US 6,567,982 B1 · System and method for providing television services

Abstract

A system and method are described for providing interactive television services and for switching between television programs, such as to an interactive program session from another program. An interactive server, capable of providing requested interactive video services to a set of subscribers in a given geographic area, is coupled to a network to which subscriber set top boxes are also coupled. Television programming, which may be furnished by any number of sources, is accompanied by a signal that indicates the availability of other programming, such as interactive television service related to the program being viewed, as well as information to be used in requesting such service. The user, when notified by this signal, may input to the set top box a request for a second program, such as an interactive program or application. The identity of the original program channel is stored, and a session with the video service provider is established over the network. When the session is terminated, the set top box re-tunes the television signal to the original program channel.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A device for switching from a first session conducted over a first channel to a second session conducted over at least one second channel upon receiving at least one signal indicating the availability of the at least one second session and upon selection by a user, comprising:

a receiving set, having at least one receiver, for receiving the first session on the first channel, and for receiving the signal indicating availability of the at least one second session, and capable of being adjusted from receiving the first session on the first channel to receiving the at least one second session over the second channel;
and
a processor, coupled to the receiving set and adapted to receive a selection signal originating with the user, the processor being programmed to process transmissions received by the receiving set to detect the signal indicating the availability of the at least one second session, and to cause the receiving set to adjust to the at least one second channel to receive the at least one second session upon receiving a selection signal from the user;
and
memory means coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is further programmed to:
store the identity of the first channel of the first session in the memory means prior to causing the receiver to adjust to the at least one second channel;
retrieve the identity of the first channel from the memory means at a desired time;
and
cause the receiving set to re-adjust to the first channel to receive the first session.

6 more elements

A device for allowing a viewer to switch a display device from a first session conducted over a first channel to at least one second session conducted over at least one second channel upon receiving at least one signal indicating the availability of the second session, the device coupled to display means, comprising:

a receiving set, having at least one receiver, for receiving session on the first channel, and for receiving the at least one signal indicating availability of the at least one second session and capable of being adjusted from receiving the first session on the first channel to receiving the at least one second session over the at least one second channel;
means for receiving a user request that the device switch to the at least one second session;
and
a processor, coupled to the receiver, to the means for receiving a viewer request, and to the display means, and programmed to:
process transmissions received by the receiving set to detect the at least one signal indicating the availability of the at least one second session;
generate at least one message indicative of the availability of the at least one second session and display the at least one message on the display means;
receive a user request that the device switch to the at least one second session;
and
upon receipt of the user request, store the identity of the channel of the first session in the memory means and cause the receiving set to adjust to the at least one second channel to receive the at least one second session;
retrieve the identity of the first channel at a desired time;
and
cause the receiving set to adjust to the first channel to receive the first program.

9 more elements

A device for use with a display device to allow a participant of a first session conducted over a first channel to switch to at least one second channel to receive at least one interactive session on receipt of at least one signal indicative of at least the availability of at least one identifying code for the at least one interactive session, the user being equipped with input means for issuing the request, the device comprising:

a receiving set adapted for receiving transmissions on the first channel, for being adjusted from receiving transmissions over the first channel to receiving at least one interactive session over the at least one second channel and, further, for receiving the at least one signal indicative of the availability of the at least one identifying code for the at least one interactive session;
means for receiving user input;
means for generating a video signal carrying at least one desired image and for combining the video signal with a signal being received by the receiver for viewing on the display device;
processing means coupled to the receiving set, to the means for generating a video signal, and to the means for receiving viewer-input, and programmed to:
detect the at least one signal indicative of the availability of the at least one identifying code for the at least one interactive session;
cause the means for generating a video signal to generate at least one signal indicative of the availability of the at least one interactive session and combine that at least one signal with the signal being received by the receiving set,
detect at least one signal received by the means for receiving viewer input indicative of a user request to view the at least one interactive session;
and
cause the receiving set to adjust to the at least one second channel to receive the at least one interactive session for viewing on the display device.

6 more elements

A method for allowing a user equipped with a television signal receiving device coupled to a display device to switch between a first session on a first channel and at least one second session on at least one second channel over at least one network, wherein at least one signal transmitted in association with the first session indicates that the second session is available, wherein the user is equipped to receive the second session upon request, and wherein the television signal receiving device is adapted for receiving user requests, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving the first session;
b. receiving the at least one signal transmitted in association with the first session indicating the availability of the at least one second session over the at least one network;
c. generating at least one image, based on receipt of the at least one signal indicating the availability of the at least one second session over the at least one network, for displaying on the display device to notify the user of that availability;
d. receiving a user request to switch to the at least one second session;
and
e. switching to the at least one second channel to receive the at least one second session.

3 more elements

A method for switching between a television program and at least one interactive session, wherein the television program signal is accompanied by at least one signal carrying at least one message providing at least one identification code for at least one associated interactive session available on at least one interactive server on at least one network, and the viewer is equipped with means for receiving the television signal, means for receiving the at least one message indicating that at least one interactive session is available, display means, means for generating and overlaying at least one image on the display means, information storage means, means coupled to the at least one network for communicating with the at least one interactive server, and input means coupled to the means for communicating with the at least one interactive server for requesting the at least one interactive session, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving the television program signal;
b. receiving the at least one signal carrying the at least one message providing the at least one interactive session identification code;
c. generating at least one image for display on the display means indicative of the availability of at least one interactive session;
d. receiving at least one signal from the input means requesting the at least one interactive session;
e. storing the identity of the channel on which the television program is transmitted in a storage medium for later retrieval;
f. establishing communication with the at least one interactive server over the at least one network using the at least one identification code;
g. receiving the at least one interactive session over the at least one network from the at least one interactive server;
h. terminating communication with the at least one interactive server upon the earlier of the termination of the at least one interactive session or a viewer request to terminate;
i. retrieving the identity of the television program channel from the information storage means;
and
j. tuning the means for receiving television signals to the channel having the identity retrieved from the information storage means.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for providing television services

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System and method for providing television services

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17