Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY' SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATIONS
S This is a divisional application of Canadian patent application serial
number 2,151,462 which is the Canadian National Phase of PCT
International application number PCTfEJS93/I1706 filed 2 December
1993 (02.12.93).
1Q BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to television entertainment
systems for providing television programming to consumer
homes. More particularly, the invention relates to user
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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FCT C'S93. I i'ae
2
frten~ily system for providing eonsmners with television
pr~gramming choices.
Advances in televisian entertainment have been
primarily driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939.
advances on Vladmir Zwaryieira°s picture tube provided the
st~ulus for I~IHC to begin its first regular broadcasts. In
19'T5, advances in satellite technology provided consumers
with increased progrannnaing to homes.
Many of these technolog,~ brea~kth~roughs have produced
inconvenient systems for consumers. One exaaxple is the
ubiquitous three remote control home. having a separate and
unique remote control for the 'I1~', cable box and VCR More
recently, technology has provided cable users in certain parts
of the country with 100 channels of programming. 'This
increased progra~x capacity is beyond the ability of many
eonsurners to use effecttveIy. N~ method of managing the
program choices has been provided to consumers.
Consumers are dennanding that future advances in
television entertainment, particularly pro~ams and program
choices. be presented to the eonsu~aer tn a user friendly
manner. Consumer preferences, instead of technological
breakthroughs, will drive the television entertainment
market for at Ieast the ne~et 20 years. As computer vendors
have experienced a switch from marketing nevr technology tn
2 5 computer hardvrare to marketing better useabillty, interfaces
and service. sac television entertainment industry will also
experience a switch from new technology driving the market
to consumer useability driving the market.
Consumers v~ant products incorporating nevi
technology that are useful, and vrtll no Ionger purchase new
technology for the salts of novelty or status. Technological
advances in s~phisticated hardware are beginning to surpass
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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WO l4lLi~E3 ~T,'t;533iI1'Oti
3
the capability of the average consumer to use the new
technology. Careful engineering must be done to make
entertainment products incorporating near technology useful
and desired by consuaners.
In order far new television entertainment products to
be successful, the products must satisfy consumer demands.
T"~I consumers wish to go from limited viewing choices to a
variety of choices, from no control of programming to
complete control. Consumers wish to advance from
Z O cumbersome and inconvenient television to easy and
convenient television and keep costs down. Consumers do
not wish to pay for one hundred channels when due to lack of
programming information, they seldom, if ever. watch
prograauning on raany of these chaa~.nels.
°I'he concepts of interactive television, high definition
television and 300 channel cable systems in consuuaer homes
mill not sell if they are not packaged, delivered and presented
in a useable fashion to consumers. The problesa is that TV
programming is not being presented to consuazers in a user
a 0 friendly per.
Consuasers are already being bombarded with
prograaaming options. numerous °fres° cable channels.
subscription cable channels aa~d pay-per-view choices. Any
further increase in '1'V entertainment choices. without a user
friendly presentation and approach, will likely bewilder
viewers with a mind-numbing array of' choices.
that is needed is an economical system which can
present television programs through a user friendly interface
which allows the consumer to ily select from among the
anany pmgrana choices.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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~'O 9.u t i:~33 P~T.t S 93, I ! 706
what is needed is .a system capable of handling
hundreds of programs in different formats. be expandable for
future types of programming and be inexpensive.
What is need is a system for organizing programming to
be o~'ered to viewers.
What is needed is a television program delivery system
that Gan be operated in a distributive fashion and controlled
from one or more national centers.
V~hat is needed is a television program delivery system
l0 that operates in the digital audioOvideo environment.
'~~hat is needed is a ;system capable of packaging
hundreds of television programs for delivery to subscribers.
UVVhat is needed is a system that analyses data on
programs watched by viewers.
What is needed is a system capable of monitoring
account and billing inforuaation for hundreds of prograyn
offerings.
What is needed is a system that assists the consumer
with pmgrara selection.
2 Q What is needed fs a systeia that provides subscribers
wish rnenu-driven access to hundreds of telrviston programs.
''What is needed is a system that accommodates digital
decompression and digital si g eapabitibes.
The present invention is addressed to fulfill thase
2 5 needs.
~tltl~dLAIt~,~' >~TENTiOI~f
This invention is a digital television pro delivery
system. Specifically, the present invention is a digital
30 television pmgraza delivery system that provides subscribers
with menu-driven access to an expanded television program
package.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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The invention snakes use of developments in digital
compression sigz-.allng that allows much greater tht°aughput of
television program signals over existing transmission media.
These developments allow ~ubscrtbers to use the present
invention to exploit a four-fold or more increase in currtnt
program delivery capability. In particular, the present
invention provides subscribers with a menu-driven access
scheme to an e~cpanded television program lineup, enabling
subscribers to access and view selected programs using a user
I0 friendly interface.
'This interface ineludes a remote control and a series of
menus that may be sequenced by the subxriber using siraplt
alpha. numeric and iconic character access keys, or by
moving a cursor or highlight bar on the television screen. In
I5 this ro~ay. subscribers can advance fronn one menu to the next
with the press of a single buttor,~. Different television
programs, grouped by category. rnay be selected and accessed
from each menu. As a result, the present invention provides
subscribers with a convenient method of choosing a program
2~ for viewing from hundreds of program offerings.
'fhe present invention uses several basic system
components. namely. ti3 at least one operations center, where
the television prograaas are pacl~ged and control information
is created and then assembled in the .form of digital data. tiii
25 a digital coaapression system. where the television
pro g signals end digital data may tx compressed and
processed for digital transmission over satellite to a cable
headend for subsequent distribution over a cable network.
and tiii) a set of in-home decomprcssors or set top terminals.
3t? which provide subscribers with digital decompression. digital
signaling snd menu generation capabilities. Each of these
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6
basic system components plays an important role in the
system's swerall operation.
The operations center includes a eomputer assisted
packaging system, (CAP), which makes use of the necessary
hardware and software to control and transmit programming
sisals over a television delivery system. The CAP creates the
program lineup or packagtng of programs and the packaging
of menu and control information for later tzransmission and
use at the cable headend. ',l"rransmission of control
information enables the operations renter to change .
allocation of programs across physical channels, update menu
information. reprogram menu formats and menu flow, and
ehange or augment a packaged program signal sent to a
particular region of the country.
Once the programming signals have been packaged.
compressed and processed for digital transmission, these
signals are sent along with the control information to the
cable headend. Each cable headend typically includes signal
proctssing hardware and software capable of receiving.
repaclsaging/combining and routing program signals to the
subscriber homes.
Each cable headend in the television delivery system
also includes a network controller that manages the
con8guratio~t of the set top to 's and processes signals
received from the set top terminals, gathering programs
watched data. The network controller modifies the control
information to accommodate changes and additions in
progra~m~ing and advertisements. working with the signal
processing hardware and soft~re to distribute programs to
the subscribers. The network controller also monitors all
data received from the set 'top terminals in the cable
network. the network controller uses data received to target
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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7
advertisements to particular subscribers as well as to maintain
account and billing information.
From the cable headend, the programming signals and
program control information are transmitted to the subscriber
locations. Each subscriber is equipped with a set top terminal having
various digital decompression, menu generation, upstream data
transmissions, remote reprogramming and other advanced
functional capabilities, or some combination thereof. With such
capabilities, the set top terminal supports, for example, interactive
communications with the cable headend. The set top terminal
includes an interface that allows a subscriber to select and
decompress a digitally compressed program signal for display on a
television through sequencing menus on the television screen. The
menus may be generated from menu templates stored in each set top
terminal, with each selectable menu option corresponding to either
another menu or a particular television program.
Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides
a system for delivering digital program signals from a center to .
subscriber locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder,
the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the
subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is
processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder; a first
cable headend, comprising: a first satellite dish, wherein the digital
program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and
a means, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program signals from the first cable headend to the subscriber
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
7a
locations; and a first terminal, located at each subscriber locatio~,
wherein the sent digital program signals are received from the first
cable headend and at least one digital program signal is processed for
subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for
delivering digital program signals from a center to subscriber
locations using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein the
digital program signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a
satellite system, the system comprising: a center, remotely located
from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital
program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite
transponder; a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber
location, wherein the digital program signals are received from the
first satellite transponder; and a first terminal, located at the first
subscriber location, and connected to the first satellite dish, wherein
the digital program signals are received and at least one digital
program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu
driven cable television selection system offering a plurality of
2D television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program
control information signal carrying programming data on packaging
of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer
program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations t~
present options on a menu displayed o~ a television and to compile
programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable
headend, the system comprising: an operations center for packaging
the plurality of television programs and for generating the program
CA 02444294 2005-02-25
7b
control information signal carrying programming data on
packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using
computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber
locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and
to compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at
each cable headend, the system comprising: an operations center
for packaging the plurality of television programs and for
generating the program control information signal, wherein the
packaged plurality of television programs and the program control
information signal are transmitted to each cable headend for
distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations; means, located
at each cable headend, for distributing the packaged plurality of
television programs and the program control information signal to
the plurality of subscriber locations; means, connected to the
distributing means, for monitoring and controlling each set top
terminal at each of the plurality of subscriber locations; means,
located at the plurality of subscriber locations, for receiving the
packaged plurality of television programs and the program control
information signal from each cable headend; means, connected to
the receiving means, for storing computer program instructions; a
means, connected to the storing means, for sequencing, generating
and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and
displaying means uses the stored computer program instructions
and the programming data carried by the program control
information signal; a subscriber interface for choosing one of the
options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the
sequencing, generating and displaying of the menus, using the
stored computer program instructions, by the sequencing,
generating and displaying means; means for compiling the
programs watched data using the chosen options that correspond to
CA 02444294 2005-02-25
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the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs
offered; means, at each of the subscriber locations, for reporting the
compiled programs watched data to each cable headend; and
means, located at each cable headend and connected to the
monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the compiled
programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of
subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method
for offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a
subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying
programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television
programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a
plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu
displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data
that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the method
comprising the steps of: packaging the plurality of television
programs; generating the program control information signal,
wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal are transmitted to each cable
headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber
locations; monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each
of the plurality of subscriber locations; receiving the packaged
plurality of television programs and the program control
information signal from each cable headend; storing computer
program instructions; sequencing, generating and displaying the
menus, wherein the sequencing, generating and displaying uses the
stored computer program instructions and the programming data
carried by the program control information signal; choosing one of
CA 02444294 2005-02-25
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the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the
sequencing of the menus, storing the stored computer program
instructions, by the sequencing step; compiling the programs
watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the
selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television programs
offered; reporting the compiled programs watched data to each
cable headend; and gathering the compiled programs watched data
reported from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-
driven television program selection system offering a plurality of
television programs for independent selection by a plurality of
different subscribers, the system using a program control
information signal carrying programming data on television
program lineups of the plurality of the television programs, the
system also using computer program instructions stored at each of
the plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu
displayed on a television and to receive upstream data signals from
each of the subscriber locations at a cable headend, the system
comprising: an operations center for generating the program
control information signal and a plurality of television program
lineups, wherein a delivery means delivers the plurality of television
program lineups and the program control information signal to at
least one cable headend for distribution to the plurality of
subscriber locations: at least one of the cable headends having a
network controller for receiving and processing the plurality of
television program lineups and the program control information
signal and for receiving the upstream data signals from the plurality
of subscriber locations; the delivery means including means for
further distributing at least one of the plurality of television
program lineups and the program control information signal from
CA 02444294 2005-02-25
7e
the cable headend to each of the plurality of subscriber locations;
and each of the plurality of subscriber locations having a set top
terminal connected to the delivery means for receiving at least one
of the plurality of the television program lineups and the program
control information signal from the delivery means, wherein each
set top terminal comprises: a means for selecting at least one
television program from a plurality of television programs in the
received television program lineup from the displayed menus using
the program control information signal and the computer program
instructions; a means for generating the upstream data signals using
the computer program instructions; and a means for transmitting
the upstream data signals to the network controller at the cable
headend.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a
digitally compressed program delivery system to provide
subscribers with menu selection of a plurality of television programs
using a plurality of analog program signals and a program control
information signal transmitted to at least one cable headend for
further transmission, each cable headend transmitting to each
subscriber a control information stream and programming signals
carrying the plurality of the television programs, each of the menus
generated and displayed using the control information stream and
stored menu templates at each subscriber location, the system
comprising: an operations center including: means for digitally
compressing the plurality of analog program signals to produce
digitally compressed signals; and means for creating a plurality of
television program lineups with the digitally compressed signals of
the programs in the lineups and program control information
signal, wherein the program control information signal includes
data on the television program lineups and control information for
CA 02444294 2005-02-25
7f
use at the subscriber location; delivery means for transmitting the
plurality of television program lineups and the program control
information signal to at least one of the cable headends for
processing; at least one of the cable headends having means for
processing the plurality of television program lineups and the
program control information signal to produce the control
information stream and the programming signals; the delivery
means further includes means for distributing the control
information stream and the programming signals to each subscriber
location; means for generating menus using the control information
stream and stored menu templates; and subscriber interface means
for selection of any one of the plurality of television programs using
one or more of the generated and displayed menus.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method
for selecting a specific television program from a plurality of
television programs to be displayed on a television at a subscriber
location, using a display of menu options on the television, the
method comprising the steps of: creating a plurality of television
program lineups; generating programming data which relates to
specific television programs in the television program lineups;
transmitting the programming data and the television program
lineups to the subscriber location; receiving the programming data
and the television program lineups at the subscriber location;
generating at least one menu option related to at least one specific
television program in the received television program lineups using
the received programming data; and displaying one or more of the
generated menu options on the television; selecting a displayed
menu option; displaying a specific television program associated
with the menu option selected from the received television
programs.
CA 02444294 2006-O1-12
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In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-
driven television program selection system, comprising: an operations
center for packaging a plurality of television programs and generating a
program control information signal having programming data on the
packaging which is used to generate menus at a subscriber location, the
operations center comprising: a processor that receives the plurality of
television programs and processes the plurality of television programs to
provide digital programming, a storage device that stores data including
digital and analog television programs, and video, and a computer-
assisted packager that packages the digital programming and selected
stored data; and a remote reception site that receives the packaged digital
programming and the selected stored data.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven
cable television selection system offering a plurality of television
programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program control
information signal carrying programming data on packaging of the
plurality of the television programs, also using computer program
instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to present
options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile programs
watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the
system comprising: an operations center for packaging the plurality of
television programs and for generating the program control information
signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal are transmitted to each cable
headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations; means,
located at each cable headend, for distributing the packaged plurality of
television programs and the program control information signal to the
plurality of subscriber locations; means, connected to the distributing
means, for monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the
plurality of subscriber locations; means, located at the plurality of
subscriber locations, for receiving the packaged plurality of television
programs and the program control information signal from each cable
headend; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing computer
CA 02444294 2006-O1-12
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program instructions; a means, connected to the storing means, for
sequencing, generating and displaying the menus, wherein the
sequencing, generating and displaying means uses the stored computer
program instructions and the programming data carried by the program
control information signal; a subscriber interface for choosing one of the
options on the menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing,
generating and displaying of the menus, using the stored computer
program instructions, by the sequencing, generating and displaying
means; eans for generating and storing the programs watched data using
the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged
plurality of television programs offered; means, at each of the subscriber
locations, for transmitting the programs watched data to each cable
headend; and means, located at each cable headend and connected to the
monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the programs watched
data from each of the plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for
offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a subscriber,
using a program control information signal carrying programming data
on packaging of the plurality of the television programs, also using
computer program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber
locations to present options on a menu displayed on a television and to
compile programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each
cable headend, the method comprising the steps of: packaging the
plurality of television programs; generating the program control
information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of television programs
and the program control information signal are transmitted to each cable
headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber
locations; monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each of the
plurality of subscriber locations; receiving the packaged plurality of
television programs and the program control information signal from
each cable headend; storing computer program instructions; sequencing,
CA 02444294 2006-O1-12
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generating and displaying the menus, wherein the sequencing, generating
and displaying uses the stored computer program instructions and the
programming data carried by the program control information signal;
choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen option
effects the sequencing of the menus, storing the stored computer program
instructions, by the sequencing step; generating and storing the programs
watched data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of
one of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; transmitting
the programs watched data to each cable headend; and gathering the
programs watched data reported from each of the plurality of subscriber
locations.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-
driven television program selection system, comprising: an operations
center, comprising: a processor that receives a plurality of television
programs and processes the plurality of television programs; a storage
device that stores data including digital and analog television programs,
and video; and a computer-assisted packager that packages the digital
programming and selected stored data and provides a program control
information signal carrying programming data on the packaging; a cable
television headend comprising: a distributor that distributes the
packaging and the program control information signal to a plurality of set
top terminals; a processor that monitors and controls each set top
terminal; and a headend receiver for gathering the compiled programs
watched data reported from each of the plurality of set top terminals; and
a plurality of set top terminals, each comprising: a receiver that receives
the packaged plurality of television programs and the program control
information signal from the cable television headend; a memory that
stored computer program instructions; a processor that sequences,
generates and displays menus using the stored computer program
instructions and the program control information signal, and generates
and stores programs watched data using chosen menu options that
correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of television
programs; a subscriber interface for choosing options on the menus,
CA 02444294 2006-O1-12
wherein the chosen options effects the sequencing of the menus using the
stored computer program instructions by the processor; and a
transmitter that transmits the programs watched data to each cable
headend.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven
cable television selection system comprising: an operations center capable
of (i) packaging a plurality of television programs, (ii) generating a
program control information signal, and (iii) transmitting the packaged
plurality of television programs and the program control information
signal to a cable headend; a cable headend capable of (i) distributing the
packaged plurality of television programs and the program control
information signal to a set top terminal at a subscriber location, and (ii)
monitoring and controlling the set top terminal; and the set top terminal
at the subscriber location, capable of (i) receiving the packaged plurality
of television programs and the program control information signal from
the cable headend, (ii) sequencing, generating and displaying menus using
the program control information signal and computer program
instructions stored at the set top terminal, (iii) receiving a choice of an
option on the menus, (iv) generating and storing programs watched data,
and (v) transmitting the programs watched data to the cable headend.
It is an object of the invention to provide a user friendly interface for
subscribers to access television programs.
It is an object of this invention to provide an economical system
which can present television programs through a user friendly interface
which allows the consumer to easily select from among the many program
choices.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system capable of
handling hundreds of programs in different formats, be expandable for
future types of programming and be inexpensive.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system for organizing
programming to be offered to viewers.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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dip 9.t~t.t;~33 PC't L'S~3% ll~uo
It is an object of this Invention to provide a television
progxam delivery system that can be operated in a distributive
fashion and controlled from one or more national centers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a television
program delivery system that operates in the digital
audio/video environment.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system
capable of packaging hundreds of television programs for
delivery to subscribers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
analyzes data on progi-axns watched by vitwers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system
capable of monitoring account and billing inforaaation for
hundreds of program offerings.
It is an object of this Invention to provide a system that
assists the consumer with pro selection.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
provides subscribers with menu-driven access to hundreds of
television pro s.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
accommodates digital decompression and digital signaling
capabilities.
These and other ob'ects grad advantages of the
invention will become obvious t~ those skilled in the are upon
revte~ of the following description, the attached drawings
and appended claims.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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!i'O 9.ul~:~d3 FC'TZ:S93~117(n,
9
Figure 3 is a schematic of the operation of the primary
components of the system.
Figure 4 is a bPoc~: diagram of the hardware
components of the set top terminal.
Figure Sa is a perspective front view of a set top
to
Figure 5b is a perspective rear view of a set tog
terminal.
Figure ~ is a schematic of a l~rbo card upgrade for a
set top terminal.
Figure '~a is a drawing of a frara~e format for a program
control infoa-~zaauon signal.
Figure 7b is a drawing of a franc format for a polling
response from the sei top t
Figure ~ is a drawing of the basic menus usrd in the
present invention, including ten major menus represented by
icons.
3 ~ t~.
1.
Figure 1 shows the peesent invention as an expanded
cable television program delivery system ~~~ that
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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PC'8' t 593- I I' . ,.o
IO
drazraatically tnereases programming capacity using
compressed transmission of television program signals.
Developments in digital bandwidth compression technology
now allow ra~uch greater throughput of television program
signals over exist,irxg or slightly modified transmission media.
The program delivery system 20~ shown provides subscribers
with a user friendly interface to operate and exploit a six-fold
or m~re increase in current program delivery capability.
Subscribers are able to access an expanded eelevision
program package and view selected programs through a
menu-driven access seheme that allows each subscriber to
select individual programs by sequencing a series of menus.
The menus are sequenced by the subscriber using simple
alpha-numeric and iconic character access or moving a cursor
I5 or highlight bar on the TV screen to access desired programs
by simply pressing a singe button. rather than recalling from
memory and pressing the actual two or more digit numeric
number assigned to a selection. Thus. with the press of a
single button, the subscriber can advance from one menu to
- 20 the ne~rt. In this fashion, the subscriber can sequence the
mnenus and select a program from any given menu. The
programs are grouped by category so that similar program
offerings are found on the same menu.
2. ~~al,or vstem Darnflonente
25 In its most basis forts. the system uses a program
delivery system 2~0 in eonjunetion with a conventional
concatenated cable television system 210. The program
delivery system 20~ generally ineiudes Vii) at least one
operations center 2~2. where program packaging and control
30 information are created and then assembled in the f~rm of
digital data. iii) a digital compression system. where the
digital data is compressed, combined/multiplexed, encoded.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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i~i~ 0 94: I .i:~3 PCT 'i; S93 ~ I I X06
qI
and crapped into digital signals for satellite transmission to
ehe cable headend 208, and (iii? a set of in-home
decornpressors. The program delivery system 200 transports
the digital signals to the cable headend 208 where the signals
are transmitted through a concatenated cable television
system 210. 't~ithfn the cable headend 208. the receivtd
signals may be decoded, demuliiplexed, managed by a local
central distribution and switching mechanism, combined and
then transmitted to the set top terminal 220 located in each
subscriber's home over the cable system 2i0. ~Ithough
concatenated cable systems 210 a.re the anost prevalent
transar~ission media to the home. telephone lines. cellular
networks. $beroptics, Personal Communication Networks and
siynilar technalagy far transmittizag to the home can be used
I 5 interchangeably with this pragram delivery system 200.
The delivery system 200 has a reception region 207
with an in-home decompression capability. This capability is
performed by a decompressor housed within a set top
terminal 220 in each subscriber's home. The decompressar
remains transparent from the subscriber's point of view and
allows any of the campreased signals to be demultiptexed and
individually extracted frond the composite data stream and
then individually decompressed upon selectian by the
subscriber. The decompressed video signals are converted
2 8 into analog signals for television display. Such analog signals
include hiTSC formatted signals for use by a standard
televisian. Control signals axe likewise extracted and
decompressed and then either executed immediately or
placed in local storage such as a R~i. Multiple sets of
decompressian hardware may be used to decompress video
and control signals. 'The set t~p terminal 220 may then
overlay or combine different signals to form the desired
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
I
display on the subscriber's television. Graphics on video or
picture-on-picture are examples of such a display.
Although a single digital compression standard (e.g..
MPEG) may be used for both the program delivery system
200 and the concatenated cable system 210. 'the compression
technique used may differ between the two systems. When
the compression standards dii'fer between the two media, the
signals received by the cable headend 208 must be
decompressed before transmission from the headend 208 to
the set top terminals 220. Subsequently, the cable headend
208 must recompress and transmit the signals to the set top
terminal 220, which would then decompress the signals
using a specific decompression algorithm.
The video signals and program conerol signals received
by the set top tera~.nal 220 correspond to specfflc television
progrs.ias and menu selections that each subscriber may
access through a subscriber interface. The subscriber
interface is a device with buttons located on tht set top
terminal 220 or on a portable remote control 900. In the
preferred system embodiment. the subscriber interface is a
combined alpha-charaeter, numeric and iconic remote
control device J00, which provides direct or menu-driven
program access. The preferred subscriber interface also
contains cursor movement and go buttons as well as alpha.
2 5 numeric and iconic buttons. '1'hhis subscriber interface and
menu arrangement enables the subscriber to sequence
through menus by choosing from among several aaenu options
that are displayed on the television screen. Ln addition. a
user may bypass several menu screens and laxmediateIy
choose a program by selecting the appropriate alpha-
character. numeric or iconic combinations on the subscriber
interface. In the preferred eanbodiment. the set top terminal
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2?0 generates the menus that are displayed on Lhe television
by creating arrays of particular menu templates, and the set
top terminal 2243 displays a speciAc menu or submenu option
for each available video signal.
3. ~perations Center a_nd Digs compression
The operations center 202 performs twa primary
services, packaging television pros and generating the
pragram control information signal. At the operations center
202. television programs are received from external program
sources in bath analog and diglta~l form. Figure 2 shows an
embodiraene of the operations center receiving signals from
various external sources 212. E~Camples of the external
program sources are sporting events, children's prograxas.
specialty channels. news or any other program source that
can provide audio or visual signals. Once the programs are
received from the e~ctemal pragraan sources, the operations
center 202 digitizes (and preferably compressesD any
progra.~n signals received in analog forth. The operations
center 202 may also maintain acs internal storage of programs.
The inter~y stored programs may be in analog or digital
form and stored on permanent or volatile memory sources.
including etic tape or RA,M. Subsequent to recZiving
programm9ng, the operations center 202 packages the
programs into the groups and eategortes which provide the
optimal marketing of the pro s to subseribers. For
example. the operattc~ns center 2~2 may package the same
programs into different categories and menus for weekday.
prime-time viewing and Saturday afterr~aon viewing. Also. the
operations center 202 packages the television programs In a
manner that enables bad the various menus to easily
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represent the programs and the subscribers to easily access
the programs through the menus.
The packaging of the digital signals is typically
performed at the operations center 202 by computer assisted
packaging equipment iCAPI. The CAP system normally
includes at least one computer monitor, keyboard. mouse.
and standard video edfting equipment. A programmer
packages the signals by entering certain information into the
CAP. This information includes the date. time slot. and
program category of the various programs, The programmer
and the CAP utilize demographic data and ratings in
performing the packaging tasks. After the programmer
selects the various programs from a pool of available programs
and inputs the requisite info~-taation. the programmer. arith
assistance from the CAP, can select the price and allocate
transponder space for the various programs. After the
process is complete, the CAP displays draft menus or
program schedules that correspond to the entries of the
pro er. The CAP may also graphically display allocation
of transponder space. Tht programmer may edit the menus
and eransponder allocation several times until satisfied with
the programming schedule. During the editing, the
pro mer may direct the enact location of any program
name on a nnenu with siazpit commands to the CAP.
The packaging process also accounts for any groupings
by satellite transponder which are necessary. The operations
center 202 may send different groups of programs to
different cablt headends 208 and/or set top terimminals 220.
One way the operations center 202 away accomplish this task
is to Bend different program packages to each transponder.
Each transponder. or set of transponders. then relays a
specific program package to specific cable headends 208
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and/or set top teraninals 220. The allocation of transponder
space is an irraportant task performed by the operations
center 202.
The operations center 202 raay also 'insert' directions
for filling local available program tune tn the packaged signal
to enable local eable and television companies to fill the
program time with local advertising and/or local
programming. Consequently. the local cable headends 208
are not constrained to show only programs transmitted from
the operations center 202. I~tew sit top converters will
incorporate both digita,I and analog channels. 'Therefore. the
cable headend 208 iaay co~;bine analog signals with the
digital signals prior to transmitting the program signals to
the set top terminals 220.
After the CAP packages the programs, it creates a
program control information signal to be delivered with the
program package to the cable headend 208 and/or set top
terminal 220. The program control inforaaation signal
Contains a description of the contents of the program
24 package. commands to be sent to the cable headend 208
andlor set top terminal 220. and other information relevant
to the sisal taansanission.
In addition to pacltaging the signal, the operations
center 202 employs digital compression techniques to
increase e,~isting satellite transponder capacity by at least a
4:I ratio, resulting in a four-fold increase in program delivery
capability. A nuatber of digital compression algorithms
currently exist which can achieve the resultant increase in
capacity arid improvegd signal quality desired for the system.
The algorithms generally use one or mare of three basic
digital compression techniques: (1) within-frame ~intraframe)
compression. (2) frasae-to-frame (interframe) compression.
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and !3) within carrier compression. Specifically, in the
preferred emb~diment, the MPEG 2 compression method is
used. After digital compression, the signals are combined
(multiplexed) and encoded. The combined signal is
subsequently transmitted to various upilnk sites 204.
Them may be a single upllnk site 204 or multiple
uplink sites represented by 204'. shown in phantom in
Figure 1 ) for each operatton center 202. The uplink sites
204 may either be located in Lhe same geographical place or
may be located reiaotely from the operations center 202.
Once the composite signal is transmitted to the uplink sites
204. the signal may be multiplexed with ether signals.
modulated, upconverted and amplified for transmission over
satellite. Multiple cable headends 208 may .receive such
transmissions.
In addition to multiple uplinks. the delivery system 200
may also contain multiple operations centers. The preferred
method for using multiple operations centers is to designate
one of the operations centers as a master operations center
and to designate the remaining operations centers as slave
operations centers. In this configuration. the master
operations center coordinates various functions among the
slave operations centers such as synchronization of
simultaneous transmissions and distributes the operations
2 S workload ef~dentIy.
4. ale lHr~
After the operations center 202 has compressed and
encoded the pro signals and transmitted the signals to
the satellite. the cable headend 208 receives and further
processes the signals before they are relayed to each set tap
terminal 220. Each cable headend site is generally equipped
wish multiple satellite receiver dishts. Each dish is capable
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of handling multiple transponder signals from a single
satellite and sometimes from multiple satellites.
As an intermediary between the set top terminals 220
and the operations center 202 (or other remote site, the
cable hcadend 208 performs two primary functions. First,
the cable headend 208 acts as a distribution center. or signal
processor, by relaying the program signal to the set top
terminal 220 tn tech subscriber's home. In addition. the
cable headend 208 acts as a network controller 214 by
receiving informatgon from each set top terminal 220 and
passing such information on to an information gathering site
sash as the opera~ons center 202.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment where the cable
headend 208 and the subseriber's home are linked by certain
communications media 216. In this particular embodiment.
analog signals. digitally compressed signals, other digital
signals and up-stream/interactivity signals are sent and
received over tht media 2I6. 'The cable headend 208
provides such si capabilities in its dual roles as a signal
processor 209 and netWOrk controller 21~.
As a signal processor 209, the cable headend 208
prepares t&e program signals that are received by the cable
headend 208 for transmission to each set tap terminal 220.
In the preferred system. the signal processor 209 rr-routes
or emultipiexes and recombines the signals and digital
information received from the operations center 202 and
allocates different portions of the signal to different
frequency ranges. Cable headends 208 which offer different
subscribers different program offerings may allocate the
program signals from the operations center 202 in various
manners to accomnnadate different vtevrers. 'The signal
processor 20~ ra~ay also inrorporate local programming
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andlor local advertisements into the program signal and
form and the revised signal to the set top terminals 220. To
accommodate this local programming availability, the signal
processor 209 roust combine the local signal in digital or
analog form v~ith the operations center program signals. If
the local cable system uses a compression standard that is
different than the one used by the operations center 202, the
signal processor 209 must also decompress and recompress
incoming signals so they may be properly formatted far
transmission to the set top terminals 220. This process
becomes less important as standards develop Ii.e.. MPEG 2I.
In addition, the signal processor 209 performs any necessary
signal decryption and/or encryption.
As a network controller 214, the cable headend 208
1 S performs the system control functions far the system. The
primary function of the network controller Z I4 is to manage
the configuration of the set top terminals 220 and process
signals received froze the set top terminals 22~. In the
preferred embodiment, the network controller 214
monitors, among other things, automatic poll-back responses
from the set top terminals 220 remotely located at each
subscribers' home. The polling and automatic report-back
cycle occurs frequently enough to allow the network
controller 214 to maintain accurate account and billing
information as well as monitor authorized channel access. In
the sinxplest embodiment, inforanation to be sent to the
network controller 214 will be stored in RAM ~rithirr each
subscriber's set top terminal 220 and will be retrieved only
upon polling by the netrwork controller 214. Retrieval may.
for example. occur on a daily. weekly or monthly basis. 'the
network controller 214 alloc~rs the system to madntain
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complete information on alI programs watched using a
particular set top terminal 220.
The network controller 214 is also able to respond to
the immediate needs of a set top terminal 220 by modifying a
program control information signal reeeived from the
operations center 202. Therefore. the network controller
214 enables the delivery system to adapt to the specific
requirements of individual set top terminals 220 when the
requirements cannot be provided to the operations center
202 in advance. In other words, the network controller 214
is able to perform ~on the fly programming" changes. With
this capability. the network controller 214 can handle
sophisticated local programming needs such as, for example.
interactive television services. split screen video, and
1 ~ selection of different foreign languages for the carne video. In
addition. the network controller 214 controls and monitors
alI compressors and decompressors in the system.
The delivery system 200 and dfgital compression of the
preferred embodiment provides a one-way path from the
operations center 202 to the cable headend 208. Status and
billing information is sent from the set top terrrnnal 220 to
the network controller 214 at the cable headend 208 and not
directly to the operatiana center 202. Thus. program
monitoring and selection control will take place only at the
cable headend 208 by the local cable company and its
decentralized rzetrovork controllers 214 (i.e.. decentralised
relative to the operations center 202, which is central to the
program delivery system 200). The local cable company will
in tum be in communication with the operations center 202
3 0 or a regional control center (not shownD which accumulates
return data from the set top terminal 220 for statistical or
billing purposes. In alternative system embodiments, the
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operations center 202 and the statistical and billing sites are
collocated. Further, telephone lines with modems are used
to transfer information from the set top terminal 220 to the
statistical and billing sites.
5 5~, S
The set top terminal 220 is the portion of the delivery
system 200 that resides in the home of a subscriber. The set
top terminal 220 is usually located above or below the
subscriber's television, but it may be placed anywhere in or
I O near the subscriber°s home as long as it is withtrt the range
of
the subscriber's remote control device 900. In some aspects.
the set top terminal 220 may resemble converter boxes
already used by many cable systexas. For instanct, each set
top terminal 220 may include a variety of error detection.
I5 decryption. and coding techniques such as ant!-taping
encoding. &io~rever, it will become apparent from the
discussion below that the set top terminal 220 is able to
perform many functions that an ordinary converter box
cannot perform.
20 °T"he set top terminal 220 has a plurality of input and
output ports eo enable it to communicate with other local and
remote devices. The set Lop terminal 220 has an input port
that receives information gross the cable headend 208. In
addition. the unit has ai least t~ovo output ports which provide
comznunicafions from the set top teraainal 220 to a television
and a VCR. Certain menu selections may cause the set top
terminal 220 to send control signals direetly to the VCR to
autoamatically pragraaa or operate the VCR ~~lso, the set top
terminal 220 contains a phone ,~aclt which can be used for
maintenance, trouble shooting, reprogramming and
additional customer features. °fhe set top teaminal 220 may
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also contain stereo/audio output terminals and a satellite dish
Input port.
Functionally. the set top terminal 220 is the last
component in the delivery system chain. The set top
terminal 220 receives compressed program and control
signals from the cable headend 20~ (or. in some cases,
directly from the opera~tons center 202). After the set top
terminal 220 receives the individually compressed program
and control signals, the signals are demultiplexcd.
decompressed. con~aerted to analog signals (if necessary) and
either placed in local storage (from which the menu template
axay be created). executed immediately. or sent directly to
the television screen.
After processing certain signals received firoan the cable
headend 208. the set top teaminal 220 is able to store menu
templates for ereatlng menus that are displayed on a
subscriber's television by using an array of menu templates.
Before a menu can be constructed. menu templates moat be
created and sent to the set top ter:mminal 220 for storage. A
microprocessor uses the eontrol signals received from the
operations center 202 or cable headend 208 to generate the
menu Leiapiates for storage. Each iaenu template may be
stored in volatile memory in the set top termixaal 220. When
the set top terminal receives template Information it
dearuItiplexes the program control signals received from the
cable headend 208 into four parts: video, graphics.
program logic and text. Each menu template represents a
different portion of a whole menu. such as a menu
background, television Ioga. cursor highlight overlay. or other
miscellaneous components needed to build a menu. The
uienu templates ~ay be deleted or altered using control
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signals received from the operations center 202 or cable
headend 208.
Once the menu templates have been stored in memory.
the set top terminal 220 can generate the appropriate menus.
In the preferred embodiment. the basic menu format
information is stored iza memory located within the set top
terminal 220 so that the microprocessor may locally access
the information from the set top terminal instead of from an
incoming signal. The microprocessor next generates the
i 0 appropriate menus from tine menu templates and the other
menu information stored in memory. The see top terminal
220 then displays specific menus on the subscriber's
television screen that correspond to the inputs the subscriber
selects.
If the subscriber selects a specific program from a
mcnu, the set top terminal 220 determines on which channel
the program is being shown, demultiplexes and extracts the
single c el muted from the cable headend 208. The
set top terminal 220 then decompresses the chanmel and. if
necessary, converts the prograaa signal to an analog NTSC
signal to enable the subscriber to view the selected program.
The set top terminal 220 can be equipped to decompress
more than one program signal, but this would r~npecessarlly
add to the cost of tha unit since a subscriber will generally
only ~riew one program at a bane. However, t~ao or three
decompressoss mtay be desirable to provide picture-on-
picture capability, contral signal decompression. enhanced
channel switching or lilts features.
In addition to menu information. the set top terminal
220 may also store text transmuted from the cable headend
208 or the operations center 202. The text may inform the
subscriber about upcoming events. billing and account status.
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new subscriptions. or other relevant information. The text
will be stored in an appropriate memory location depending
on the frequency and the duration of the use of the textual
message.
Also. optional upgrades are available to enhance the
performance of a subscriber's set top terminal 220. These
upgrades may consist of a cartridge or coyaputer card (not
shown) that is inserted into an expansion slot in the set tap
tezminal 220 or may consist of a feature o$'ered by the cable
headend 208 or operations center 202 to which the user may
subscribe Available upgrades may include on line data base
services, interactive mufti-media services, access to digital
radio channels, axed other services.
in the simplest embodionent. available converter boxes
such as those manufactured by General Instruments or
Scientific Atlanta. may be modified and upgraded to perform
the functions of a set top terminal 220. The preferred
upgrade is a circuit card with a microprocessor which is
electronically connected to or inserted into the converter
bax.
8. ~ ~Qntrol ~evlce
'fhe primary conduit for communication between the
subscriber and the set top terminal 220 is through the
subscriber interfaee, preferably a rezaote control device 900.
?hraugh this interface. the subscriber may select desired
programmfrag through the system°s menu-driven scheme or
by directly accessing a specific c by entering the actual
channel nualber. Using the interface, the subscriber can
navigate through a series of informative program selection
menus. 13y using menu~driven, iconic or alpha-character
access, the subscriber can access desired prog,~ra~ms by simply
pressing a single buttan rather than recalling from memory
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24
and pressing the aetual channel number to make a selection.
The subscriber can access regular broadcast and basic cable
television stations by using either the numeric keys an the
remote control 900 (pressing the corresponding channel
5 number), or one of the menu icon selection options.
In addition to enabling the subscriber to tasily interact
with the cable system 200, the physical characteristics of the
subscriber interface 900 should also add to the user
friendliness of the systexzz. The rewrote control 900 should
10 easily fit in the palm of the user s hand. The buttons of the
preferred remote control 900 contain pictorial syaibois that
are easily identifiable by the subscriber. Also, buttons that
perform similar functions may be color caordinated and
eonsist of distinguishing textures to increase the user
I5 friendliness of the system.
Merry-Drivezt Preg~ , 1 tio~
The menu-driven schema provides the subscriber with
one-step access to all major menus. ranging from hit nrrovies
to sport specials to specialty programs. From any of the
2 0 major taenus. the subscriber can in turn access submenus and
minor menus by cursor or alpha-character access.
