Patent ID: 6064377
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: G06F,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
An interactive television information system for use over an information service distribution network that delivers information services from a headend to subscriber televisions, the interactive television information system comprising:a plurality of home interface controllers, each such home interface controller being associated with a subscriber television and having (a) a data transceiver, operative over a data communication path to the headend; and (b) a selection input for receiving signals from a subscriber selection device;a video mixer, disposed at the headend, responsive to control data received over the communication path from a given home interface controller, said video mixer having a first television signal input and a second television signal input, said video mixer producing an output signal combining video received from the first television signal input with video received on the second television signal input to produce a television signal for displaying a video image in which the video from the second television signal input is overlayed on the video from the first television signal input;a modulator coupled to said video mixer so as to place the output signal on a frequency band accessible over the network to the subscriber television with which the given controller is associated so that the output signal is made available to said subscriber television; andsaid information service distribution network including a plurality of trunks in communication with the headend for delivering television information signals to subscriber televisions, each trunk being coupled to a different group of subscriber televisions and wherein the frequency band carrying the output signal is transmitted on the trunk coupled to the subscriber television with which the given home interface controller is associated.