US7243139B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated Internet information segments
Assignee: OpenTV Inc
•
Filing: 2004-01-22
•
Granted: 2007-07-10
•
Expires: 2024-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed in a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Ullman
- 👤 Jack D. Hidary
- 👤 Nova T. Spivack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/70; G06F16/74; G06F16/748; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0269; G06Q30/0277; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/322; H04N21/239; H04N21/2393; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/262; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/4722; H04N21/80; H04N21/85; H04N21/854; H04N21/8547; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the system comprising: an encoder, wherein the encoder encodes the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and a transmitter for transmitting the programming signal; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to a user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the system comprising: an encoder, wherein the encoder encodes the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and a transmitter for transmitting the programming signal; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to a user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the encoder and the transmitter are located at a Web hosting site.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the program is a previously recorded program on a recording medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the program comprises video and audio and the encoder embeds the address in a non-presented portion of the program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the programming signal is in digital format.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the method comprising: combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and transmitting the programming signal to a user; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, the method comprising: combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and transmitting the programming signal to a user; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 8 , wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as described in claim 8 , wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 8 , wherein the program comprises video and audio and the address is embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as described in claim 8 , wherein the programming signal is in digital format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as described in claim 8 , wherein the programming signal is in analog format.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer readable medium containing instructions for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, by: combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and transmitting the programming signal; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer readable medium containing instructions for providing a programming signal containing a program and at least one address identifying online content relating to the program from an online information source, by: combining the address, the program, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal; and transmitting the programming signal; wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program and the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the steps of combining and transmitting are performed at a Web hosting site.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein the program is a previously recorded program on a recording medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the address is an Internet URL, the URL identifying the online information source which is an Internet site.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the online information source is an Internet service provider.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the program comprises video and audio and the address is embedded in a non-presented portion of the program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the programming signal is in digital format.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the programming signal is in analog format.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address useable for retrieving over a network from at least one server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising the steps of: providing the at least one address; generating a signal carrying the video programming; encoding the signal to carry the at least one address, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and transmitting the signal encoded with the at least one address to a viewer, wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address useable for retrieving over a network from at least one server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising the steps of: providing the at least one address; generating a signal carrying the video programming; encoding the signal to carry the at least one address, and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and transmitting the signal encoded with the at least one address to a viewer, wherein, the address can be used to automatically retrieve and play online content to the user in conjunction with the program, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method as described in claim 22 , further comprising the steps of creating at least certain ones of the on-line information segments retrievable from respective ones of the at least one server, storing the created on-line information segments at respective ones of the at least one network server, providing at least one address for retrieving the created on-line information segments, and encoding the signal to carry the at least one address and timing indicia for retrieving the created on-line information segments in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming carried thereon before transmission thereof to the viewer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 22 , wherein the decoding of the encoded signal is carried out in proximity to where the viewing of the video programming and the on-line information segments takes place.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as described in claim 22 , wherein the decoding of the signal is carried out remotely from where the viewing of the video programming and the related on-line information segments takes place, and the at least one address extracted from the encoded signal is provided to the viewer over the network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as described in claim 22 , wherein the network comprises the Internet; the at least one address comprises at least one uniform resource locator; the at least one server comprises at least one Internet web site; and the on-line information segments comprise at least one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at least Internet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address for retrieving over a network from at least one network server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising: a source of the at least one address; a source of a signal carrying the video programming; an encoder responsive to the source of the at least one address for encoding the signal carrying the video programming to carry the at least one address and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and a broadcast system for transmitting the encoded signal to a viewer, wherein the address can be used to automatically retrieve on-line information segments over the network from the at least one server for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with viewing of the video programming, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for transmitting to a viewer video programming and at least one address for retrieving over a network from at least one network server on the network on-line information segments having content related to the video programming for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with the video programming, comprising: a source of the at least one address; a source of a signal carrying the video programming; an encoder responsive to the source of the at least one address for encoding the signal carrying the video programming to carry the at least one address and timing indicia for controlling when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming; and a broadcast system for transmitting the encoded signal to a viewer, wherein the address can be used to automatically retrieve on-line information segments over the network from the at least one server for viewing in respective predetermined timing relationship with viewing of the video programming, wherein the timing indicia controls when the address is used for retrieving online content relating to the program into the programming signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system as described in claim 27 , further comprising a computer coupled to the network for creating at least certain ones of the on-line information segments and for sending the created on-line information segments to respective ones of the at least one server on the network for storage therein, wherein the encoder encodes the signal with at least one address and timing indicia for retrieving the created on-line information segments in respective specified timing relationship with the video programming.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as described in claim 27 , wherein the network comprises the Internet; the at least one address comprises at least one uniform resource locator; the at least one server comprises at least one Internet web site; and the on-line information segments comprise at least one web page retrieved over the Internet from the at least one Internet web site using the at least one uniform resource locator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as described in claim 27 , herein the signal is a television signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as described in claim 27 , wherein the television signal is analog.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as described in claim 27 , wherein the television signal is digital.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4572509A
Cited
GB2132856B
Cited
US5140419A
Cited
US4592546A
Cited
EP0163577B1
Cited
US5917725A
Cited
US4941040A
Cited
US4734764A
Cited
US5759101A
Cited
US5697844A
Cited
US5128752A
Cited
US5208659A
Cited
US5365346A
Cited
US5191410A
Cited
EP0314572B1
Cited
US4877408A
Cited
US4894789A
Cited
US4905094A
Cited
US4931865A
Cited
US5014125A
Cited
JPH088860Y2
Cited
EP0424648A2
Cited
USRE35498E
Cited
US5114155A
Cited
US5479268A
Cited
US5243528A
Cited
JPH04127688A
Cited
US5557316A
Cited
US5282028A
Cited
US5359510A
Cited
US5264933A
Cited
US5291486A
Cited
WO1993006675A1
Cited
WO1993007713A1
Cited
US5526035A
Cited
US5734413A
Cited
WO1993011617A1
Cited
US5861881A
Cited
US5724091A
Cited
US20020188943A1
Cited
US5462275A
Cited
US5610653A
Cited
EP0562221B1
Cited
US5262860A
Cited
WO1993022877A3
Cited
US5285278A
Cited
US5637844A
Cited
US5453794A
Cited
US5543849A
Cited
US6463585B1
Cited
WO1994013107A1
Cited
US5798785A
Cited
US5600364A
Cited
US5771307A
Cited
US5564073A
Cited
US5438355A
Cited
US5586937A
Cited
US5353283A
Cited
US5579055A
Cited
US5633918A
Cited
US5568390A
Cited
US5568390B1
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5758079A
Cited
US5481542A
Cited
US5649284A
Cited
US5941774A
Cited
US5855516A
Cited
JPH07288606A
Cited
EP0673164B1
Cited
US5570295A
Cited
US5534913A
Cited
US5668592A
Cited
US5585858A
Cited
US5537141A
Cited
US5724567A
Cited
US5539471A
Cited
US5586257A
Cited
JPH07307813A
Cited
USRE37957E1
Cited
US5948040A
Cited
US5801750A
Cited
US5848373A
Cited
US5782692A
Cited
US5572442A
Cited
WO1996004633A1
Cited
DE4427046A1
Cited
US5640193A
Cited
WO1996007270A1
Cited
DE4431438A1
Cited
US5593349A
Cited
US5619249A
Cited
WO1996008923A1
Cited
US5686954A
Cited
WO1996013124A1
Cited
US6064438A
Cited
US5724521A
Cited
US5878222A
Cited
US6029195A
Cited
US5771381A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-09 | 2011-01-08 | 2011-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-09 | 2015-01-08 | 2015-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-07-09 | 2019-01-08 | 2019-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |