Digital television with subscriber conference overlay

FIELD OF INVENTION

P-0001[0001] The invention relates to digital television systems, particularly to subscriber video conferencing with conventional programming.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

P-0002[0002] Digital television (DTV) attributes have been standardized by industry (e.g., Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and government (U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)). Such DTV standards, which provide enhanced multimedia quality, as well as interactive data services, are hereby incorporated by reference. Generally, however, DTV specifications contemplate program delivery to various receiver units, but not necessarily communication between receiver units. Accordingly, there may be need for conferencing between units receiving digital system programming.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

P-0003[0003] The invention resides in digital television system configured for subscriber conference overlay during program delivery. Billing and advertisement may be personalized according to actual program viewing and/or conferencing activity by DTV receiver. Receiver unit includes media input/output device for multi-user conferencing. Subscribers may be added or removed during programming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

P-0004[0004]FIG. 1 is block diagram of integrated digital television program and data delivery system for enabling present invention.

P-0005[0005]FIG. 2 is simplified diagram of novel overlay of subscriber conferencing over program and/or data delivery.

P-0006[0006]FIG. 3 is representative digital TV subscriber unit used according to present invention.

P-0007[0007]FIG. 4 is sample digital TV display according to present invention.

P-0008[0008]FIG. 5 is flow chart of operational steps of present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

P-0009[0009]FIG. 1 is block diagram of integrated digital television program and data delivery system, including one or more residential <b>12</b>, mobile <b>14</b> and business <b>16</b> subscriber, receiver and/or digital television (DTV) units coupled over broadcast <b>6</b> and/or network <b>10</b> channels respectively to program <b>2</b> and/or data <b>4</b> sources. Controller <b>8</b>, which is one or more processor, server, computer or other functionally equivalent controller functionality coupled to broadcast <b>6</b> and/or network <b>10</b> channel, may affect network <b>10</b> and broadcast <b>6</b> functionality as described herein.

P-0010[0010] Program source <b>2</b> comprises one or more source for broadcasting one or more video and/or data programs, or other functionally equivalent information signal stream, according to conventional digital and/or analog program broadcasting, accessible or addressable publicly or privately over various broadcast <b>6</b> equipment, medium, or other functionally equivalent channels, such as cable, optical fiber, microwave, wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), multichannel multipoint distribution system (MMDS), local multipoint distribution service (LMDS), etc. For example, program <b>2</b> may comprise live sports or entertainment performance event, such as professional football game, broadcast over restricted pay-per-view television channels.

P-0011[0011] Data source <b>2</b> comprises one or more source for providing two-way or interactive access to one or more database, file, directory, or other functionally equivalent data repository site or signal source, accessible or addressable publicly or privately over conventional network <b>10</b>, such as local or wide area network, world-wide web Internet/intranet, or combination thereof, including, for example, network switch, router, bridge, gateway, hub, or other wired and/or wireless networking connection equipment for enabling ISDN, SONET, ATM, frame relay, gigabit Ethernet, TCP/IP, virtual private networks, xDSL, or other similar functionality. Additionally, data <b>2</b> may comprise text, graphics, video, or other digital or media information, such as current news update, photographic images, video or audio clips, sports statistics or analysis, stock quotes or financial data, weather forecast report, research data, commercial transaction details, product pricing, etc.

P-0012[0012] In accordance with important aspect of present invention, digital television system includes multiple receivers coupled selectively or programmably to program <b>2</b> and/or data <b>4</b> source over broadcast <b>6</b> and/or network <b>10</b> communications infrastructure, wherein conferencing or communication among DTV subscribers <b>18</b> occurs during program and/or data delivery. Consequently, controller <b>8</b> may send or transmit service bill indication to participating DTV units per actual program view or conference usage. As used herein, term “conference” or “conferencing” is interpreted broadly and understood to mean any communication between multiple parties.

P-0013[0013] Additionally, controller may facilitate electronic narrowcast delivery of personalized or customized commercial and/or non-commercial message to select DTV units. Controller <b>8</b> and/or subscribers <b>18</b> may employ one or more intelligent agents or functionally equivalent software constructs to search, obtain, or transact certain information or activity across network <b>10</b>. Controller <b>8</b> or subscriber unit <b>18</b> processor may selectively restrict or censor pre-defined program or data classes or titles, for example, to content screening criteria and/or procedure provided for so-called V-chip specifications. Preferably, each DTV receiver includes searchable and/or identifiable address and various multimedia input/output device capability for enabling video conferencing. Moreover, DTV units may be added or removed during conference period.

P-0014[0014] Accordingly, FIG. 2 shows overlay of subscriber conferencing <b>20</b> over program and/or data delivery to subscribers <b>18</b>. In this networked configuration, controller <b>8</b> effectively serves as broadband system headend processor for generating, forwarding, modifying, storing, accessing or otherwise controlling program/data delivery to subscribers <b>18</b>, while generating, forwarding, modifying, storing, accessing or otherwise controlling video conferencing signal transmission between subscribers <b>18</b>.

P-0015[0015] Preferably, such program/data signal generated, transmitted or otherwise processed to receiver units comply with established DTV standards, such as ATSC or other generally accepted industry DTV information or signal format and/or protocol interface, and video conferencing signal generated, transmitted or otherwise processed between receiver units comply with established video conferencing standards, such as H.323, H.324, H.320, T.120 or other generally accepted industry video/data conferencing information or signal format and/or protocol interface, such currently published or online-accessible standards being hereby incorporated by reference.

P-0016[0016]FIG. 3 shows digital television subscriber unit <b>22</b>, which may be implemented as one or more DTV receivers <b>12</b>, <b>14</b>, or <b>16</b> of FIG. 1. Preferably, DTV unit <b>22</b>, which functions in compliance with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard for DTV equipment and system operation, substantially includes display panel or screen with video frame buffer <b>24</b>, digital video-conferencing camera or image sensor <b>26</b>, microphone <b>28</b>, keyboard and/or mouse <b>30</b>, speaker(s) <b>32</b>, processor or controller <b>34</b>, digital memory or recordable video disk storage <b>36</b>, peripheral card reader <b>38</b>, remote control infrared interface <b>40</b>, network interface or modem <b>42</b> (e.g., for coupling to network channel <b>10</b>), digital compressed video encoder/decoder (i.e., according to Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) industry standards)), radio frequency (RF), broadband or wireless communications interface <b>46</b> (e.g., for coupling to broadcast channel <b>6</b>), and operating system, BIOS, browser, or other associated kernel software <b>48</b> for generally enabling system and controller <b>34</b> operation and network communications.

P-0017[0017] It is contemplated that ATSC-compliant DTV unit <b>22</b> may be embodied as well in personal or network computer, workstation, set-top television device, or functionally equivalent processing and associated network equipment, as configured to operate as specified herein according to present invention.

P-0018[0018] Moreover, controllers <b>8</b>, <b>34</b> execute one or more computer programs for performing functions as described herein, preferably according to embedded or real-time software syntax, such as JAVA and/or Windows CE, which currently published or on-line specifications are hereby incorporated by reference.

P-0019[0019] When DTV unit <b>22</b> operates according to present invention, sample display <b>24</b> screen output may be as represented in FIG. 4. In particular, display <b>24</b> may integrate, combine, mix, or otherwise include program <b>52</b> and/or data <b>54</b>, effectively through video frame buffer, with video conferencing windows from current (i.e., self) and/or other DTV participants <b>56</b> coupled thereto, preferably during program/data delivery. For example, each screen element <b>52</b>, <b>54</b>, <b>56</b> may be shown as picture within or adjacent to another picture element. In this overlaid manner, each DTV unit in select set displays common program and/or data stream, as well as conference video and audio signal output as generated from video camera and microphone from other participant DTV units.

P-0020[0020] Preferably, such program and/or video signals are compressed and encoded according to industry standard such as MPEG format. Display <b>50</b> may also show whiteboard-type screen commonly among participants <b>56</b> for jointly communicating text, graphics, or other observable or audible program or data, such as for workgroup or class collaboration to review or discuss draft documents, faxes, or other forms or files.

P-0021[0021]FIG. 5 shows operational flow chart, including steps for system configuration and subscription set-up <b>60</b>, program and/or data delivery <b>62</b>, participant conference <b>64</b>, and controller billing <b>66</b>. Preferably, controller <b>8</b>, serves as central processor to coordinate DTV unit set-up, user smart-card account authorization or identity authentication program/data and/or conference scheduling, programming, viewing, output formatting, conference access and communication, billing, advertising, and other associated activity, particularly for managing access to program <b>2</b>, data <b>4</b>, as well as DTV video conferencing signals <b>20</b>. To reduce latency, controller <b>8</b> may transmit static image instead of live video.

P-0022[0022] For example, controller <b>8</b> may authorize or cause certain DTV units to be added or removed dynamically from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, as well as restrict select DTV unit(s) from viewing certain program and/or data. Moreover, controller <b>8</b> monitors one or more actual program/data viewing and/or conferencing usage for appropriate billing. Furthermore, controller <b>8</b> may direct personalized or targeted commercial, incentive, or advertising messages to certain recognized demographic interest group, DTV subscribers or participant video conferencing parties.

P-0023[0023] Preferably, controller <b>8</b> directs such messages dynamically or adaptively according to current subscriber or participant information activity or needs, as well as product availability, market pricing, or other commercial attribute. Additionally, controller <b>8</b> may take corrective action or functional adjustment to redirect, restrict, control, or otherwise manage network, program/data, or other system resources, upon detecting actual or possible performance bottlenecks or other equipment or connection fault causing undesirable impact on such information delivery.

P-0024[0024] In one embodiment of present invention, DTV system is configured for luxury-suite type or other effectively exclusive membership multi-user conferenced viewing of live sports event, such that professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, or other competitive individual, team, or tournament telecast is provided as program <b>2</b> through broadcast channel <b>6</b>, including preferably statistical or background data <b>4</b> about player, team, or other related game aspect. In particular, controller <b>8</b> provides proper access by authorized DTV subscribers <b>18</b> to such sports program and/or data. Additionally, controller <b>8</b> coordinates or monitors video conferencing activity occurring directly or indirectly between DTV units watching common program/data stream.

P-0025[0025] Hence, for example, initially, during configuration subscription setup phase <b>60</b>, system or headend controller <b>8</b> begins to identify system configuration, network address, program order and account status of any subscriber units coupled thereto over broadcast <b>6</b> and/or network <b>10</b> channels. Commercial transaction may occur to define DTV receiver unit user subscriptions, particularly for authenticating, billing, scheduling, notifying, requesting or otherwise providing desired access to any upcoming or current program <b>2</b> or database <b>4</b>. As appropriate, controller <b>8</b> may conduct remote diagnostics over such channels to various units <b>12</b>, <b>14</b>, <b>16</b> to ensure proper functioning for signal delivery.

P-0026[0026] Next, program and/or data delivery may commence according to controller <b>8</b> programmable selection to enable digital transmission for electronic signal delivery <b>62</b> of certain program <b>2</b> and/or data <b>4</b> for presentation in integrated display <b>50</b> of selected or addressed DTV subscriber units <b>18</b>. Then, thereafter, prior, or simultaneously, select participants <b>56</b> are enabled for video conferencing <b>20</b>, particularly by allowing such participants to be monitored by activated video camera <b>26</b> and/or microphone <b>28</b>, for transmission of monitored static image or live motion video compressed encoded digital signal for presentation in display screen <b>50</b>. Upon completion of program/data delivery and conferencing activity, controller <b>8</b> may send proper billing indications to participant DTV units. Controller <b>8</b> may appropriately add or delete subscriber <b>18</b> in active database.

P-0027[0027] Therefore, in this combined DTV program/data viewing and select viewer conferencing scheme, important objective of emulating luxury-suite or otherwise more collaborative, intimate or personal conditions among associated audience members located at different locations is achieved effectively.

P-0028[0028] Optionally, while receiving program/data, conferenced subscriber may also send or receive electronic text message to other subscribers or other mail account addressable through network <b>10</b>, or run various application programs locally or in distributed client-server networked manner, preferably in common with other conferenced DTV units, such as for multi-user simulation or gaming application.

P-0029[0029] To improve system program/data broadcast or video conferencing performance, for example, when restricted effectively by channel bandwidth or traffic congestion, controllers <b>8</b>, <b>34</b> may reduce or eliminate actual transmission of full content video signal, and preferably transmit information subset, such as static image, text and/or voice.

P-0030[0030] Foregoing described embodiments of invention are provided as illustration and description. It is not intended to limit invention to precise form described. Other variations and embodiments are possible in light of above teaching, and it is thus intended that scope of invention not be limited by detailed description, but rather by claims as follow.