System for interactive television

[0001] [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a television system. [0002] [Conventional technology] A television receiver is a ubiquitous device similar to an Internet-compatible computer device. Here, users often purchase two separate devices for receiving television broadcasts and accessing the Internet. That is, the user needs to purchase a television receiver in order to watch a television program, and purchase a computer device in order to access the Internet. Purchasing these devices is expensive, you have to secure a place for each device, and it is difficult to enjoy watching TV programs and accessing the Internet in one room at the same time. It may become. [0003] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In addition, many users are accustomed to operating television receivers and their remote controllers, but are not accustomed to operating Internet-compatible computer devices. Such users can enjoy the benefits of simple, straightforward, and intuitive Internet interaction without requiring extensive Internet access. For example, many users want to access the weather forecast site and traffic information site before going to work and easily access the latest information without knowing the operation of the web browser in detail. Therefore, it would be useful if an Internet access device that can be operated easily and intuitively, such as a remote controller for a television receiver, could be realized. [0004] Attempts have been made to incorporate Internet functions into television receivers, but the above-mentioned user requirements have not been fully satisfied. For example, "Web Television (Web) In a system known as "TV)", preselected Internet pages are incorporated into television equipment during the manufacturing process. The preselected internet page could not be updated later and had to use a computer keyboard to access this internet page via the television receiver, which was cumbersome for the user. .. Each page is not updated, and the automatically updated traffic information, weather forecast, news, etc. cannot be viewed immediately. Instead, the user needs to use one of the preselected pages to access the central site and specify the desired web page again. Given the expected speed of current Internet access, the above operations are very time consuming and cumbersome. In addition, many users simply turn on the television receiver and use a relatively simple remote controller to access the latest information that is updated from time to time without any hassle. In such a device, the user must perform a browser or a browser-like operation. [0005] In addition, current devices such as those described above provide the same predetermined web page for all preselected users. Here, it would be useful to be able to customize the web page provided for each user. As a result, the user can enjoy useful Internet access that could not be enjoyed in the past. [0006] Also, the web television system described above required a keyboard to access the website. However, users are accustomed to using simpler input devices, such as remote controllers. In this way, existing systems that integrate television receivers and Internet-enabled computers are not seamless, and such systems are individual for individual devices built into a common enclosure. It was necessary to perform different operations using the input device of. Such operations were complicated for the user and confused the user. An object of the present invention is to satisfy one or more of the user's requirements as described above. [0007] [Means for solving problems] The information providing method according to the present invention enables a user to access the Internet by using a television device including at least one television tuner and corresponding to a plurality of television channels and at least one virtual channel. .. The virtual channel displays the information corresponding to the web page. Web page updates are periodically sent to the television device, which periodically updates the virtual channel. [0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the content of the virtual channel is stored in a memory in the television apparatus. Alternatively, the content of the virtual channel may be stored in a memory located remote from the television device. In either case, the updated data uses a digital subscriber line, cable modem line, other internet or network connection, wireless or wired connection, or vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the television signal. Will be sent. [0009] In a preferred embodiment, the user's operation signal generated by the user responding to the prompt displayed by using the television channel or the virtual channel by using the remote controller of the conventional television apparatus is used. Receive. A user profile is constructed based on this operation signal. In addition, at least one virtual channel is established or updated based on this user profile. The operation information may be first supplied and stored in a memory in the television device, and later transferred from the television device to a site located remotely. [0010] Further, based on the present invention, an information providing method for displaying a television image and a web page on a single interactive television device detects a television signal in a television tuner in ITV. Depending on the channel selection operation by the user, the content of the television channel or the web page associated with the virtual channel is displayed on the ITV. Web pages associated with virtual channels are such that the first version of the web page is displayed through the virtual channel first, and then the second version of the web page is displayed via the virtual channel. , Changed or updated. [0011] As another specific example, the present invention provides an information providing method for displaying the contents of a television channel or a web page for establishing a virtual channel on an interactive television. In this information providing method, a user's operation signal is received via a remote controller of a conventional television, and a virtual channel is established based on the operation signal. This information providing method includes a step of displaying either a television channel or a virtual channel based on the user's channel selection operation. [0012] As another specific example of the present invention, an information providing method for displaying a television channel content or a web page for establishing a virtual channel on an interactive television receives user data and establishes a virtual channel based on the user data. It may have steps. Either a television channel or a virtual channel is displayed based on the channel selection operation by the user. [0013] In another embodiment, the gateway screen of the interactive television apparatus comprises a television content panel and an internet content panel. The data on the gateway screen may be cached in the memory of the television. The gateway screen allows the user to watch both television content and Internet content at the same time. Further, the gateway screen may be displayed when the power of the interactive television device is turned on, or may be displayed when the power of the interactive television device is turned off, and the user operates the gateway screen display button. You may display it when you do. [0014] Further, the interactive television apparatus according to the present invention includes a gateway screen displayed on the display of the interactive television apparatus. The gateway screen includes a television content panel and an internet content panel. The gateway screen is preferably displayed when the interactive television device is turned on. Alternatively, the gateway screen may be displayed when the power of the interactive television device is turned off, or may be displayed when the user operates the gateway screen display button. In a preferred embodiment, the gateway screen display button is provided on the interactive television apparatus main body or the corresponding remote controller. Preferably, the television content panel displays content from the television signal source and the internet content panel displays content from the web server. [0015] In another embodiment, the interactive television system comprises a web server, an interactive television system server, a television signal source, and an interactive television apparatus. The interactive television device receives information from a web server, an interactive television system server, and a television signal source. In addition to this, the interactive television device periodically displays a gateway screen that includes a television content area and an internet content area. [0016] As another specific example, the present invention provides an information providing method for displaying a gateway screen on an interactive television device. The gateway screen allows the user to display information from two or more of the web server, the interactive television system server, and the television signal source on the interactive television device. [0017] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows interactive television. television: Hereafter, it is called ITV. ) Shows the configuration of system 10. The ITV system 10 comprises one or more content providers 12 that supply various types of content to one or more web servers 14 (here, for the sake of brevity, one content provider 12 and one web server 14). Shows only). The web server 14 accesses the content database 16 and stores data in the content database 16. The content of the web server 14 is not limited to, for example, a hypertext markup language (HTML) page, a ".jpeg" or ".gif" image file, ".avi" or ". It can be any kind of data, such as ".mpeg" video files, audio files, video streams, etc. [0018] In a preferred embodiment, the ITV system 10 comprises an ITV system server 18. The ITV system server 18 includes, for example, the Web portal of Sony Corporation (Web). portal) may be used. Alternatively, the ITV system server 18 is a customer database (customer). It may be a web server computer accessing database) 20. As will be described later, the customer database 20 can store customer information or customer profiles that can be used to customize the virtual channel for each customer. Virtual channels are essentially downloaded and numbered content. This number may be the same number as a conventional television channel, for example, a channel number following a sequence of numbers of the television channels that can be viewed. When the user selects the channel number of the virtual channel using the remote controller of the television receiver, the ITV receiver described later displays the information corresponding to the virtual channel as a web page or a series of web pages. In one embodiment, the content of the virtual channel is stored in the memory built into the ITV receiver and is periodically updated via the Internet or based on the vertical blanking interval of the traditional television signal. .. In another embodiment, the content of the virtual channel is stored in a remote device from the ITV receiver, such as a web server, and streamed to the ITV receiver in real time via a high-speed Internet access connection. [0019] The servers 14 and 18 based on the present invention may be realized by any suitable computer such as an Internet server computer, a personal computer, a laptop computer, and a mainframe computer. [0020] Servers 14 and 18 are accessed by ITV receivers 22 of multiple users (only one ITV 22 is shown in the figure for the sake of brevity) via the Internet 24. Further, each user's ITV receiver 22 receives the television signal 26 from the television signal source 28. Source 28 may be a plurality of terrestrial broadcasting stations, cable television companies, satellite broadcasting companies, and the like. While looking at the display area 32 of the ITV receiver 22, the user operates the same handheld remote controller 30 for the television receiver as before, and selects various functions of the ITV receiver 22 as described later. be able to. The remote controller 30 is not similar to a keyboard or keypad in a computer device. That is, the remote controller 30 includes a number button, up / down / left / right direction buttons, a power button, and other buttons similar to the remote controller for a conventional television receiver. The function of the remote controller 30 can also be assigned to the conventional television operation button provided on the ITV receiver 22. Here, a keyboard, a keypad, a motion sensing (gesture) device, a voice recognition input device, or the like may be further used. [0021] [0021] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the ITV receiver 22. In the specific example described below, the ITV receiver 22 includes not only a display, but also a microprocessor, a virtual channel memory, and a single housing that houses all the electronic components shown in FIG. The term "interactive television" is meant to include television tuners and any device that has a virtual channel function described below. For example, the term "ITV receiver" is used not only for television receivers with a single housing as shown in FIG. 2, but also for conventional television receivers combined with set-top boxes that function under the present invention. Also includes. In the specific examples described below, the set-top box may include, for example, a microprocessor and memory described below. [0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the ITV receiver 22 includes a housing 34 for accommodating a conventional television tuner 36 and the like. The television tuner 36 receives the television signal 26 and supplies the selected signal to the two-contact switch 42. The two-contact switch 42 is controlled via the user interface 40 to transfer the signal of the television channel (first switching position) or the signal of the virtual channel selected by the user (second switching position) to the display 32 of the ITV22. Supply. The user interface 40 may include an infrared receiver for receiving a remote control signal from the remote controller 30, or another wireless receiver. Further, the user interface 40 is not limited to the following, but the user can operate the cursor displayed on the electronic channel guide, the web page icon, etc. displayed on the display 32 by using the remote controller 30. A graphic user interface may be provided to allow the desired channel to be selected. [0023] As mentioned above, the user can select virtual channels as well as television channels. In the present invention, the virtual channel is not the television channel itself, but a web-based channel stored in a memory or other data storage 44 in the housing 34. The memory or other data storage 44 may be any of a computer memory, a hard disk drive, an optical storage medium drive, a semiconductor memory, a tape recording medium drive and any other suitable data storage medium. [0024] The microprocessor 46 is also housed in the housing 34, and the microprocessor 46 is interconnected with the memory 44, the television tuner 36, the switch 42, etc. via the internal data bus 47, and is described below. Perform logical steps like that. The microprocessor 46 assigns a channel number to a virtual channel, or maintains and manages a table in which a television channel and a virtual channel and a correspondence relationship between the channel number are registered. [0025] As a result, for example, when the electronic channel guide is displayed on the display 32 of the ITV22, the virtual channel is also listed in the channel list. Virtual channels are often indicated by channel numbers and channel names after traditional television channels. [0026] Alternatively, the virtual channel may be stored remotely from ITV22, for example, if sufficient data transfer rates are supported to achieve real-time transfer, then the virtual channel to ITV system server 18 When saved and the user selects a virtual channel in real time via the Internet (or network), this virtual channel may be transferred to ITV22 in real time for display on the display 32. In each case, the ITV 22 comprises a modem 48 for communicating with the Internet 24. The modem 48 may be any of a cable modem, a conventional twist pair cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a wireless modem and other suitable communication devices. Note that a single high speed data cable (either cable or fiber optic) may be used to transmit both Internet data and television signals. [0027] In each case, the modem 48 feeds the web-based signal to the mixer 49, which mixes the web-based signal fed by the modem 48 with the associated signal from the television tuner 36. .. For example, if a cable newscast virtual channel is selected, web-based content will be combined with news programs that are actually broadcast from the relevant news broadcaster, and the news will be broadcast within the virtual channel window. Is displayed at the same time. When the user selects a virtual channel, the signal from the mixer 49 is supplied to the display 32 via the switch 42. The mixer 49 may be implemented, for example, with a "Geode" chip manufactured by National Semiconductor. As described above, a television receiver with any one or more of a microprocessor 46, a memory 44, a modem 48, a mixer 49 and a switch 42 in a separate set-top box, a tuner 36 and a display 32. It may be electrically connected to the set-top box. [0028] The microprocessor 46 controls the operation of the ITV22 based on the logical steps shown below. The flowchart described below represents a logic module of the present invention realized by computer program software. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this flowchart represents the structure of a computer program code element or a logic element such as an electronic logic circuit that functions based on the present invention. In a basic embodiment, the invention is realized as a machine component that supplies instructions to a digital processing device (eg, a computer or microprocessor) by means of logical elements to execute a sequence of functional steps described herein. It's clear that you can. The internal logic may be as simple as a state machine. [0029] In other words, this logic can be realized as a series of instructions that can be executed by a computer, for example, as a computer program executed by a processor such as an existing microprocessor or server. These instructions may be recorded on a hard disk, for example loaded into a random access memory of a suitable computer, magnetic tape, read-only electronic memory, or any other suitable. It may be stored in a storage device. [0030] The overall logic is shown in Figure 3. First, in step 50, the television signal 26 is supplied to the tuner 36 in real time. Here, it is assumed that the power of ITV22 is already turned on. In step 52, the user uses the remote controller 30 to supply a channel selection signal to the microprocessor 46 via the user interface 40. In step 54, the microprocessor 46 controls the switch 42 based on this channel selection signal to display the selected television channel or virtual channel on the display 32. [0031] If a virtual channel is selected, the microprocessor 46 reads the associated web page from memory 44 to display that channel. If the content of this virtual channel is stored on a web server 14 that is remote from the ITV22 (in this case, the ITV22 supports high speed internet access), the microprocessor 46 will purge the associated web. Is read directly from a specific server and displayed on the channel. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the ITV 22 can directly access the web server 14 instead of the ITV system server 18. [0032] In the present invention, the virtual channel is not merely a fixed web page over the product life of the ITV22. The virtual channel is updated periodically when the original web page in each web server 14 is updated. Therefore, the process proceeds from step 54 to step 56, where a DO loop is executed on either or both of the web server 14 and the ITV system server 18. This DO loop may be executed periodically, based on user interaction, or automatically by sending commands from the microprocessor 46 over the Internet 24. [0033] In step 58, it is determined whether or not each virtual channel has been updated on the corresponding website. The determination in step 58 may be made by the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 if the current content of the virtual channel of the ITV 22 is known to the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 or (usually the virtual channel). May be done by microprocessor 46 (if is stored in local memory 44). For example, the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 sends information about the update to the microprocessor 46, and the microprocessor 46 is based on this information whether the virtual channel stored in the memory 44 is the latest version. Judge whether or not. If the virtual channel is the latest version, the process proceeds to step 56. On the other hand, if the version of the virtual channel is old, the process proceeds to step 60 and downloads the entire or preferably the updated part of one or more web pages corresponding to the virtual channel. This download may be done via television signal 26 during the vertical return period and memory via internet 24 (or other network) and modem 48 (digital subscriber line, cable modem line or wireless modem line). This may be done by reading the data into 44. In either case, the content of the virtual channel is updated regularly. [0034] FIG. 4 shows the process of determining or changing the virtual channel that can be displayed in a specific ITV 22 by the microprocessor 46. First, in step 62, if the user needs to be prompted for input, a prompt is displayed. This prompt is currently being viewed by sending prompt data during the vertical return period of the television channel being watched, or by sending prompt data over the internet if the virtual channel is being watched. Appears on the channel. Alternatively, the channel selected by the user may be recorded and used to build the user profile. [0035] In step 64, a signal based on the user's response is supplied. This response is usually made using the remote controller 30, but other input devices as described above may be used here. The prompt may directly ask the user what kind of virtual channel they are interested in. Alternatively, the prompt may ask for the user's personal preferences from multiple topics, or may ask for personal demographics such as the user's age and occupation. [0036] In either case, in step 66, the information based on the user's response is stored in memory. In step 68, information based on this response is transmitted by either the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 (often the ITV system server 18). This transmission is performed via the Internet after the response information by the user is stored, for example, during a low-usage time period. Instead, when the ITV 22 is always connected to the Internet, the microprocessor 46 may send the received user response information to the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 as it is without storing it in the memory. [0037] In step 70, the ITV system server 18 builds a user profile to predict what kind of content the user will like in the ITV 22 virtual channel, using a well-known model based on the user's response information. To do. In step 72, the microprocessor 46 builds or modifies the virtual channel of the ITV 22 by downloading new content via the vertical blanking interval or modem 48 using the user profile. [0038] FIG. 5 shows the process of displaying the gateway screen by the microprocessor 46. In step 80, when the ITV22 is turned on or the gateway screen display button is operated, a DO loop is started and the process described below is executed. In step 82, the gateway screen is displayed on the display 32 of the ITV22. The gateway screen is read from memory 44 or streamed from ITV system server 18 in real time. [0039] In a preferred embodiment, the gateway screen is used as a starting point for accessing both television and web-based content available via the ITV system 10. Since the content that can be used via the Internet 24 and the television signal 26 is wide-ranging, for example, the first reference screen such as the gateway screen can be used by a user who does not have detailed knowledge of the Internet 24 and its contents to use the ITV system 10. Very useful when accessing available internet information through. The gateway screen may be the screen that is displayed first when the operation of ITV22 is started, or may be the screen that is displayed last after the operation of ITV22 is completed. Alternatively, the gateway screen may be displayed at any time during the operation of the ITV22, for example, by operating the gateway screen display button provided on the remote controller 30. [0040] The gateway screen preferably displays various information at a glance. As a result, the user can know the information provided from a plurality of sources such as the web server 14, the ITV system server 18, and the television signal source 28 at a glance at the gateway screen. In addition, the gateway screen also allows the user to select a popular source. Since the gateway screen is frequently accessed, it is desirable that the contents of the gateway screen be cached in the memory 44 of the ITV22 and updated frequently. [0041] In step 84 shown in FIG. 5, the user can interact with the ITV system 10 through the gateway screen. The user interacts with the ITV system 10 by using the remote controller 30 to move the cursor in the gateway screen and display further information. Next, in step 86, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the gateway screen for a predetermined period such as 5 seconds. Here, if there is no change in the gateway screen, the process proceeds to step 88 and the gateway screen is deleted. Then, in step 90, this logic ends. On the other hand, in step 86, if there is a change in the gateway screen, such as when the user moves the cursor to display different information and interacts with the ITV system 10, the process returns to step 84 and the above logic is repeated. .. [0042] FIG. 6 shows, for example, a television unit such as the ITV22 described above. A specific example of the gateway screen is shown in the display area 32 of the ITV22. The gateway screen configuration shown in FIG. 6 is only one example of many gateway screen configurations. In the specific example shown in FIG. 6, the gateway screen has a television content panel 100 and an internet content panel 102. Each of the panels 100 and 102 provides the user with information about the content provided by the television or Internet content provider, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the content of the internet panel 102 is associated with the content of the television panel 100. For example, the content of the Internet panel 102 may be content from a cable news network website, and the content of the television panel 100 may be broadcast video or onboard memory supplied in real time from the television tuner 36. The video may be cached in 44 and played back in a loop. [0043] When the content provider is the television signal source 28, the television content panel 100 is inserted into the currently broadcast video based on the television signal 26, a part of the video, or, for example, during the vertical return period. The information extracted from the television signal 26, such as the information provided or the information contained in the transmission stream of the digital television signal, is displayed. On the other hand, when the content provider is a server such as a web server 14 or an ITV system server 18, the Internet content panel 102 directly displays