US6792618B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Viewer customization of displayed programming based on transmitted URLs
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1998-03-02
•
Granted: 2004-09-14
•
Expires: 2018-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or other network information identifiers embedded in television signals are processed in order to permit viewers to customize the display of a corresponding program. In an illustrative embodiment, at a time prior to the scheduled display of a program or portion thereof, a given viewer makes a selection of one of a number of available alternate characteristics for the program, such as one of a number of available alternate endings. At a later time, a base URL embedded in the television signal is extracted and processed using the viewer selection in order to generate a combined URL. The combined URL is then used to establish a connection over a network with a corresponding web site or other information source, and information is retrieved from the web site and stored in a memory. The retrieved information is subsequently taken from the memory and used to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer. For example, the retrieved information may include video which is displayed to the viewer in place of a portion of the program.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel J. Bendinelli
- 👤 Eugene J. Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/454; H04N21/4545; H04N21/45455; H04N21/45457; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6156; H04N21/6175; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6581; H04N21/80; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network information identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying a web site.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the modifying step includes the steps of: processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier; establishing a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier; retrieving information from the information source; and utilizing the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the modifying step includes the steps of: processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier; establishing a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier; retrieving information from the information source; and utilizing the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the retrieved information includes video, and the utilizing step includes displaying the video to the viewer in place of at least a portion of the program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the portion of the program replaced by the retrieved video includes a portion of the program occupying a designated period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the portion of the program replaced by the retrieved video includes a portion of the program occupying a designated space on a display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the retrieved information includes audio, and the utilizing step includes playing the audio to the viewer in place of at least part of an audio portion of the program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the television signal includes timing information, and the utilizing step includes utilizing the timing information to determine when the retrieved information should be displayed to the viewer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the television signal includes at least one of size and location information, and the utilizing step includes utilizing the at least one of size and location information to determine at least one of a respective size and location of a window in which the retrieved information is to be displayed to the viewer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the program characteristic selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the selection display is in the form of a web page retrieved using the additional network information identifier.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the program characteristic selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the program characteristic selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the network information identifier is transmitted as part of the television signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the network information identifier is transmitted on a signal associated with the television signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the network information identifier is transmitted on a subcarrier of the television signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the network information identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying a web site.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the processor is further operative: (i) to process the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier; (ii) to establish a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier; (iii) to retrieve information from the information source; and (iv) to utilize the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the processor is further operative: (i) to process the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier; (ii) to establish a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier; (iii) to retrieve information from the information source; and (iv) to utilize the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the retrieved information includes video which is displayed to the viewer in place of at least a portion of the program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the portion of the program replaced by the retrieved video includes a portion of the program occupying a designated period of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the portion of the program replaced by the retrieved video includes a portion of the program occupying a designated space on a display.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the retrieved information includes audio which is played to the viewer in place of at least part of an audio portion of the program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the television signal includes timing information which is used to determine when the retrieved information should be displayed to the viewer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the television signal includes at least one of size and location information which are used to determine at least one of a respective size and location of a window in which the retrieved information is to be displayed to the viewer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the viewer selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part by the processor using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the selection display is in the form of a web page retrieved by the processor using the additional network information identifier.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the viewer selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part by the processor using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the viewer selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part by the processor using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: means for receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and means for modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: means for receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and means for modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: means for storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer; and means for processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: means for storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer; and means for processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer; and processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer; and processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and changing the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and changing the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer; wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a tuner for receiving the television signal and extracting at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and a network interface for retrieving information designated by the extracted network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer, wherein the retrieved information is used to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast; wherein the retrieved information designated by the extracted network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer is retrieved at least in part based on another network information identifier different than the extracted network information identifier.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising: a tuner for receiving the television signal and extracting at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal; and a network interface for retrieving information designated by the extracted network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer, wherein the retrieved information is used to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast; wherein the retrieved information designated by the extracted network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer is retrieved at least in part based on another network information identifier different than the extracted network information identifier.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 33 further including a display for displaying the retrieved information to the viewer in place of at least a portion of the program.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the retrieved information used to change the content of the program includes video information.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the retrieved information used to change the content of the program includes audio information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | 2012-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-03-15 | 2016-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |