Patent ID: 7917937
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. Method for combined interactive data services comprising steps: configuring a controller to enable broadband service to one or more subscriber receivers authorized for combined conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming services; delivering or providing access by the controller to a digital television program or multi-user virtually simulated game application to one or more of the authorized receivers; and enabling by the controller a conference between a plurality of authorized receivers during, before, or after the delivery or access; wherein the controller centrally authorizes the plurality of authorized receivers for integrated digital television program and data delivery as a combined broadband service subscription for each authorized receiver, such that the broadband service combines conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming as configured centrally by the controller via a commercial transaction that defines digital television receiver unit user subscription, authentication, billing, scheduling, notifying, requesting and access to one or more upcoming or current program or database, thereby centrally enabling such combined broadband service subscription for each receiver unit user conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming service, wherein the controller authorizes one or more receivers to be added or removed dynamically from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group for combined conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming, and restricts one or more receivers from viewing select program or data for conferencing, digital television or multi-user virtually simulated gaming; wherein one or more of the subscriber receivers comprises a digital television receiver that functions in compliance with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard enabled to deliver combined broadband services comprising video-conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming, such ATSC-compliant receiver comprising a display panel or screen with a video frame buffer, a digital video-conferencing camera or image sensor, a microphone, a keyboard or mouse, one or more speakers, a processor, a digital memory or recordable video disk storage, a network interface or modem that couples such ATSC-compliant receiver to a network channel to access combined broadband services comprising video-conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming, a radio frequency (RF), broadband or wireless communications interface that couples such ATSC-compliant receiver to a broadcast channel to access combined broadband services comprising video-conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming, and an operating system or BIOS, and an associated kernel software that enables controller or processor operation and network communication of combined broadband services comprising video-conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming, such ATSC-compliant receiver being embodied in a personal or network computer, a workstation, a set-top television device or functionally equivalent integrated digital television program and data processing and associated network equipment, said controller or processor executing one or more computer program using embedded or real-time software syntax that enables multi-channel access to combined broadband services comprising video-conferencing, digital television and multi-user virtually simulated gaming via said network and broadcast channels, said display panel or screen integrating, combining, mixing, or including via the video frame buffer said combined broadband services program or data with video conferencing among video conferencing participants coupled to such ATSC-compliant receiver during said combined broadband services program or data delivery, such that one or more screen element integrated, combined, mixed or included in the video frame buffer is shown as a picture within or adjacent to another picture element on said display panel or screen, such that in a graphically overlaid manner, such ATSC-compliant receiver displays one or more common integrated digital television program or data and video-conferencing generated from one or more video camera or image sensor and microphone from other participant ATSC-compliant receiver.