the Internet content or extracts information from the server and displays the extracted information. [0044] Further, the configuration of the gateway screen and the information displayed on the gateway screen may be customized according to different situations such as a date and time and access conditions. That is, the gateway screen may have a plurality of content panels including a panel for starting the system, a panel for shutting down the system, and different content panels for different dates and times. Content panels 100, 102 function as links to each content provider. That is, the user selects a panel through each content panel, for example, using a cursor control device, and sends an access selection command (in other words, a point-and-click operation is performed) to a specific content provider. You can access it. Further, the user can access a specific area of a specific content provider through a specific area of each content panel. For example, the television content panel 100 can display video content from an unmodified news broadcast. Here, for example, when the user selects a panel by a point-and-click operation, the image of this broadcast channel is displayed in full screen. In addition, the Internet Content Panel 102 can display news headlines from one or more news websites and / or virtual channels. Here, when the user further selects the Internet content panel 102, the information of the corresponding website is displayed in full screen. In addition, when a particular headline is selected, the ITV system 10 displays the text corresponding to this headline or the portion of the website corresponding to this headline. [0045] FIG. 7 shows the process of determining or changing the configuration of the gateway screen provided by the ITV 22 by the microprocessor 46. In step 110, for example, when the gateway screen setting button provided on the controller 30 is operated, the DO loop is started and the process described below is executed. At step 112, the user is prompted to enter information about the gateway screen preferences. For example, suppose a user wants the Internet Content Panel 102 of ITV System 10 to display information about top news articles. In this case, the user is prompted to ask what kind of website or virtual channel associated with the website should be displayed on the gateway screen. In response, in step 112, the user enters information about his or her preferences in response to the prompts displayed. The response to the prompt is usually performed by using the remote controller 30. [0046] In any case, at step 114, this response is stored in memory. Next, in step 116, information based on the user's response is transmitted to either server 14 or 18 (usually the ITV system server 18). This transmission is performed via the Internet after the response information by the user is stored, for example, during a low-usage time period. Instead, when the ITV 22 is always connected to the Internet, the microprocessor 46 may send the received user response information to the web server 14 or the ITV system server 18 as it is without storing it in the memory. Next, in step 118, the configuration of the gateway screen of ITV22 is determined or changed by using the information regarding the preference input by the user. [0047] As a result, the ITV system server 18 displays customized content information such as the content of a specific television channel 26, a specific web server 14 and / or a specific virtual channel on the content panels 100 and 102 of the gateway screen. To do. A particular panel, such as the Internet Content Panel 102, may display a list of topics currently being broadcast from other sources, such as news programs. [0048] Although the specific interactive television system based on the present invention has been described in detail above, the specific examples described herein represent preferred embodiments of the present invention and a wide range of means intended by the present invention. Yes, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention also includes other embodiments, and therefore the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims. The singular form of the element in the claims means "at least one". Structures and functions equivalent to the elements of the above-mentioned specific examples that are well known to those skilled in the art are incorporated herein by reference and are included in the scope of the present invention. Further, the apparatus or method does not necessarily correspond to each or all of the problems to be solved by the present invention, but is included in the claims of the present invention. Moreover, the elements, components, and processing steps described herein are not intended to be publicly known, whether or not they are expressly indicated in the claims. Each element of the claims is not defined under the provisions of Section 112, paragraph 6 of the US Patent Act, except when the expression "means for" is used. [Simple explanation of drawings] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an interactive television system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive television device based on the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the entire process based on the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of establishing and / or changing a virtual channel. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a gateway screen display logic. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a gateway screen. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for constructing or changing a gateway screen.