There are two different types of menus utilized by the
preferred embodiment, the Program Selection menus and
the During Program menus. The $zst series of menus.
25 Program Selection menus, consists of an Introductory, a
Home. Major menus, and Submenus. The second series of
menus. During Pmgraga menus, consists of two primary
types. Hidden menus and the Pro~aai Dverlay menus.
Itaznediately after tt:e subscriber turns an the set top
30 terminal 220, the Introductory menu welcomes the
subscriber to the system. The Introductory menu may display
important announcements from the local cable franchise.
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advertisements from the cable provider, or other types of
rnessages. In addition, the Introductory menu can inform the
subscriber if the cable headend 208 has sent a personal
message to the subscriber's particular set top terminal 220.
After the Introductory menu has been displayed the
subscriber may advance to the next level of menus, namely
the Home menu. In the preferred embodiment. after a
certain period of time, the cable system a~ll1 advance the
subscriber by default to the Home menu. From the Home
IO menu, the subscriber is able to access all of the progiamming
options. The subscriber may either select a program directly
by entering the appropriate channel numher from the resaote
control 900, or the subscriber may sequence through
incremental levels of menu options starting firom the Home
I S ~xtenu. The Home menu lists categories that correspond to
the first Level of menus called Major menus.
If the subscriber chooses to sequence through
subsequent menus, the subscriber wi?1 be forwarded to the
Major menu that corresponds to the chosen category from
20 the Home menu. The ~ia~or menus further refine a
subscriber's search and help guide the subscriber to the
selection of his choice.
From the Major menus, the subscriber may access
several submenus. From each submenu, the subscriber may
2 5 access other submenus until the subscriber finds a desired
television program. Similar to the I~Yiajor menu, each
successive Ievtl of Submenus further refines the subscriber's
search. The system also enables the subscriber to skip
certain menus or submenus and directly access a specific
. 30 menu or television program by entering the appropriate
commands on the remote contrnl 9~0.
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The During program menus (including Ridden Menus
and Prograan Qverlay Menus) are displayed by the set top
terminal 220 only after the subscriber has selected a
television progra.~tc. In order to avoid disturbing the
subscriber, the set top terminal 220 does not display the
Hidden Menus until the subscriber selects the appropriate
aption to display a Bidden Menu. The Hidden Menus contain
options that are relevant to the program selected by the
viewer. For example. a I~iidden Menu nyay contain options
that enable a subscriber to Inter an interactive mode or
escape from the selected pm
Program Overlay Menus are similar to Hidden Menus
because they occur during a program and are related to the
program being viewed. Flowrver. the Program Overlay Menus
are displayed concurrently with the program selected by the
subscriber. Most Program Overlay Menus are small enough on
the screen to allow the subscriber to continue wiewtng the
selected program coanfortably.
~3. ~~ta~~ed ~t Tofl T~,~nal Description
"'I'hhe set top terminal 220 receives and manipulates
signals from the cable headend 20~. "Ihe set top LernainaI
220 is equipped with local computer memory and the
capability of interpreting the digitally compressed signal to
produce aaenus for the subscriber. the remote control 900
communicates the subscriber's selections to the set top
terminal 220. '3"he subscriber's selections are generally based
upon menus or other prompts displayed on tht television
screen.
It is preferred that the signal reaches the subscriber's
home lei a compressed for~aaat and is decompressed prior to
viewing. Included in the delivered program signal is
information that enables equipment at the subscriber s home
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tn display menus far choosing particular programse
Depending an the particular embodiment, the television
program signal may arrive at the subscriber's home thraugh
one ar more connections such as coa~dal cables, fiber cables,
turisted pairs, cellular telephone connections, or personal
communications netvvoris (PCfi) hookups.
The pragram contml information signal is generated by
the operations center 202 and provides the netv~ork
controller 21~ with data on the scheduling and description of
programs, in an alternate configuration. this data is sent
directly to the set top terminal 220 for display to the
subscriber. In the preferred embodiment, the program
control information signal is stored and modified by the
network controller 214 and sent to the set top tee 220
in the form of a set top terminal control information stream
(S°rTCISI. a set top terminal 220 integrates either the
progxam control information signal ar the :ITTCiS with data
stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220 to generate
on-screen menus that assist the subscriber in choosing
programs for display.
'Ebbs types of information that can be sent using the
program control signal include: nuamber of program
categories, names of program categories. what channels are
assigned to a speciZ3c category (such as specialty channels),
2 5 naiaes of channels, names of pro~aans on each channel.
pragram start times. length of pragraxas. description of
programs. menu assignment for each program. pricing.
whether there is a sample video clip for adverttsement for
the programs, and any other program, menu or product
information.
kith a minimal amount of information being
communicated to the set top terminal 220 on a reguhur basis.
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the set top terminal 22Q is ahle to determine the proper
menu location for each program and the proper time and
channel to activate for the subscriber after a menu selection.
The program control information signal and STTCIS carp be
formatted in a variety of ways and the on-screen menus can
be produced using many different methods. por instance. if
the prograan control information signal carries no menu
format information. the menu format for creating the menus
can be fixed in ROM at the set top terminal 220. In the
preferred embodirraent. the anenu format information is
stored at the set top terminal 220 in a temporary memory
device such as a RA113 or EPROM. New menu format
information is sent via the program control information signal
or the STTCIS to the set tUp terminals 200 whenever a
I S change to a menu format is desired.
In the simplest embodiment. the menu formats remain
fixed and only the text changes. In this way the program
control information signal can be limited t~ primarily text
and a text generator can be en~xpioyed in the set top terminal
220. Another simple embodiutent uses a separate channel
foil-time tlarge band~avidthl ,ust for the menu information.
Live widen signals may be used in windows of certain
stenos. These widen signals can be transmitted using the
program contxol information signal or S'I'pCIS, or can be
taken off channels being transnditted simultaneously with the
menu display. Video for menus. pmmos or dem~s may be
sent to the set top texminal 220 in strreral foraaats, inc3udlng
(,) on a dedicated channel. t2D on a regular progress channel
and scaled to rise. or (3) along ~erit~t the psograaaa control
inforrnauon signal. liaarever. in the preferred embodiment, a
large number of short promos or demo video is sent using a
split screen technique on a dedicated channel. A multiple
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window technique may be used with the menus to display a
description or a program and one or more video frames that
assist the subscriber in selecting the program.
Figure 4 shows the basic hardware components of the
set tog terminal 220. The set top terminal 220 has a tuner
6t?3. digital demodulator 6~6, decryptor 600, and
demultiplexers 609. 6i6 as well as audio equipment 6I2 and
a remote control interface 626 for receiving and processing
signals from the remote control unit 900. An optional
modem 62? allows communication 'between a microprocessor
602 and the cable headend 208. An NfSC encoder 625
provides a standard NI'8C video output.
The microprocessor 602 is capable of executing
program instructions stored in memory. These instructions
allow a user to access various menus by making selections on
the remote control 900.
The manner in which the videa is decompressed and
the menus are generated from the program control
information signal or ~I'fCIS varies depending on the
specific embodiment of the invenilon. Video decompressors
618 and 622 may be used if the video is compressed. The
program control information signal may be demultiplexed
into its component parts, and a video decompressor 6I8.
graphic decompressor, text generator and video combiner
624 may be used to la creating the menus.
in addition to the menu format information that is
stored in graphics memory. tae set t~p terminal 220 also
stores data tracking those pro that have been selected
for viewing. 13y gathering this data, the set top terminal 220
can maintain an accurate record of all programs
accessedlwatched by storing the data in EEPR~14t or 1ZAM.
Subsequently, this data can be transmitted to the cable
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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headend 208, where it can be used in carrying out network
cantrol and monltortng functions. Such data transmissions
between the set top terminal 220 and cable headend 208 can
be accomplished. for exaaaple. through upstream
transmission over the cable network or over telephone lines
through the use of telephone znodems. Where upstream
transmission aver the cable network is used. the set top
terminals 220 can cample~te data transmissions on a
scheduled ~e.g., using a polling response or status report to
respond to polling requests sent from the cable headend
208) or as-needed (e.g., using a random access technique)
basis.
Figure 5a sho~avs the frant panel of the set top terminal
220, ~rhich includes an infrared sensor 6.30 and a series of
LED displays 640. The LED displays 640 may Indicate with
an icon or a letter (e.g. A-I~ the major menu currently
selected by the set top terminal 220 or the channtis selected
directly by a user. or menu channel selections (e.g., from 1 to
50). Furthrr displays may include current channel. tinxe,
volume level, sleep time, parental lock 4serurity). account
balance, use of a hardware upgrade. second channel being
recorded by VCR use of the Level D music hardware upgrade
in a sepagate room, and any other displays useful to a
subscriber to indicate the current status of the set top
terminal 22~. °1'he Ids 640 may also provide an indication
of the digital audi~ channel currently tuned.
The aet top terminal 220 includes a flapped opening
635 on its front that allows the insertion of a magnetic
cartridge for similar portable storage device, including
optical disk. R~M. EPROM. etc. not shown). This cartridge
opening 635 alloys the set top to 220 to be upgraded
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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or reprograrnmed locally wiL'~ the use of a magnetic tape
cartridge.
On the top or cover of the set top terminal 220 are
located pushbutton controls 645. Any function that care be
performed on the remote 900 may also be performed at the
set top ternsinal 220 using the duplicative pushbutton
controls 645.
Figure ab shows the back of the set top terminal 220.
which includes a pair of output terminals 650, pair of input
terminals 652. pair of stereo/audio output terminals 654,
satellite dish Input port 656, telephone jack 658 and an RS-
422 port 660. In addition. an upgrade port 662 and a cover
plate 66~ are held in place by a series of sheet metal screws.
One oi° the output terminals F50 is for a television and the
other is for a '~TCR The set top terminal 220 is equipged Lo
handle inco signals on one or two cables using the input
terminals 652. The phone jack 658 and an RS-232 or RS-
422 port 660 are provided for maintenance. trouble shooting.
reprogramming and additional customer features. In
alternate embodiments, the telephone jack 658 may be used
as the primary mode of com8lunication between the cable
headend 208 and the set top terminal 220. This connection
is possible through the local telephone, cellular telephone or
a personal communications networlr (1'Crly.
a 5 The basic programming o:~ each xt top to 220 is
located on ROb! within the sit top terminal 220. Random
access memoay, the magnetic cartridge capability, and the
expansion Bard slot 635 each allow upgrades and changts to
be easily made to the set top to 220.
Iaa the preferred embodiment. the get top terminal 220
includes a hard~re upgrade port 662. in addition to
expansion card slots. The hardware upgrade port 662
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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accorr~modates a four-wire (or more) connection for: (I)
ersor corrected. decrypted data output of the set top
terminal 220. (2) a control interface. (3) decoaapressed video
output, and (4) a video input port. Fn the preftrred
embodiment, multiple wires arc used to perform each of the
four functions. The four sets of vuires are combined in a
single cable ~rith a single multipin connector.
In the preferred embodiment, mulupin connecLtons
may be used for the multiwire cable. The multipin
connection 662 may range from 1~8~ to DB25. A variety of
small eomputer systems interface (SCSI) ports may also be
provided. Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided
instead of the single port depicted.
.~noth~r port 662 is used to attach the various hardware
16 upgrades described below to a set top terminal 220: The
preferred embodiment has a number of haadwm°e upgrades
available for use with a set top terminal 220, including: ( 1 ) a
Level A interactive unit. (2) a 1 13 interactive unit. (31 a
Level C interactive unit with compact disc capability. (4) a
2 0 bevel I? digital radio tuner for separate room use, and (5) a
Level E information download unit. Each of these upgrades
may be connected to the set top terfainal 220 unit through
the upgrade port 6&2 described . 'Ihe same four wires
in a single cable described earlier may be used.
25 lr'adsting set top converter boxes such as those made by
Scientific Atlanta or General gnstruments are presently
unequipped to handle the menu selection system of the
present invention. Thus, hardware modifications arc
necessary in order to use the menu selection system with
30 e~dsttng set top converter technology.
A Turbo Card addition to a set top converter is depicted
in Figure 8. The ~'urbo Card ~OIl shown provides the
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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33
additional functionality needed to utilize the aaenu system
with existfng set tog converter technology. 'T=he primary
functions the "Ilubo Card 700 adds to the set top converter
are ttze interpreting of prograal control information signals,
5 generating of menus. sequencing of menus, and. ultimately.
the ability of the viewer to select a channel through the menu
system without entering any channel identifying information.
The turbo card also provides a method for a remote location.
such as the cable headend 208, to receive information on
10 programs watched and control the operation of the set top
converter and Turbo Card ?0~. The programs watched
information and control commands may be passed fram the
cable headend 208 to the Turbo Card ?00 using telephone
tines.
15 The primary components of the 'I~ubo Card ?00 are a
PC chip C~J ?02, a FICA graphic controller 704. a video
combiner ?. logic circuitry 708, NTSC encoder ? 10. a
receiver ? 12, demodulator ? 14~ and a dialer ? lfi. The Turbo
Card ?00 operates by receiving the prograsa control
20 infox°mation signal from the cable headend 208 through the
co cable. "I~e logic Mrcuitry ?08 of the 'turbo Card ?00
receives data, infrared commands, and aymmchronizauon
si from the set top coaver~r. Menu selections made by
the viewer on the remote control 900 are received by the set
25 top converter°s I~ equipment and passed through to the
Card ?00. ?he harbo Card ?AO interprets the ~ signal
and determines the program (or menu) the viewer has
selected. 'E'he TSirbo Card ?00 modl8es the 1R command to
send the program selection information to the set top
30 converter 221. The modified IFt cozsmand contains the
channel information needed bar the set top converter. Using
the phone line and dialer ? 16, the Tuyebo Card ?00 is able to
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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transmit program access information to the cable headend
208.
In the preferred embodiment. program access
information is stored at each set top terminal 220 until it is
5 polled by the network controller 214 using a pollfng request
message format as sho~arn in Figure ?a. This frame format
920 consists of six fields, namely: [I) a leading slag 922 at
the beginning of the message. ~2) an address field 924. t3) a
subscriber region designation 926. (4) a set top terminal
10 identifier 926 that includes a polling, eommand/response for
P/17 bit 930. f 5) an information field 932, and (fi) a trailing
flag 934 at the end of the message. Figure ?b shows a
response frame format 920' (similes to t&e frame format 920
end, therefore. commonly numbered with the frame depicted
15 in Figure 7a, but with the prime indicator added for clarity)
for information comaaunicated bar the set top terminal 220 to
the network controller 214 in response to the polling
request of Figure ?a.
The eight-bit flag sequence 922 that appears at the
20 beginning and end of a frame is used to establish and
maintain synchronization. Such a sequence typically consists
of a °01111110' bit-stream.. The address field 924
designates a 4-bit address for a given set top terminal 220.
'the subscriber region designation 92S is a 4-bit Geld ttaat
25 indicates the geographical region iaa vrhich the subscriber's
set top tern~ainal 220 is housed. 'The set top terminal
identifier 928 is a 16-bit field that uniquely identifies each
set top t 220 ~rith a 15-bit designation followed by an
appended P/F bit 930. Although 6eId size is provided by this
30 example. a wariet~r of sizes cap, be used with the present
invention.
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The h/F bit 930 is used to eoanznand a polling response
from the set tog terminal 2215 addressed, as described below.
The response frame format 92~° also provides a variable-
length information field 932° for other data transmissions.
such as information on system updates. '8'he frame format
920' ends with an 8-bit flag (or tra,illng flags 934' that is
identical in format to the leading flag 922°° as set forth
above.
C?ther frame formats (e.g.. I1~1'EGl Twill be apparent to one
skilled in the art and can be easily adapted for use with the
system.
As sun~mari~ed above. images or progxams may be
selected for display by sequencing tl~.rough a series of menus.
Figure 8 is an example of one possible structure for a series of
menus. Generally, the sequence of menus is structured with
an intraductory menu, a home menu, various mayor menus
and a multitude of submenus. 'The submenus can include
promo menus and during pm menus. For example, at
the home menu portion of the sequence of ~aenus and
corresponding softavare routines. a subscriber may select one
of the major menus and start a sequence of menu displays.
Alternatively, a subscriber may go directly to a major menu by
depressing a menu select button on :'emote control 900.
At any time during the menu sequence. the subscriber
may depress a major menu button to move into another series
2 5 of menus. In this vray. a subscriber may move from major
menu to major menu.
'The various software subroutines e~ceeuted by the
microprocessor X602 allow a subscriber to sequence the
menus. navigating through the various menus of the present
3~ invention. A subscriber may sequence back through menus or
return to the home menu arith a single touch of the home
menu button on remote 9~.
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An introductory menu screen 1000 automatically
appears upon power-up and initialization of the set top
terminal 220. From this intTOductory menu screen 1000, the
set top terminal software will normally advance the
subscriber to the home menu screen 1010. "i'he home menu
1010 is the basic menu that the subscriber return to in
order to male the first level of viewing decisions. When the
set top terminal software is displaying the home menu 1010.
the subscriber is able to access any television programming
option. The software allows programming options to be
entered through cursor movement on the screen and directly
by button selection on the remote control 904.
in the normal progression through the menu screens.
the software will forward the subscriber to a mayor menu
screen 1020 in response to ttxe subscriber's remote control
900 selection or highlighted r selection from the home
menu screen 1014. The selections displayed on the home
menu 1010 are for large categories of programming options.
Following flee mayor menu 1020, the subscriber may
navigate through one or more suba~enu screens 1054 from
which the subscriber foray choose one particular program for
vig. For most progr g selections, the user will
proceed from the home menu i0i4 to a mayor menu 1020
and then to one or more submenus 105~. ~iowever, for
certain pro g options or functions of the set top
terminal 220. the user may ship one or more menus in the
sequence.
The During Program l9~enus 1244 are submenus
enabled by the set top to software only after the
subxriber has selected a televialon program. ?hese menus
provide the subscriber with adtiltional functionality and/or
additional Information while viewing a selected program. The
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During Prc gram Menus 12~~ sequence can be further
subdivided ins ~ at least two types of menus. Hidden Menus
138~ and Prograrra tDverlay Minus 1390.
'~o avoid disturbing a subscriber during viewing of a
5 program, the Hidden Menus 1384 are not shown to the
subscriber but instead 'reside'" at the set top terminal 220
microprocessor fi02. 'The microprocessor 602 awaits a
button entry either from the remote control 900 or set top
terminal 220 buttons before executing or displaying any
10 Hidden Menu 1380 options. "the set top terminal software
provides the subscriber with additional functions such as
entering an interactive mode or escaping from a selected
program through use of l~iidden Menus 1380.
Program Overlay Menus 1390 are similar to Hidden
I5 Menus 1380. However, the Proann C?verlay Menus 1390 are
overlayed onto portions of the displayed video and not
hidden. The software for the FJrogram averlay Menus 1390
allows the subscriber to continue to watch the selected
television program With audio but places graphical
20 Information on a portion of the television screen, Most
Program tweriay Menus 1390 are graphically generated to
cover small portions of video. Some O<rerlays 1390 which are
by their nature more important than the program being
viewed will overlay onto greater portions of the video.
2 5 lrxamples of types of overlay menus 1390 Include lVotiBcation
Menus 1392 and Co lion Menus 1394. In the pxtferred
e~nbodi~n.ent, the software for the Prograia Overlay Menus
1390 controls the reduction or scales down the lentire)
programs video and redirects tlxe video to a portion of the
30 screen.
Submenus provide the cost of vieroving the program and
the program's length in hours and minutes. From the
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subznerius. the subscriber i:~ given at least three options: (li
to purchase a program. (2) to return to the previous menu.
and (3) to press "go~ and return to regular TV. The
subscriber may also be given other options such as previewing
S the program.
Using an on-screen menu approach to program
selection, there is nearly an unlimited number of menus that
can be shorn to the subscriber. The memory capability of the
sex top terminal 220 and the quantity of information that is
10 sent using the program control inforanation signal are the
only limits on the number of menus and amount of
information that can be displayed to the subscriber. The
approach of using a series of menus in a siaaple tree sequence
is both easy for the subscriber to use and simply implemented
15 by the set top terminal 220 and remote control deviee 900
with cursor anovement. A user interface software
programmer will find manor obvious variations from the
preferred embodiaaent described.
'rhe set top terminal 220 generates and creates menus
20 using, in part. Information stored irz Its graphics memory. A
background graplzltcs flIe 800 will store menu backgrounds
and a logo graphics Ale gill store any necessary logos. A
menu display and cursor graphics file will store iaenu display
blocks and cursor highlight overlays as well as any other
25 miscellaneous flees needed to build the menus. Using this
method of storing xaenus. flees menus can be changed by
reprogr g the graphics memory of the set top terminal
220 through Instructions from either the neivrork controller
214 or operations center 202.
30 'ITse microprocessor 602 performs the steps required
to create a menu using stored Information. ~'he
microprocessor B02 fetches a background file. logo file. menu
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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display and cc~rsor file in most instances. The
microprocessor 602 fetches text from long-term, intermediate-
Lerm, or short~term storage depending on where the text is
stored. Using a video combiner (or like device). the stored
information is combined with video and the entire image is
sent to the teievlsion screen for display.
In the preferred embodiment, a graphics contraller is
used to assist the sit top terminal 220 in generating menus.
P~Ienu generaitan by the set top terminal 220 begins with the
building of a ma'or menu screen, which includes background
graphics for that nna~or anenu. The background graphics may
include an upper sash across the top of the screen and a
lower sash across the bottom of the screen. The background
graphics may be generated from the background graphics Ale
800 in the memory files of Lhe graphics memory (preferably
EEPI~i7rii). In addition, logo graphics away be generated.
Such graphics typically include an Icon windaw, a cable
connpany logo. a channel coBapany logo. and two 'go'" buttons.
Preferably. the text for each ~aayor menu is generated
separately by a text generator tn the set top terminal 220.
Those portions of the text that geneiahy remain the same for
a period of weeks ar months may be stared in EEPIZ~M or
ether local storage. Text which changes on a regular basis.
such as the movie titles (or other program selections). is
transmitted to the set top terminal 220 by either the
operations center 202 or the netwark controller 214 of the
cable headend 208. In this manner. the cable headend 208
may change the program selections available on any major
menu 3 020 by modifying the program control information
signal sent by the operations center 202 and transmitting any
changes using the SiTCIS.
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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I~ay. date and bane information are added to each mayor
razcr~u. 'This information is sent from the operations center
202, the cable headend 208 tsignal processor 209 or
network controller 214). the uplink site. or generated by the
5 set top terminal 220 internally.
The creation and display of program deseription
submenus is performed by the set top terminal 220 in a
manner similar to that described above. Each subalenu may
be created in parts and couibfned before bring sent to the
10 television screen. Preferably. background graphics and upper
and lower sashes are used. Likewise, a video window and
halfmstrip window can be generated from information tn
storage on the EEPROM.
In addition to graphics and text. some submenus
15 include windows that show video. ;such video may be still or
moving pictures. Still pictures may be stored in a
compressed format (such as JPEG; at tale set top terminal
220. t~ideo stills may be transmitted by the operations center
202 through the program control inforaaation signet from
2 0 time to tirzxe.
Moving video picture is obtained directly from a
current video feed as described above. Depending on video
window size. this may require lmatlipulation of the video
si , including scaling dowrn the size of the video and
25 redirecting the video to the portion of the menu screen
which is within the video arindow of the menu. Alternatively.
the video may bt obtained from a split screen el. Such
a method involves the ux of split screen video techniques to
send r~aultipie video clips on a single channel at a given ttme.
30 The set top terminal 220 r~rould scale the picture, if
necessary, and redirect it to the correct position ore the
screen; using known scaling and positioning techniques.
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Additional circuitry may he required in tire set top tertainal
220 to perform adequate scaling and repositioning.
To avoid the need for redirecting video into the portion
of the screen which houses the video window. masking and
5 menu graphics may be used to cover the portions of the
channel video that are not needed. This masking technique
allows the split screen video to remain in the same portion of
the screen that it is trazysmftted by the operations center
202. The masking is then adjusted to cover the undesired
10 portions of the screen. These masks are stored in the
background graphics file similarly to other background files
for menus.
"Ihe split screen video technique anay also be used for
proanoting television programing. Since a great number of
15 short video Clips may be sent continuously, full or partfal
screen prarnottonals (or informationals) may be provided to
the subscriber. ',Pith this large quantity of proasottonal video:
the subscriber is given the opportunity to "graze' through
new movie or television programxaing selections. The
20 subscriber simply grazes from promotional video to
promotional video until the desire~k television program is
discovered.
pro~axx~ Control Ir~°o~;~Slanal
'Throughout tht present application, the term
25 'program control inforaaation" is being used t~ indicate
control information coming from the cable headend 208 to
the set top to 220, whether it is sent directly from the
~perat~ona Center Zt32, processed by the network controller
~ 14 and then forwarded to the set top box. or transmitted
30 aver telephone lines.
a pro control inforaaation signal generated by
the ~p~rations Center 202 provides data on the scheduling
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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42
and description of programs to tk~e network controller 2I4
or. in an alternate configuration. directly to the set top
terminal 220 for display to the subscriber. In the preferred
embodiment. the program control information signal is
stored and modified by the netv~ork controller 2I4 and sent
to the sct top terminal 220 in the form of a set top terminal
control information stream (~I'I°CIS). This configuration is
required to accommodate differences in individual cable
systems and possible differences in. set top terminal devices.
I0 The set top terminal 220 .integrates either the prograal
control inforxzlation signal or the set top terminal control
information stream together with data stored in the memory
of the set top terminal 220. to generate on-screen displays
for assisurrg the subscriber in choosing proglama.
The goal of the menu driven program selection system
200 is to allow the subscriber to choose a program by touring
through a series of menus. organized generally as degicted in
Figure 8, utilizing the remote control 900 for' cursor
movement. The fla~al choice in the series of menus gill
2 0 identify one particular channel and one time for activation of
that channel, ed with a channel and activation time Lhe
set top to 220 can display the selected program an the
television for the wfea~sr. To achieve this goal a simple
embodiment assigi~s an intelligent alpha-numeric code to
each program. This alpha-numeric code identifies the
category of the program. the menu in which the program
should be displayed. its transmission time(s). and the
position on the menu that the prog~aa~ should be displayed.
In this simple exxabodiment. the program control
information, including menu codes. is sent continuously from
the C3perations Center 242 to the network controller 21~.
and ultimately to the sct top te:xntrzal :220. For ezample. four
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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43
hours worth of programming information can be sent via the
program control information signal continuously as shown in
Table fir.
Table A shows the basic pro~amming information that
5 may be seat to the set top terminal X20. The program
descriptions shown are coded abbreviations. For example. C
for comedy. N for news, a for sports. A for cartoons. and Tx
for Lent. If there is a textual description for a program. such
as a movie, the description may be given following that
10 program's coded description or array be communicated
following the four hours' worth of programming information.
As is shown in the coded listing. pragram descriptions for
programs greater than a half hour tn length need not be
repeated (each half hour?. The video description code
15 inforsrxs the set top terminal ~2fl of whether there !s still or
live video available to advertise the pr~ogx°am.
For example. a sporting progress may be assigned a
code of X35-~J I ~ 19~-1600-3.~5-IViichtgan St. ds. USC. 'The
letter I~ would assign the pro to category B, sports. The
20 second alpha-numeric character number 3 would assign the
program tc~ the third menu of the sports categoay. The third
character of the code, number , assigns the program to the
fifth program slot on the third taenu. The next six
characters. 0 y /0 y /94, represent the date. The following fear
25 characters. 1600 represent the start time which !s Poll~wed
by the length of the pro and the program name. This
entry represents a sports show. a college football game.
which will be aired at 4:001'M orr New Years day 1994r
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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aa~e ~ 'M '
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eaa ciT~
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c:
"
"'
ermtnacor ~'~ .''
'
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nmeTime ~" ~y x
4 0 ~ t a
. 4
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1~
a
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aamo _
oo a
~
~~ ci4 t
' 13
oot a~ , S
Game __.. n
2~
L ,
.
~U8S1'ITtJTE ShiEET
CA 02444294 2003-10-17
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description. The third column contains corresponding field
type 9nformation. Field type information typically consists of
an unsigned integer; hours. :minutes and seconds; months.
day and year; and ASCII character identifier.
TABT1: B
Field ~ ~ ~ Field a
~ ~
~
~
1 Eveni Type Unsigined
1 = YC'hl Int
2 = Pay-Per-view
3 ~ Re . TV
2 Event ID Unsi ed
Int
t: Iobai Channel Unsi ed
ID Int
4 Price (in Cents) Unsi ed
Int
Start Time I-iH:MM:SS
8 End Time IIIH:MM,;SS
Start Date MMODD/YY
8 End Date _ _ IDD/YY
P-Ic~n ASCIIZ
10 Name ASCIIZ
_
( 1 1 ~ ASCIIZ
description
Table C shows an exaiuple Ewent.Dat data file. In
particular. Table C shows two data streams corresponding to
two event types. The first data stream identifies a YCTVTM
event in the first field. The second field designates the event
ID. which is 123 in this example. The third field includes
the global channel ID number two. The fourth field indicates
the cost of 50 cents for this event. 'I&e 8Rh and sixth fields
indicate the respective start arid end times of x:00 AMI to
3:00 P1UI, respectively. The seventh and eighth fields show
the corresponding start and end dates. designated as
8125/9 and 8/2?/93, respectively. Field nine indicates the
P-icon set to PHS.PCJt graphics file. Finally, fields ten and
eleven indicate the name and description of the events
selected. which in this case are Sssame StrcetT~ and
T~. The second data stream in the E~rent.Dat e~ple
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shov~rn in Table C includes analogous information for
Terrain toT~', which is designated tn field one as a pay-
per-wew event.
T' C
S Evtat.Dat Eample
'The program eontroi information signal and STTCIS
can be formatted in a variety of ways ;gad the on-screen
luenus can be produced in maaxy different ways. For instance.
if the program control information signal carries no menu
format inf~rzaation, the ~aenu format far creating the menus
can be faxed in ROM at the set top terminal. °Z"his method
allows the program control information signal to Barry less
information but has the least tlexibflity since the menu
for~raats can not be changed without physically swapping the
2 0 ROM.
in the preferred embodiment, the menu farmat
information is stored at the set top terminal 220 in
temporary memory either in a RAM, FL.RSH ROM. EEPROM
or EPROM. This con8guratton provides the desired Qexibility
2S in Lhe menu format while :till Limiting the amount of
information needed to be communicated via the program
control infoa~nation signal. New menu format information can
be sent via the prograaa control information signal or the
STTCIS to the set top terminals 220 each time there is a
30 change to a menu.
F'rogsaan access informatton for each program vratehed
is stored at the set top terminal 220 until it is polled by the
net~rorlc controller Z 14~ for information retrieval using the
program control information signal or STTCIS. 'I'his
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Information retrieval Can be accomplished by using the
po111ng request message and response formats. 920 and 920'
respectively, as shown. and Figures ?a and ?b, and described
above, but any suitable polling request and response message
5 forrr~,at may be used to interrogate each set top terminal 220
sequentially. one by one. The set top terminals 220 are
identified by a unique address and set top terminal identi9er.
it is preferred that the set top terminal 220 tx°ansmit
inforrnation and messages to the network controller 214 only '
10 when given permission by the netrovor k controller 214 to do
so.
Where. for exaumple. specialty programs have been
accessed since the previous poll, the set top terminal 220 is
given permission to transasit a polling response 920° in the
15 form of a status report that includes any such access
information. The network controller°s control receiver toot
shownl is tasked with the receipt of set top terminal polling
responses or status reports. These status reports generally
Include information that allows the network controller 214 to
2 0 track a subscriber°s program access history.
Figure 'Tb shows an example of frame format 920° for
the status reports received from the set top terminals 220
during the polling cycle. This frame farmat is identical to the
polling request message format 920 and. as described.
25 includes: ~1) a leading flag 922' at the beginning of the
message. (2) an address field 924°. (3) a subscriber region
designal.lVn ~~'s ~~) a set top terminal identifier 928°
that includes a palling coramandlresponse (or PIF~ bit 930°.
(51 an information field 932°, and ~6) a trailing flag 934' at
30 the end of the iaessage.
The infoz~taauon field 932' re variable in length so
that the status of an Indeterminate number of programs,
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represented at 931, accessed can be included irs the frame.
In this way. the control message length of the polling request
message is minimal since the nei~rork controller 21~ does
not to ansmit sueh access information. After a polling
5 response by a given set top terminal 220, however, the
control message length increases in proportion to the
nura~ber of programs accessed.
During transmission. the P/F bit is used to carry out the
polling function. In particular. the P/F bit is set to a ' 1'
10 position to coananand a polling response from the set top
terminal 220 whose address is~ identi#ied in the frame. The
set top terminal 220 addressed must respond to the
command in the carne P/F bit also set to the ' I' position.
The response will include the ;number of programs accessed
I5 and their corresponding event identification numbers as
shown in Figure Tb at 93'l. In eases where the set top
terminal 220 has not accessed any programs since the
previous polling cycle, the set top terminal 220 responds
with the P/F bit set to '1' and the programs access block
20 denoting zero programs accessed.
In between polling cycles, the program control
information continues Lo supply the set top terminals 220
with menu information, in the simplest embodiment. the
menus ~.ced and only the text changes. Thus. the
25 program control information signal can be limited to
primarily text and a teat gentrator can be employed in the
set top terminal 220. °t'lais simple eiabodiment keeps the
cost of the set top terEninal 220 low and limits the bandwidth
necessary for the program control information. Another
30 simple embodiment uses a separate channel full-time (large
bandaridth) ~uat for the menu information. 'This separate
channel e~ould facilitate the rapid doamloading of nerx
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graphics far the system and would enhance response time
when text and other data information needs to be changed.
In the preferred embodirrzent, the basic building blocks
or templates of the on-screen rraenu displays will be stored in
graphics memory consisting of nonvolatile RAIvi, FLt~SH ROM.
EPROM, or preferably. EEPROM. as shown as 620 in Figure
9a. Referring to Figure 4, with the information from the
graphics memory 620, the microprocessor 602. graphics
decompressor fi22, a text generator (not shown in Figure 4.
I0 but incorporated if necessary), and video combiner 624 wtll
build a menu screen.
The memory files of the graphics memory are
preferably categorized into three categaries, background
graphics 80~, logo graphics 820, and menu and display
graphics 850, as shown in Figure 3a.
The background graphics file 800 will store menu
backgrounds such as: universal main menu baclsgcounds 804.
universal submenu backgrounds 808, prosao backgrounds 812
and custom menu formats 816. 'fhe logo graphics file 820
will store any necessary logos such as: Your Choice °I'V'~'~ logos
824. Network logo files 828. cable system Iogo files 832.
studio sago files 836, and graphic elements file 840. The
menu dfsplay and cursor graphics file 850 will store menu
display bloeks 854 and cursor highlight overlays 858. as well
avs any ether miscellaneous files needed to build the menus.
Using this method of storing menses discussed above.
the menus can be changed by reprogra~mtng the graphics
memory 620 of the set top terminal 220. To revise the
entire: design of displayed memos, the network con~oller 2I4
or operations center 202 instructs the EEPROIV! 620 to be
erased and reprogrammed with new menu templates. To
change one menu foraaat or logo. the network controller 214
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or operations center 202 instructs dust the one location in
rraemory to be erased and rewritten. Obviously. this menu
reprogramming can also be done locally (at the set top
terminal 2201 by a sezvicemen.
5 As shown in Figure 9a" each memory subfile is further
divided into various memory blocks. F'or example, the
background graphics file 800 contains the universal main
menu backgrounds 804. The universal main menu
backgrounds memory 804 includes memory units UM1 860.
10 UM2 862 and U~P'3 863. Similarly, the logo graphics Hle 820
and menu display and curser graphics file 850 contain
individual subBle memory blocks (for example, studio logo file
836 has memory block SL1 864: menu displaty blocks 854 has
memory menu display block PfDr 8C~).
15 Figure 9b shows the hierarchical storage of text
transn~xitted &~om the cable headend 208. Although text may
be continuously transmitted ~rith the video sigraals to set top
terminals 220. text may also be transrc~itted intermittently.
In such a case, the tent is stored in the set top terminal 220.
20 Preferably, the text is transmitted and stored in a
compressed format using known techniques. Additionally.
the text is preferably stored in graphics memory 620 within
Lhe set top terminal 220.
1'~epen upon the use of the text. it will be stored in
25 one of three portions of memory. Information sent ovith the
tart arfll either direct the text to a particular portion of
memory, or Include iln,formation as to the priority of text.
The microprocessor 602, part of the set tap terminal
hardware represented at block 880, enay then direct the trxt
30 to the appropriate memory location for storage.
If the text 19 to be used frequently and over a long
period of tiaae a long term storage 8T5 will be used. If the
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tent will be used for a shorter period of time (for example. a
month), the text will be directed to an interanediate storage
area 87'7. If the text is to be used almost immediately. or for
a short period of time (ior example. within a few days) the
5 text is dirteted to a short term storage area 879. The
microprocessor 602 locates the appropriate text required for
a particular menu and retrieves it from the appropriate
portion of memory 620. The Lead is output from the ~aphics
memory 6Z0 to the text generator 621. Text generated froaa
I ~ the text generator 621 is thereafter directed to text/graphics
video combiner 62~.
Figure 9c shows the steps performed by the
microprocessor 602 for creating a menu based upon a series
of over3ay screens. These instructions are stored in memory
i 5 vrrith~ the seat top terminal 220 in a screens data file. 'The
screens data 51e instructs the microprocessor 602 on the
Iacation of each graghics tale on the screen. An example
screens data file is shown in Table 13, wherein the screens
data file specifies menu data positioning in terms of, for
2~ example. x and y pixel positions, height and width, color
codes and fonts. Alternatively. instructions or routines may
be transmitted from the operations center Z02 to be stored
in memory within the individual set top terminals 220.
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T
- Callo~ng ata es t main caenu
The are or
~
S eea amp Lt a ascription
~ _ -
'
Sc:rit:.~:r~ mzt~n menu.
~MAiN am eau
a t v~r o or o nr ont
STR ' i,e t ' 1 14. Ff
PU
10TR1N 'MAIN M N '
JusL3ty X Y Hglit w~ _._
'LEFT' I ? ' 00
YLR _ ___
C9t~t~1E.j7c3
I5-
us ae 'o or 8Co or one Y i-!c wd
z 'zs a . a z
ITEVt'~YC'P~tYOtJR CH~I~E
2Q- us a or o r ont X Y kit wd
ITVi (5S ,__ I ' I 1 ' 1
P '30'420
f ' PPi~' A -
iTE:rt
25 As shown at block 373 in figure 9c. initially the
microprocessor t60~ instructs the tuner 603 to select a
channel. 'I~ae channel is decompressed. error corrected and
decrypted, if necessary. If the vsdeo is to be reduced in size,
so as to be placed within a video ~srindow. or is a split screen
30 video ~lndar~r ~r'hteh must be enlarged, the video is scaled to
the appropriate size. Additionally. the video may be required
to be redirected to a portion of the television screen.
accomplished by creating a series off' offsets for each pixel
location of the video.
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53
Graphics must also be used to create a menu in most
instances. As shown in block 882. the microprocessor 642
must fetch a barkground file, a logo file, and a menu display
and cursor file in most instances. Each of these files is
decompressed 883, and then combined, block 886.
Slmflarly. the microprocessor 602 must fetch text. as
shown in block 884. Depending upon the memory location of
the teact, the microprocessor 602 will fetch the text from
long-term, intermediate-term, or short-term storage, as
described above. Based upon this memory retrieval. the text
is generated. block 885, and combined with the videa of
any), with as many screens of a decompressed graphics as are
necessary. and any text, block 88fi. The image or portions of
the image are stored in the video combiner tfor example.
combiner 62~ of Figure 4l until alt overlays are received.
Thereafter. the entire iaaage is sent, under direction of
another routine, to be displayed on the television screen. as
represented by display block 888.
The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth
by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous
variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
