel and notifying said CMC that a connection between said CMC and SP has been made;
• said CMC sending a message to said STT via said information service connection indicating that said particular data service is available;
• said STT sending a request to said CMC requesting a connection to said connection between said CMC and said SP;
• if said request by said STT for connection to said connection between said CMC and said SP is approved, said CMC allocating time slots during which said STT may communicate with said SP within said information service connection;
• and
• said CMC connecting said STT to said connection between said CMC and said SP so that said STT may send messages to said SP during presentation of said particular data service.

A method of establishing a bi-directional connection between a data services provider (SP) and a customer's set top terminal (STT) for passage of presentation control commands and data between said SP and said STT during the presentation of a continuous feed data service from said SP to said STT, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said continuous feed data service from said SP to said STT, said method comprising the steps of:

• said SP sending to a connection management computer (CMC), via a communications link connecting said SP to said connection management computer, a request to establish a continuous feed session for presentation of said continuous feed data service to customers;
• upon receipt of said request, said CMC allocating a portion of a channel for presentation of said continuous feed session to said STT and said CMC assigning a program number to said continuous feed session;
• said CMC sending a session provision command to said SP notifying said SP of said program number and of an input channel of said communications link over which said continuous feed session is to be provided to said CMC;
• said SP connecting to said input channel of said communications link and sending a service available message to said CMC;
• said STT sending a command to said CMC requesting connection to said continuous feed session existing between said SP and said CMC over said input channel of said communications link;
• said CMC sending a message to said SP to determine whether said STT is permitted to connect to said continuous feed session;
• if said STT is permitted to connect to said continuous feed session, said CMC allocating time slots during which said STT may communicate with said SP in a reverse communication path including a conductor between said STT and said CMC;
• and
• said CMC connecting said STT to said input channel between said CMC and said SP so that said STT may send messages to said SP in its allocated time slots of said reverse communication path during presentation of said continuous feed session to said STT by said SP.

A method of initiating and controlling presentation of a data service from a data services provider (SP) which provides at least one of a video, audio, and information data service to a customer's set top terminal (STT), comprising the steps of:

• said STT requesting a data service from said SP by sending a data service request command to said SP from said STT;
• said SP providing said requested data service to said STT;
• said STT providing presentation control commands and data to said SP, said presentation control commands including a manipulating command for manipulating data provided by said requested data service;
• and
• said SP varying, on a real-time basis, its presentation of said requested data service to said STT in response to said presentation control commands received from said STT.