CA2574181A1 - Television message system - Google Patents
Television message system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2574181A1 CA2574181A1 CA002574181A CA2574181A CA2574181A1 CA 2574181 A1 CA2574181 A1 CA 2574181A1 CA 002574181 A CA002574181 A CA 002574181A CA 2574181 A CA2574181 A CA 2574181A CA 2574181 A1 CA2574181 A1 CA 2574181A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- user
- television
- message
- program
- users
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/47815—Electronic shopping
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/02—Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q30/0601—Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/24—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests
- H04N21/2408—Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/251—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/252—Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
- H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
- H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
- H04N21/2665—Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
- H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
- H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
- H04N21/4316—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
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- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
- H04N21/44204—Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
- H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
- H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
- H04N21/44224—Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/4508—Management of client data or end-user data
- H04N21/4532—Management of client data or end-user data involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/454—Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
- H04N21/47211—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N21/4751—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N21/4753—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N21/4755—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N21/4756—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
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- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
- H04N21/4758—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for providing answers, e.g. voting
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4781—Games
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- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
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- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
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- H04N21/4786—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application e-mailing
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- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4788—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
- H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
- H04N21/6582—Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number
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- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
- H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
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- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
- H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
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- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
- H04N7/141—Systems for two-way working between two video terminals, e.g. videophone
- H04N7/147—Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals
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- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
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- H04N7/00—Television systems
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- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
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- H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
Abstract
A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. Users can send messages through the television message system to users at personal computers who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.
Description
TELEVISION 1~SSAGE SYSTEM
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional application Serial No. 60/099,301 filed August 26, 1998.
Backcrround of the Invention This invention relates to television message systems, and more particularly, to techniques for supporting 'the transmission of messages in a television environmer_t that may, include an interactive television program guide.
A popular aspect of the Internet and other networking environments relates to e-mail messages. A
network, or Internet user can send e-mail messages to other users of the network or the Internet. Messages are delivered to a server where they are held until downloaded by a client such as a personal compute..
The recipient o' a message can access it at any time from the server and read it at his convenience.
Television prog;aans are sometimes discussed in e-mail -~ssages. HOWcV2=, there is generally no way in which apses~ of a traditional e-mai 1 r:essage 5ystera may easily view a ~~levisic.~_ program w:_i l a excha~gir_g messages ~ho~~= that progra-~. A user -sight lOCate ~ a teleViSiO~ i=! the same room as the user~5 personal AMENDED SHEET
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional application Serial No. 60/099,301 filed August 26, 1998.
Backcrround of the Invention This invention relates to television message systems, and more particularly, to techniques for supporting 'the transmission of messages in a television environmer_t that may, include an interactive television program guide.
A popular aspect of the Internet and other networking environments relates to e-mail messages. A
network, or Internet user can send e-mail messages to other users of the network or the Internet. Messages are delivered to a server where they are held until downloaded by a client such as a personal compute..
The recipient o' a message can access it at any time from the server and read it at his convenience.
Television prog;aans are sometimes discussed in e-mail -~ssages. HOWcV2=, there is generally no way in which apses~ of a traditional e-mai 1 r:essage 5ystera may easily view a ~~levisic.~_ program w:_i l a excha~gir_g messages ~ho~~= that progra-~. A user -sight lOCate ~ a teleViSiO~ i=! the same room as the user~5 personal AMENDED SHEET
- 2 -computer, but such an arrangement would be awkward to view. Moreover, many households locate heir televisions in the living room, but are reluctant to locate their computers in the living room.
Although personal computers may be provided with tuner cards that allow television signals to be displayed on the computer mor_itor, many television viewers would prefer to view television on a tracritional television set. Television sets generally offer greater viewing areas than computer monitors, so that users need not sit nearly as close to a television screen as they would a computer monitor. Televisions sets are also typically located in rooms within the home that are more suitable for watch_ng television than where computers are typically located.
A system that attempts to integrate aspects of the Inte=net with the television viewing experience is available from WebTV Networks, Inc. of Palo FS to, California. The WebTV syste~~ perm-is television viewers to access the Interre~ throug:= a WebTV Plus Receiver connected to their television sets. The WebTV
Plus Receiver enables users to surf the World Wide Web on their television by connecting their televisions to the wpb-based WebTV Network =Trough a standard phone line. The iJebTV System perm-is users to view .
television. p=ograa-~ listings ?nd web s=tes related to television programs that apps=r in t~ program listings.
.'.~e WebTV system a.so prow=yes TV Crossover Lin'.ts tzar a?1ow use=s to access web s_tes that are ; i r ~ ' ~%~'j'V P1LS
.e_a~ad ~e tel ev_s_on o_ogr~:,s. Th._ ;i_~
Rece'_ver d==ects rata such as web 1=a:<s (i.e ..
unive.: sal =esource locators (LPL) ) teat is embedded in the .ideo c=oadcast and noti'_es users with a TV
AMENDED SHEET
Although personal computers may be provided with tuner cards that allow television signals to be displayed on the computer mor_itor, many television viewers would prefer to view television on a tracritional television set. Television sets generally offer greater viewing areas than computer monitors, so that users need not sit nearly as close to a television screen as they would a computer monitor. Televisions sets are also typically located in rooms within the home that are more suitable for watch_ng television than where computers are typically located.
A system that attempts to integrate aspects of the Inte=net with the television viewing experience is available from WebTV Networks, Inc. of Palo FS to, California. The WebTV syste~~ perm-is television viewers to access the Interre~ throug:= a WebTV Plus Receiver connected to their television sets. The WebTV
Plus Receiver enables users to surf the World Wide Web on their television by connecting their televisions to the wpb-based WebTV Network =Trough a standard phone line. The iJebTV System perm-is users to view .
television. p=ograa-~ listings ?nd web s=tes related to television programs that apps=r in t~ program listings.
.'.~e WebTV system a.so prow=yes TV Crossover Lin'.ts tzar a?1ow use=s to access web s_tes that are ; i r ~ ' ~%~'j'V P1LS
.e_a~ad ~e tel ev_s_on o_ogr~:,s. Th._ ;i_~
Rece'_ver d==ects rata such as web 1=a:<s (i.e ..
unive.: sal =esource locators (LPL) ) teat is embedded in the .ideo c=oadcast and noti'_es users with a TV
AMENDED SHEET
- 3 _ ..
Crossover Link watermark on t~~ television screen. The TV Crossover ~=nks permit users to link to web sites through the Internet related to the television program that the user is watching. The user can view the Web site and the television program simultaneously through the WebPIP picture-in-picture function. If the web site supports e-mail features, the user might then send an e-mail message through the Internet while watching a television program. The WebTV system also provides users with e-mail accounts for sending and receiving e-mail through the Internet. A user can access a Web riome page rrom which he can send and receive e-mail.
Interactive television program guides implemented on set-top boxes allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a channel-ordered grid of C'.lrren t program listin gs. The user may also use the progra~-n guide to search for programs in a desired programming category such as sports, movies, news, or the like. If desired, the program guide may be used to order pay-per-view arogras-nming.
U.S. Patent No. 5,83,927 to Ely et al.
described a system discloses a videoconferencing system between settop controllers; a_~_c a tel2phore service in which a user can receive a telephone call over a telephone r_'twork. Internat_onal application WO 9~/1~23~-'_ discloses a reprc;=~-nma.bl a set top terminal for a te12t1.S7.0I1 program del?'i=ry SyS~P:~I ',rlhlCh suggests programs fo= viewing. International application WO 90/41478 discloses an e1?ccYonic progra~r~ schedule system with access to both scored t212vision.program AMENDED' SHEET
Crossover Link watermark on t~~ television screen. The TV Crossover ~=nks permit users to link to web sites through the Internet related to the television program that the user is watching. The user can view the Web site and the television program simultaneously through the WebPIP picture-in-picture function. If the web site supports e-mail features, the user might then send an e-mail message through the Internet while watching a television program. The WebTV system also provides users with e-mail accounts for sending and receiving e-mail through the Internet. A user can access a Web riome page rrom which he can send and receive e-mail.
Interactive television program guides implemented on set-top boxes allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a channel-ordered grid of C'.lrren t program listin gs. The user may also use the progra~-n guide to search for programs in a desired programming category such as sports, movies, news, or the like. If desired, the program guide may be used to order pay-per-view arogras-nming.
U.S. Patent No. 5,83,927 to Ely et al.
described a system discloses a videoconferencing system between settop controllers; a_~_c a tel2phore service in which a user can receive a telephone call over a telephone r_'twork. Internat_onal application WO 9~/1~23~-'_ discloses a reprc;=~-nma.bl a set top terminal for a te12t1.S7.0I1 program del?'i=ry SyS~P:~I ',rlhlCh suggests programs fo= viewing. International application WO 90/41478 discloses an e1?ccYonic progra~r~ schedule system with access to both scored t212vision.program AMENDED' SHEET
- 4 -schedule in=ormation and. data feeds containing status information: such as live sports. International application WO 96/25006 discloses an interactive broadcast system in which customers can order goods or services from vendors. International application WO 93/22877 discloses a cable system that provides conventior_al cable services in traditional manners and interactive television information services on a demand basis using switching arrangements.
Previously known systems have not provided~an integrated system allowing television viewers to view television programming and to exchange messages with other television viewers independent of the Internet.
Previously known systems also have not provided television viewers with the opportunity to send messages to exclusively other viewers of a television program or channel. Previously known interactive program guides have not contained a feature that allows television viewers to exchar_ge messages with each other.
is therefore an object.of the present inver_tior_ to provide a television message system that provides a television viewer with an opportunity to view =elevis_on progra::,ming and to exchange messages related to =he television programming to other television viewers that does not rely solely on the Inte=net_ is also an object of the present invention to pr:,vide an interactive te_wision program guide that 3~ COI:r~-ns ?~c~~ag°_ fea''.:=e5.
Su?"''''~=V O' .:Z2 l:ly2nt'_0:'1 ___ se and o.._.e_ .,,_ -s o~
a '~ r c'~~~c:. ~ the invention are acre-.plis:~e~ in acco=dance ~_~ h the principles bf the AMENDED SHEET
. 61009-468D
- 4a -present invention by providing a television message system that receives television programming over a communications path from a television distribution facility such as a cable system headend. The television message system allows users to transmit messages relating to a given television program to users who are currently watching that television program.
The message system allows messages to be transmitted between users at user television equipment devices. The user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility (such as a cable system headend) by coaxial cables or other suitable communications paths that carry television signals. In an illustrative configuration, the system eliminates the need for additional communications paths physically separate from the paths that carry WO OOI13415 PCTlUS99I19541
Previously known systems have not provided~an integrated system allowing television viewers to view television programming and to exchange messages with other television viewers independent of the Internet.
Previously known systems also have not provided television viewers with the opportunity to send messages to exclusively other viewers of a television program or channel. Previously known interactive program guides have not contained a feature that allows television viewers to exchar_ge messages with each other.
is therefore an object.of the present inver_tior_ to provide a television message system that provides a television viewer with an opportunity to view =elevis_on progra::,ming and to exchange messages related to =he television programming to other television viewers that does not rely solely on the Inte=net_ is also an object of the present invention to pr:,vide an interactive te_wision program guide that 3~ COI:r~-ns ?~c~~ag°_ fea''.:=e5.
Su?"''''~=V O' .:Z2 l:ly2nt'_0:'1 ___ se and o.._.e_ .,,_ -s o~
a '~ r c'~~~c:. ~ the invention are acre-.plis:~e~ in acco=dance ~_~ h the principles bf the AMENDED SHEET
. 61009-468D
- 4a -present invention by providing a television message system that receives television programming over a communications path from a television distribution facility such as a cable system headend. The television message system allows users to transmit messages relating to a given television program to users who are currently watching that television program.
The message system allows messages to be transmitted between users at user television equipment devices. The user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility (such as a cable system headend) by coaxial cables or other suitable communications paths that carry television signals. In an illustrative configuration, the system eliminates the need for additional communications paths physically separate from the paths that carry WO OOI13415 PCTlUS99I19541
- 5 -television signal broadcast channels for the transmission of messages.
The television message system of the present invention permits users to participate in a television 5 program-re'_ated contest, promotion, or survey while ~5 watching a television program by send_ng and receiving messages through the television message system. The television message system also permits users to evaluate a television program and seat the evaluation 20 10 to a television program entity such as the TV channe'_ or another user as a recommendation.
The television message system of the present inver_tion permits users to compose and send a message 25 to a television program entity suoa as the program 15 producers or a program cast member. Ir_ addition, users can send messages through the television message system to other users, such as other users of an interactive 30 program guide, Internet users, PC users, etc.. who are connected tc the user's television distribution 20 facility through a communications network.
The messages can be composed by the user, or the messages can be standard messages such as a rem_nder message to watch a particular program. Message may be composed on an interactive TV screen or on a display re_note control 25 device.
The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient.
45 The television message system may be based on 30 an interactive television program glide implemented cn the set-top box. If desires, the system may be implemented on other suitable user television equipment 50 such as a satellite receiver, an advanced television receiver (e. g. a high de=initive television or iDTV
W O 00/13413 PCTlUS99119541
The television message system of the present invention permits users to participate in a television 5 program-re'_ated contest, promotion, or survey while ~5 watching a television program by send_ng and receiving messages through the television message system. The television message system also permits users to evaluate a television program and seat the evaluation 20 10 to a television program entity such as the TV channe'_ or another user as a recommendation.
The television message system of the present inver_tion permits users to compose and send a message 25 to a television program entity suoa as the program 15 producers or a program cast member. Ir_ addition, users can send messages through the television message system to other users, such as other users of an interactive 30 program guide, Internet users, PC users, etc.. who are connected tc the user's television distribution 20 facility through a communications network.
The messages can be composed by the user, or the messages can be standard messages such as a rem_nder message to watch a particular program. Message may be composed on an interactive TV screen or on a display re_note control 25 device.
The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient.
45 The television message system may be based on 30 an interactive television program glide implemented cn the set-top box. If desires, the system may be implemented on other suitable user television equipment 50 such as a satellite receiver, an advanced television receiver (e. g. a high de=initive television or iDTV
W O 00/13413 PCTlUS99119541
- 6 -receiver), a television into which set-cop box i0 circuitry is integrated or the like.
Further features of the present invention.
its nature and various advantages wild be more apparent 5 from the accompanying drawings and the followir_g t5 detailed description of the preferred embodi:~ents.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1A is a diagram of a televisio:~
message 20 system in accordance wita the presen=
invention.
1C FIG. 1B is a diagram of a user television equipment device having a user interface based on a wireless keyboard in accordance with the present 25 invention.
FIG. 1C is a diagram of a television screen 15 keyboard user interface is accordance with the present invention.
30 FIG. 1D is a diagram of a user interface televisiol: display screen providing a list of standard messages or words in accordance with the present 20 invention.
FIG. 2A is a diagram of a systeir configuration in waich user television ec_u'_pment devices of multiple telev_sion distribution fac_lities are connected via a television program entity in 25 accordance witY: the present i:wer.t'_on.
FIG. 2H is a sysces" diagram sl:cwing how multiple user television equipment devices may be 45 connected to a television distr_bution facili=y and a separate server via reighaorl:ood networks in accordance 3C with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagrar.. showing how multiple 50 television distribs~ion facilities and user communications equipment devices fray be connected via a W000113415 'PC'fNS99/19541 , communications network in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a depict'_on of an i_lustrative television message system display screen containing a 5 reduced-size version o_' z televison prograr, for t5 providing a user with an opportunity to compose a message and tc transmit the message tc a Television progran entity in accordance with the p=esent invention.
20 10 FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrative approach for providing a user with an opportunity to send a message to a telev_sion program entity in accordance with the present 25 invention.
15 FIG. 6A is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen for entering user profile informatior_ in accordance w_th t!~e present 30 invention.
FIG. 6S is a depiction of an _llustrative 20 television message system display screen for entering a user's name and address ir: accordance with tte present invention.
FIG. 6C is a depiction of an illustrative address book for users i.n accordance with the present 25 invention.
FIG. 7 is a depic=ion of an illustrative television message system display screer.
for providing a user with an opportunity to evaluate a television program in accordance with the present invention.
30 FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing steps involved in ar. illustrative approach for providing a user with an opportunity to eva'_uate a television program in 50 accordance with the present invention.
WO OOI13415 PCTNS99f1~9541 FIG. 9 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen nor provicing the user with an opportunity to par~icioa~e in a survey relating to telev_sion programming .n accordance with the present invention.
FAG. 10 is a depiction of an illustrative television display screen fo= providing the user with an opportunity to participate in a p=omot'_cn related to a television program in accordance wits the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screer. for providing the user with an opportunity to participate in a contest related to a television program in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrative approach for p=oviding a user with an opportLnity to participate in a television contest, prortction, or sLrvey in accordance with tle present invention.
FIG. 13 is a deoicticn of as illust=ative television display screen for displayir_g interactive features available for television grog=ams in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a de~ict~_on of an il'_ustrative television message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to send a rer.:incer message to another user in accordance With the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a depiction of ar. illustrative television message system display screer_ for displaying a reminder message received from another user in accordance w'_th the present invention.
WO 00/13415 PCT/US99/19$41 _ g -FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an i'_lustrative approach for providing a user with as opportunity to create a =eminder message to be sent to another user in accordance w_th the 5 present invention.
~5 FIG. 17 is a dep_ction o. an _lisst=alive television message systen display scree:: for providing a user w'_th an: opportun_ty to send a message to another user is accordance with the preser_t inve:~=ion.
20 10 FiG. 18 is a depiction of an =llvst~ative television message system display screen for displaying a message received by a user in accordance with ~he present invention.
25 FIG. 19 is a depiction of a television 15 message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to send a message to other users based on television program-related criteria is accordance 30 with the present invention.
FIB. 2C is a flowchart sowing s:eps 2C involved in an. illustrative approach for providing a user w_t'~ an opportunity send a message to other users based upon television: program-related c=ite=is in accordance with the present invention..
FIG. 2i is a depiction of as illustrative 25 television message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to purchase a television program-related gift for ano:.her user in accordance with the present invention..
FIG. 22 is a depiction of ar_ ill~~strative 30 television message system display screen fot providing a user with an opportunity to purchase program-related merchandise in accordance with the present invention.
5p FIG. 23 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen. for providing W O 00113415 P C.TNS99li 9541 a use-- with an opportunity to enter gift recipient identity and address '-nformation in accordance with tae present invention.
FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing steps 5 involved in an illustrative approach fcr providing a ~5 user with an opportunity to purchase a gift through the television message system in accordance wit:r the presen'., invention.
FIG. 25 is a depiction of a display remote 20 10 control w_th television ~~essagirg feat;:res in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed Description cf the Preferred Embodiments 25 An illustrative televisior_ message system l0 in accordance with the present ir_vention is shown in 15 FIG. 1A. Main facility 12 may contain a program guide database 19 for storing program guide _r.formation such 30 as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view ordering information, etc. Database 19 glows system 10 to support an interactive television program guide 20 if desired. Although the television -message features o the present invention may be provided using a television message system without a program guide, certain aspects cf the invention wi'_1 be described primarily in the cortex of an interactive television 4o 25 program guide system configuration for soecific'_ty and clarity.
T_nformatio:l from database 14 may be 45 transmitted to television distribution fcility to via coamunications link 1B. Link 1D may be a sa=ellite 30 link, a telephone network link, a =fiber optic link, a cable link, a microwave link, a combination of such 5p links, or any other suitable communications path.
- 1i -PCTIUS99/19~41 Television distribution facility 16 is a facility for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system headend. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented using a 'e_evisicn 5 distribution facility such as a brcadcast aistributior.
facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. Only one television distributicr.
facility 16 is shorn in FIG. 1A to avoid over-cor..p_ioating the drawings. In general, however, main faci-~iry 10 distributes infornatior_ to multiple television distribution facilities.
The program guide information. transmitted by main facility 12 to television distribut'_on facility 16 includes television program listings data such as 15 program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc.
The informaticn transmitted from main facility 12 may also include information on interactive message features (e. g. televisicn program contests, surveys, evaluations, promotions, etc.i that are avai=ably ~cr 20 particular television programs or charnels.
If desired, some cf :ae p=ogram guide data and other Tv message information :nay be prow=ded using data sources at facilities other than main faci'_ity i2.
for example, data relating to available television 25 program-specific message features (e.
g. a contest, promotion, survey, etc.) may be provided by a television program entity associated with a t~levisior channel, or otter facility that is separate from main facility 12 and television distribution ~ac'_lity i6.
3C Telev_sion distribution facility 16 distributes program guide data and other information ~o the user television equipment 2C o_' multiple users via communications paths 24. Communication patas 29 are preferably bidirectional to support messaging and WO 00/134t5 PCTNS99149541 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16 to distribute scheduled television prop=amming, pay programming, messages, and other video and audio information to user 5 television equipment 20 in additior_ tc non-video program guide information and messages. The messages supported by communication oaths 24 may be text-based or, i more bandwidth is available, may be audio or video messages. If television distribution facility 1C is a cable system headend, communications oaths 29 may be based on coaxial cable or fiber optics or the like.
If television distribution facility 16 is a satellite system or broadcast system, unidirectiona'_ patla may involve transmitting information in free space.
15 Bidirectional paths may have a free-space downlink to the home and a te_ephone line or cable o. fiber optic return path from the home to the television distribution facility i6.
User television equipment may be based, for 20 example, on a set-top box or other such device.
For clarity, mar_y aspects at tre invention a=a described in connection with this illustrative arrat:~gement, although any other suitable hardware arrangemea~ fo= the user television equipment 20 may be used ii desired.
25 Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or. both analog and digi.ta=!
may be provided to user telev_sio:~ equipment cevices 20 (including, e.g., set-top boxes 26) via communications paths 24. If each path 24 includes a number of 30 traditional analog televisicn channels, one or more of these channels may be used to support a rumbe~ of.
digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel 5p that is used to support digital channels may support ten or more of such digital channels. Two-way digital WO 00/13415 PCTI(1599/49~41 channels typically require more bandwidth than one-way digital channels, Such two-way digital channels may suppo=t two-way communications in the form of messages between set-cop boxes 26 and a server !e.g. a~
5 televisicn distribution facility 16). -: two-way communica_iors between set-top boxes 26 arc television distribution facility 16 involve only tex= or audio signals, she bandwidth required to sL7pcr= sLch two-way communica?:icns may be substantially ~_ess than the 2o 10 bandwidth requ=red to s~,pport two-way coir~nunications involving video.
Messages may be distributed along communications path 29 using any number cf suitable techniques. Fcr exampler text messages may be 15 distributed using out-of-band channels on paths using out-of-band modulators. Video or audio messages may be more efficiently transmitted using one or more 3o dl ital channels on 1 g path 29. Such digi~a channels may also be used for dis~=ibuting text and graphics.
Any 20 suitable communications protocols may be used for sending messages and the like. For example, communications may be analog or digital, synchronous or asynchronous, pocket-based, Internet protocol transmissions, etc.
25 Dedicated digital cc analog channels, or at least an allocated portion c. the ava=labie bandwidtr in communications paths 24, may be used for the transmission of messages. Such d2dicaCed chan~iels :nay be separate from the chancels used for t=ansmitting 30 television program broadcast signals to tie user television equipment.
Because commun=cations paths 24 support transport of messages between user television equipment devices 20 and television distribution facility 16, the arrangement of system 10 may eliminate the. need for, separate telephone lines ccnnected to user television equipment 20 to transmit messages (although sLCh telephone lines may be used with certain aspects of the 5 invention if desired). if des_red, telev_sion t5 programming may be transmitted to user televis'_on equipment 20 along one communications path such as a satellito lia:c from a satellite system, wk:ile messages to and from the Lser are list=ibuted over a seccad 20 10 communications path such as a telephone o. cable.
Television distribution facility to preferably has a server or other suitable computing equipment or audio or video equipment such as audio 25 voice mail equipment (herein collectively referred to as message equipment 22) for supporting the transmission of messages between users. For clarity:
certain aspects of the invez~ion are silrply described 3o as being implemented using a message serve. although these aspects of the invention are also apclicab_e to other types of message equipment. The :message equipment 22 (e.g.. a message server) may be capable of handling messages involving text, graphics, video, or audio data. If desired, the bandwidtz reqLirements cf message equipment 22 may be reduced by restricting messages to text, audio, and/or graphics, rather than including video. Message equ~.pmert 22 is televis'_on distribution facility 16 may be configures: is a client-server arrangement in which each piece o. user 45 television equipment 20 (i.e.. each user television 3C equipment device 2G) acts as a client processor.
Each user has a receiver, which is typically a se~-top box such as set-top box 26, but which may 5o also be other suitable television equipment into which circuitry similar to sei-top box circui:ry has been WO 00/1341 S PCTNS99/1.9541 integrated. For example, user telev_sion equipment f0 may be based on an advanced televisicn receiver such as a high-definition television (YDTV) receiver or other such television-based platform. A set-tcp bcx may ~ include a DOCSIS modem for use in two-way communication f5 to and from a server or television distr'_bstior.
facility. For clarity, the present invention wi'_1 be describes primarily in the context cf user television equipment 20 that is based on set-tcp boxes 25.
As 20 10 shown in FIG. 1A, each set-tcp box 25 may have memory 25. Memcry 25 may be used, for example, fo-maintaining a database of program listings data.
Program guide information may be distributed 25 to set-top boxes 26 continuously (in real-time), 15 periodically, on request (using a client-server arrangement), or using a combination of. these techniques. Messages may be dist=ibuted to set-top boxes 26 in real-time or on-demand (e. g., when a user chec:ts his e-mail or :message equipment 22 and requests 20 a message for viewing). The message equipment may receive messages from set-top boxes 26 in real-time or periodical_y.
t4air. facility 12 preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution.
tasks.
40 25 Each set-tcp box 26 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with implementin; an interactive television program guide application containing television. message features or an 45 independent television messaging app_ica=ion on the 30 set-top box 26 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a tel2v_sion messaging set-top box application or simply a set-top box application). Television 50 distribution facility 16 preferably contains one or more processors (e.g., part of message equipment 22) WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/19~41 for tasks associated wits the distribsti.on of messages and for tasks associated with prov_ding program guide data to the program guide on the set-top boxes.
It should be understood tha= sore or al. of 5 the functions of the program guide or the messaging ~5 set-top box application he=einafter aescri.bed may be integrated into an operating system on the set-too box, implemented as a stand-alone applicaticr on the set-top box, o. performed by a server (e. g. pare o'_ message 20 10 equipment 22 or separate =rom the television distribution facility!. '_n client serves architecture.
the set-top box sends data or requests to the serve..
The server can store and 5rocess data and send the 25 results of a request back to the user television 15 equipment for further processing, display, or storage.
Any of the functionality o. the set-top box application hereinafter described may be implemented using client-30 server architecture.
Various mechanis:~s may be used for launching 20 the television messaging set-top box application from a program guide application or, the user's set-top box.
One mechanism involves using a ho. link to lasnch the television messaging set-top box application. Hot linking involves invoking a non-progra:~-guide 25 application such as television messaging set-pop box 4o application with information such as a web site address, e-mai_ address, program title, or other information tha= has beer. preselected based on the 45 current content of the program guide or status of set-s0 top box 26. For example, ~f the user is watching a program, viewing a program listing, viewing the description of a program or taking other action within Sp the program guide related to a given program, channel, type c. channel, or the like and the user directs the WO 00!13415 PCTIUS99~19~41 program guide to launch a non-program-guide application, the program guide may launca that non-program-guide application and direct that non-program-guide to take an action related to the giver. program, 5 channel., type ef channel, or the like.
f5 Hot links may be act_vated by dedicated buttons, a launch button, menu options, ar any ether suitable techniaue. For example, a remote ccr.~rcl may be provided with a dedicated message butto7, a 20 10 dedicated shopp'_ng button, and similar b~:ttons associated with other non-program-guide applications.
When the user presses the message button, the program guide launches the television messaging set-top box 25 application and directs the television messaging set-15 top box application to set up a message to a character in the program, a fan club, or other message recipient assoc=ated with the program. When the user presses a sho in channel button, the ro ram pp g p g guide launches a shopping application (e.g. fcr purcaasing gifts for 20 recipient users) and directs the program guide to preselect merchandise related to the program. Farther features of an _liustrative hot linking syste:~
are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent app_ication Serial No. 09/346,134 , filed cor_currently herewith 40 25 (Attorney Docket No. W-85), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its e:~tirety.
Each set-top box 26 a typically connected to an optional videccassette recorder 2B or other such q5 recording device so tha= selected televis_on programs 30 may be recorded. Each videocassette recorder 2B (or set-top box 26) is connected to a television 30.
To record a program, set-top box 26 tunes to a particular 50 channel and sends control signals to videocassette recorder 28 (e. g., using an infrared trans._.itterj that WO 00113415 PC'fNS99/1~9541 d-rect videocassette recorder 28 to start and stop .
f0 recording at the appropriate times.
During the use of the television message systems, the television messaging set-top box 5 application on set-top box 26 may display messages on f5 television 30. I' the television message system includes an interactive television program guide, the interactive television program guide may display program listings on television 30. a prcgrar..
guide 20 10 with message features may also be used to display the messages. Each set-top box 26, videocassette recorder' 28, and television 30 may be controlled by one cr more uses interfaces 32 which may involve a remote control, 25 mouse, trackball, microphone, digital video camera, dedicated set of buttons, etc.
As shown in FIG. 1B, user interface 32 may contain a wireless keyboard 39 tha:. sends signals (e.g. infrared signals) to set-top box 38, which is connected to television 40. The user's inpu', may be 2C displayed as part of a television message system display screen on televisicn 40 as the iapat is entered through wireless keyboard 34. If televisicr_ message system 10 is based on an interactive television program guide, the display screen provided or Television 40 by set-top box 38 may be on an interactive telev~_sion program guide display screen. The displayed interactive television p=ogram guide d_s5lal screen or other program guide display screens provided by the 45 program guides may contain prograr listings.
User interface 32 may also be based on a television screen keyboard 50 as illustrated in FIG.
1C. The user can select letters from the displayed 50 alphabet to compose a message 52. In pa-titular, the user may select letters from alphabet keys 54 aad WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/I9~41 spaces from space bar 56. The user may select a letter so that it becomes h-ghlighted (such as letter L 58) by pressing arrow keys and an enter key (also called an OK
or select key) on a remote control. ?ressing the OK
5 key on the remote control directs the program guide ~5 containing message features or the independence messaging application to place the selectec letter adjacent tc cursor 62. The user may select SFiI"f optior_ 51 to place a capital _Ptter is __~..essage 52. In 20 10 this way, a user can compose the tex= of a message.
If desired, the user may ccmpose messages by selecting from a list of standard messages 70 or words 72 displayed in a display screen such as cisplay screer.
25 75, as shown in FIG. 1D. The words or messages may be predetermined, determined by the user, or both.
If determined by the user, they may be specifically entered by the user into the list, or they may be 30 automatically saved by =he system based on messages previously sent by the user. A word cr message can be selectea by pressing arrow keys or. a remote cor_tro~ to place highlight region 76 cn top of a particular word or message such as "message 2" in FIG. iD. The user can then select the highlighted word or message by pressing a remote control enter (or select or OK) key.
System 10 allows users at user televisio-r equipment 20 to exchange television prcgram-related messages while watching t=levision. The tae: may send messages with system 10 withost investiz; the effort 45 involved in operating a personal computer aad tle 3C software that is associated with it. In add_tion, system 10 allows users to retain the high video quality and channel range cf television viewing while exchanging messages w_th similarly situated users.
WOt10713415 PG'fIUS99L19$4t , As shown in FIG. 2A, a television program, !0 entity 80 may contain a message server 82 to store messages sent between user televisicn eau'_pment 88, 92, and any other such user television equ-_pment.
The 5 television program entity may be a message =acility associaeed wish a television charnel that receives and processes messages sent by users of use. televis'_on equipment devices to a television pregr~~ or channel.
User television equipment devices 88 and 92 are 20 10 connected via communications paths 90 and 9~
respectively to television distribution facilities that are in turn connected to television p=ogram entity 80 via communication links 86. Comnunica~ions links 25 may be satellite links, telephone network links, fiber optic links, cable links, microwave links, combinations of such links. or any other suitable communications path.
30 Messages may be handled on a server that is net located at the television distribution facility as 2C shown in FIG. 2B. For example, messages may be stored en server 91 and transmuted between user televis_on 35 equipment devices 97 and 98 via neighborhood nodes and 96. User television equipment device 97 are connected to neighborhood node 95 via commun_ica~ions 25 path 99, and user television equipment devices 98 are connected to neighborhood node 96 via communications path 10.. Neighborrood nodes 95 and 96 decrease she bandwidth requirements on communications paths 103 for a given number o. usez televisior. equipment devices 30 and 98. Neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 route television programming f=om television distributior_ facility 93 to user television equipment 97 and 98. Neighborhood 50 nodes 95 and 96 may also route messages between server 91 and user television equipment 97 and 98.
WO 001! 3415 PCT/US99/1s1541 Neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 may also routs requests to f0 perform many o' the message system functions described herein from user television equipment 97 and 9B
to server 91. Responses from server 9~ are routed back to 5 the appropriate user television equ_pmezt device via a f5 neighborhood node.
As shown in FIG. 3, messages can be distributed along communication paths .02 from one user television equipment device 100 associa=ed with 20 10 television distribution. facility 104 to another user television equipment device 100 asscc_aCed with that facility using a message server 106 located at the facility. The messages sent between two or more user 25 television equipment devices 100 associated with television distribution facility 104 may be stored on message server 106 in television list=ibution facility 104. An advantage to limiting operation of the message 30 system to individual television distribution facilities is that i~ allows individual cable system operators (for example) to control their systems, and it does not involve coordinating the transmission e messages related to an on-going television procram between different geographical areas or d_fferent t?me zones.
If desired, messages exchanged by use. television equipment 100 can be stored by a message server that is connected to television distribution facility 109 via communications network 110, ~:,:n.::~nicatior.s network 110 may be any suitable cosmun;cations network 45 such as the Internet, a public or private telephone network, a network involving satellite link or wireless links, a cable network, etc.
The message system may also be configured so 5p that users at one or more of user television equipment devices 120 may exchange messages with one or more of WO OOn 3415 PCf/US99/19$41 user television equipment devices 100. User television equipment 120 is associated with a different television distribution facility than user television equipment 100. User television equipment devices 120 are 5 connected to television distribution faci_ity 116 via !5 commun_cations paths 122. Message serve. 118 may be used to store messages. The configuraticn of message server 118 and user television equipment 120 may be based on a client-server arrangement. Television 20 10 distribution facilities 109 and 116 may be connected to each other via communications network 110. Messages that are sent between user television. equipment lOC and user television equipment 120 may be scored on message 25 servers 106, 108, or 118. If desired, any number of 15 television distribution facilities may be connected togther via communications network 110 0. other such communications networks to allow user television 30 equipment from these television distribution facilities to exchange messages with each other.
20 In addition, messages may be transmitted between user television equipment 100 cr 120 and user communications equipment 119. User corr~tnun_cations equipment 114 is connected via communications network 110 to television distribution facilities 109 and 116.
25 User communications equipment devices 119 can be any number of, e.g.. personal computers that can send and receive messages.
Another aspect of she present ;nvention 45 involves using the television messaging set-top box 30 application to provide the user with an opportunity to send messages related to a television program or channel which can be sent to certain recipients.
5p Messages transmitted between set-top box application users are sent from one set-top box and scored at a WO 0011341 PCT1US991f9541 23 _ message server. The recipient user's set-ton box can 1p download the message from the message serve_~ after logging onto the message server. Once the message has been downloaded onto the recipient's set-top box, the 5 recipient can review the message using message features ~5 provided by the set-top box application, The messages sent in this format may be delayed in the sense that they are no~ necessarily received by tY:e recipient immediately after they are ser_t. 'she messages can be 20 10 stored cn a message server fcr a long time until recipients access them. Messages may also be sent by a user of a user television equipment device to a television program entity such as a television channel 25 using the television messaging set-top box application.
15 Communications may also be sent between set-top boxes in the form of instant messages. Instant messages are messages that are only stored temporarily at the recipient end. An instant message is available for viewing by a recipient only for a limited period of 20 time after which the message =s purged from ;memory.
The message is purged regardless cf whether the recipient actually opens the message curing the time period it is available. instant messages are useful for transmitting information that is valid only for a 25 limited period of time. For example, one user may wish to send a message containing the score of a football game to another. user in the form of an ins=a::L
message because the score may change continuously throughout 45 the game.
30 Referring now to FIG. 4, television display screen 130 provides the user with the opportunity compose a human-readable message 132 related to a 5o television program 148. Television message system display screen 130 may allow television program 148 to be displayed (e.g., in window 196 of the television , to screen) concurrently with the interactive message features shown in FIG. 9. Program 198 is reduced in size to fit fully within w_ndow 196. Advertisement 5 may also be concurrently displayed in display screen t5 130. Advertisements may accompany ar_y o_' tie display screens or user interface screens of the present invention.
The set-top box application may display 20 10 screen 130 automatically at a:~ appropriate time while .he user is watching a television p=ogram 1s8.
The set-top box application may also display screen upon prompting by the user (e. g. when the user presses 25 a message button on the remote control). Information that indicates that the television program has associated message options such as those shown in FIG.
4 may be provided to the set-top box application using 30 any suitable data distribution technique. For example, TV message information may be obtained on-demand by the set-top box from a server or with the program guide _istings from the main facility. If cesired, f~
message information may be encoded digitally .n-band with the television program signal on a digital channel. The message information may be decoded by a digital set-top box along with the TV programs signal.
The TV message information. may alsc be digitally encoded on a digital channel separate from the TV
program signal. As another example, TV message 45 information may be maintained at a television distribution facility and distributed to set-ton box applications over the vertical blan?cing interval (VHI) o-_' a standard analog television. signal. r?
VBI decoder 50 located in the set-toy box may be used to decode data contained in the VBI of the received television-signal.
WO 00/13415 PCT/US99I195d1 _ 25 -TV message information relating to ary oz the herein described features of the present inve-~tion (e. a.
surveys, contests, promotions, purchasing merchandise) may be provided to the user using any of the above 5 suitable techniques.
~5 The decoded data may then be used by the set-top box application to deter~~ine whether an option exists for the user to send a .-.;essage ~o a TV program entity based on the received data. The data decoded 20 10 by the set-top box also can indicate which message options are available and the return path or destination address to which the messages can be sent (e. g, the e-mail address of a television program entity 25 which is designated to receive and process the messages 15 from the users). If desired, TV message information may be provided using an out-of-band rata path. Such information may also be provided as a digital data 30 stream that accompanies other streams of digital data (such as digital data for various telerisior.
programs).
20 Screen 130 allows the user to send a human-readable message 132 (e. g., a text message or a graphic message containinC text) to the TV channel which broadcasts program 198 by selecting cpticn 139, the television program producers of program 198 by 25 selecting option 136, or an individual cast member of program 198 by selecting an option suca as option 138 or option 190. Television ct:annels include networks such as ABC, local affiliates, loca'_ broadcast 45 stn dons, pay-per-view channels, cable channels such as 30 HBO and CNN, etc. Once the user of the set-top box application has chosen one or more desired recipients of the message, the user may send the message by 50 selecting send option 192.
WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/1.9$4!
The television message system will then f0 deliver the message to a television program entity such as a television message facility associated with the television channel that is designated to receive 5 messages from users of user television eauipment f5 devices. The television program entity will process the messages, and respond to them if necessary.
For example, a designated television channel representative at the television prograr.; entity may read and respond 20 10 to messages sent to the television channel.
The television program entity who actually receives the message from the user may also be, for example, the personal e-mail address ef a cast member o_- program 25 producer. The user may cancel the message and return to a full screen view of the current program 148 by selecting option 149.
An illustrative process for sending a message to a television program entity recipient is shown in FIG. 5. At step 170, the set-top box appl_cation (i.e.
the interactive program guide with message =eatures or the stand-alone messaging application) functioning on the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to send a message to a television program entity recipient, for example, the television channel, television program producers, or indiv=dual television program cast members. The set-top box application may provide the user with an oFportunity tc indicate a desire to send the message by displaying as interactive 45 screen such as screen. 13C (FIG. 4). The i:~teractive screen may be displayed automatically cr when the set-top box application is prompted by the user. The interactive screen may provide the user with an 50 opportunity to enter the text of a message and designate the intended recipients of the intended WO 00/13415 PCf/US99/l95~ti message. If desired, the =ecipients of the message may be preselected if there is only one potential recipient of the message. The user may they: enter the message information. The message information may include the 5 text of the message and may include the designated ~5 recipients.
At step 172, the television message system sends the message to a message server associated with the television program entity which is designated to 10 receive and process messages relating .o the television program, or channel. The set-top bex application may obtain the information necessary to forward the message to a television program entity (e. g. the recipient's destination address? from the program guide information 15 obtained from the main facility or from data associated with a television program (e.g., data embedded in the VHI of the~television program signal). The destination address may be an e-mail address or other information identifying a location where elec~roaic messages may be 20 sent. The destination address may also be stored at the television distribu~iol facility. In this case, the set-top box application may forward tre message to the television distribution facility, which would then forward the message to its destination.
25 The television messaging set-top box application may also present the user with the option of entering profile information data for users in the user's household. An illustrative television messaging system display screen 920 that the television messaging 30 set-top box application may prese:~t on a user's television set to enter user profile information is shown in FIG. 6A. The names of users may be entered in box 422. That user's favorite prog=ams may be selected from a pul_ down or expandable list 925. Additional programs in the pull down list can be displayed on /0 television messaging system display screen 920 if the user selects arrow 426. The user's favorite categories of programs such a~ sports programs, movies, news 5 segments, sitcoms' etc. may also be selected from pull /5 down list 932. The user can select arrow 938 so that additional categories of programs may be d_sp'_ayed.
The use='s favorite channels may be selected from a pull down list 430. The user car_ select arrow 928 so 20 10 that additional Channels may be displayed on the user's television display screen. Information about the user that is not related to TV programs may also be entered as part of the user's profile (e. g. birth date, place 25 of residence, age, etc.). The user. may enter his city and state of residence in regions 491 and 443 of screen 420.
Television display screen 920 may also 30 provide the user with an opportunity to filter the messages that are sent to that user. The user may specify that all incoming messages are to be blocked, except for those other users whom the use_- _dentifies in box 935. Alternatively, the user may specify that only messages from certain recipients should be blocked. The user may identify these recipients in box 437. The filtering function may be performed by the set-top box or by the message equipment. The set-top box or the server checks all the incoming messages and does not accept messages from the blocked recipients.
45 A user may select OK option 936 when he has finished entering user profile information.
The data entered is preferably stored in the set-top box, but may be stored at a remote Server or elsewhere in the 5o hardware of the user television equipment device such as a separate storage unit connected to the set-tap W O 0011341 S PCf/US99119541 _ 29 _ box. The user may select cancel option 939 to exit f0 display screen 920. User profile information will not be saved if the user selects cancel option 439.
Further fea=ores of an illustrative system for entering 5 user prof=le information are described in E=lis e~ al.
U.S, patent application Serial No. 09/034,939 filed June 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in _ts entirety.
In addition, the message system may be 10 configured similar to the ICQ system so that a user may make his pro:.ile information public so shat it can be accessed by other users. ICQ is an Interne~ tool that informs Internet user's who is on-line at any time and enables users to contact them at will. ICQ can search 15 for an individuals on-line and alert a user when they log on. ICQ al_ows a user to chat, send messages, files, URL's, play games, or just hang out with fellow Internet users while surfing the Internet.
R user may fill out a questionnaire through 2C the message system which includes info=:nation regarding the user's television program preferences as well as additional non-television related info=~mation about himse'_f such as his hobbies (e. c. using display screen 920). The user profile information may be useful for 25 finding other users who are interested in exchanging messages relating to certain topics. The user profile information may be stored at a remote server or jointly on the set-toF boxes. A user may access profiles which q5 have been made public and form a "buddy list"
o.
30 address book of other use=s who have tl:e sane interests. The buddy list can include a ~sser's identity, TV preferences, and other interests.
The message systen may be set up so that a use. must obtain permission from a second user before he is able to obtain the second user's profile information. For example, the message system may send the second user a message indicating the first user has requested the second user's profile information.
If 5 the second user accepts the request, the message system allows the first user to add the second use. to his buddy list so that he can have access to the second user's profile information. In addition, the message system may ask the second user if he wishes to add the 10 first user to his buddy list. A user may add further information to the profile based on his knowledge of the other user's preferences. The message system may also allow users to search for other users based on an ICQ number, an e-mail address, TV program preferences, 15 and/or o=her preferences.
Ar. illustrative television messaging system display screen 421 that the television messaging set-top box application may present on a user's television set to enter user identity information is shown ir_ FIG.
20 6B. Television messaging system display screer.
421 in FIG. 6B provides the user cf the user television equipment with an opportunity to enter a user's nave in box 423, and a user's address in box 427. Identities for users of user television equipment devices and user 25 communications equipment devices may be entered in display screen 421. For example, an e-mai_ address may be entered in box 927 for users o. use. communications equipment. A user of a user televis_on equipment device may have an address which is a unique identifier 30 assigned to a particular user allowing a message server to restrict access to a message only to the proper recipient. The address for the user of a user 5o television equipment may be entered in box 427.
When the user selects OK option 429, the set-top box application will save the user identity information !i.e. the user's name and address) in a memory device such as memory 25 in FIG. 1A. The user 5 identity inforiratior_ may also be stored at a server instead o~ a set-cop box. When the user selects cancel option 431, the set-top bex application wi_1 exit display screen 421 and will not save any information the user has entered in boxes 923 and 927. Tre user 10 selects option 933 if the use. wishes to add the user identity entered in boxes 923 and 927 to a g=oup of identities that will appear as a single entry in an address book, such as "Hockey Fans" in address book 940 shown in FIG. 6C. The identity group feature allows 15 the user to compile a list of the identities of friends who enjoy watching the same television program, channel, or category of programs into a group.
The use_- can they. send a message to everyone in that group while watching a television program that everyone in 20 the group is interested ir. by selecting that group in the address book. The members of the group of identities will receive the message on their set-top box and will be able to read it while they are watching the same television program as the sender of the 25 message.
The identities of users whose identity information has been entered in display screen 421. of FIG. 6B may be displayed by the set-top box aap'_ication in a:~ address book format o:~ the television screen.
30 The television messaging system display screen Brown in FIG. 6C is an example of such an address book.
Address book display screen 440 displays a list of identities 992 of users or groups of users. The users can be individuals such as Mary Smith, or groups of WO 00/13d15 PCTNS99/1A541 individuals such as Hockey Fans as illustrated by the f0 names in the list 492. An individual user may be part of more than one group in the address book. For example, Mary Smith may appear in the address book as 5 an individual, and be a member of the groups "Seinfeld Fans" and "Movie Lovers." List 942 may ccn~ain groups of individuals who are interested in a particular program, type of program, or any other group iden=ified by the user such as "Hcckey Eans," "~~embers of Hiking 10 Club," "Seinfeld Fan Club," or "Movie Lovers."
The grcups need not be TV-related. If desired, the set-top box application may present a pop-up option on the television screen to send a message to the individuals in a list in the address book when the user is watching 15 a related television program (e. g. Seinfeld).
The user may select a recipient or recipients o. a message, recommendation, gift, reminder, etc., by selecting an identity cr identities in the list.
Option 444 is highlighted to indicate that the user has 20 selected "Seinfeld Fans" to be a recipient of a message. The use. may select as many reciFients of the message as he desires from the names in the list.
The user may choose to enter additional identities of other users by selecting option. 446 which returns the user to 0 25 television display screen 421 in FIG. 6B.
When the user has selected the recipients of the message (e. g., using arrow keys and pressing enter}, the user may then pos'_tion the highlight region on OK option 448 and press enter. The television 30 messaging set-top box application may then retrieve the addresses for each recipient of the message.
The television message system may .hen deliver the message to the appropriate message equipment for each of the recipients. The user may select option 950 to cancel and exit from the address book display screen 490.
Referring now to F1G. 7, television display screen 180 allows a user of user television equipment 5 to evaluate the television program that the user is viewing. The use. can select one cr options 182, 189, 186, and 1B8 to evaluate the program displayed in window 198. The television. progra~ is concurrently displayed in window 198 to assist she use-- in 10 evaluating the program. AdvertiseTent 197 may also be displayed on screen 18G. The user can augment the evaluation by entering additional text comments in box 190 that may be distributed to recipients with the program evaluation. The user can select who the 15 program evaluation will be sent to. The user can send the prograr.. evaluation to a television program entity such as the TV channel that broadcasts the television program (or an associated entr y that compiles TV
program data fcr the TV channel) by selectiac option 20 192. An evaluation may include a simple score such as "good" or "bad," and it may inc::ude ~~extual ccm~nentary.
The user can select option 199 .o send the evaluation to other users of user televis_or_ equipment as a recommendation to watch or net watch the 25 particular p=ogra~n. The set-top box application will then display a user address boo'.r such as display screen 990 se the user can chcose the cesi=ed recipients of the recommendation.. The user may then. select send option 199 to send the evaluation to ~he designated 30 recipients. The set-top box appl_catior. _ncludes the identity o the TV program along with the evaluation or recommendation message. The television message system may then forward the evaluation to the destination addresses of the television prograi~ entity obtained WO 00!13415 PCT/US99/.19541 from the program guide information or from data 1p associated with the program. The television.
-message system may transmit the recommendation to message equipment (e. g. server) fen access by the roc=pient 5 users of user television equipment. The communications paths in FIGS. iA, 2A, 2B, and 3 i_lLStrare the types of paths that may be used w~:th these processes.
Evaluations col_ected by this system from users may then be trarsmi~ted to the set-top box application and 10 displayed in a variety of formats. For example, an, interactive TV display screen may indicate ;:hat 3i~ of the viewers gave tre program 4 stars, 46~ gave it three stars, 10~ gave it 2 stars, and 7~ gave it 1 star.
An illustrative process for sending a 15 television. program evaluation or recommenda~io:~
to a recipient is shown, in FIG. B. At step 220, the television messaging set-top box appl'_cation functioning on the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to evaluate a television 20 program. The set-ton box application may provide an opportunity to evaluate a program by displaying an interactive television display screen such as display screen 180 in FIG. 7. If des_red, the set-top box application may provide the user with an opportunity to 25 evaluate a program by pressing buttons on his remote 4o control. The user may then enter program evaluation or recommendation information for tae television program following the options or instructions displayed ea the user's television.
30 At step 224, the television message system delivers the evaluation or recommendation to the destination address or return path. If the address information is not known, the evaluation or recommendation may be transmitted to a return.
path W O 00/13415 PCT/US99/.19541 whicr may be, for example, the user's television f0 distributicn facility. If the television distribution facility has sufficient information, the telev'_sion distributicn facility may forward the evaluation or 5 recommendation to the appropriate destination.
f5 The Television messaging system c. the present invention may also provide a fast and e=ficient way to Bathe= ratings for television progra:~s.
A TV
program ratir_g is an estimate of the number o~ people 20 10 who are watering a teievisicn program based on a survey of a selected group of people. In the television messaging system of the present invention, each set-top box connected to a given television distribution 25 facility may send a message to the TV channel or an associated entity indicating whether the user is watching the current television program. A rating may be determined from this data if the sampling is taken from a large enough group. This system provides television charnels and ratings services with a way in which to gather up-to-the-minute ratings or television programs from users who are currently watch~.ng the programs.
As shown in FIG. 9, television messaging display screen 23C may be used to provide the user with as opportunity to participate in a survey relating to q0 television programming (e. g. a particular television program or a group of television programs;. 'Television messaging system display screen 230 may provide a user q5 with an opportunity to enter answers to questicns 1 and 2 by selecting one or more of options 232a-c and 239a-d respectively. The set-pop box applicat:.on may obtain the survey questions and the return path fror~
the 50 program guide information transmitted frcm the main facility. Alternatively, some of this information may WO OOI13415 PCfNS99/19541 be encoded into the television messaging set-top box f0 application. Advertisement 235 may be displayed on screen 230 with the survey questions.
If desired, the survey quest_or,s and return 5 path (or destination address) may be encoded digitally in-band with the televis_on program signal c:_ a digita_ channel, provided in the VBI signal, or otherwise provided as data associated with the television program. The set-top box application fur_c~ioaing on 10 the user television equipment may hen decode the survey data from the program signal or other associated path, and indicate the ava_lability of the survey option on a program listings menu in an interactive format so that the user may access the survey (see, 15 e.g., FIG. 13).
The user may answer an additional set of survey questions by choosing option 236. The user can send the responses he has given to the survey questions by choosing option 238. The television message system 20 will then deliver the survey answers as a survey message to the return path or destination address (e. g., a television program entity such as a television channel survey center] for processing. The user can cancel and return to a menu or to a television program 25 by choosing cancel op=ion 290. If desired, the television messaging set-top box application.
may provide the user with inducements .or completi.~.g a survey, such as a chance to win ~ free montl:
o~
programming or the like.
30 As shown in FIG. 10, a television s.essaging system display screen 250 nay provide the user with an opportunity to participate in a promotion related to television programming. The television channel that broadcasts a teievisior. program may be offering a W0 00113415 PCfNS99/19541 promotional drawing as shown in FIG. 10. A reduced-sized image of the television program is displayed in window 256. An advertisement is displayed in region 255. The user can enter the drawing by selecting 5 option 252 or may decline by selecting option 254.
If.
the use= selects option 252, the television. message system will forward a promotion message to the return path or destination address of the television program entity that is handling the promotion (e.g. the 10 telev'_sion channel or an associated fac_lity) so that the use= will be entered in the drawing. The promotion message may include the user's name and address.
The television. message system will then deliver the message to a television program entity 15 associated with the television channel that broadcasts program 256 for processing. The return path or destination address of a television program entity and the other promotion information displayed on screen may be obtained using any suitable tecrnique including 20 encoding it digitally in-band wita the ~e).evision program s~anal or. a digital channel, embedding it in the program signal VHI, otherwise providing it a~
data associated with the program, or downloading i= to the set-top box 26 from a server or the main facility 25 (FIG. 1A). Television message display screen 250 may request that the user enter his name and address and demographic information such as the user's programming preferences if the user decides to ewer the drawing.
The television program entity can they. send additional 30 promot~ona'_ information to the user based on the user's interests. The television program entity ;e.g. the.
television channel] selects a winner from the pool of users who have entered she drawing. The winner may be announced at the end of the program. This promotion WO 00/13415 PCTNS99119$41 technique permits users of user television equipment devices to participate in promotions simply and easily without leaving their living rooms. A televisior_ program promotion will encourage users to watch the 5 program and thereby increase ratings.
?5 Referring now to FIG. 1., the te_ev_sion message system may provide a user cf user television equipment with an opportunity to participa:.e in a television prcgram contest. The program "Jeopardy for 20 10 Home Viewers" may be vertically compressed to ~=t in the upper half screen, may be truncated by overlaying instructions on its lower half, or may be displayed using any other suitable arrangement. In any case, at 25 least a portion of the program is visible tc she user in upper portion 411 of screen 410. A contest user interface 416 is simultaneously displayed in the lower portion of television display screen 41C. .his format allows a user to view a television program and participate in a contest at the same time. ~dhile a user is listening to questions being asted on the program "Jeopardy for Home Viewers," he can e.~.ter answers to the questions in box 412. The ques~ioas can also be d_splayed in the contest user interface portion of screen 410. Lahen the user is sat_sfied with his answer he can send i= as a contest message to the return path or destination address by choosing cption 414 or by pressing Enter on his .emote cont=cl.
The return path or destination address of the television q5 progra:~ ertity that receives the contest answers may be the television program broadcast facility that broadcasts the r.elevisior. program. An advertisement may be displayed in region 915.
50 ~he contest questions and other contest information (e. g., the return path) may be encoded WO 00/13415 PCTN599/.19541 digitally in-bane witk: the television program signal on a digital channel, embedded in the VBI of the television program signal, or may be provided as other associated data or may be transmitted from a server to 5 the set-too box over a separate channel. These t5 arrangements a_low contest _aformat'_cr. isu~Y
as contest questions) and the program signal to be cont_nuously received by the set-top box dLring ~ae course c. a program. The contest information that appears oz the 10 interface screen 916 may be updated as it .s received on the set-top box. Because the set-top box is receiving the television program signal for the TV
program and the contest information concurrently, display screen 916 may be synchronized with the action 15 occurring in the program as it unfolds. The winners of the contest can be determined immediately and may be announced during the course of the program. This aspect of the present invention allows television channels to implement interactive television 20 programming for their users. ' An illustrative process for allowing ~ use.
to participate in a contest, promotion, or sLrvey '-s shown in FIG. 12. At step 900, the set-top box application functioning on the user television 25 equipment provides the user with an opportunity to enter survey, promotion, or contest information.
This opportunity may be prov_ded in the form of display screens such as display screens 230, 250, and 410 of q5 FIGS. 9, 1C, and 11, respective'_y. The user may enter 30 appropriate survey, promotion, or contest information following the on-screen prompts provided in the display screens. At seep 902, the television message system 5o delivers the survey, promotion, or contest inormation to the return path or destination address for WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/1.9541 processing. If desired, step 902 may involve the step 1p of using the television message system to traasmi=
the message to the television distribution facility so that the message can be transm'_tted to the appropr_ate 5 destination (e. g. a telev_sion program en=ity).
As shown. in FIG. 13, program guide listings tha;. are received by the set-top box from the program guide database a: the main facility may ind_cate which television programs have interactive user message 10 features available (e. g., a evaluation, contest, promction, or survey feature). Television message system display screen 150 allows users to v'_e~a which messaging features are available with respect to television. programs that are being aired in a given 15 time slot.
The user may enter a time slot in bcx 169 or otherwise select a t_me slot of interest. The set-top box application then displays program listings in coluruz 159 fcr programs that are scheduled to be 20 broadcast at the dime indicated in box 1'09 on the channel in column 152. The messaging fea~;lres available wits respect to a given program are displayed by the set-tcp box application in column 156. For example, the program Wheel of ~crtune is offering a 25 contest which a use. can participate in. Tre user can highlight contest option 162 and press enter on his remote control to enter the P:heel of Fcrtune ccntest.
The I icon in. circle 158 indicates hat the channel has provided more _nfor:na~ion witz respect to .he ~rlheel of 30 Fortune contest which the user may be interested in reading before entering the contest. The see-top box application may provide the user with an opportunity to review this information before the user is entered into the contest. Also, the user may simply view the WO OOI13415 PCTIU599/19~41 program Wheel of Fortune by highl_ghting the 4lheel of >o Fortune option 155 and pressing enter on the remote control. The user car. scroll up or down. to view the program listings and messaging features for more 5 programs and channels as _ndicated by ar~o~ris 160. An advertisement may be displayed on screer_ 150 sucz as the one in region 157.
The features described with respect to FIG.
13 may be provided for in any ormat of listings. For 10 example, the TV message system may provide a list o all of the message features for programs airing on a selected TV channel. The TV message system may also allow a user to search for programs by category or alphabetically, and list associated message features 15 for each program. If desired, TV messaging features may be provided on a program information screen which allows a user to access multiple features related to the program, including the messaging featL:es described it this application.
20 Another aspect of the present invention relates to the ability of the television message system to transmit reminder messages between users. Rer.:inder messages are messages that are sent by one use= to another user to remind the other user to watch a 25 particu-~ar television prograr:. Televisicr_ message system display screen 260 of FIG. 19 is an example of a user interface that permits the user to send a reminder message to the set-top box of ancther user. A user may q5 get to information screen 260 by selecting a program in 30 the program guide listings and then pressing the "info"
button oz the remote control. The program guide listings contain information or. programs that are 5o currently airing on all available channels as well as programs that will be broadcast at future times.
Information regarding the program selected in the listings is displayed in region 262 of in'or:r.ation screen 260. The user can set a reminder for himself to watch the selected program by selecting opticn 269.
5 The user car_ send a rem'_nder to another user of a user f5 television equipmen:. device by se~~ecting option.
266.
After the sser selects option 266, pop-up region appears in infcrmation screen 260. The user enters the recipien= user's address information in regicn 2Ø
20 10 The loci=ien address may include a unique code identifying the user and the message server from which the recipient user can receive messages. The user may also choose the recipient's identity from the address 25 book by choosing option 272. None than one recipient may be entered. After the user has chosen a recipient, the user selects Done option 279. The reminder message is now transmitted to the recipient(s). An advertisement may also be displayed in region 275.
A reminder message may also be sent ~o ~ user of a user te_evision equipment dev'_ce from a we:, site teat has program listings and that suppcrts the transmittal of reminder messages such as wm~r.tvauice.com. An Internet user may select a program from the listings displayed on the web sire and enter 40 25 the address of the recipient user. The web site transmits the reminder r.:essage to the recipient via a server.
Re=erring now to FIG. 15, television. display 45 screen 2BG shows 1-.ow a reminder message that has been sent by ene user and received on the set-top box of another user may be displayed. The recipient's set-top box application displays the reminder message a short 50 time (e.g., 10 minutes) before the program that is related to the reminder is to air, regardless of the time that the set-top box receives the rem~.nder to message. If desired, the reminder message may be displayed at other times or more than once. For example, tl:e reminder may be displayed when the user 5 first turns on the te_evision set within a tv~e'_ve hour t5 interval before the program airs. The set-top box applicatior. may also display the re:.~,inde~ the first time that the user turZs on the television after the set-top box has receivec the reminder message. These 20 10 methods help ensure that the user will see the reminder even if h2 .s not watching television a short time before the program airs.
The illustrative reminder message 292 of FIG. 15 is displayed as a relatively small overlay on television display screen 280 so as to interrupt the user's viewing o_' program 284 as little as possible.
The video of program 284 may instead be shrunk so that so that none of it is obscured by the rem=nder message.
The reminder message 282 indicates to the use._-that the program "Oprah" will air on AfiC at 9 p.m. .he user car.
accept the reminder message by selecting OK option 28'0, in which case the set-top box application w1'_ tune to the channel that corresponds to tr.e local P.s affiliate.
40 25 - 3eminder messages can also be se:~= across time zones or local broadcast areas. When a set-top box receives a reminder message, i= wil'_ search through the program guide listings to deters:ine whey ~he a5 program will be broadcast in the user's time zone or local area. The set-top box application then displays the reminder message on the televis=on screen at an appropriate time before the program airs. The user may 5o decline the reminder message by selecting cancel option 288 causing the message to disappear from the TV
w0 _00/13415 PCTNS9911.9541 _ 99 _ screen. The identity of the sender of the reminder f0 message is displayed in region 283. If the set-top box application does not recognize the sender, then the sender's address cr web site may be displayed in region 5 283. Displaying the sender's identity is usefLl for f5 allowing the user to block that sender's reminders in the future. A-1 advertisement may be displayed in region 28~ of reminder 282 as shown in FIG. 15. If desired, multiple rem=nder messages may be displayed on 20 10 a single overlay. The cverlay may include both reminders set by the user, as well as, _-eminders sent by other users.
The television message system may provide the 25 user with an opportunity to block all future reminder messages from a specific sender or all senders. When a reminder message is displayed tc the user, it may include an option to block all future reminder messages from all senders such as option 287. The rem=nder message may also include an option such as option. 289 which al-_ows the user to block all future reminder messages fro: the user who has sent the current reminder. The reminder message may additionally include option 281 which configures the message system.
so tha:. all reminder messages are blocked except reminders from: the sender of the current re~~inder.
T:zese blocking features may be ;mplemented to block other types of messages received on the set-top box.
The filtering and blocking functions herein described 45 may be performed at the set-top box of the recipient, 3C at a rerlote serve., or a the television distribution facility.
An illustrative process for allowing a user 50 of user television equipment to send a reminder to another user of user television equipment is shown in FIG. 16. At step 290, the set-top box application functioning on a user's television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to send a reminder message for a recipient user at a remote sat-top box. The set-s top box application can provide the user with an opportunity tc send a reminder by using an ir._eractive display screen such as television message system display screen 2'00 of FIG. 14. The use. -ay enter reminder info=matien such as the recipier_t user's 10 address and the television program info=oration. At step 299, the television message system may send the reminder to the recipient user's message se=ver for subsequent downloading by the recipie:~t user's user televisior. equipment device.
15 Ancther aspect of the present invention re'_ates to send_ng and receiving text, audio, or video messages between other users of user television equipment and users of. com.-nunications equipmert (e. g., Internet users, users of personal ccmputers, etc.).
20 The messages are similar to electronic mail (e-mail) .n that they are stored on a message server and can be downloaded onto tre recipient's set-to? box by the set-top box application at any time. The user television equipment devices may com.~nur_icate w t1: the message 25 server using any suitable network including the ones shown and cescribed with respect tc FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2B, and 3. Messages car. be sent to a user's Internet service provider mail server for subsequez= downloading by a user's computer. The television message system 30 may also allow users to send program guide information such as T'J program listings, program sc:~edules, anti program information as a message to other use=s.
5o As shown in FIG. 17, the set-top box application may provide a user df user television equipment with an opportunity to send a message to f0 another user through a user interface such as television message system display screen 300.
Television message system display screen 300 may be 5 displayed by the set-top box application or, the f5 television wher_ reauested by ~he user ;e.g., wre~ the user presses a message button on his remote control).
Television display screen 300 allows a user to compose a message and to send -t to another user of uses 20 10 television equipment or a user of com.-nunications equipment.
The user can compose the text of the message in box 308 using a wireless keyboard such as the one 25 shown in FIG. 1B. If desired, the user car. compose a text message using a television screen keyboard such as the one shown in FIG. 1C or by choosing from a list of standard messages or words as shown, e.g., in FIG. 1D.
The message sent by the use_- can relate to the television program that is displayed it windo:: 309.
Fer example, the message "Nice play!" relates to a television program such as football game that the use.
is watching in window 304. If desired, a user of user television equ;pment may ser_d an audio message similar to a voice mail message using the set-top box 40 25 application to another user by speaking into a microphone connected to the set-top box. R user may even send a picture or a video recording of himself (with or without the audio message) through the set-top 45 box application us=ng a camera shat can communicate with the set-too box so that the recipient can watch a video recording of the sender on his television sec.
The user may enter the recipient's name or 50 address in box 302. In FIG. 17, the name Bob has been entered in box 302. The set-top box application will match the name Hob with an address previously entered by the user in. the set-top box application. address book. An e-mail address can also be entered in bcx 302 for Internet user recipients of a message. The use=
5 can designate the message as an instant message by f5 selecting option 303 or a saved message by selecting option 305. A7 instant message is erased from memory at the recipient end after a short period of time, while a saved message is stcred indefinitely in memory 20 10 at the recipient end. The message in box 308 is only relevant for a short period of time during =he course of the program. Therefore, the user may wish to designate it as an instar_t message.
25 The user may also send an audio message by selecting option 307 or a video message by selecting option 309. The user can compose an audio message by speaking into a microphone connected to the set-top box or by sending an audio clip from a program. The user can compose a video message using a video camera, a VCR, or by using video clips or video stills 'nom a TV
prograr... =he video may be recorded using a local storage device ie.g, in the set-top box) o. at a server. The user may also send v_deo clips from a server-based library. The user may also ser_d program guide information to another user as part or all of the message by selecting option 311. The program guide information. may be a brie. description of the program in window 304, a por=ion of the prograrl glide listings, q5 0. a TV program o- channel schedule. ''_'he user can send the message to the recipients by selecting send option 306. The use. can cance'_ the message by selecting cancel option 310 and return to a set-tcp box 50 application menu or a full screen view cf the current WO 00!13415 PCT/US99/1-9541 television program. An advertisement may be displayec in region 301 of screen 300.
As saown in FIG. 18, if the recipient of a message is a user of user televisicn equipment, the 5 recipient's set-top box application may display the !5 message on the television screen some time after it is received by the set-top ;pox. The set-top box application can periodically access all messages that are intended for the user from a message server and 1C download them onto the set-tcp box. The message server can communicate with the user television equipment devices using any suitable configuration including the ones shown in FIGS. !A, 2A, 2B, and 3.
25 Television display screen 320 is an example of how the message can be displayed. The message may be received by the user's set-tcp box 26 and stored in memory 25 (FIG. !A). The set-top box application may then display the message on the user's television screen (i.e., on television 30 of FIG. 1) preferably in a way that interrupts the user's viewing of program 330 as little as possible. The message should, :zowever, be large enough so Thai the user may reac it. In FIG. 18, the set-top box application displays message 324 in window 322 in the lower left corner of display screen 320 while the user is watching television program 330.
If desired, the set-top box appl_cation may display an icon such as a small mailbox in the corner of the television screen. or turn on a light on the 45 front panel of the set-top box to indicate to the user that a message from another user hes beer received.
The user may then access the content of the message by pressing a designated button on the remote control.
50 The message may be displayed in a corner of tie screen as shown in FIG. 18 or in a full screen v_ew.
WO OOI13415 PCTNS9911.9541 Window 322 displays the content of the Jp message 329, and the sender of the message. I. the set-top box application does not recognize the sender or the sender's name is not provided as part of the' 5 message, the set-top box application may display the J5 sender's path or address instead. Message 329 may ccntain an advertisement or other inior~natio~ that the set-top box application or message serve= appends to it. In FIB. 18, the current score c. the :IFL game is 20 1C attached to -message 329 in region 325. Message 324 may also contain a title which may be entered by ~he sender or an additional advertisement. Window 322 provides the user with an opportunity to reply to the message by 25 choosing reply option 326 or to clear the message from the screen by choosing clear option 328. I. the user chooses to reply to the message, the set-top box application can take the user to an interactive screen such as screen 300 of FIG. 17, so the user car: compose a reply message. The user may block future messages received from the sender by selecting option 321. The sender's address '_s they. stored locally cr a. the message server so that future :.~.essages from th_s address are =filtered out.
11s shown in FIG. 19, the television message system may allow a user of user television equipment to transmit a message to another user cf user television , equipmen= who is chcsen based on television.-program-related criteria. The set-top box application may a5 provide the user with an opportunity to select the progra~~-related trite=is to use in sending messages to the recipients using a user interface such as television message system display screen 200. The 50 criteria may be other users of user television equipment who are currently watching a particular WO 00/13415 PCTIUS99119541 , television program (e. g., t'ae current television program) (option 202), other users who are in_erested in a particular program (e. g., the current television program) (option 204), other users who are interested 5 in the same channel (e.g., the same channel as that on which the current television program is bring broadcast) ;option 206), or other users who are interested .n the same category of programs (e.g., the same category as the current program) (option 208).
2~ 10 The set-top box application may determine the carrent program by accessing the database of program listings informa=ion stored in memory 25 or on a remote server.
The set-top box application may also determine the current program by accessing a database (e.g., a 15 program listings database stored locally on the set-top box or on a server) and using information on the current time (e.g. which the set-top box or server has access to using a clock), and the current channel (known. from the state of the tuner in set-too box 26).
20 The recipients o. the message may be selected in a variety of ways. ~'or example, the set-top box application may allow the user to view the names of other users it the address book and to 'filter cut only those other users who have an interest in the same 25 program, channel, etc. by selecting option.
210. The message would only be sent to the other users with appropriate interests (as determined by the user).
If desired, user addresses may be provided with information identifying their interests. The set-top 30 box application may then automatically search for users in the address book who have interests that match the current program, current channel, or category o~ the current program (options 204, 206, and 208).
Users interested in a category of programs may be identified W O 00/ t 3415 PCT/hS99/ 1-9541 in a group stored in the address book such as "Movie f0 Lovers" or "Monday :light Football =ar_s," as shown in FIG. 6C. These address book groups may be selected via option 208. C~sers interested in a particular program 5 may be identified in a group stored in the address book such as "Seinfeld Fans," as shown _n FIG. 6C. These groups may be selected using option 209. _~ desired, a message may be sent t0 particular people, er.~ities, o_-groups Thai the user individually chocses frcm his 10 address book without regard to their interests with opt=on 210. In any case, the television message system may transmit messages to a message server until it is accessed by the recipient.
I desired, the television message system can 15 deliver a message related to a given program to a , particular message server with an indication that the message is intended for receipt by current viewers of the given program, users interested in the program, users interested in the channel of the program, or 20 users interested in the category c. the program. The message serve-- may group the message vita ct!:er messages re_ating to the given program, channel, or categcry. ~he message serve- then may alloo-r ar.y user'-s set-top box application.to access all the messages for q0 25 the programs, channels, or categories that the user at -that set-top box is interested in or is csrrently viewing. Any other users who wish ~o access messages relating to a program, channel, or category of programs .
q5 can download those messages from the message server 30 onto their set-top boxes,so than they car_ bn read on a television se~.
A user can indicate to his set-tog box 5o application that he wishes to access messages relating to a program he is currer_tly watching by, for exacaple-, pressing a message button on his remote contro_.
In a f0 program guide, a user can access messages relating to any program he is interested in by highlighting a program listing for that program in a program guide and 5 pressing the message button on his remote control or by choosing a program guide menu option. The set-top box application. may provide tre user with an opportunity to access messages relating to specific channels, or categories of prograns in a similar fashion.
Messages 10 may be download from tae :message server by tae set-top box appl-ration onto tae set-top box fcr viewing by the user. The set-top box application may display the messages in a list format by sender, topic of message, etc. The user may then choose the messages he wants to 15 read from the list.
An illustrative process for transmitting a message composed by a user of user television equipment to other users of user television equipment tra=
were selected based upon television program-related criteria 2C is shown in FIG. 2C. At step 390, the television messaging set-top box application =unctionir.g or. the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to se7c a message to other users based upon television-program-related criteria. The set-top box 2' application may provide this cpportunity by displaying a user interface such as television message system display screen 200. The message to be sent r.:ay be, for example, a recommendation to watch a program.
The message may be entered into the set-top pox application 30 using, for example, display screen 180 in ':'IG. 7. .f desired, the message may relate to the con=ext of a program entered using, for example, television message system display screen 300 of FIG. 17. The user may choose recipients for a message from the options WO 00/13a IS PCTNS99/19~4I
p-ovided by, for example, television message system /p display screen 200 of FIG. 19. At step 392, the television message system transmits the message to a message server for access by the recipient users.
5 The set-tep box application may provide the user wits an opportunity to send a gift to another user of user television equipment or a user of com.~~unications equipment (e.g., an Internet user). As shown in FIG. 21, a telev_sion message system display 10 screen 35G may be used to allow the uses .o scroll through television program listings 352 to find a particular television program. The program listings may be organized by broadcast time and by channel.
The program guide listings may include pay-per-view 15 channels such as PPV1 and PPV2. The user may be provided with an option to purchase a pay-per-view program such as "Titanic" on channel PPV1. Option is highlighted to '_ndicate than the use_- has selected "Titanic."
20 Television message system display screen 350 may display the gift options that are available for a particular p=ogram that the user has selected from the program _istings. Information regard=ag which gift options are available for a particular channel or 25 program may be part of the program guide information that the set-top box receives from the main facility, encoded digitally in-band with the television program s'_gnai on a digital channel, provided in the VBI
signal, or otherwise provided as data associated with 30 the television program. T_~ gift options are available for "Titanic," the set-top box application will display the gift options such as gift options 359, 356, and 358 5o that are available for the program that the user has chosen. Gift option 354 allows the user to purchase WO 00!13415 PCTNS99I19541 program merchandise for another user. Gift option f0 allows the user to pu=chase a pay-per-view program for another user to watch, such as "Titanic" on PPV1.
Gift option 358 allows the user to purchase a gift 5 certificate for program merchandise, a pay-per-view progra_n viewing coupon, etc. The user may enter the identity of the recipient of the gift by choosing option 360. Gift information relating to a TV program may also be provided for a specific program on a 10 program information screen that a user can access by highlighting the program in the listings grid and then pressing an "info" button on the remote control.
A gift may be processed when the user selects send option 362. Git information may be sent to a 15 television distribution facility or a television program entity for processing. The user's account at the television distribution facility may be debited for the cost of the gift or another suitable accounting mechanism may be used. The recipient of a gift may be 20 notified cf the gift by a message received on the recipient's set-top box o. e-ma'_1 to an Internet user.
Gift merchandise may be shipped to the recipient.
If the gift is a pay-per-view program, the rec'_pient's pay-per-view account may be credited by the amount of 25 the gift or gift certificate. If the recipient is not a user of user television eauipment (e.g., the recipient is an Internet user), the recipient may be notified of the gift and given an access code that allows the recipient to view free pay-per-view programs 30 on his television up to the amount of the gift.
If the recipient is a subscriber to the services of the same television distribution facility 16 as the gift giver, the access code may be provided by that television W O 00/13415 PCTNS9911-9~4 t distribution facility and may be released by the same f0 television distribution facility.
If desired, television distribution facilities may be networked together so that a gift 5 giver and recipient may be subscribers in different ~5 television distribution facilities. The TV message system may also authorize a specif_ed gift PFV program automatica'-ly for the recipient without requiring an access code. In another embodir:ent, the icca_ program 20 10 guide that receives the PPV gift may allow the recipient of the gift to access the PPV program without charging the recipient and without requiring an access i code.
25 Referring now to FIG. 22, television message system display screen 370 is an example of a user interface that allows a user to purchase p=ogram-related merchandise. The set-top box application may display screen 370 when the user selects s g..t option such as gift option 354 of screen 350 (FIG. 21).
Screen 370 provides the user with an opportunity to select program-related merchandise that he wishes to purchase as a gift for another user. The merchandise options 372, 379, 376, and 378 represent items of merchandise related to the program "Titanic" which the user can purchase. If the user wishes to pay by credit card, the user may enter his credit card number and its expiraticn date in boxes 380 and 382 respectively. If the user wishes to have his account at the television q5 distribution facility debited, he may select payment option 389. An advertisement may be displayed in region 381 of screen 370.
Referring now to FIG. 23, televisicn message 50 system display screen 460 is an example of a user interface that allows a user to enter gift recipient identity and address information. The set-top box applicatior. may display screen 460 when the user selects an option such as the "enter recipient" option 360 of screen 350 (FIG. 21). Screen 960 provides the 5 user with an opportunity to enter information about the ~5 gift recipient so than the recipient may be nc~ified that the gift has beer. purchased, and so that the recipient may receive the gift. The user may enter the gift reci?ient's name in region 462. The user may 10 enter the git recipient's electronic address (e.g. e-mail address) in region 469 if the recipient has an electronic address. The user may enter the recipient's .
~:i street address le.g. home address or mailing address) in region 466 if the gift is a tangible item such as 15 program merchandise that is to be physica'_ly Sen. to the recipient. The user may enter the gift recipient's television address in region 968. The television address may be the address corresponding the gift recipient's user television equipment device which has 20 messaging features. A notification that a gift has been purchased may be sent to the electronic address, the street address, or the television address. If desired, the television address may correspond? to the gift recipient's television distribution facility so 25 that the gift recipient may be credited for a pay-per-view program gift or gift certificate that has been purchased by the user.
An illustrative process for allowing a user of user. television equipment to purchase a g'_ft through 30 the television message system is shown in FIG. 24. At step 390, the set-top box application provides tie user with an opportunity to send a gift to a recipient. The set-top box applicat'_on can provide this opportunity through a user interface such as display screen 350 of WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/19~41 FIG. 21. The gift can be related to television f0 programming such as program-related merchandise or a pay-per-view program.
After the user selects the gift and the 5 recipient c. the gift, the television message system f5 transmits the gift information to the televis'_on distribu=ior_ facility (or a remote server or a television program enmity fcr e.g. the purchase of program merchandise! at step 392 where the user's 20 10 account is debited. The user's account can be a pay-per-view account or other account maintained with the television distribution facility, an account maintained with a television channel, an account maintained at a 25 third party instaution (such as a bank), a credit card account such as a Visa account, or any other suitable account. At step 394, the recipient may be notified than a gift has been purchased for him. The recipient may be notified by the shipper of the merchandise, or by the television distribution facil_ty that handles 2C pay-per-view programming for that recipient.
The recipient may be notified by an electron_c message that is sent to the message server where messages for the recipient are maintained.
Many of the features of the presen'~ invention may be used with a two-way interactive display remote control. A_-~ example of a display remote control is shown in FIG. 25. Display remote contrcl 990 contains display screen 482 which may be any suitable type of 45 display screen. A user may compose a message to another user using buttons 984. Pressing any of buttons 989 causes the selected letter or number to appear adjacent to cursor 491. The user may delete a 50 letter or number by pressing Backspace button 486, and may enter upper case letters by pressing Shift button 988. The user may enter the recipient's address in 1p region 495 of display screen 482, and may send the message by selecting Send option 994. The user may navigate between selected regions of display screen 5 using arrow buttons 498. For example, Send option is highlighted in FIG. 25. Therefore, if the user press Enter button 490, the message wily be sent to the rec'_pient. Pressing the down arrow causes address region 995 to become active so that pressing buttons 10 484 causes letters or numerals to be entered in region 495.
The user may also view messages that have been sent to him by others users by selecting option 492. Option 492 opens up the user's inbox so that the 15 user can read incoming messages directly on display screen 482. These features give the user additional privacy when composing messages and reading incoming messages. The display remote control therefore is a two-way interactive remote in that messages may be 20 composed and sent, as well as received and read by the er. Further features of an illustrative display rem a control are described in Fierringtcn et al. U.S.
provisl al patent application Serial No. 60/138,868, filed June , 1999, which is hereby incorporated by 4p 25 reference here' in its entirety. A display remote may also be used for atting between users. Further features of an illus ative television chat system are described in DeWeese et 1. U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/356.270 , filed ncurrently herewith 30 (Attorney Docket No. UV-lOly, wh~ h is hereby incorporated by reference herein in ' s entirety.
The foregoing is merely illust tive of the principles of this invention and various modi 'cations o~-~~-zoc.~w ~ 02574181 2007-02-O1 v~ ." . vv r ~
b . - 59 - ~ ..
user. Further features of an illustrative display remote control are described in Herrington et al. U.S.
provisional patent application Serial No. 60%138,868, filed June 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in 'its entirety. A display remote may also be used for chatting between users. Further features of an illustrative television chat system are described in DeWeese et al. U.S. patent application Serial 09/356,270, filed July, 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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AMENDED SHEET
Further features of the present invention.
its nature and various advantages wild be more apparent 5 from the accompanying drawings and the followir_g t5 detailed description of the preferred embodi:~ents.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1A is a diagram of a televisio:~
message 20 system in accordance wita the presen=
invention.
1C FIG. 1B is a diagram of a user television equipment device having a user interface based on a wireless keyboard in accordance with the present 25 invention.
FIG. 1C is a diagram of a television screen 15 keyboard user interface is accordance with the present invention.
30 FIG. 1D is a diagram of a user interface televisiol: display screen providing a list of standard messages or words in accordance with the present 20 invention.
FIG. 2A is a diagram of a systeir configuration in waich user television ec_u'_pment devices of multiple telev_sion distribution fac_lities are connected via a television program entity in 25 accordance witY: the present i:wer.t'_on.
FIG. 2H is a sysces" diagram sl:cwing how multiple user television equipment devices may be 45 connected to a television distr_bution facili=y and a separate server via reighaorl:ood networks in accordance 3C with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagrar.. showing how multiple 50 television distribs~ion facilities and user communications equipment devices fray be connected via a W000113415 'PC'fNS99/19541 , communications network in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a depict'_on of an i_lustrative television message system display screen containing a 5 reduced-size version o_' z televison prograr, for t5 providing a user with an opportunity to compose a message and tc transmit the message tc a Television progran entity in accordance with the p=esent invention.
20 10 FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrative approach for providing a user with an opportunity to send a message to a telev_sion program entity in accordance with the present 25 invention.
15 FIG. 6A is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen for entering user profile informatior_ in accordance w_th t!~e present 30 invention.
FIG. 6S is a depiction of an _llustrative 20 television message system display screen for entering a user's name and address ir: accordance with tte present invention.
FIG. 6C is a depiction of an illustrative address book for users i.n accordance with the present 25 invention.
FIG. 7 is a depic=ion of an illustrative television message system display screer.
for providing a user with an opportunity to evaluate a television program in accordance with the present invention.
30 FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing steps involved in ar. illustrative approach for providing a user with an opportunity to eva'_uate a television program in 50 accordance with the present invention.
WO OOI13415 PCTNS99f1~9541 FIG. 9 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen nor provicing the user with an opportunity to par~icioa~e in a survey relating to telev_sion programming .n accordance with the present invention.
FAG. 10 is a depiction of an illustrative television display screen fo= providing the user with an opportunity to participate in a p=omot'_cn related to a television program in accordance wits the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screer. for providing the user with an opportunity to participate in a contest related to a television program in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrative approach for p=oviding a user with an opportLnity to participate in a television contest, prortction, or sLrvey in accordance with tle present invention.
FIG. 13 is a deoicticn of as illust=ative television display screen for displayir_g interactive features available for television grog=ams in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a de~ict~_on of an il'_ustrative television message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to send a rer.:incer message to another user in accordance With the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a depiction of ar. illustrative television message system display screer_ for displaying a reminder message received from another user in accordance w'_th the present invention.
WO 00/13415 PCT/US99/19$41 _ g -FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an i'_lustrative approach for providing a user with as opportunity to create a =eminder message to be sent to another user in accordance w_th the 5 present invention.
~5 FIG. 17 is a dep_ction o. an _lisst=alive television message systen display scree:: for providing a user w'_th an: opportun_ty to send a message to another user is accordance with the preser_t inve:~=ion.
20 10 FiG. 18 is a depiction of an =llvst~ative television message system display screen for displaying a message received by a user in accordance with ~he present invention.
25 FIG. 19 is a depiction of a television 15 message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to send a message to other users based on television program-related criteria is accordance 30 with the present invention.
FIB. 2C is a flowchart sowing s:eps 2C involved in an. illustrative approach for providing a user w_t'~ an opportunity send a message to other users based upon television: program-related c=ite=is in accordance with the present invention..
FIG. 2i is a depiction of as illustrative 25 television message system display screen for providing a user with an opportunity to purchase a television program-related gift for ano:.her user in accordance with the present invention..
FIG. 22 is a depiction of ar_ ill~~strative 30 television message system display screen fot providing a user with an opportunity to purchase program-related merchandise in accordance with the present invention.
5p FIG. 23 is a depiction of an illustrative television message system display screen. for providing W O 00113415 P C.TNS99li 9541 a use-- with an opportunity to enter gift recipient identity and address '-nformation in accordance with tae present invention.
FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing steps 5 involved in an illustrative approach fcr providing a ~5 user with an opportunity to purchase a gift through the television message system in accordance wit:r the presen'., invention.
FIG. 25 is a depiction of a display remote 20 10 control w_th television ~~essagirg feat;:res in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed Description cf the Preferred Embodiments 25 An illustrative televisior_ message system l0 in accordance with the present ir_vention is shown in 15 FIG. 1A. Main facility 12 may contain a program guide database 19 for storing program guide _r.formation such 30 as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view ordering information, etc. Database 19 glows system 10 to support an interactive television program guide 20 if desired. Although the television -message features o the present invention may be provided using a television message system without a program guide, certain aspects cf the invention wi'_1 be described primarily in the cortex of an interactive television 4o 25 program guide system configuration for soecific'_ty and clarity.
T_nformatio:l from database 14 may be 45 transmitted to television distribution fcility to via coamunications link 1B. Link 1D may be a sa=ellite 30 link, a telephone network link, a =fiber optic link, a cable link, a microwave link, a combination of such 5p links, or any other suitable communications path.
- 1i -PCTIUS99/19~41 Television distribution facility 16 is a facility for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system headend. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented using a 'e_evisicn 5 distribution facility such as a brcadcast aistributior.
facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. Only one television distributicr.
facility 16 is shorn in FIG. 1A to avoid over-cor..p_ioating the drawings. In general, however, main faci-~iry 10 distributes infornatior_ to multiple television distribution facilities.
The program guide information. transmitted by main facility 12 to television distribut'_on facility 16 includes television program listings data such as 15 program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc.
The informaticn transmitted from main facility 12 may also include information on interactive message features (e. g. televisicn program contests, surveys, evaluations, promotions, etc.i that are avai=ably ~cr 20 particular television programs or charnels.
If desired, some cf :ae p=ogram guide data and other Tv message information :nay be prow=ded using data sources at facilities other than main faci'_ity i2.
for example, data relating to available television 25 program-specific message features (e.
g. a contest, promotion, survey, etc.) may be provided by a television program entity associated with a t~levisior channel, or otter facility that is separate from main facility 12 and television distribution ~ac'_lity i6.
3C Telev_sion distribution facility 16 distributes program guide data and other information ~o the user television equipment 2C o_' multiple users via communications paths 24. Communication patas 29 are preferably bidirectional to support messaging and WO 00/134t5 PCTNS99149541 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16 to distribute scheduled television prop=amming, pay programming, messages, and other video and audio information to user 5 television equipment 20 in additior_ tc non-video program guide information and messages. The messages supported by communication oaths 24 may be text-based or, i more bandwidth is available, may be audio or video messages. If television distribution facility 1C is a cable system headend, communications oaths 29 may be based on coaxial cable or fiber optics or the like.
If television distribution facility 16 is a satellite system or broadcast system, unidirectiona'_ patla may involve transmitting information in free space.
15 Bidirectional paths may have a free-space downlink to the home and a te_ephone line or cable o. fiber optic return path from the home to the television distribution facility i6.
User television equipment may be based, for 20 example, on a set-top box or other such device.
For clarity, mar_y aspects at tre invention a=a described in connection with this illustrative arrat:~gement, although any other suitable hardware arrangemea~ fo= the user television equipment 20 may be used ii desired.
25 Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or. both analog and digi.ta=!
may be provided to user telev_sio:~ equipment cevices 20 (including, e.g., set-top boxes 26) via communications paths 24. If each path 24 includes a number of 30 traditional analog televisicn channels, one or more of these channels may be used to support a rumbe~ of.
digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel 5p that is used to support digital channels may support ten or more of such digital channels. Two-way digital WO 00/13415 PCTI(1599/49~41 channels typically require more bandwidth than one-way digital channels, Such two-way digital channels may suppo=t two-way communications in the form of messages between set-cop boxes 26 and a server !e.g. a~
5 televisicn distribution facility 16). -: two-way communica_iors between set-top boxes 26 arc television distribution facility 16 involve only tex= or audio signals, she bandwidth required to sL7pcr= sLch two-way communica?:icns may be substantially ~_ess than the 2o 10 bandwidth requ=red to s~,pport two-way coir~nunications involving video.
Messages may be distributed along communications path 29 using any number cf suitable techniques. Fcr exampler text messages may be 15 distributed using out-of-band channels on paths using out-of-band modulators. Video or audio messages may be more efficiently transmitted using one or more 3o dl ital channels on 1 g path 29. Such digi~a channels may also be used for dis~=ibuting text and graphics.
Any 20 suitable communications protocols may be used for sending messages and the like. For example, communications may be analog or digital, synchronous or asynchronous, pocket-based, Internet protocol transmissions, etc.
25 Dedicated digital cc analog channels, or at least an allocated portion c. the ava=labie bandwidtr in communications paths 24, may be used for the transmission of messages. Such d2dicaCed chan~iels :nay be separate from the chancels used for t=ansmitting 30 television program broadcast signals to tie user television equipment.
Because commun=cations paths 24 support transport of messages between user television equipment devices 20 and television distribution facility 16, the arrangement of system 10 may eliminate the. need for, separate telephone lines ccnnected to user television equipment 20 to transmit messages (although sLCh telephone lines may be used with certain aspects of the 5 invention if desired). if des_red, telev_sion t5 programming may be transmitted to user televis'_on equipment 20 along one communications path such as a satellito lia:c from a satellite system, wk:ile messages to and from the Lser are list=ibuted over a seccad 20 10 communications path such as a telephone o. cable.
Television distribution facility to preferably has a server or other suitable computing equipment or audio or video equipment such as audio 25 voice mail equipment (herein collectively referred to as message equipment 22) for supporting the transmission of messages between users. For clarity:
certain aspects of the invez~ion are silrply described 3o as being implemented using a message serve. although these aspects of the invention are also apclicab_e to other types of message equipment. The :message equipment 22 (e.g.. a message server) may be capable of handling messages involving text, graphics, video, or audio data. If desired, the bandwidtz reqLirements cf message equipment 22 may be reduced by restricting messages to text, audio, and/or graphics, rather than including video. Message equ~.pmert 22 is televis'_on distribution facility 16 may be configures: is a client-server arrangement in which each piece o. user 45 television equipment 20 (i.e.. each user television 3C equipment device 2G) acts as a client processor.
Each user has a receiver, which is typically a se~-top box such as set-top box 26, but which may 5o also be other suitable television equipment into which circuitry similar to sei-top box circui:ry has been WO 00/1341 S PCTNS99/1.9541 integrated. For example, user telev_sion equipment f0 may be based on an advanced televisicn receiver such as a high-definition television (YDTV) receiver or other such television-based platform. A set-tcp bcx may ~ include a DOCSIS modem for use in two-way communication f5 to and from a server or television distr'_bstior.
facility. For clarity, the present invention wi'_1 be describes primarily in the context cf user television equipment 20 that is based on set-tcp boxes 25.
As 20 10 shown in FIG. 1A, each set-tcp box 25 may have memory 25. Memcry 25 may be used, for example, fo-maintaining a database of program listings data.
Program guide information may be distributed 25 to set-top boxes 26 continuously (in real-time), 15 periodically, on request (using a client-server arrangement), or using a combination of. these techniques. Messages may be dist=ibuted to set-top boxes 26 in real-time or on-demand (e. g., when a user chec:ts his e-mail or :message equipment 22 and requests 20 a message for viewing). The message equipment may receive messages from set-top boxes 26 in real-time or periodical_y.
t4air. facility 12 preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution.
tasks.
40 25 Each set-tcp box 26 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with implementin; an interactive television program guide application containing television. message features or an 45 independent television messaging app_ica=ion on the 30 set-top box 26 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a tel2v_sion messaging set-top box application or simply a set-top box application). Television 50 distribution facility 16 preferably contains one or more processors (e.g., part of message equipment 22) WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/19~41 for tasks associated wits the distribsti.on of messages and for tasks associated with prov_ding program guide data to the program guide on the set-top boxes.
It should be understood tha= sore or al. of 5 the functions of the program guide or the messaging ~5 set-top box application he=einafter aescri.bed may be integrated into an operating system on the set-too box, implemented as a stand-alone applicaticr on the set-top box, o. performed by a server (e. g. pare o'_ message 20 10 equipment 22 or separate =rom the television distribution facility!. '_n client serves architecture.
the set-top box sends data or requests to the serve..
The server can store and 5rocess data and send the 25 results of a request back to the user television 15 equipment for further processing, display, or storage.
Any of the functionality o. the set-top box application hereinafter described may be implemented using client-30 server architecture.
Various mechanis:~s may be used for launching 20 the television messaging set-top box application from a program guide application or, the user's set-top box.
One mechanism involves using a ho. link to lasnch the television messaging set-top box application. Hot linking involves invoking a non-progra:~-guide 25 application such as television messaging set-pop box 4o application with information such as a web site address, e-mai_ address, program title, or other information tha= has beer. preselected based on the 45 current content of the program guide or status of set-s0 top box 26. For example, ~f the user is watching a program, viewing a program listing, viewing the description of a program or taking other action within Sp the program guide related to a given program, channel, type c. channel, or the like and the user directs the WO 00!13415 PCTIUS99~19~41 program guide to launch a non-program-guide application, the program guide may launca that non-program-guide application and direct that non-program-guide to take an action related to the giver. program, 5 channel., type ef channel, or the like.
f5 Hot links may be act_vated by dedicated buttons, a launch button, menu options, ar any ether suitable techniaue. For example, a remote ccr.~rcl may be provided with a dedicated message butto7, a 20 10 dedicated shopp'_ng button, and similar b~:ttons associated with other non-program-guide applications.
When the user presses the message button, the program guide launches the television messaging set-top box 25 application and directs the television messaging set-15 top box application to set up a message to a character in the program, a fan club, or other message recipient assoc=ated with the program. When the user presses a sho in channel button, the ro ram pp g p g guide launches a shopping application (e.g. fcr purcaasing gifts for 20 recipient users) and directs the program guide to preselect merchandise related to the program. Farther features of an _liustrative hot linking syste:~
are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent app_ication Serial No. 09/346,134 , filed cor_currently herewith 40 25 (Attorney Docket No. W-85), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its e:~tirety.
Each set-top box 26 a typically connected to an optional videccassette recorder 2B or other such q5 recording device so tha= selected televis_on programs 30 may be recorded. Each videocassette recorder 2B (or set-top box 26) is connected to a television 30.
To record a program, set-top box 26 tunes to a particular 50 channel and sends control signals to videocassette recorder 28 (e. g., using an infrared trans._.itterj that WO 00113415 PC'fNS99/1~9541 d-rect videocassette recorder 28 to start and stop .
f0 recording at the appropriate times.
During the use of the television message systems, the television messaging set-top box 5 application on set-top box 26 may display messages on f5 television 30. I' the television message system includes an interactive television program guide, the interactive television program guide may display program listings on television 30. a prcgrar..
guide 20 10 with message features may also be used to display the messages. Each set-top box 26, videocassette recorder' 28, and television 30 may be controlled by one cr more uses interfaces 32 which may involve a remote control, 25 mouse, trackball, microphone, digital video camera, dedicated set of buttons, etc.
As shown in FIG. 1B, user interface 32 may contain a wireless keyboard 39 tha:. sends signals (e.g. infrared signals) to set-top box 38, which is connected to television 40. The user's inpu', may be 2C displayed as part of a television message system display screen on televisicn 40 as the iapat is entered through wireless keyboard 34. If televisicr_ message system 10 is based on an interactive television program guide, the display screen provided or Television 40 by set-top box 38 may be on an interactive telev~_sion program guide display screen. The displayed interactive television p=ogram guide d_s5lal screen or other program guide display screens provided by the 45 program guides may contain prograr listings.
User interface 32 may also be based on a television screen keyboard 50 as illustrated in FIG.
1C. The user can select letters from the displayed 50 alphabet to compose a message 52. In pa-titular, the user may select letters from alphabet keys 54 aad WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/I9~41 spaces from space bar 56. The user may select a letter so that it becomes h-ghlighted (such as letter L 58) by pressing arrow keys and an enter key (also called an OK
or select key) on a remote control. ?ressing the OK
5 key on the remote control directs the program guide ~5 containing message features or the independence messaging application to place the selectec letter adjacent tc cursor 62. The user may select SFiI"f optior_ 51 to place a capital _Ptter is __~..essage 52. In 20 10 this way, a user can compose the tex= of a message.
If desired, the user may ccmpose messages by selecting from a list of standard messages 70 or words 72 displayed in a display screen such as cisplay screer.
25 75, as shown in FIG. 1D. The words or messages may be predetermined, determined by the user, or both.
If determined by the user, they may be specifically entered by the user into the list, or they may be 30 automatically saved by =he system based on messages previously sent by the user. A word cr message can be selectea by pressing arrow keys or. a remote cor_tro~ to place highlight region 76 cn top of a particular word or message such as "message 2" in FIG. iD. The user can then select the highlighted word or message by pressing a remote control enter (or select or OK) key.
System 10 allows users at user televisio-r equipment 20 to exchange television prcgram-related messages while watching t=levision. The tae: may send messages with system 10 withost investiz; the effort 45 involved in operating a personal computer aad tle 3C software that is associated with it. In add_tion, system 10 allows users to retain the high video quality and channel range cf television viewing while exchanging messages w_th similarly situated users.
WOt10713415 PG'fIUS99L19$4t , As shown in FIG. 2A, a television program, !0 entity 80 may contain a message server 82 to store messages sent between user televisicn eau'_pment 88, 92, and any other such user television equ-_pment.
The 5 television program entity may be a message =acility associaeed wish a television charnel that receives and processes messages sent by users of use. televis'_on equipment devices to a television pregr~~ or channel.
User television equipment devices 88 and 92 are 20 10 connected via communications paths 90 and 9~
respectively to television distribution facilities that are in turn connected to television p=ogram entity 80 via communication links 86. Comnunica~ions links 25 may be satellite links, telephone network links, fiber optic links, cable links, microwave links, combinations of such links. or any other suitable communications path.
30 Messages may be handled on a server that is net located at the television distribution facility as 2C shown in FIG. 2B. For example, messages may be stored en server 91 and transmuted between user televis_on 35 equipment devices 97 and 98 via neighborhood nodes and 96. User television equipment device 97 are connected to neighborhood node 95 via commun_ica~ions 25 path 99, and user television equipment devices 98 are connected to neighborhood node 96 via communications path 10.. Neighborrood nodes 95 and 96 decrease she bandwidth requirements on communications paths 103 for a given number o. usez televisior. equipment devices 30 and 98. Neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 route television programming f=om television distributior_ facility 93 to user television equipment 97 and 98. Neighborhood 50 nodes 95 and 96 may also route messages between server 91 and user television equipment 97 and 98.
WO 001! 3415 PCT/US99/1s1541 Neighborhood nodes 95 and 96 may also routs requests to f0 perform many o' the message system functions described herein from user television equipment 97 and 9B
to server 91. Responses from server 9~ are routed back to 5 the appropriate user television equ_pmezt device via a f5 neighborhood node.
As shown in FIG. 3, messages can be distributed along communication paths .02 from one user television equipment device 100 associa=ed with 20 10 television distribution. facility 104 to another user television equipment device 100 asscc_aCed with that facility using a message server 106 located at the facility. The messages sent between two or more user 25 television equipment devices 100 associated with television distribution facility 104 may be stored on message server 106 in television list=ibution facility 104. An advantage to limiting operation of the message 30 system to individual television distribution facilities is that i~ allows individual cable system operators (for example) to control their systems, and it does not involve coordinating the transmission e messages related to an on-going television procram between different geographical areas or d_fferent t?me zones.
If desired, messages exchanged by use. television equipment 100 can be stored by a message server that is connected to television distribution facility 109 via communications network 110, ~:,:n.::~nicatior.s network 110 may be any suitable cosmun;cations network 45 such as the Internet, a public or private telephone network, a network involving satellite link or wireless links, a cable network, etc.
The message system may also be configured so 5p that users at one or more of user television equipment devices 120 may exchange messages with one or more of WO OOn 3415 PCf/US99/19$41 user television equipment devices 100. User television equipment 120 is associated with a different television distribution facility than user television equipment 100. User television equipment devices 120 are 5 connected to television distribution faci_ity 116 via !5 commun_cations paths 122. Message serve. 118 may be used to store messages. The configuraticn of message server 118 and user television equipment 120 may be based on a client-server arrangement. Television 20 10 distribution facilities 109 and 116 may be connected to each other via communications network 110. Messages that are sent between user television. equipment lOC and user television equipment 120 may be scored on message 25 servers 106, 108, or 118. If desired, any number of 15 television distribution facilities may be connected togther via communications network 110 0. other such communications networks to allow user television 30 equipment from these television distribution facilities to exchange messages with each other.
20 In addition, messages may be transmitted between user television equipment 100 cr 120 and user communications equipment 119. User corr~tnun_cations equipment 114 is connected via communications network 110 to television distribution facilities 109 and 116.
25 User communications equipment devices 119 can be any number of, e.g.. personal computers that can send and receive messages.
Another aspect of she present ;nvention 45 involves using the television messaging set-top box 30 application to provide the user with an opportunity to send messages related to a television program or channel which can be sent to certain recipients.
5p Messages transmitted between set-top box application users are sent from one set-top box and scored at a WO 0011341 PCT1US991f9541 23 _ message server. The recipient user's set-ton box can 1p download the message from the message serve_~ after logging onto the message server. Once the message has been downloaded onto the recipient's set-top box, the 5 recipient can review the message using message features ~5 provided by the set-top box application, The messages sent in this format may be delayed in the sense that they are no~ necessarily received by tY:e recipient immediately after they are ser_t. 'she messages can be 20 10 stored cn a message server fcr a long time until recipients access them. Messages may also be sent by a user of a user television equipment device to a television program entity such as a television channel 25 using the television messaging set-top box application.
15 Communications may also be sent between set-top boxes in the form of instant messages. Instant messages are messages that are only stored temporarily at the recipient end. An instant message is available for viewing by a recipient only for a limited period of 20 time after which the message =s purged from ;memory.
The message is purged regardless cf whether the recipient actually opens the message curing the time period it is available. instant messages are useful for transmitting information that is valid only for a 25 limited period of time. For example, one user may wish to send a message containing the score of a football game to another. user in the form of an ins=a::L
message because the score may change continuously throughout 45 the game.
30 Referring now to FIG. 4, television display screen 130 provides the user with the opportunity compose a human-readable message 132 related to a 5o television program 148. Television message system display screen 130 may allow television program 148 to be displayed (e.g., in window 196 of the television , to screen) concurrently with the interactive message features shown in FIG. 9. Program 198 is reduced in size to fit fully within w_ndow 196. Advertisement 5 may also be concurrently displayed in display screen t5 130. Advertisements may accompany ar_y o_' tie display screens or user interface screens of the present invention.
The set-top box application may display 20 10 screen 130 automatically at a:~ appropriate time while .he user is watching a television p=ogram 1s8.
The set-top box application may also display screen upon prompting by the user (e. g. when the user presses 25 a message button on the remote control). Information that indicates that the television program has associated message options such as those shown in FIG.
4 may be provided to the set-top box application using 30 any suitable data distribution technique. For example, TV message information may be obtained on-demand by the set-top box from a server or with the program guide _istings from the main facility. If cesired, f~
message information may be encoded digitally .n-band with the television program signal on a digital channel. The message information may be decoded by a digital set-top box along with the TV programs signal.
The TV message information. may alsc be digitally encoded on a digital channel separate from the TV
program signal. As another example, TV message 45 information may be maintained at a television distribution facility and distributed to set-ton box applications over the vertical blan?cing interval (VHI) o-_' a standard analog television. signal. r?
VBI decoder 50 located in the set-toy box may be used to decode data contained in the VBI of the received television-signal.
WO 00/13415 PCT/US99I195d1 _ 25 -TV message information relating to ary oz the herein described features of the present inve-~tion (e. a.
surveys, contests, promotions, purchasing merchandise) may be provided to the user using any of the above 5 suitable techniques.
~5 The decoded data may then be used by the set-top box application to deter~~ine whether an option exists for the user to send a .-.;essage ~o a TV program entity based on the received data. The data decoded 20 10 by the set-top box also can indicate which message options are available and the return path or destination address to which the messages can be sent (e. g, the e-mail address of a television program entity 25 which is designated to receive and process the messages 15 from the users). If desired, TV message information may be provided using an out-of-band rata path. Such information may also be provided as a digital data 30 stream that accompanies other streams of digital data (such as digital data for various telerisior.
programs).
20 Screen 130 allows the user to send a human-readable message 132 (e. g., a text message or a graphic message containinC text) to the TV channel which broadcasts program 198 by selecting cpticn 139, the television program producers of program 198 by 25 selecting option 136, or an individual cast member of program 198 by selecting an option suca as option 138 or option 190. Television ct:annels include networks such as ABC, local affiliates, loca'_ broadcast 45 stn dons, pay-per-view channels, cable channels such as 30 HBO and CNN, etc. Once the user of the set-top box application has chosen one or more desired recipients of the message, the user may send the message by 50 selecting send option 192.
WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/1.9$4!
The television message system will then f0 deliver the message to a television program entity such as a television message facility associated with the television channel that is designated to receive 5 messages from users of user television eauipment f5 devices. The television program entity will process the messages, and respond to them if necessary.
For example, a designated television channel representative at the television prograr.; entity may read and respond 20 10 to messages sent to the television channel.
The television program entity who actually receives the message from the user may also be, for example, the personal e-mail address ef a cast member o_- program 25 producer. The user may cancel the message and return to a full screen view of the current program 148 by selecting option 149.
An illustrative process for sending a message to a television program entity recipient is shown in FIG. 5. At step 170, the set-top box appl_cation (i.e.
the interactive program guide with message =eatures or the stand-alone messaging application) functioning on the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to send a message to a television program entity recipient, for example, the television channel, television program producers, or indiv=dual television program cast members. The set-top box application may provide the user with an oFportunity tc indicate a desire to send the message by displaying as interactive 45 screen such as screen. 13C (FIG. 4). The i:~teractive screen may be displayed automatically cr when the set-top box application is prompted by the user. The interactive screen may provide the user with an 50 opportunity to enter the text of a message and designate the intended recipients of the intended WO 00/13415 PCf/US99/l95~ti message. If desired, the =ecipients of the message may be preselected if there is only one potential recipient of the message. The user may they: enter the message information. The message information may include the 5 text of the message and may include the designated ~5 recipients.
At step 172, the television message system sends the message to a message server associated with the television program entity which is designated to 10 receive and process messages relating .o the television program, or channel. The set-top bex application may obtain the information necessary to forward the message to a television program entity (e. g. the recipient's destination address? from the program guide information 15 obtained from the main facility or from data associated with a television program (e.g., data embedded in the VHI of the~television program signal). The destination address may be an e-mail address or other information identifying a location where elec~roaic messages may be 20 sent. The destination address may also be stored at the television distribu~iol facility. In this case, the set-top box application may forward tre message to the television distribution facility, which would then forward the message to its destination.
25 The television messaging set-top box application may also present the user with the option of entering profile information data for users in the user's household. An illustrative television messaging system display screen 920 that the television messaging 30 set-top box application may prese:~t on a user's television set to enter user profile information is shown in FIG. 6A. The names of users may be entered in box 422. That user's favorite prog=ams may be selected from a pul_ down or expandable list 925. Additional programs in the pull down list can be displayed on /0 television messaging system display screen 920 if the user selects arrow 426. The user's favorite categories of programs such a~ sports programs, movies, news 5 segments, sitcoms' etc. may also be selected from pull /5 down list 932. The user can select arrow 938 so that additional categories of programs may be d_sp'_ayed.
The use='s favorite channels may be selected from a pull down list 430. The user car_ select arrow 928 so 20 10 that additional Channels may be displayed on the user's television display screen. Information about the user that is not related to TV programs may also be entered as part of the user's profile (e. g. birth date, place 25 of residence, age, etc.). The user. may enter his city and state of residence in regions 491 and 443 of screen 420.
Television display screen 920 may also 30 provide the user with an opportunity to filter the messages that are sent to that user. The user may specify that all incoming messages are to be blocked, except for those other users whom the use_- _dentifies in box 935. Alternatively, the user may specify that only messages from certain recipients should be blocked. The user may identify these recipients in box 437. The filtering function may be performed by the set-top box or by the message equipment. The set-top box or the server checks all the incoming messages and does not accept messages from the blocked recipients.
45 A user may select OK option 936 when he has finished entering user profile information.
The data entered is preferably stored in the set-top box, but may be stored at a remote Server or elsewhere in the 5o hardware of the user television equipment device such as a separate storage unit connected to the set-tap W O 0011341 S PCf/US99119541 _ 29 _ box. The user may select cancel option 939 to exit f0 display screen 920. User profile information will not be saved if the user selects cancel option 439.
Further fea=ores of an illustrative system for entering 5 user prof=le information are described in E=lis e~ al.
U.S, patent application Serial No. 09/034,939 filed June 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in _ts entirety.
In addition, the message system may be 10 configured similar to the ICQ system so that a user may make his pro:.ile information public so shat it can be accessed by other users. ICQ is an Interne~ tool that informs Internet user's who is on-line at any time and enables users to contact them at will. ICQ can search 15 for an individuals on-line and alert a user when they log on. ICQ al_ows a user to chat, send messages, files, URL's, play games, or just hang out with fellow Internet users while surfing the Internet.
R user may fill out a questionnaire through 2C the message system which includes info=:nation regarding the user's television program preferences as well as additional non-television related info=~mation about himse'_f such as his hobbies (e. c. using display screen 920). The user profile information may be useful for 25 finding other users who are interested in exchanging messages relating to certain topics. The user profile information may be stored at a remote server or jointly on the set-toF boxes. A user may access profiles which q5 have been made public and form a "buddy list"
o.
30 address book of other use=s who have tl:e sane interests. The buddy list can include a ~sser's identity, TV preferences, and other interests.
The message systen may be set up so that a use. must obtain permission from a second user before he is able to obtain the second user's profile information. For example, the message system may send the second user a message indicating the first user has requested the second user's profile information.
If 5 the second user accepts the request, the message system allows the first user to add the second use. to his buddy list so that he can have access to the second user's profile information. In addition, the message system may ask the second user if he wishes to add the 10 first user to his buddy list. A user may add further information to the profile based on his knowledge of the other user's preferences. The message system may also allow users to search for other users based on an ICQ number, an e-mail address, TV program preferences, 15 and/or o=her preferences.
Ar. illustrative television messaging system display screen 421 that the television messaging set-top box application may present on a user's television set to enter user identity information is shown ir_ FIG.
20 6B. Television messaging system display screer.
421 in FIG. 6B provides the user cf the user television equipment with an opportunity to enter a user's nave in box 423, and a user's address in box 427. Identities for users of user television equipment devices and user 25 communications equipment devices may be entered in display screen 421. For example, an e-mai_ address may be entered in box 927 for users o. use. communications equipment. A user of a user televis_on equipment device may have an address which is a unique identifier 30 assigned to a particular user allowing a message server to restrict access to a message only to the proper recipient. The address for the user of a user 5o television equipment may be entered in box 427.
When the user selects OK option 429, the set-top box application will save the user identity information !i.e. the user's name and address) in a memory device such as memory 25 in FIG. 1A. The user 5 identity inforiratior_ may also be stored at a server instead o~ a set-cop box. When the user selects cancel option 431, the set-top bex application wi_1 exit display screen 421 and will not save any information the user has entered in boxes 923 and 927. Tre user 10 selects option 933 if the use. wishes to add the user identity entered in boxes 923 and 927 to a g=oup of identities that will appear as a single entry in an address book, such as "Hockey Fans" in address book 940 shown in FIG. 6C. The identity group feature allows 15 the user to compile a list of the identities of friends who enjoy watching the same television program, channel, or category of programs into a group.
The use_- can they. send a message to everyone in that group while watching a television program that everyone in 20 the group is interested ir. by selecting that group in the address book. The members of the group of identities will receive the message on their set-top box and will be able to read it while they are watching the same television program as the sender of the 25 message.
The identities of users whose identity information has been entered in display screen 421. of FIG. 6B may be displayed by the set-top box aap'_ication in a:~ address book format o:~ the television screen.
30 The television messaging system display screen Brown in FIG. 6C is an example of such an address book.
Address book display screen 440 displays a list of identities 992 of users or groups of users. The users can be individuals such as Mary Smith, or groups of WO 00/13d15 PCTNS99/1A541 individuals such as Hockey Fans as illustrated by the f0 names in the list 492. An individual user may be part of more than one group in the address book. For example, Mary Smith may appear in the address book as 5 an individual, and be a member of the groups "Seinfeld Fans" and "Movie Lovers." List 942 may ccn~ain groups of individuals who are interested in a particular program, type of program, or any other group iden=ified by the user such as "Hcckey Eans," "~~embers of Hiking 10 Club," "Seinfeld Fan Club," or "Movie Lovers."
The grcups need not be TV-related. If desired, the set-top box application may present a pop-up option on the television screen to send a message to the individuals in a list in the address book when the user is watching 15 a related television program (e. g. Seinfeld).
The user may select a recipient or recipients o. a message, recommendation, gift, reminder, etc., by selecting an identity cr identities in the list.
Option 444 is highlighted to indicate that the user has 20 selected "Seinfeld Fans" to be a recipient of a message. The use. may select as many reciFients of the message as he desires from the names in the list.
The user may choose to enter additional identities of other users by selecting option. 446 which returns the user to 0 25 television display screen 421 in FIG. 6B.
When the user has selected the recipients of the message (e. g., using arrow keys and pressing enter}, the user may then pos'_tion the highlight region on OK option 448 and press enter. The television 30 messaging set-top box application may then retrieve the addresses for each recipient of the message.
The television message system may .hen deliver the message to the appropriate message equipment for each of the recipients. The user may select option 950 to cancel and exit from the address book display screen 490.
Referring now to F1G. 7, television display screen 180 allows a user of user television equipment 5 to evaluate the television program that the user is viewing. The use. can select one cr options 182, 189, 186, and 1B8 to evaluate the program displayed in window 198. The television. progra~ is concurrently displayed in window 198 to assist she use-- in 10 evaluating the program. AdvertiseTent 197 may also be displayed on screen 18G. The user can augment the evaluation by entering additional text comments in box 190 that may be distributed to recipients with the program evaluation. The user can select who the 15 program evaluation will be sent to. The user can send the prograr.. evaluation to a television program entity such as the TV channel that broadcasts the television program (or an associated entr y that compiles TV
program data fcr the TV channel) by selectiac option 20 192. An evaluation may include a simple score such as "good" or "bad," and it may inc::ude ~~extual ccm~nentary.
The user can select option 199 .o send the evaluation to other users of user televis_or_ equipment as a recommendation to watch or net watch the 25 particular p=ogra~n. The set-top box application will then display a user address boo'.r such as display screen 990 se the user can chcose the cesi=ed recipients of the recommendation.. The user may then. select send option 199 to send the evaluation to ~he designated 30 recipients. The set-top box appl_catior. _ncludes the identity o the TV program along with the evaluation or recommendation message. The television message system may then forward the evaluation to the destination addresses of the television prograi~ entity obtained WO 00!13415 PCT/US99/.19541 from the program guide information or from data 1p associated with the program. The television.
-message system may transmit the recommendation to message equipment (e. g. server) fen access by the roc=pient 5 users of user television equipment. The communications paths in FIGS. iA, 2A, 2B, and 3 i_lLStrare the types of paths that may be used w~:th these processes.
Evaluations col_ected by this system from users may then be trarsmi~ted to the set-top box application and 10 displayed in a variety of formats. For example, an, interactive TV display screen may indicate ;:hat 3i~ of the viewers gave tre program 4 stars, 46~ gave it three stars, 10~ gave it 2 stars, and 7~ gave it 1 star.
An illustrative process for sending a 15 television. program evaluation or recommenda~io:~
to a recipient is shown, in FIG. B. At step 220, the television messaging set-top box appl'_cation functioning on the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to evaluate a television 20 program. The set-ton box application may provide an opportunity to evaluate a program by displaying an interactive television display screen such as display screen 180 in FIG. 7. If des_red, the set-top box application may provide the user with an opportunity to 25 evaluate a program by pressing buttons on his remote 4o control. The user may then enter program evaluation or recommendation information for tae television program following the options or instructions displayed ea the user's television.
30 At step 224, the television message system delivers the evaluation or recommendation to the destination address or return path. If the address information is not known, the evaluation or recommendation may be transmitted to a return.
path W O 00/13415 PCT/US99/.19541 whicr may be, for example, the user's television f0 distributicn facility. If the television distribution facility has sufficient information, the telev'_sion distributicn facility may forward the evaluation or 5 recommendation to the appropriate destination.
f5 The Television messaging system c. the present invention may also provide a fast and e=ficient way to Bathe= ratings for television progra:~s.
A TV
program ratir_g is an estimate of the number o~ people 20 10 who are watering a teievisicn program based on a survey of a selected group of people. In the television messaging system of the present invention, each set-top box connected to a given television distribution 25 facility may send a message to the TV channel or an associated entity indicating whether the user is watching the current television program. A rating may be determined from this data if the sampling is taken from a large enough group. This system provides television charnels and ratings services with a way in which to gather up-to-the-minute ratings or television programs from users who are currently watch~.ng the programs.
As shown in FIG. 9, television messaging display screen 23C may be used to provide the user with as opportunity to participate in a survey relating to q0 television programming (e. g. a particular television program or a group of television programs;. 'Television messaging system display screen 230 may provide a user q5 with an opportunity to enter answers to questicns 1 and 2 by selecting one or more of options 232a-c and 239a-d respectively. The set-pop box applicat:.on may obtain the survey questions and the return path fror~
the 50 program guide information transmitted frcm the main facility. Alternatively, some of this information may WO OOI13415 PCfNS99/19541 be encoded into the television messaging set-top box f0 application. Advertisement 235 may be displayed on screen 230 with the survey questions.
If desired, the survey quest_or,s and return 5 path (or destination address) may be encoded digitally in-band with the televis_on program signal c:_ a digita_ channel, provided in the VBI signal, or otherwise provided as data associated with the television program. The set-top box application fur_c~ioaing on 10 the user television equipment may hen decode the survey data from the program signal or other associated path, and indicate the ava_lability of the survey option on a program listings menu in an interactive format so that the user may access the survey (see, 15 e.g., FIG. 13).
The user may answer an additional set of survey questions by choosing option 236. The user can send the responses he has given to the survey questions by choosing option 238. The television message system 20 will then deliver the survey answers as a survey message to the return path or destination address (e. g., a television program entity such as a television channel survey center] for processing. The user can cancel and return to a menu or to a television program 25 by choosing cancel op=ion 290. If desired, the television messaging set-top box application.
may provide the user with inducements .or completi.~.g a survey, such as a chance to win ~ free montl:
o~
programming or the like.
30 As shown in FIG. 10, a television s.essaging system display screen 250 nay provide the user with an opportunity to participate in a promotion related to television programming. The television channel that broadcasts a teievisior. program may be offering a W0 00113415 PCfNS99/19541 promotional drawing as shown in FIG. 10. A reduced-sized image of the television program is displayed in window 256. An advertisement is displayed in region 255. The user can enter the drawing by selecting 5 option 252 or may decline by selecting option 254.
If.
the use= selects option 252, the television. message system will forward a promotion message to the return path or destination address of the television program entity that is handling the promotion (e.g. the 10 telev'_sion channel or an associated fac_lity) so that the use= will be entered in the drawing. The promotion message may include the user's name and address.
The television. message system will then deliver the message to a television program entity 15 associated with the television channel that broadcasts program 256 for processing. The return path or destination address of a television program entity and the other promotion information displayed on screen may be obtained using any suitable tecrnique including 20 encoding it digitally in-band wita the ~e).evision program s~anal or. a digital channel, embedding it in the program signal VHI, otherwise providing it a~
data associated with the program, or downloading i= to the set-top box 26 from a server or the main facility 25 (FIG. 1A). Television message display screen 250 may request that the user enter his name and address and demographic information such as the user's programming preferences if the user decides to ewer the drawing.
The television program entity can they. send additional 30 promot~ona'_ information to the user based on the user's interests. The television program entity ;e.g. the.
television channel] selects a winner from the pool of users who have entered she drawing. The winner may be announced at the end of the program. This promotion WO 00/13415 PCTNS99119$41 technique permits users of user television equipment devices to participate in promotions simply and easily without leaving their living rooms. A televisior_ program promotion will encourage users to watch the 5 program and thereby increase ratings.
?5 Referring now to FIG. 1., the te_ev_sion message system may provide a user cf user television equipment with an opportunity to participa:.e in a television prcgram contest. The program "Jeopardy for 20 10 Home Viewers" may be vertically compressed to ~=t in the upper half screen, may be truncated by overlaying instructions on its lower half, or may be displayed using any other suitable arrangement. In any case, at 25 least a portion of the program is visible tc she user in upper portion 411 of screen 410. A contest user interface 416 is simultaneously displayed in the lower portion of television display screen 41C. .his format allows a user to view a television program and participate in a contest at the same time. ~dhile a user is listening to questions being asted on the program "Jeopardy for Home Viewers," he can e.~.ter answers to the questions in box 412. The ques~ioas can also be d_splayed in the contest user interface portion of screen 410. Lahen the user is sat_sfied with his answer he can send i= as a contest message to the return path or destination address by choosing cption 414 or by pressing Enter on his .emote cont=cl.
The return path or destination address of the television q5 progra:~ ertity that receives the contest answers may be the television program broadcast facility that broadcasts the r.elevisior. program. An advertisement may be displayed in region 915.
50 ~he contest questions and other contest information (e. g., the return path) may be encoded WO 00/13415 PCTN599/.19541 digitally in-bane witk: the television program signal on a digital channel, embedded in the VBI of the television program signal, or may be provided as other associated data or may be transmitted from a server to 5 the set-too box over a separate channel. These t5 arrangements a_low contest _aformat'_cr. isu~Y
as contest questions) and the program signal to be cont_nuously received by the set-top box dLring ~ae course c. a program. The contest information that appears oz the 10 interface screen 916 may be updated as it .s received on the set-top box. Because the set-top box is receiving the television program signal for the TV
program and the contest information concurrently, display screen 916 may be synchronized with the action 15 occurring in the program as it unfolds. The winners of the contest can be determined immediately and may be announced during the course of the program. This aspect of the present invention allows television channels to implement interactive television 20 programming for their users. ' An illustrative process for allowing ~ use.
to participate in a contest, promotion, or sLrvey '-s shown in FIG. 12. At step 900, the set-top box application functioning on the user television 25 equipment provides the user with an opportunity to enter survey, promotion, or contest information.
This opportunity may be prov_ded in the form of display screens such as display screens 230, 250, and 410 of q5 FIGS. 9, 1C, and 11, respective'_y. The user may enter 30 appropriate survey, promotion, or contest information following the on-screen prompts provided in the display screens. At seep 902, the television message system 5o delivers the survey, promotion, or contest inormation to the return path or destination address for WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/1.9541 processing. If desired, step 902 may involve the step 1p of using the television message system to traasmi=
the message to the television distribution facility so that the message can be transm'_tted to the appropr_ate 5 destination (e. g. a telev_sion program en=ity).
As shown. in FIG. 13, program guide listings tha;. are received by the set-top box from the program guide database a: the main facility may ind_cate which television programs have interactive user message 10 features available (e. g., a evaluation, contest, promction, or survey feature). Television message system display screen 150 allows users to v'_e~a which messaging features are available with respect to television. programs that are being aired in a given 15 time slot.
The user may enter a time slot in bcx 169 or otherwise select a t_me slot of interest. The set-top box application then displays program listings in coluruz 159 fcr programs that are scheduled to be 20 broadcast at the dime indicated in box 1'09 on the channel in column 152. The messaging fea~;lres available wits respect to a given program are displayed by the set-tcp box application in column 156. For example, the program Wheel of ~crtune is offering a 25 contest which a use. can participate in. Tre user can highlight contest option 162 and press enter on his remote control to enter the P:heel of Fcrtune ccntest.
The I icon in. circle 158 indicates hat the channel has provided more _nfor:na~ion witz respect to .he ~rlheel of 30 Fortune contest which the user may be interested in reading before entering the contest. The see-top box application may provide the user with an opportunity to review this information before the user is entered into the contest. Also, the user may simply view the WO OOI13415 PCTIU599/19~41 program Wheel of Fortune by highl_ghting the 4lheel of >o Fortune option 155 and pressing enter on the remote control. The user car. scroll up or down. to view the program listings and messaging features for more 5 programs and channels as _ndicated by ar~o~ris 160. An advertisement may be displayed on screer_ 150 sucz as the one in region 157.
The features described with respect to FIG.
13 may be provided for in any ormat of listings. For 10 example, the TV message system may provide a list o all of the message features for programs airing on a selected TV channel. The TV message system may also allow a user to search for programs by category or alphabetically, and list associated message features 15 for each program. If desired, TV messaging features may be provided on a program information screen which allows a user to access multiple features related to the program, including the messaging featL:es described it this application.
20 Another aspect of the present invention relates to the ability of the television message system to transmit reminder messages between users. Rer.:inder messages are messages that are sent by one use= to another user to remind the other user to watch a 25 particu-~ar television prograr:. Televisicr_ message system display screen 260 of FIG. 19 is an example of a user interface that permits the user to send a reminder message to the set-top box of ancther user. A user may q5 get to information screen 260 by selecting a program in 30 the program guide listings and then pressing the "info"
button oz the remote control. The program guide listings contain information or. programs that are 5o currently airing on all available channels as well as programs that will be broadcast at future times.
Information regarding the program selected in the listings is displayed in region 262 of in'or:r.ation screen 260. The user can set a reminder for himself to watch the selected program by selecting opticn 269.
5 The user car_ send a rem'_nder to another user of a user f5 television equipmen:. device by se~~ecting option.
266.
After the sser selects option 266, pop-up region appears in infcrmation screen 260. The user enters the recipien= user's address information in regicn 2Ø
20 10 The loci=ien address may include a unique code identifying the user and the message server from which the recipient user can receive messages. The user may also choose the recipient's identity from the address 25 book by choosing option 272. None than one recipient may be entered. After the user has chosen a recipient, the user selects Done option 279. The reminder message is now transmitted to the recipient(s). An advertisement may also be displayed in region 275.
A reminder message may also be sent ~o ~ user of a user te_evision equipment dev'_ce from a we:, site teat has program listings and that suppcrts the transmittal of reminder messages such as wm~r.tvauice.com. An Internet user may select a program from the listings displayed on the web sire and enter 40 25 the address of the recipient user. The web site transmits the reminder r.:essage to the recipient via a server.
Re=erring now to FIG. 15, television. display 45 screen 2BG shows 1-.ow a reminder message that has been sent by ene user and received on the set-top box of another user may be displayed. The recipient's set-top box application displays the reminder message a short 50 time (e.g., 10 minutes) before the program that is related to the reminder is to air, regardless of the time that the set-top box receives the rem~.nder to message. If desired, the reminder message may be displayed at other times or more than once. For example, tl:e reminder may be displayed when the user 5 first turns on the te_evision set within a tv~e'_ve hour t5 interval before the program airs. The set-top box applicatior. may also display the re:.~,inde~ the first time that the user turZs on the television after the set-top box has receivec the reminder message. These 20 10 methods help ensure that the user will see the reminder even if h2 .s not watching television a short time before the program airs.
The illustrative reminder message 292 of FIG. 15 is displayed as a relatively small overlay on television display screen 280 so as to interrupt the user's viewing o_' program 284 as little as possible.
The video of program 284 may instead be shrunk so that so that none of it is obscured by the rem=nder message.
The reminder message 282 indicates to the use._-that the program "Oprah" will air on AfiC at 9 p.m. .he user car.
accept the reminder message by selecting OK option 28'0, in which case the set-top box application w1'_ tune to the channel that corresponds to tr.e local P.s affiliate.
40 25 - 3eminder messages can also be se:~= across time zones or local broadcast areas. When a set-top box receives a reminder message, i= wil'_ search through the program guide listings to deters:ine whey ~he a5 program will be broadcast in the user's time zone or local area. The set-top box application then displays the reminder message on the televis=on screen at an appropriate time before the program airs. The user may 5o decline the reminder message by selecting cancel option 288 causing the message to disappear from the TV
w0 _00/13415 PCTNS9911.9541 _ 99 _ screen. The identity of the sender of the reminder f0 message is displayed in region 283. If the set-top box application does not recognize the sender, then the sender's address cr web site may be displayed in region 5 283. Displaying the sender's identity is usefLl for f5 allowing the user to block that sender's reminders in the future. A-1 advertisement may be displayed in region 28~ of reminder 282 as shown in FIG. 15. If desired, multiple rem=nder messages may be displayed on 20 10 a single overlay. The cverlay may include both reminders set by the user, as well as, _-eminders sent by other users.
The television message system may provide the 25 user with an opportunity to block all future reminder messages from a specific sender or all senders. When a reminder message is displayed tc the user, it may include an option to block all future reminder messages from all senders such as option 287. The rem=nder message may also include an option such as option. 289 which al-_ows the user to block all future reminder messages fro: the user who has sent the current reminder. The reminder message may additionally include option 281 which configures the message system.
so tha:. all reminder messages are blocked except reminders from: the sender of the current re~~inder.
T:zese blocking features may be ;mplemented to block other types of messages received on the set-top box.
The filtering and blocking functions herein described 45 may be performed at the set-top box of the recipient, 3C at a rerlote serve., or a the television distribution facility.
An illustrative process for allowing a user 50 of user television equipment to send a reminder to another user of user television equipment is shown in FIG. 16. At step 290, the set-top box application functioning on a user's television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to send a reminder message for a recipient user at a remote sat-top box. The set-s top box application can provide the user with an opportunity tc send a reminder by using an ir._eractive display screen such as television message system display screen 2'00 of FIG. 14. The use. -ay enter reminder info=matien such as the recipier_t user's 10 address and the television program info=oration. At step 299, the television message system may send the reminder to the recipient user's message se=ver for subsequent downloading by the recipie:~t user's user televisior. equipment device.
15 Ancther aspect of the present invention re'_ates to send_ng and receiving text, audio, or video messages between other users of user television equipment and users of. com.-nunications equipmert (e. g., Internet users, users of personal ccmputers, etc.).
20 The messages are similar to electronic mail (e-mail) .n that they are stored on a message server and can be downloaded onto tre recipient's set-to? box by the set-top box application at any time. The user television equipment devices may com.~nur_icate w t1: the message 25 server using any suitable network including the ones shown and cescribed with respect tc FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2B, and 3. Messages car. be sent to a user's Internet service provider mail server for subsequez= downloading by a user's computer. The television message system 30 may also allow users to send program guide information such as T'J program listings, program sc:~edules, anti program information as a message to other use=s.
5o As shown in FIG. 17, the set-top box application may provide a user df user television equipment with an opportunity to send a message to f0 another user through a user interface such as television message system display screen 300.
Television message system display screen 300 may be 5 displayed by the set-top box application or, the f5 television wher_ reauested by ~he user ;e.g., wre~ the user presses a message button on his remote control).
Television display screen 300 allows a user to compose a message and to send -t to another user of uses 20 10 television equipment or a user of com.-nunications equipment.
The user can compose the text of the message in box 308 using a wireless keyboard such as the one 25 shown in FIG. 1B. If desired, the user car. compose a text message using a television screen keyboard such as the one shown in FIG. 1C or by choosing from a list of standard messages or words as shown, e.g., in FIG. 1D.
The message sent by the use_- can relate to the television program that is displayed it windo:: 309.
Fer example, the message "Nice play!" relates to a television program such as football game that the use.
is watching in window 304. If desired, a user of user television equ;pment may ser_d an audio message similar to a voice mail message using the set-top box 40 25 application to another user by speaking into a microphone connected to the set-top box. R user may even send a picture or a video recording of himself (with or without the audio message) through the set-top 45 box application us=ng a camera shat can communicate with the set-too box so that the recipient can watch a video recording of the sender on his television sec.
The user may enter the recipient's name or 50 address in box 302. In FIG. 17, the name Bob has been entered in box 302. The set-top box application will match the name Hob with an address previously entered by the user in. the set-top box application. address book. An e-mail address can also be entered in bcx 302 for Internet user recipients of a message. The use=
5 can designate the message as an instant message by f5 selecting option 303 or a saved message by selecting option 305. A7 instant message is erased from memory at the recipient end after a short period of time, while a saved message is stcred indefinitely in memory 20 10 at the recipient end. The message in box 308 is only relevant for a short period of time during =he course of the program. Therefore, the user may wish to designate it as an instar_t message.
25 The user may also send an audio message by selecting option 307 or a video message by selecting option 309. The user can compose an audio message by speaking into a microphone connected to the set-top box or by sending an audio clip from a program. The user can compose a video message using a video camera, a VCR, or by using video clips or video stills 'nom a TV
prograr... =he video may be recorded using a local storage device ie.g, in the set-top box) o. at a server. The user may also send v_deo clips from a server-based library. The user may also ser_d program guide information to another user as part or all of the message by selecting option 311. The program guide information. may be a brie. description of the program in window 304, a por=ion of the prograrl glide listings, q5 0. a TV program o- channel schedule. ''_'he user can send the message to the recipients by selecting send option 306. The use. can cance'_ the message by selecting cancel option 310 and return to a set-tcp box 50 application menu or a full screen view cf the current WO 00!13415 PCT/US99/1-9541 television program. An advertisement may be displayec in region 301 of screen 300.
As saown in FIG. 18, if the recipient of a message is a user of user televisicn equipment, the 5 recipient's set-top box application may display the !5 message on the television screen some time after it is received by the set-top ;pox. The set-top box application can periodically access all messages that are intended for the user from a message server and 1C download them onto the set-tcp box. The message server can communicate with the user television equipment devices using any suitable configuration including the ones shown in FIGS. !A, 2A, 2B, and 3.
25 Television display screen 320 is an example of how the message can be displayed. The message may be received by the user's set-tcp box 26 and stored in memory 25 (FIG. !A). The set-top box application may then display the message on the user's television screen (i.e., on television 30 of FIG. 1) preferably in a way that interrupts the user's viewing of program 330 as little as possible. The message should, :zowever, be large enough so Thai the user may reac it. In FIG. 18, the set-top box application displays message 324 in window 322 in the lower left corner of display screen 320 while the user is watching television program 330.
If desired, the set-top box appl_cation may display an icon such as a small mailbox in the corner of the television screen. or turn on a light on the 45 front panel of the set-top box to indicate to the user that a message from another user hes beer received.
The user may then access the content of the message by pressing a designated button on the remote control.
50 The message may be displayed in a corner of tie screen as shown in FIG. 18 or in a full screen v_ew.
WO OOI13415 PCTNS9911.9541 Window 322 displays the content of the Jp message 329, and the sender of the message. I. the set-top box application does not recognize the sender or the sender's name is not provided as part of the' 5 message, the set-top box application may display the J5 sender's path or address instead. Message 329 may ccntain an advertisement or other inior~natio~ that the set-top box application or message serve= appends to it. In FIB. 18, the current score c. the :IFL game is 20 1C attached to -message 329 in region 325. Message 324 may also contain a title which may be entered by ~he sender or an additional advertisement. Window 322 provides the user with an opportunity to reply to the message by 25 choosing reply option 326 or to clear the message from the screen by choosing clear option 328. I. the user chooses to reply to the message, the set-top box application can take the user to an interactive screen such as screen 300 of FIG. 17, so the user car: compose a reply message. The user may block future messages received from the sender by selecting option 321. The sender's address '_s they. stored locally cr a. the message server so that future :.~.essages from th_s address are =filtered out.
11s shown in FIG. 19, the television message system may allow a user of user television equipment to transmit a message to another user cf user television , equipmen= who is chcsen based on television.-program-related criteria. The set-top box application may a5 provide the user with an opportunity to select the progra~~-related trite=is to use in sending messages to the recipients using a user interface such as television message system display screen 200. The 50 criteria may be other users of user television equipment who are currently watching a particular WO 00/13415 PCTIUS99119541 , television program (e. g., t'ae current television program) (option 202), other users who are in_erested in a particular program (e. g., the current television program) (option 204), other users who are interested 5 in the same channel (e.g., the same channel as that on which the current television program is bring broadcast) ;option 206), or other users who are interested .n the same category of programs (e.g., the same category as the current program) (option 208).
2~ 10 The set-top box application may determine the carrent program by accessing the database of program listings informa=ion stored in memory 25 or on a remote server.
The set-top box application may also determine the current program by accessing a database (e.g., a 15 program listings database stored locally on the set-top box or on a server) and using information on the current time (e.g. which the set-top box or server has access to using a clock), and the current channel (known. from the state of the tuner in set-too box 26).
20 The recipients o. the message may be selected in a variety of ways. ~'or example, the set-top box application may allow the user to view the names of other users it the address book and to 'filter cut only those other users who have an interest in the same 25 program, channel, etc. by selecting option.
210. The message would only be sent to the other users with appropriate interests (as determined by the user).
If desired, user addresses may be provided with information identifying their interests. The set-top 30 box application may then automatically search for users in the address book who have interests that match the current program, current channel, or category o~ the current program (options 204, 206, and 208).
Users interested in a category of programs may be identified W O 00/ t 3415 PCT/hS99/ 1-9541 in a group stored in the address book such as "Movie f0 Lovers" or "Monday :light Football =ar_s," as shown in FIG. 6C. These address book groups may be selected via option 208. C~sers interested in a particular program 5 may be identified in a group stored in the address book such as "Seinfeld Fans," as shown _n FIG. 6C. These groups may be selected using option 209. _~ desired, a message may be sent t0 particular people, er.~ities, o_-groups Thai the user individually chocses frcm his 10 address book without regard to their interests with opt=on 210. In any case, the television message system may transmit messages to a message server until it is accessed by the recipient.
I desired, the television message system can 15 deliver a message related to a given program to a , particular message server with an indication that the message is intended for receipt by current viewers of the given program, users interested in the program, users interested in the channel of the program, or 20 users interested in the category c. the program. The message serve-- may group the message vita ct!:er messages re_ating to the given program, channel, or categcry. ~he message serve- then may alloo-r ar.y user'-s set-top box application.to access all the messages for q0 25 the programs, channels, or categories that the user at -that set-top box is interested in or is csrrently viewing. Any other users who wish ~o access messages relating to a program, channel, or category of programs .
q5 can download those messages from the message server 30 onto their set-top boxes,so than they car_ bn read on a television se~.
A user can indicate to his set-tog box 5o application that he wishes to access messages relating to a program he is currer_tly watching by, for exacaple-, pressing a message button on his remote contro_.
In a f0 program guide, a user can access messages relating to any program he is interested in by highlighting a program listing for that program in a program guide and 5 pressing the message button on his remote control or by choosing a program guide menu option. The set-top box application. may provide tre user with an opportunity to access messages relating to specific channels, or categories of prograns in a similar fashion.
Messages 10 may be download from tae :message server by tae set-top box appl-ration onto tae set-top box fcr viewing by the user. The set-top box application may display the messages in a list format by sender, topic of message, etc. The user may then choose the messages he wants to 15 read from the list.
An illustrative process for transmitting a message composed by a user of user television equipment to other users of user television equipment tra=
were selected based upon television program-related criteria 2C is shown in FIG. 2C. At step 390, the television messaging set-top box application =unctionir.g or. the user television equipment provides the user with an opportunity to se7c a message to other users based upon television-program-related criteria. The set-top box 2' application may provide this cpportunity by displaying a user interface such as television message system display screen 200. The message to be sent r.:ay be, for example, a recommendation to watch a program.
The message may be entered into the set-top pox application 30 using, for example, display screen 180 in ':'IG. 7. .f desired, the message may relate to the con=ext of a program entered using, for example, television message system display screen 300 of FIG. 17. The user may choose recipients for a message from the options WO 00/13a IS PCTNS99/19~4I
p-ovided by, for example, television message system /p display screen 200 of FIG. 19. At step 392, the television message system transmits the message to a message server for access by the recipient users.
5 The set-tep box application may provide the user wits an opportunity to send a gift to another user of user television equipment or a user of com.~~unications equipment (e.g., an Internet user). As shown in FIG. 21, a telev_sion message system display 10 screen 35G may be used to allow the uses .o scroll through television program listings 352 to find a particular television program. The program listings may be organized by broadcast time and by channel.
The program guide listings may include pay-per-view 15 channels such as PPV1 and PPV2. The user may be provided with an option to purchase a pay-per-view program such as "Titanic" on channel PPV1. Option is highlighted to '_ndicate than the use_- has selected "Titanic."
20 Television message system display screen 350 may display the gift options that are available for a particular p=ogram that the user has selected from the program _istings. Information regard=ag which gift options are available for a particular channel or 25 program may be part of the program guide information that the set-top box receives from the main facility, encoded digitally in-band with the television program s'_gnai on a digital channel, provided in the VBI
signal, or otherwise provided as data associated with 30 the television program. T_~ gift options are available for "Titanic," the set-top box application will display the gift options such as gift options 359, 356, and 358 5o that are available for the program that the user has chosen. Gift option 354 allows the user to purchase WO 00!13415 PCTNS99I19541 program merchandise for another user. Gift option f0 allows the user to pu=chase a pay-per-view program for another user to watch, such as "Titanic" on PPV1.
Gift option 358 allows the user to purchase a gift 5 certificate for program merchandise, a pay-per-view progra_n viewing coupon, etc. The user may enter the identity of the recipient of the gift by choosing option 360. Gift information relating to a TV program may also be provided for a specific program on a 10 program information screen that a user can access by highlighting the program in the listings grid and then pressing an "info" button on the remote control.
A gift may be processed when the user selects send option 362. Git information may be sent to a 15 television distribution facility or a television program entity for processing. The user's account at the television distribution facility may be debited for the cost of the gift or another suitable accounting mechanism may be used. The recipient of a gift may be 20 notified cf the gift by a message received on the recipient's set-top box o. e-ma'_1 to an Internet user.
Gift merchandise may be shipped to the recipient.
If the gift is a pay-per-view program, the rec'_pient's pay-per-view account may be credited by the amount of 25 the gift or gift certificate. If the recipient is not a user of user television eauipment (e.g., the recipient is an Internet user), the recipient may be notified of the gift and given an access code that allows the recipient to view free pay-per-view programs 30 on his television up to the amount of the gift.
If the recipient is a subscriber to the services of the same television distribution facility 16 as the gift giver, the access code may be provided by that television W O 00/13415 PCTNS9911-9~4 t distribution facility and may be released by the same f0 television distribution facility.
If desired, television distribution facilities may be networked together so that a gift 5 giver and recipient may be subscribers in different ~5 television distribution facilities. The TV message system may also authorize a specif_ed gift PFV program automatica'-ly for the recipient without requiring an access code. In another embodir:ent, the icca_ program 20 10 guide that receives the PPV gift may allow the recipient of the gift to access the PPV program without charging the recipient and without requiring an access i code.
25 Referring now to FIG. 22, television message system display screen 370 is an example of a user interface that allows a user to purchase p=ogram-related merchandise. The set-top box application may display screen 370 when the user selects s g..t option such as gift option 354 of screen 350 (FIG. 21).
Screen 370 provides the user with an opportunity to select program-related merchandise that he wishes to purchase as a gift for another user. The merchandise options 372, 379, 376, and 378 represent items of merchandise related to the program "Titanic" which the user can purchase. If the user wishes to pay by credit card, the user may enter his credit card number and its expiraticn date in boxes 380 and 382 respectively. If the user wishes to have his account at the television q5 distribution facility debited, he may select payment option 389. An advertisement may be displayed in region 381 of screen 370.
Referring now to FIG. 23, televisicn message 50 system display screen 460 is an example of a user interface that allows a user to enter gift recipient identity and address information. The set-top box applicatior. may display screen 460 when the user selects an option such as the "enter recipient" option 360 of screen 350 (FIG. 21). Screen 960 provides the 5 user with an opportunity to enter information about the ~5 gift recipient so than the recipient may be nc~ified that the gift has beer. purchased, and so that the recipient may receive the gift. The user may enter the gift reci?ient's name in region 462. The user may 10 enter the git recipient's electronic address (e.g. e-mail address) in region 469 if the recipient has an electronic address. The user may enter the recipient's .
~:i street address le.g. home address or mailing address) in region 466 if the gift is a tangible item such as 15 program merchandise that is to be physica'_ly Sen. to the recipient. The user may enter the gift recipient's television address in region 968. The television address may be the address corresponding the gift recipient's user television equipment device which has 20 messaging features. A notification that a gift has been purchased may be sent to the electronic address, the street address, or the television address. If desired, the television address may correspond? to the gift recipient's television distribution facility so 25 that the gift recipient may be credited for a pay-per-view program gift or gift certificate that has been purchased by the user.
An illustrative process for allowing a user of user. television equipment to purchase a g'_ft through 30 the television message system is shown in FIG. 24. At step 390, the set-top box application provides tie user with an opportunity to send a gift to a recipient. The set-top box applicat'_on can provide this opportunity through a user interface such as display screen 350 of WO 00/13415 PCTNS99/19~41 FIG. 21. The gift can be related to television f0 programming such as program-related merchandise or a pay-per-view program.
After the user selects the gift and the 5 recipient c. the gift, the television message system f5 transmits the gift information to the televis'_on distribu=ior_ facility (or a remote server or a television program enmity fcr e.g. the purchase of program merchandise! at step 392 where the user's 20 10 account is debited. The user's account can be a pay-per-view account or other account maintained with the television distribution facility, an account maintained with a television channel, an account maintained at a 25 third party instaution (such as a bank), a credit card account such as a Visa account, or any other suitable account. At step 394, the recipient may be notified than a gift has been purchased for him. The recipient may be notified by the shipper of the merchandise, or by the television distribution facil_ty that handles 2C pay-per-view programming for that recipient.
The recipient may be notified by an electron_c message that is sent to the message server where messages for the recipient are maintained.
Many of the features of the presen'~ invention may be used with a two-way interactive display remote control. A_-~ example of a display remote control is shown in FIG. 25. Display remote contrcl 990 contains display screen 482 which may be any suitable type of 45 display screen. A user may compose a message to another user using buttons 984. Pressing any of buttons 989 causes the selected letter or number to appear adjacent to cursor 491. The user may delete a 50 letter or number by pressing Backspace button 486, and may enter upper case letters by pressing Shift button 988. The user may enter the recipient's address in 1p region 495 of display screen 482, and may send the message by selecting Send option 994. The user may navigate between selected regions of display screen 5 using arrow buttons 498. For example, Send option is highlighted in FIG. 25. Therefore, if the user press Enter button 490, the message wily be sent to the rec'_pient. Pressing the down arrow causes address region 995 to become active so that pressing buttons 10 484 causes letters or numerals to be entered in region 495.
The user may also view messages that have been sent to him by others users by selecting option 492. Option 492 opens up the user's inbox so that the 15 user can read incoming messages directly on display screen 482. These features give the user additional privacy when composing messages and reading incoming messages. The display remote control therefore is a two-way interactive remote in that messages may be 20 composed and sent, as well as received and read by the er. Further features of an illustrative display rem a control are described in Fierringtcn et al. U.S.
provisl al patent application Serial No. 60/138,868, filed June , 1999, which is hereby incorporated by 4p 25 reference here' in its entirety. A display remote may also be used for atting between users. Further features of an illus ative television chat system are described in DeWeese et 1. U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/356.270 , filed ncurrently herewith 30 (Attorney Docket No. UV-lOly, wh~ h is hereby incorporated by reference herein in ' s entirety.
The foregoing is merely illust tive of the principles of this invention and various modi 'cations o~-~~-zoc.~w ~ 02574181 2007-02-O1 v~ ." . vv r ~
b . - 59 - ~ ..
user. Further features of an illustrative display remote control are described in Herrington et al. U.S.
provisional patent application Serial No. 60%138,868, filed June 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in 'its entirety. A display remote may also be used for chatting between users. Further features of an illustrative television chat system are described in DeWeese et al. U.S. patent application Serial 09/356,270, filed July, 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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AMENDED SHEET
Claims (20)
1. A method for distributing messages in a television messaging system, comprising:
receiving from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;
storing the received list of identities;
receiving from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users; and transmitting the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.
receiving from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;
storing the received list of identities;
receiving from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users; and transmitting the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the group of users is defined by an interest.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the interest is an interest in at least one of a television program, a channel, a category of programs, a movie and a news segment.
4. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising receiving identity information from the plurality of users.
5. The method defined in claim 4 further comprising including the identity information in the list of identities.
6. The method defined in claim 4 wherein receiving identity information from the plurality of users comprises obtaining permission to receive the identity information.
7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein obtaining permission to receive the identity information comprises sending the plurality of users a message indicating that the first user has requested the identity information.
8. The method defined in claim 7 further comprising allowing the first user to receive the identity information from the plurality of users in response to the plurality of users accepting the first user's request.
9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising determining whether there is at least one messaging option available for a particular television program.
10. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising receiving the first user's selection of the at least one messaging option in response to determining that there is at least one messaging option available for the particular television program.
11. A television messaging system for distributing messages, the system comprising:
means for receiving from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;
means for storing the received list of identities;
means for receiving from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users;
and means for transmitting the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.
means for receiving from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;
means for storing the received list of identities;
means for receiving from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users;
and means for transmitting the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.
12. The system defined in claim 11 wherein the group of users is defined by an interest.
13. The system defined in claim 12 wherein the interest is an interest in at least one of a television program, a channel, a category of programs, a movie and a news segment.
14. The system defined in claim 11 further comprising means for receiving identity information from the plurality of users.
15. The system defined in claim 14 further comprising means for including the identity information in the list of identities.
16. The system defined in claim 14 wherein the means for receiving identity information from the plurality of users comprises means for obtaining permission to receive the identity information.
17. The system defined in claim 16 wherein the means for obtaining permission to receive the identity information comprises means for sending the plurality of users a message indicating that the first user has requested the identity information.
18. The system defined in claim 17 further comprising means for allowing the first user to receive the identity information from the plurality of users in response to the plurality of users accepting the first user's request.
19. The system defined in claim 11 further comprising means for determining whether there is at least one messaging option available for a particular television program.
20. The system defined in claim 19 further comprising means for receiving the first user's selection of the at least one messaging option in response to determining that there is at least one messaging option available for the particular television program.
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