US5982445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hypertext markup language protocol for television display and control
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1996-10-21
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2016-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Textual and graphical displays are provided on a television screen using a hypertext markup language (HTML). On-screen display devices allow a user to invoke hyperlinks to different pages of HTML-coded data in addition to functions calls for controlling television and non-television appliance functions. A method provides HTML-coded display data which is processed to provide a signal suitable for reproduction on a television. The display data may provide information on a featured movie or other presentation of an associated video programming service signal such as a network television broadcast. Function calls allow the control of various television functions and programming options, such as the purchase of pay-per-view programming, or television display options such as aspect ratio, channel, brightness, picture-in-picture, or split-screen. Non-television appliances which may be controlled with function calls include audio equipment which is associated with the programming service (e.g., surround sound, filtering) in addition to, for instance, a home heating and air conditioning system or other household appliances. The invention allows a designer to adapt the vast HTML resources of the Internet for use in the television environment for entertainment, educational or informational purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark K. Eyer
- 👤 Michael Field
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/35; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N21/485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, comprising the steps of: broadcasting a common data signal comprising display data to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; recovering said data signal at at least one of the subscriber decoders; and processing said data signal at the at least one subscriber decoder to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; wherein said display signal provides a display on the television with at least one of graphical and textual information that allows a user to invoke a function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, comprising the steps of: broadcasting a common data signal comprising display data to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; recovering said data signal at at least one of the subscriber decoders; and processing said data signal at the at least one subscriber decoder to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; wherein said display signal provides a display on the television with at least one of graphical and textual information that allows a user to invoke a function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said display data allows a user to invoke hyperlinks for viewing selected portions of said display data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said display data allows a user to invoke function calls for viewing selected portions of an associated video programming service signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said display data provides information regarding an associated video programming service signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said display data provides a viewer input field for allowing viewing of an associated video programming service signal on a pay-per-view fee basis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: processing said data signal and an associated video programming service signal for display on the television in an overlay manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said data signal and an associated video programming service signal are carried together in a digital transport data stream that is broadcast to said subscriber decoders.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, comprising: means for broadcasting a common data signal comprising display data to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; means for recovering said data signal at at least one of the subscriber decoders; a processor associated with said at least one subscriber decoder for processing said data signal to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; and means responsive to said display signal for providing a display on the television with at least one of graphical and textual information that allows a user to invoke a function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, comprising: means for broadcasting a common data signal comprising display data to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; means for recovering said data signal at at least one of the subscriber decoders; a processor associated with said at least one subscriber decoder for processing said data signal to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; and means responsive to said display signal for providing a display on the television with at least one of graphical and textual information that allows a user to invoke a function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said display data allows a user to invoke hyperlinks for viewing selected portions of said display data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said display data allows a user to invoke function calls for viewing selected portions of an associated video programming service signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said display data provides information regarding an associated video programming service signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said display data provides a viewer input field for allowing viewing of an associated video programming service signal on a pay-per-view fee basis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a combiner for combining said data signal and an associated video programming service signal for display on the television in an overlay manner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said data signal and an associated video programming service signal are carried together in a digital transport data stream that is broadcast to said subscriber terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
A receiver for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, said receiver being associated with at least one of said subscriber decoders, comprising: an input for receiving a common data signal comprising display data that is broadcast to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; a display data processor for processing said data signal to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; and a user command processor operatively associated with said display data processor; wherein: the television is adapted to provide a display with at least one of graphical and textual information in response to said display signal; and said user command processor receives user commands in accordance with said display and invokes a corresponding function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
A receiver for adapting hypertext markup language resources for use in a television broadcast network wherein the same programming service signals are broadcast to a plurality of subscriber decoders of the network, said receiver being associated with at least one of said subscriber decoders, comprising: an input for receiving a common data signal comprising display data that is broadcast to the subscriber decoders, said display data being coded according to the hypertext markup language; a display data processor for processing said data signal to provide a display signal according to said display data that is suitable for reproduction on a television that is associated with the at least one subscriber decoder; and a user command processor operatively associated with said display data processor; wherein: the television is adapted to provide a display with at least one of graphical and textual information in response to said display signal; and said user command processor receives user commands in accordance with said display and invokes a corresponding function call for controlling a conventional television function of the television.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The receiver of claim 15, further comprising: an input for receiving a video programming service signal; and a video processor for processing said video programming service signal; wherein: said display data signal provides information regarding said video programming service signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The receiver of claim 16, wherein: said video processor is responsive to said user command processor for invoking said function calls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein: said display data processor is responsive to said user command processor for allowing a user to invoke hyperlinks for viewing selected portions of said display data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein said display data provides a viewer input field in said display for allowing viewing of an associated video programming service signal on a pay-per-view fee basis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein: a relationship between said function calls and said conventional television function is determined according to a uniform resource locator syntax.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein: said data signal and an associated video programming service signal are carried together in a digital transport data stream that is broadcast to said receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said data signal comprises information coded according to an HTVP uniform resource locator (URL) syntax for defining said function calls.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: said data signal comprises information coded according to an HTVP uniform resource locator (URL) syntax for defining said function calls.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein: said data signal comprises information coded according to an HTVP uniform resource locator (URL) syntax for defining said function calls.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said conventional television function includes changing a channel of the television.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said conventional television function includes at least one of: returning a text string representing a channel number; returning a text string representing a channel name; enabling or disabling audio muting; adjusting a volume; returning a program name; recording a purchase of a specified item with an item identifier; setting a language preference; and transmitting a quoted string using an infrared blaster.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said conventional television function includes changing a channel of the television.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said conventional television function includes at least one of: returning a text string representing a channel number; returning a text string representing a channel name; enabling or disabling audio muting; adjusting a volume; returning a program name; recording a purchase of a specified item with an item identifier; setting a language preference; and transmitting a quoted string using an infrared blaster.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein: said conventional television function includes changing a channel of the television.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
67 words
The receiver of claim 15, wherein said conventional television function includes at least one of: returning a text string representing a channel number; returning a text string representing a channel name; enabling or disabling audio muting; adjusting a volume; returning a program name; recording a purchase of a specified item with an item identifier; setting a language preference; and transmitting a quoted string using an infrared blaster.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |