NOVOTNY, Christopher, J. (5606 Woodland Drive, Waunakee, WI, 53597, US)
SCHILLINGER, Jay, A. (1800 North Sunkist Circle, Depere, WI, 54115, US)
NOVOTNY, Thomas, F. (1540 River Pines Drive, Green Bay, WI, 54311, US)
NOVOTNY, Christopher, J. (5606 Woodland Drive, Waunakee, WI, 53597, US)
SCHILLINGER, Jay, A. (1800 North Sunkist Circle, Depere, WI, 54115, US)
CLAIMS
The principles of this invention having been explained in accordance with the foregoing, we claim as our invention, the following:
1. An interactive television system for use with a television that is used by a 5 viewer to view television program content, the system comprising: means for creating a signal that is a carrier for television program content and alternative program segments; means for feeding the signal and program content to the television; means for cuing the viewer at a point during the television program o content; and means for the viewer to select between two or more alternative program segments presented at the cue point; wherein the viewer is able to create a television program that is created by alternative program selections made by the viewer. 5 2. The interactive television system of claim 1 wherein the carrier signal fed to the television comprises multiple layers of program content.
3. The interactive television system of claim 2 further comprising means for feeding the viewer selection back to the signal creation means whereby the viewer selection initiates the feed of alternative program content from a secondary layer of o program content to the television.
4. The interactive television system of claim 2 wherein the carrier signal fed to the television comprises a multiplexed single channel and the interactive television system further comprises means for feeding the viewer selection back to the signal creation means by means oτ the multiplexed single channel whereby the viewer selection initiates the feed of alternative content from the multiplexed single channel to the television.
5. The interactive television system of claim 2 wherein the means for cuing the viewer comprises means for providing a plurality of cues to the viewer throughout the program.
6. The interactive television system of claim 2 wherein the program content is configured as a hierarchical program content tree structure that includes a plurality of nodes comprising alternative program segments for each node and a plurality of branches comprising links between the nodes.
7. The interactive television system of claim 2 wherein the means for creating a signal is one from a group consisting of a terrestrial television broadcast channel; a cable television broadcast channel; a DVD playback device and a DVD; an HD DVD playback device and an HD DVD; a BD playback device and a BD; or the internet.
8. The interactive television system of claim 2 wherein the means for creating a signal includes a data store and a program content processor, the signal feeding means includes drive playback circuitry, and the cuing means includes an input processor, wherein the input processor is electronically connected to the program content processor to selectively feed alternate program segments from the data store when such segments are selected by the viewer.
9. The interactive television system of claim 8 wherein the data store is one from a group consisting of a terrestrial television broadcast channel; a cable television broadcast channel; a DVD playback device and a DVD; an HD DVD playback device and an HD DVD; a BD playback device and a BD; or the internet.
10. An interactive television method for use with a television set that is used by a viewer to view television program content, the method comprising the steps of: creating a signal that is a carrier for television program content and one or more alternative program segments; feeding the signal and program content to the television; cuing the viewer at a point during the television program content; and having the viewer select between two or more alternative program segments presented at the cue point; wherein the viewer is able to create a television program that is created by alternative program selections made by the viewer.
11. The interactive television method of claim 10 wherein the carrier signal fed to the television comprises multiple layers of program content. 12. The interactive television method of claim 11 further comprising after the viewer selection step, the step of feeding the viewer selection back to the signal creation means whereby the viewer selection initiates the feed of alternative program content from a secondary layer of program content to the television.
13. The interactive television method of claim 11 wherein the carrier signal feeding step includes providing a set-top box and a multiplexed single channel and the interactive television method, after the viewer selection step, the step of further comprises, feeding the viewer selection back to the set-top box whereby the viewer selection initiates the feed of alternative content from the multiplexed single channel to the television.
14. The interactive television method of claim 11 wherein the cuing step comprises the step of providing a plurality of cues to the viewer throughout the program. 15. The interactive television method of claim 11 wherein the signal creation step includes the step of generating a hierarchical program content tree structure that includes a plurality of nodes comprising alternative program segments for each node and a plurality of branches comprising links between the nodes.
16. The interactive television method of claim 11 wherein the signal creating step comprises creating a signal is one from a group consisting of a terrestrial television broadcast channel; a cable television broadcast channel; a DVD playback device and a DVD; an HD DVD playback device and an HD DVD; a BD playback device and a BD; or the internet.
17. The interactive television method of claim 11 wherein the step of creating a signal includes the step of providing a data store and a program content processor, the signal feeding step includes the step of providing drive playback circuitry, and the cuing step includes the step of providing an input processor, wherein the input processor is electronically connected to the program content processor to selectively feed alternate program segments from the data store when such segments are selected by the viewer.
18. The interactive television method of claim 17 wherein the data store providing step comprises providing a data store that is one from a group consisting of a terrestrial television broadcast channel; a cable television broadcast channel; a DVD playback device and a DVD; an HD DVD playback device and an HD DVD; a BD playback device and a BD; or the internet. |
APPLICATION FOR UNITED STATES PATENT
SPECIFICATION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM AND METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to televisions and to television user interfaces that allow the user to change the screen display of the television. More particularly, it relates to an interactive television system, and a related method, that allows a viewer to systematically select variable screen displays and to vary the content of the screen display and alter the viewing experience, all in accordance with a pre-programmed scheme and at the choosing of the viewer. It also relates to such a system that allows the viewer to achieve the same interactive functionality from, and to select content from, a variety of different sources, including pre-recorded content and television broadcast content. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Televisions have been an important media for decades. The television is an important source of news, education and entertainment in most households in this country and throughout the world. Televisions and systems for televisions allow television sets of current manufacture to receive and display feed from multiple broadcast channels. To some degree, very basic interactivity with a television set is allowed where the television viewer is free to activate and move between channels to alter program selections. This is typically accomplished by using an infrared light
emitter disposed within a remote control device and an infrared receiver built within the television set. In broadcast communications, including television, multiple sources of information are combined by multiplexing such that program content can be converted, transported, and then converted again. That is, the program content is transported in a manner that is different from that in which it is used. For example, multiplexing can be the combination of two or more higher level channels of program contents into a single lower level channel. The current basic forms of multiplexing are time-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing, and wavelength-division multiplexing, the last typically being limited to optical communications. Multiplexing also results in the ability to interleave audio and video program content into one coherent stream, as well as to interleave portions of different signals in time, frequency or wavelengths.
Interleaving can be done in units or blocks of units of information, such as bits or bytes.
When coupled with a device for playing back pre-recorded content, such as a digital video disk, a television set is also capable of receiving and displaying feed from the media contained within the play back device. Just as controls allow the viewer to change channels, the same or similar controls allow the viewer to alter the display feed from the play back device. Using the same infrared light technology, a viewer can use a remote control to play and re-play certain portions of pre-recorded content from the media and can move ahead to skip other content, pause, fast forward, rewind, and so on. The playing device and its control also allow the viewer some additional limited interaction with the content. For example, a typical DVD that contains movie content will allow the viewer, when prompted, to "play" the content or to "scroll down" along a
"menu" to select from a list of other options such as "special features" and the like. All of this technology is well known in the art.
Today, such play back devices most typically include optical readers such as digital video disk (DVD) players, high definition digital video disk (HD DVD) players, and blu-ray disk (BD) players. DVD players operate using optical red laser technology to read the content of a disk that is produced under a DVD video standard. Although DVD players are typically connected to a television set, there are some portable devices that have an integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) screen for convenient viewing of program content wherever the user may be. In a typical format, a DVD player must read the DVD disk in ISO-UDF version 1.2 universal disk format. The player optionally decrypts the data using contact-scrambling system (CSS) and/or Macrovision algorithms. The player then decodes the MPEG-2 video stream with a maximum of ten Megabits/second (at peak playback) or eight Megabits/second (at continuous play). At the same time, the DVD player decodes the sound content in MP2, PCM or AC-3 format and output (with optional AC-3 to stereo down sampling) on a stereo connector, optical or electric digital connector. The DVD player will then output a video signal, either an analog signal (in phase alternative line (PAL), NTSC, or SECAM format) on the composite, s-video, or component video connectors, or a digital signal on the DVI or HDMI connectors. Most DVD players include a home cinema decoder, such as Dolby Digital or Digital Theater Systems (DTS). Some newer devices also play videos in the DivX video compression format popular on the Internet.
HD DVD is a next-generation digital optical media format that has substantially greater storage capacity than DVD technology. HD DVD typically has a single-layer
capacity of 15 Gigabytes and a dual-layer capacity of 30 Gigabytes of storage, greatly surpassing that of the typical DVD at 4.7 Gigabytes and 8.5 Gigabytes, respectively.
HD DVD also has the potential for backward compatibility with DVD technology. That is, HD DVD players are being developed to allow viewers to have a single drive to play both DVD and HD DVD disks with the same playback unit. Players of this type use a single-lens optical head that includes both red and blue laser diodes since HD DVD operates using a shorter wavelength (405 nanometers) blue laser. HD DVD format employs the same video compression techniques (MPEG-2, etc.) as DVD technology.
BD is another next-generation optical disc format meant for storage of high- definition video. BD gets its name, "blu-ray," from the blue-violet laser that it uses to read and write to the disk. Like an HD DVD, a BD is able to store substantially more data than a DVD because of the shorter wavelength (also 405 nanometers) of the blue- violet "read" laser. DVD uses a longer wavelength (650 nanometers) red "read" laser. It is this higher storage capacity of the BD technology that allows much greater content to be written onto the disk, thus allowing greater viewing time and viewing options to be written onto the BD as well, thus making BD technology competitive with HD DVD technology. It is to be understood, however, that the system and method of the present invention could be used with DVD, HD DVD or BD technology as well as with any other optical media technology that has yet to be developed. In the view of these inventors, there is a need to provide an interactive television system and method whereby program content, animated or otherwise, includes cues or prompts to the viewer such that the viewer can alter his or her viewing experience by selecting alternative content options during the viewing of the program content. Such
aiierπaiive content options are best represented as a hierarchical tree structure having a plurality of nodes and branches. Each node, other than the root node which would represent initial program content, provides an alternative program segment and each branch connects nodes to allow program development to diverge in multiple directions. In this fashion, a viewer who is watching a program could, for example, watch a program segment up to a certain point. At that point, the viewer would be cued or prompted to select from at least two program options. Selection of a first program option would allow the viewer to watch a first segment of optional program content. Selection of a second program option at this point would, instead, allow the viewer to view a second segment of optional program content. A plurality of such points could be contained within the program content such that the viewer could create, for example, a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer. This type of a system and method would maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer.
In an alternative embodiment, the system and method of the present invention could utilize un-cued or un-prompted interruption of the program content, initiated at the discretion of the viewer, to change the program content at a point chosen by the viewer. This would, for example, allow a viewer to change the viewing field from that of an observer to that of a participant in the program content. It could also allow the viewer to change viewing vantage points and other viewing alternatives could be selected as well.
In another alternative embodiment, the system and method of the present invention could be used for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment. In
another alternative embodiment, the viewer would be. able to similarly select story lines during the broadcast of television content using multiplexing technology, for example, to carry the variable story lines along a single broadcast channel. In still another alternative embodiment, the viewer could accomplish the same but when using "on demand" broadcast technology. In this way, each individual viewer could control the content of his or her viewing experience. In "live" broadcast situations, each individual viewer that accesses the program content would be able, for example, to alter his or her viewing experience by following a favorite player in a sporting event and the event develops, or follows a specific participant in a reality television program, all the while also broadcasting the primary program content to those who choose to view it. In this way, the viewer would create a unique viewing experience for his or her viewing pleasure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new, useful, and uncomplicated interactive television system and method whereby program content, animated or otherwise, includes cues or prompts to the viewer such that the viewer can select alternative content options during the viewing of the program content. It is another object of this invention to allow a viewer who is watching a program to watch a program segment up to a certain point. At that point, the viewer would be cued or prompted to select from at least two program options. It is still another object of this invention to allow the viewer to select a first program option that would allow the viewer to watch a first segment of optional program content. Selection of a second program option at this point would, instead, allow the viewer to view a second segment of
optional program content, IT is yei another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of such points within the program content such that the viewer can create a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer. It is still another object of the present invention to provide this type of an interactive television system and method to maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an interactive television system and method for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment. It is still another object of the present invention to provide yet another alternative embodiment where the viewer would be able to similarly select story lines during the broadcast of television content using multiplexing technology to carry the variable story lines along a single broadcast channel. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide still another alternative embodiment where the viewer could follow specific characters, athletes, and the like during live broadcasting to alter the viewing experience as such is desired or required by the viewer, and at his or her selection.
The present invention has obtained these objects. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides for a system that includes a television set having a screen display and an audio speaker. In this embodiment, the television set receives its input program signal directly from a playback device by way of an electrical connection between the television set and the playback device. When a remote control device is aimed at an infrared receiver in the playback device reads the infrared light emitted from the remote control device. Contained within the playback device is an
input processor that receives the signal from the remote control unit and then processes that input to prompt a program content processor which retrieves data in electronic format from a data store. In the case of a DVD, HD DVD or BD player, the data store would be the DVD, HD DVD or BD disk itself, as well as any other media that has yet to be developed. The program content processor is then used to feed signal and program content to the playback, or drive, circuitry which is the source of the program content that is viewed on the user interface. The input processor and the playback circuitry are used to select program content such that a user viewing a visual field of program content is periodically prompted or cued to select between two or more program options. Upon selection, the program option selected is displayed until the next prompt or cue is presented where the user again selects between two or more additional program options. Various options are presented until the program content concludes.
An alternative embodiment provides the ability to play back alternative program options is accomplished by means of conventional broadcast (i.e., terrestrial aerial or satellite) or cable television programming. In this embodiment, the program content processor would be hosted by the broadcast or cable television source or by a local "set-top" box. In the case of cable viewers, an integrated cable return path enabled platform would allow the viewer to use the "transmit" cable as a "return path" cable. In the case of conventional broadcast, interaction with programming that is broadcast can be downloaded to a set-top box that would allow the viewer to choose alternative program content. This alternative program content could include alternative story lines or the ability of the viewer to follow a specific character throughout a story, among other things. This alternative program viewing ability could also be extended to include "live"
broadcast program content where the viewer can selectively choose to follow specific locations, characters, among other things, during the live broadcast. Various other alternative embodiments and configurations for the system and method of the present invention are also contemplated by these inventors and are incorporated herein. As alluded to earlier, the program content of a given embodiment of the invention is best represented as a hierarchical tree structure having a plurality of nodes and branches. Each node, other than the root node which would represent initial program content, provides an alternative program segment and each branch connects nodes to allow program development to diverge in multiple directions. As a viewer views initial program content starting at the root node and branches into other nodes of alternative program content, a unique viewing experience is provided to the viewer. This also allows the viewer to develop alternative viewing experiences.
The foregoing and other features of the system and method of this invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system that uses a broadcast channel that is fed to a television set in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an alternative system that uses a playback device to feed program content to the television set in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the system shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the functional components in greater detail.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the method that is used with the system in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the functionality of the flow chart shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a schematic tree structure illustrating the hierarchical nature of one embodiment of program content in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements refer to like elements throughout, Fig. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a system that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the system includes a conventional television set 10 having a viewing screen 12 and an audio speaker 14. Obviously, the viewing screen 12 conveys visual program content to the user and the speaker 14 conveys concomitant audio program content. The television set 10 can be controlled in a conventional manner by aiming a remote control device 20 at an infrared receiver 16 of the television set, the remote control device 20 emitting an infrared light signal 24 upon actuation of a control button 22. It is to be understood that the remote control 20 would likely have more than one button 22 but rather a plurality of such buttons 20 for controlling the different modes of functionality of the television set 10. Reception of a program channel that is being broadcast by a television station antenna 30 is received by means of an antenna device 18. The antenna 18 is configured to receive and transmit the electromagnetic wave 32 that emanates from the tower 30 and carries the broadcast channel information with it. It should also be understood that the system illustrated in Fig. 1 could also be arranged to obtain broadcast program information by means of a dedicated cable television input line which would be substituted for the antenna 18 as shown in Fig. 1. The scope of the present invention is
intended to encompass both transmission methods. As mentioned earlier, the electromagnetic wave 32 would be the carrier for multiplexed program content.
Referring now to Fig. 2, it illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a system that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the system includes the same television set 10 having a screen display 12 and an audio speaker 14. In this embodiment, the television set 10 receives its input program signal directly from a playback device 40 by way of an electrical connection 19 between the television set 10 and the playback device 40. As was true with the remote control device 20 as previously described, such a device 20 can be used to control the playback device 40 by means of an infrared receiver 42 disposed within the playback device 40. When the remote control device 20 is aimed at the infrared receiver 42 and the control button 22 is actuated, the receiver 42 reads the infrared light 24 emitted from the remote control device 20.
Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the system illustrated in Fig. 2 can be illustrated in slightly greater detail. More specifically, the television set 10, which can also be considered to be a "user interface" device 10, is electrically connected 19 to the playback device 40, the playback device 40 being controlled by the remote control unit 20 as previously described. Contained within the playback device 40 is an input processor 50 that receives the signal 24 from the remote control unit 20 and then processes that input to prompt a program content processor 60 which retrieves data in electronic format from a data store 80. In the case of a conventional DVD, HD DVD or BD player 40, the data store 80 would be the DVD, HD DVD or BD disk itself. The program content processor 60 is then used to feed signal and program content to the
piayDacK, or drive, circuitry fu which is the source of the program content that is viewed on the user interface 10.
In the case of conventional broadcast television or cable television, the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 would need to be modified such that the data store 80 would essentially consist of the receive transmit from the terrestrial aerial or the cable path. For example, in the case of conventional broadcast where multiplexing technology is used, the viewer would be able to alter the viewing content by returning information to the broadcaster or by return information that is provided to a set-top box (not shown) to provide this interactivity. Cable television viewers who receive their programs by means of a cable, where the integrated cable includes a return path- enabled platform, the viewer can use the same transmit cable as the return path cable. In the case of cable television broadcasting, the data store 80 could, for example, be a remote server that is simply accessed locally by the viewer. The same type of an arrangement could be used where the viewer was accessing program content via the internet, in which case the data store 80 would also be a remote server that is simply accessed locally by the viewer. Broadcast viewers would experience difficulty in returning information to the broadcaster since the broadcast is typically a one-way transmit. Truly interactive systems would require that a signal be sent back to the broadcaster by some means, such as conventional telephone lines, etc. Interactivity in the conventional broadcast mode is, however, still enabled by broadcasting and downloading the program content to the data store 80 from which the viewer can choose alternative program content along the lines described above.
The system and method of the present invention contemplates an interactive television system whereby the program content, as fed to the television set 10 by way of a live broadcast channel, a cable, a playback device, or even the internet, can be altered by a "prompt" or "cue" to the viewer to do so during program playback. Fig. 4 illustrates the flow chart for this concept. Starting with a visual display or visual field of program content 100 on the user interface 10, the visual field consisting of moving frames of program content, for example, runs to a point where the viewer is given a first program segment option cue 102. It is to be understood that the "prompt" or "cue" could be either visual alone or audio alone, or a combination of audio and visual. At this point, the viewer selects one of two program segment options 104, 106. As shown, the view can select program option "A" 104 or program option "B" 106. It is to be understood that the program options are not limited at any particular point of cue 102 to two program options 104, 106, and such is not a limitation of the present invention. Two or more program options may be used at any such point of cue 102, depending upon the program content or the program segment desired by the viewer. Assuming in this application that the viewer selects program option "A" 104, the visual field of program option "A" 108 is displayed and continues on the user interface 10, together with any associated audio program content. At some point during the playback of this segment of the program content, a second program option cue 110 is provided to the viewer. The point in time when this cue 110 occurs is subject to the particular program being played. At this time, the viewer must again select alternative program segment options 112, 114. At this point in the particular embodiment that is illustrated, the viewer selects either program option "AA" 112 or program option "AB" 114. As shown, the viewer
selects program option "AB" 116 and the visual field of the program option "AB" 116 is played, together with any associated audio program content as well. This sequence continues in accordance with a pre-programmed scheme to provide the viewer with alternative viewing experiences, alternative story lines and alternative educational and entertainment experiences until the end of program content 118 is reached. In the case of "live" broadcast situations, the program option cues 102, 110 could instead be used by the viewer to switch between scenes, characters, or other program variables used with the broadcast. For example, in the case of a live sports broadcast, the viewer could observe the performance of a particular athlete who is participating in the sporting event. The "cue" for this interactivity would be essentially continuous and would be a viewing option that is continuously accessible by means of multiplexing technology. By way of another example, in the case of a live "reality" television program, the viewer could observe the performance of a particular participant who is participating in the reality television event. Here again, the cue for this interactivity would be essentially continuous and would be a viewing option that is continuously accessible by the viewer by means of multiplexing technology.
As alluded to earlier, MPEG (Motion Pictures Expert Group) is an encoding and compression system for digital multi-media program content. MPEG-2 video is an extension of MPEG-1 video. MPEG-1 video was targeted at coding progressively scanned video at bit rates up to 1.5 Megabits/second. MPEG-2 extends the basic MPEG system to provide compression support for television quality transmission by providing extra algorithms for efficiently coding interlaced video and supporting a wide range of bit rates. In other words, MPEG-2 provides a way to compress digital video
signal into a manageable bit rate. Because the MPEG-2 video standard provides good compression using standard algorithms, it has become the standard for digital television. The key to MPEG-2 video is also the fact that the total "bit stream" may be structured in layers, starting with a base layer and adding refinement layers to reduce distortion or improve resolution, among other things. While analogous to multiplexing technology in that the viewing result is similar from the perspective of the viewer, the MPEG-2 video technology is quite different from true multiplexing.
The MPEG-2 video compression algorithm achieves very high rates of compression by exploiting the redundancy in video information. It removes both temporal redundancy and spatial redundancy that are present in motion video, for example. Temporal redundancy results when successive frames of video display images of the same scene result in content of the scene remaining fixed or changing only slightly between successive frames. Spatial redundancy arises because parts of the video picture are often replicated within a single frame of video. The compressed video stream is therefore a variable bit rate stream where transmission links frequently require fixed transmission rates. The key to controlling transmission rate is to order the compressed data in a buffer by decreasing detail. A number of levels and profiles have been defined for MPEG-2 compression. Each describes a useful subset of the total functionality offered by MPEG-2 standards. MPEG-2 also provides the ability to use a return channel to allow the user to control the content or scheduling of the transmitted video and audio data. MPEG-2 defines an interaction channel using digital storage media command and control (DSM-CC).
Referring now to Fig. 5, it illustrates yet another schematic representation of the functionality for the control logic that is illustrated in Fig. 4. Using the data store 80 as the basis for all program content, a "bit stream" of MPEG-2 video program content 200 is provided along a first layer. During the first layer 200 playback, the first program cue 202 is encountered by the viewer. At that point, the viewer is presented with a cue to select from program option "A" 104 or from program option "B" 106. See Fig. 4. As shown, the viewer selects program option "A" 104. Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be seen that this results in a second layer of bit stream 210 being accessed for playback. Contained within this second layer 210 the content of program option "A" 216 and the content of program option "B" 218. Because the viewer has not selected program option "B" content 218, the viewer will instead view the program option "A" content 216 to the point that a second program option cue 212 is encountered. At this point, the viewer is again presented with alternative program options "AA" and "AB" 112, 114. As before, the viewer selects program option "AB" 114 and is then able to view the program option "AB" 228 that is contained within the bit stream layer 220. Because of the viewer's selection, the program option "AA" content 226 will not be viewed by the viewer. This sequence can continue over time 230 to present the viewer with a complete story line or other entertainment or educational viewing experience. In this way, the viewer is able to interactively experience alternative story lines, alternative adventures, and so on. It should also be noted that, in the example given above, although the program option "AA" content 226 is not viewed by the viewer at the time of his or her selection of program option "AB" content 228, the program option "AA" content 226 can still be viewed in a subsequent viewing of the program content 200,
" with " the result that the viewer's viewing experience is different in that subsequent viewing, which is the intended result of the present invention. By allowing the viewer to change the viewer's program content 200 from the data store 80, whether it resides locally or remotely, the viewer is provided with a truly interactive viewing experience. Referring now to Fig. 6, it illustrates a graphical representation in tree structure form, generally identified 300, of an exemplary story line that could be used with the system and method of the present invention. In this sample story, a character 304, given the name LITTLE SHERLOCK™, holds a magnifying glass 302 that can be used graphically to fill a viewer screen 12 or user interface, as previously described. Although intended to be presented in an animated form in this example, it is to be understood that the method and system of the present invention may also be used with non-animated program content. In the story, the magnifying glass 302 is intended to be used to display images in it, such as the general story line illustrated. The magnifying glass 302 would fill the screen 12 with viewing options as they are presented to the viewer and viewing choices as they are made by the viewer.
Using the exemplary tree structure 300 shown in Fig. 6, it should be noted that all tree structures have a single element, or "node," from which all other elements "branch" out. The tree structure 300 illustrated also has a display, or node, that has no superior. That is, the starting node or display 310 would be considered as the "root" or "root node" of the tree structure 300. Lines are used to connect the elements or nodes to one another, if the elements or nodes are to be connected and a relationship established between such elements or nodes. An element or node is considered to be a "parent" of another element or node if it is one step higher in the hierarchy and thus closer to the
root element or node, uonversely, an element or node is considered to be a "child" of another element or node if it is one step lower in the hierarchy and thus further away from the root element or node. An element or node that shares a parent element or node with another element or node, and at the same level of hierarchy, is considered to be a "sibling" element or node. The lines that connect the elements or node together are "branches" of the tree structure 300. The tree structure 300 hierarchy illustrated in Fig. 6 best describes the functionality of the method and system of the present invention, understanding of course that the specific hierarchy shown is dependent upon the program content and number of alternative program segments that are contained within a viewed program. The types and sequences of programs that are available in the system and method of the present invention would be without limit.
Referring back to Fig. 6, and as the exemplary story initially develops, a first display 310 is presented which reads as follows:
STORY DEVELOPS Freddy the Firetruck and Donald the Dump
Truck are hanging out. Donald unloads some rocks and picks up some dirt. Donald goes down a path and drives off screen and doesn't come back. Little Sherlock comes in to help Freddy find Donald. There are 3 paths to take: boat slip, city road, country path.
At this first display 310 point, which is the root node or element, the screen would reveal three possible routes, or branches, for the interactive viewer to select from: a boat slip path 312, a city path 314, or a country path 316. In this example, it is to be noted that the root node or display 310 can be said to have three children, but such is not a limitation of the present invention. More or less branches and children may be
presented to the viewer. If the viewer selects the boat slip path 312, a second display 322 is presented which reads as follows:
BOAT SLIP PATH
Freddy the Firetruck and Little Sherlock realize that they shouldn't be underwater. They ask a fish how to get out. The fish tells them that sometimes a fish net comes down and picks up fish. They might be able to ride a fish net up. Freddy and Sherlock find a fish net and a tunnel into a cliff wall.
If the viewer instead selects the city path 314, a third display 324 is presented which reads as follows:
CITY PATH Freddy and Sherlock come to a railroad crossing with tracks running across the street. There is also a sign for the boat docks and an arrow that points in the opposite direction of the tracks. Freddy remembers that Donald likes both trains and boats, so they need to decide which way to go.
If the viewer selects the country path 316, a fourth display 326 is presented which reads as follows: COUNTRY PATH
Freddy and Sherlock find a fork in the road. Each path has a clue. One has dirt and the other has rocks. They need to remember what Donald had in his body.
Regardless of which branch or path 312, 314, 316 the viewer selects, the corresponding node or display 322, 324, 326, respectively, is also preferably accompanied by audio and visual content that matches the display. That is, once the selection is made, the viewer will watch a portion of program content that relates to that selection. In the previous example given relative to Fig. 5, this could be realized as a
first layer of program content 210 where three program options, instead of just two, reside.
Continuing with this example, at the conclusion of the playback of the second display 322, the screen and/or the audio component would reveal two possible branches or routes for the interactive viewer to select from: a dead end path 331 or the boat docks path 332. If the viewer selects the dead end path 331 , a fifth display 342 is presented which reads as follows:
DEAD END
The tunnel is a dead-end and they find a clam that tells them a story. They turn around and get in the net.
This fifth, or dead end path, display 342 would be considered an "end node" since it has no nodes that are children nodes branching from it. If the viewer instead selects the boat docks path 332, a sixth display 344 is presented which reads as follows:
BOAT DOCKS
Billy the Boat at the boat docks tell Freddy and Sherlock that a construction worker might be able to tell them where Donald might be found. Then a construction worker and a policeman
(traffic cop) are found. They can choose one of them.
It should be noted that the viewer can also reach this sixth display 344 by selecting the boat docks path 333 at the conclusion of the city path display 324. If the viewer selects either one of the train tracks paths 334, 335 from the city path display
324 or the country path display 326, respectively, a seventh display 346 is presented which reads as follows:
TRAIN TRACKS Freddy and Sherlock come across train tracks on the edge of town. They ask Teddy the train
if they've seen him. He says they might want to try the new building that they are building. They go and see 2 buildings, one has iron skeleton, the other has window cleaners.
If, on the other hand, the viewer selects the wrong path 336 from the country path display 326, the following eighth display 348 would be presented:
WRONG PATH
Half-way down the path, Freddy remembers that Donald had dirt in his body. They turn around and go down the other path.
From the boat docks display 344, the screen would reveal two possible routes for the interactive viewer to select from: the policeman path 351 or the Donald found path 352. If the viewer selects the policeman path 351 , a ninth display 362 is presented which reads as follows:
POLICEMAN
The policeman tells them that he doesn't know.
Similarly, from the train tracks display 346, the screen reveals two possible routes: the Donald found path 353 or the window cleaners path 354. Selecting the window cleaners path 354, a tenth display 366 is presented which reads as follows:
WINDOW CLEANERS
The window cleaners explain to Freddy and Sherlock what they are doing and that the other building is being constructed. If the viewer selects either one of the Donald found paths 334, 335 from the boat docks display 344 or from the train tracks display 346, respectively, the last display 364 is presented which reads as follows:
DONALD FOUND
They " find Donald unloading the dirt next to the building.
At this point, the viewer has successfully, and entertainingly, reached the end of the story line. Depending upon making alternative viewing selections at the various points of cue, the viewer may replay the program content with a completely different story line and adventure, depending upon the nodes or displays and branches used by the viewer in the hierarchy of the tree structure 300.
It is also to be understood that the functionality described above could be accomplished with a terrestrial or cable transmission-based system where the television signal is multiplexed such that multiple transmit signals can be used to contain multiple program content and multiple receive signals for feed back from the viewer option selections as made above but by using a set-top box for accessing variable story lines contained within the multiplexed channel. It is also to be understood that the functionality described above could be accomplished by a data store 80 that is in a location that is remote from the viewer, such as in the case of the internet-based use, or local to the viewer, such as where a playback device 40 is used.
In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that there have been provided in this disclosure several embodiments of a new, useful, non-obvious and uncomplicated interactive television system and method whereby program content, animated or otherwise, includes cues or prompts to the viewer such that the viewer can select alternative content options during the viewing of the program content. The system and method of this invention allows a viewer who is watching a program to watch a program segment up to a certain point. At that point, the viewer would be cued or prompted to select from at least two program options. The system and method of this invention
allows the viewer to select a tirst program option that would allow the viewer to watch a first segment of optional program content. Selection of a second program option at this point would, instead, allow the viewer to view a second segment of optional program content. The system and method of the present invention provides a plurality of such points within the program content such that the viewer can create a story line of his or her choosing throughout the program, thus giving the viewer a truly interactive viewing experience where any number of selections by the viewer would create completely different stories for the viewer. The system and method of the present invention provides this type of an interactive television system and method to maximize the viewing enjoyment of the viewer. The system and method of the present invention provides such an interactive television system and method for educational purposes as opposed to pure entertainment. The system and method of the present invention provides yet another alternative embodiment where the viewer would be able to similarly select story lines during the broadcast of television content using multiplexing technology to carry the variable story lines along a single broadcast channel and to follow particular characters during the broadcast or to view particular areas and subjects of interest to the viewer, and at the interactive viewer's discretion.
The embodiments described in this application are not exhaustive but are, instead, recited for purposes of explanation and enablement to one skilled in the art.
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