Clear screen broadcasting

System and method for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to subscribed users. Two signals are provided by the broadcasters for the same channel: a mixed signal that includes the main program and additional content to overlap portions of the main program on the display, and a clear screen signal which includes only the main program. By default, decoding machines e.g. STB at the user's location, are adapted to decode the mixed signal to output on the display the main program and the additional content. The embodiments provide a mechanism to provide the additional content separately to subscribed users and switch the decoding at the STB to the clear screen mode for decoding and outputting the clear TV signal instead of the mixed signal.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to the field of television (TV) broadcasting.

(b) Related Prior Art

Very frequently, TV broadcasters include additional content to the main program that is being broadcasted on their channel. The broadcasted content may sometime be provided at the lower end of the screen, at one of the sides, and/or at one of the corners.

The additional content may sometimes be related to the program that is being broadcasted such as the statistics associated with a sports game. Some other times, the additional content may have no relation to what is being broadcasted. For example, advertisements, news headlines, etc.

An example of such additional content is illustrated inFIG. 1which shows a TV screen10including an area12for the main program and an area14on the right side of the screen for additional content such as statistics of previous and current games.

Viewers are often annoyed by the additional content, and prefer to watch the main program on the entire screen. Additionally, when the screen on which the channel is displayed is a large screen, the surface area for the additional content becomes hard to ignore.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and method which allow users to watch TV programs on the entire screen without being bothered by the additional content.

SUMMARY

The present embodiments provide such system and method.

In an aspect, there is provided a method for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to a user having a set-top box (STB) and a TV display connected to the STB, the method comprising: receiving additional content for one or more TV channels from TV broadcasters associated with the one or more TV channels, the additional content for a given channel comprising televised content other than a main program being aired on the given channel; receiving an authentication request from a computing device associated with a subscribed user; identifying an STB associated with the subscribed user; upon authentication, causing the STB associated with the user to output a video signal to the TV display in a clear screen mode free from the additional content; and sending the additional content to the computing device for viewing thereon instead of on the TV display.

The method may further comprise identifying a channel being currently watched on the TV display; and sending the additional content associated with the channel being currently watched to the computing device for display.

The identifying may comprise receiving an identification of the channel being currently watched from the STB or the computing device.

The method may further comprise upon authentication sending instructions to the STB to switch to a clear screen mode for all channels.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the additional content as event cards for selection and viewing on the computing device.

The method may also comprise receiving a user selection of an event card and displaying the additional content associated with the selected event card on the TV display.

The TV display may be a television device, video projector, or the like.

In an embodiment, causing the STB comprises sending instructions to the STB to detect and decode a different TV signal for the given channel. In another embodiment, causing the STB comprises sending decryption keys to the STB to decode an encrypted clear screen TV signal for the given channel.

In another aspect, there is provided a set-top box (STB) for providing clear screen TV broadcasting, the STB comprising: an input module adapted to receive an encoded cable signal from a cable TV provider, the encoded cable signal comprising for a given channel a mixed TV signal and a clear screen TV signal, wherein the mixed TV signal comprises a main program and additional televised content to be displayed with and/or over the main program, and the clear screen TV signal comprises the main program free from the additional content; an output for connecting to a TV display; a processor for decoding the encoded cable signal to output a video signal representative of the given channel on the TV display; and a communication interface adapted to interface with a remote device for receiving instructions to switch between a mixed mode and a clear screen mode.

In an embodiment, the STB is, by default, adapted to decode the mixed TV signal for the given channel to output a first video signal comprising the main program and the additional content, and upon receipt of instructions to switch to a clear screen mode the STB causes the processor to decode the clear screen TV signal for the given channel to output a second video signal representing only the main program free from additional content.

The STB may be adapted to receive the additional content and send the additional content to a home device associated with the STB using a home network, the home device being different than the remote device.

In another embodiment, the STB receives the additional content from the remote device or the cable TV provider.

The STB may also be adapted to receive a user selection of a given additional content while in the clear screen mode and insert the additional content in the second video signal for output on the TV display in the clear screen mode.

In another embodiment, the STB is adapted to receive decryption keys for decrypting the clear screen TV signal.

In a further aspect, there is provided a system for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to a user from a broadcaster adapted to send a main program in a mixed TV signal with additional content other than the main program, and in a clear screen TV signal including only the main program, the user having a TV display connected and a set-top box (STB) adapted to decode the mixed TV signal by default and output the video signal to the TV display, the system comprising: a server comprising a list of subscribed users and an identification of an STB associated with each subscribed user, the server being adapted to receive the additional content from the broadcaster for a given channel.

Wherein upon receiving an authentication request from a computing device associated with a subscribed user, the server identifies the STB associated with the subscribed user and causes the STB to decode the clear TV signal instead of the mixed TV signal to output a video signal to the TV display representing only the main program; the server being also adapted to send the additional content to the computing device after authentication for viewing thereon instead of on the TV display.

The system may provide the additional content in the form of event cards for selection and viewing on the computing device.

In another embodiment, the system is adapted to receive a user selection of an event card for viewing on the TV display, and send the event card to the STB for adding to the clear TV signal.

The server may be adapted to provide the STB with decryption keys for decrypting the clear TV signal.

The server may also be adapted to provide the additional content in real time or near time for displaying on the computing device in accordance with a progress of the main program on the TV display.

In an embodiment, the system may be adapted to make available a set of computer readable instructions which when received and executed on the computing device implement an interface which allows the user to request authentication and receive the additional content from the server.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a method for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to a user having a set-top box and a TV display connected to the set-top box. The method comprises: receiving additional content for one or more TV channels from TV broadcasters associated with the one or more TV channels; receiving an authentication request from a computing device associated with a subscribed user, the authentication request including an identification of a channel from the one or more TV channels that the user wants to see in a clear screen mode; sending instructions to the set-top box associated with the user to switch the channel to the clear screen mode, whereby the user may view the channel on the TV display in the clear screen mode without additional content; and sending the additional content associated with the channel to the computing device for viewing thereon instead of on the TV display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments describe a method and system for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to subscribed users. In an embodiment, two signals are provided by the broadcasters for the same channel: a mixed signal that includes the main program and additional content to overlap portions of the main program on the display, and a clear screen signal which includes only the main program. By default, decoding machines e.g. STB at the user's location, are adapted to decode the mixed signal to output on the display the main program and the additional content. The embodiments provide a mechanism to provide the additional content separately to subscribed users and switch the decoding at the STB to clear screen mode for decoding and outputting the clear TV signal instead of the mixed signal.

The description describes several non-limiting examples for implementing the embodiments. However, it should be noted that several modifications may be made by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the additional content may be sent to the computing device used for authenticating with the clear screen server which sends the instructions to the STB to switch modes. Other embodiments are also contemplated whereby the computing device may communicate with the STB using the home network and may receive the additional content from the STB. Further embodiments are also contemplated whereby the computing device communicates with the server and the STB, and the server communicates with the STB through the computing device. In other words the server may and may not have to communicate directly with the STB. In another method the server may communicate with the STB through the broadcaster and/or provider etc.

FIG. 2illustrates a typical production chain for TV broadcasting. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the TV production chain comprises a broadcaster20, an operator22and an end user24. The broadcaster20has typically a TV channel associated therewith. The end user24may view the programs produced by a specific broadcaster (producer) by selecting the TV channel associated with that producer on the TV display. Examples of TV channels include CNN, CBS, CBC, Fox Network etc. It is possible sometimes that a single broadcaster has more than one TV channels associated therewith.

The operator22is the entity that transfers the TV signal for a specific channel/broadcaster to the end user24using some sort of communications network. Examples of operators include: Bell™, Rogers™, Videotron™, Dish Network™, etc. Usually the operator22provides the end user24with a set-top box (aka STB) which allows the user to scroll through different channels from different broadcasters.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating the major components of a conventional broadcaster20. As show inFIG. 3, the broadcaster20includes a mixer30, an additional content module32, a stored programs module34, and a plurality of cameras36. In operation, the mixer30mixes the content of the main program with additional content from the module32. The main program may either be fed into the mixer30directly from one or more cameras36such as during the broadcasting of a sports game or a live event, or may be pre-recorded and stored in a stored programs module34, such as when a previously recorded game is re-broadcasted, or a movie, or any other pre-recorded show.

The additional content32may include advertisements, game statistics, schedule for TV programs that are to be aired in the future on the TV channel, news headlines, weather forecasts, name/logo of the channel or any type of additional information which does not make part of the main program that is being broadcasted. The additional content in the module32may and may not be in sync with the main program. The additional content usually overlaps the main program on a portion or sometimes the entirety of the display on which the TV signal is reproduced.

Referring back toFIG. 3, the output of the mixer30is an encoded TV signal comprising a mix of the main program originating from the cameras36or the stored programs module34, and additional content from the module32. When properly decoded, the encoded TV signal will be reproduced on the screen (aka TV display) (or a video projector) to illustrate the main program as well as the additional content that was inserted by the mixer30.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating the major components of an operator22and an end user24. As shown inFIG. 4, the operator22receives a plurality of TV signals from one or more broadcasters20, and combines the TV signals using an encoder40, e.g., multiplexer or the like, and sends the encoded signal41over a telecommunications network42. The telecommunications network42may include a plurality of sub-networks including but not limited to: the internet, cable TV network, wireless data networks, satellite networks, fiber optic networks, local area networks, wide area networks, Wi-Fi, and/or any combination of the above. The end user24receives the encoded signal41over the telecommunications network42. An STB44decodes the encoded signal41and sends the decoded signal to the TV display46(or video projector) for displaying the selected channel on the TV display46.

As discussed above, the user has no control over the content broadcasted other than selecting the channel that they want to watch.

FIG. 5is a block diagram of an exemplary system for clear screen TV broadcasting, in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG.5, the system comprises a broadcaster50, an operator22, a clear screen server52, and an end user54. The broadcaster50, in accordance with an embodiment, is adapted to send two TV signals: the regular TV signal which includes the main program mixed with additional content, and a clear screen TV signal which includes only the main program. Transmission of the TV signals is done using the operator22as discussed above. In an embodiment, the broadcaster50is adapted to send the additional content separately for viewing on a portable computing device56at the user's location. This may be done in a variety of ways.

In a non-limiting example of implementation, the additional content32may be sent to a clear screen server52over a telecommunications network54. The telecommunications network54may include a portion, all or none of the telecommunications network42used by the operator22to transfer the TV signals to the STB44. In the present embodiment, the user may use their portable computing device56to register and/or open a profile with the clear screen server52. In an embodiment, the registration comprises associating and/or pairing the portable computing device56with the STB44and/or the TV display46. Communications between the portable computing device56and the clear screen server52may be done over a telecommunications network58, using a web-interface or an application that may be installed on the portable computing device56whereby by activating the application, the user may choose the channel that they want to watch in clear screen mode. The clear screen server52may keep record of all subscribers and the computing device(s)56and STB44associated with each subscriber.

In an embodiment, the additional content32may be sent the clear screen server52in real time as the associated TV signal is being broadcasted or in near time (a bit before or after) to ensure synchronized display of the additional content on the portable device56.

In a non-limiting example of operation, when a subscribed user wants to watch a certain channel in clear screen mode, the user may activate the application (or visit the website associated with the clear screen server52) to choose the channel that they want to view in clear screen mode. The user may also have the option of choose the type of additional content that they want to view on the portable computing device56. An example is shown inFIGS. 6ato 6e. For example, the user may select the channel that they want to view in clear screen mode as shown inFIGS. 6ato 6c. In an embodiment, the additional data may be provided in the form of event cards. The user may also view and access past event cards as illustrated inFIGS. 6dand 6e. In an embodiment, the server makes available a user interface which allows the computing device to interface with the server52to request authentication, receive and view the event cards, send a given event card for display on the TV display etc. The interface may be provided in the form of an app, a website, in the form of executable code or any combination of these or other methods that allow the computing device to interface with the server and/or the STB.

Upon receiving the user selection, the portable computing device56may send the selection to the clear screen server52. The latter may verify/confirm that the selection is received from a subscribed user, or may verify the subscription status of the user associated with the portable computing device56. The clear screen server52may then, send instructions to the STB44to switch to clear screen mode for the channel selected by the user. The clear screen server52may also send the additional content to the portable computing device56for viewing thereon while enjoying a clear screen on the TV display46.

In the example ofFIG. 5, the clear screen server52may communicate with the STB44over a telecommunications network60. In an embodiment, the telecommunications networks54,58, and60are the same. In another embodiment, the telecommunications networks54,58, and60include a portion of each other. In a further embodiment, the telecommunications networks54,58, and60are completely independent.

In an embodiment, the instructions sent by the server52to the STB may include decryption keys which allow the STB to decode the clear screen TV signal provided by the broadcaster for a given channel.

In another example, activation of the clear screen mode may be done by activating the app and/or authenticating with the clear screen server52. The server upon authentication may send instructions to the STB44to switch to clear screen mode. The STB44or computing device56may notify the server52of the channel being currently watched, and the server may then forward the additional content for that channel to the computing device. In a further embodiment, the server52may provide or make available the additional content of all channels that the user is subscribed to (entitled to watch) and the user may receive and view the additional content of the channel that they wish to see. In yet a further embodiment, the computing device56may act as a remote control whereby by selecting or pressing on a new channel a notification is sent to server52to provide additional content for the new channel and to the STB to switch channels.

In an embodiment, the user may also select additional content that is displayed on the computing device56and resend it to be displayed on the TV display46. Whereby the user may have control of what additional content to show on the TV46. For example, using an interface on the computing device56the user may select an event card and send it to TV46. In an embodiment, the additional content sent by the computing device56is relayed to the STB44to encode in the signal sent to the TV display46.

A non-limiting example of implementation is shown inFIG. 5a. As shown inFIG. 5athe user may select an event card45and drag it toward an area49of the interface (the area having the shape of a TV) whereby the event card selected and dragged may be sent to the TV46to be displayed in a window47. In the example ofFIG. 5athe user selected the score that is displayed on the computing device56. The content of the event card was relayed to the STB and displayed in the window47. In an embodiment, the user may have the option to select/adjust the size/dimensions of the window in which the content is to be displayed on the TV display46, the location of the window on the TV display, the shape and the format of the window on the TV display46.

FIG. 7is a block diagram of an exemplary system for clear screen TV broadcasting, in accordance with another embodiment. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the clear screen server52may send the instructions to the STB44via the broadcaster50over the telecommunications network54and then the operator22whereby upon authenticating a subscribed user, the clear screen server52may send an identification of the STB44associated with the user with/without an identification of the selected channel. Upon receiving the instructions, the STB44may either switch for clear screen modes on all the channels or for a selected channel depending on the way the STB44is configured.

FIG. 8is a block diagram of an exemplary system for clear screen TV broadcasting, in accordance with yet another embodiment. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the broadcaster50may send the mixed TV signal, the clear screen TV signal and the additional content via the operator22. In the present case, when the clear screen server52authenticates a subscribed user the server may send instructions to the STB44to switch to clear screen and to send the additional content to the portable computing56using a direct link, a home network or the like.

In an embodiment, a set-top box (STB) is provided for implementing the aforementioned embodiments. An STB in accordance with the embodiments may include an input module adapted to receive the encoded cable signal comprising the mixed TV signal and the clear screen TV signal, an output for connecting to a TV display or a TV projector, a processor for receiving a user selection of the given channel and decoding the encoded cable signal associate with that channel to output a decoded video signal for display on the TV display or TV projector. A communication interface may also be provided to interface with the clear screen server52over a communications network for receiving instructions to switch between the mixed mode and the clear screen mode. The STB44may be also adapted to receive the additional content from the server52or the cable provider22and send the additional content to the computing device56associated therewith the STB using a home network.

The STB may also be adapted to receive a user selection of a given additional content while in the clear screen mode and insert the additional content in the video signal for display on the TV display even in the clear screen mode.

FIG. 9is flowchart of a method for providing clear screen TV broadcasting to a user having a set-top box (STB) and a TV display connected to the STB. As shown inFIG. 9, the method begins at step70by receiving additional content for one or more TV channels from TV broadcasters associated with the one or more TV channels, the additional content for a given channel comprising televised content other than a main program being aired on the given channel. Step72comprises receiving an authentication request from a computing device associated with a subscribed user. Step74comprises identifying an STB associated with the subscribed user. Step76comprises, upon authentication, causing the STB associated with the user to output a video signal to the TV display in a clear screen mode free from the additional content. Step78comprises sending the additional content to the computing device for viewing thereon instead of on the TV display.

Hardware and Operating Environment

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented/operated using a client machine.

The client machine can be embodied in any one of the following computing devices: a computing workstation; a desktop computer; a tablet, a laptop or notebook computer; a server; a handheld computer; a mobile telephone; a portable telecommunication device; a media playing device; a gaming system; a mobile computing device; a device of the IPOD or IPAD family of devices manufactured by Apple Computer; any one of the PLAYSTATION family of devices manufactured by the Sony Corporation; any one of the Nintendo family of devices manufactured by Nintendo Co; any one of the XBOX family of devices manufactured by the Microsoft Corporation; or any other type and/or form of computing, telecommunications or media device that is capable of communication and that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the methods and systems described herein. In other embodiments the client machine can be a mobile device or any other mobile computing device capable of performing the methods and systems described herein.

Still other embodiments of the client machine include a mobile client machine that can be any one of the following: any one series of Blackberry, Playbook or other handheld device manufactured by Research In Motion Limited; the iPhone manufactured by Apple Computer; Windows Phone 7, HTC, Sony Ericsson, any telephone or computing device running the Android operating system, or any handheld or smart phone; a Pocket PC; a Pocket PC Phone; or any other handheld mobile device supporting Microsoft Windows Mobile Software, etc.

The client machine may include a display and a touch-sensitive surface. It should be understood, however, that the computing device may also include one or more other physical user interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick. In another embodiment, the computing device may include or be operably connected to a motion detector or a vision based interface (such as a virtual keyboard) for receiving the user's inputs.

The client machine may be in communication with a remote server via a communication network. In another implementation, the data may be loaded from a local database or from local data files e.g. XML, JSON etc.

FIG. 10illustrates an embodiment of a computing environment101that includes one or more client machines102A-102N in communication with servers106A-106N, and a network104installed in between the client machines102A-102N and the servers106A-106N. In some embodiments, client machines102A-10N may be referred to as a single client machine102or a single group of client machines102, while servers may be referred to as a single server106or a single group of servers106. One embodiment includes a single client machine102communicating with more than one server106, another embodiment includes a single server106communicating with more than one client machine102, while another embodiment includes a single client machine102communicating with a single server106.

The client machine102may in some embodiments execute, operate or otherwise provide an application that can be any one of the following: software; a program; executable instructions; a web browser; HTML5; Javascript; WebGL; a web-based client; a client-server application; a thin-client computing client; software related to voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communications like a soft IP telephone; an application for streaming video and/or audio; an application for facilitating real-time-data communications; a HTTP client; a FTP client; an Oscar client; a Telnet client; any application from any application store such as Apple's app store, or the Google play store, or the Amazon app store, or blackberry; or any other type and/or form of executable instructions capable of executing on client machine102. Still other embodiments may include a computing environment101with an application that is any of either server-based or remote-based, and an application that is executed on the server106on behalf of the client machine102. The client machine102may include a network interface to interface to a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) or the Internet through a variety of connections including, but not limited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25, SNA, DECNET), broadband connections (e.g ATM, Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet-over-SONET), wireless connections, or some combination of any or all of the above.

The computing environment101can in some embodiments include a server106or more than one server106configured to provide the functionality of any one of the following server types: a file server; an application server; a web server; a proxy server; an appliance; a network appliance; a gateway; an application gateway; a gateway server; a virtualization server; a deployment server; a SSL VPN server; a firewall; a web server; an application server or as a master application server; a server106configured to operate as an active direction; a server106configured to operate as application acceleration application that provides firewall functionality, application functionality, or load balancing functionality, or other type of computing machine configured to operate as a server106. In some embodiments, a server106may include a remote authentication dial-in user service such that the server106is a RADIUS server.

The network104between the client machine102and the server106is a connection over which data is transferred between the client machine102and the server106. Although the illustration inFIG. 14depicts a network104connecting the client machines102to the servers106, other embodiments include a computing environment101with client machines102installed on the same network as the servers106. Other embodiments can include a computing environment101with a network104that can be any of the following: a local-area network (LAN); a metropolitan area network (MAN); a wide area network (WAN); a primary network comprised of multiple sub-networks located between the client machines102and the servers106; a primary public network with a private sub-network; a primary private network with a public sub-network; or a primary private network with a private sub-network. Still further embodiments include a network104that can be any of the following network types: a point to point network; a broadcast network; a telecommunications network; a data communication network; a computer network; an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network; a SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) network; a SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) network; a wireless network; a wireline network; a network104that includes a wireless link where the wireless link can be an infrared channel or satellite band; or any other network type able to transfer data from client machines102to servers106and vice versa to accomplish the methods and systems described herein. Network topology may differ within different embodiments, possible network topologies include: a bus network topology; a star network topology; a ring network topology; a repeater-based network topology; a tiered-star network topology; or any other network topology able transfer data from client machines102to servers106, and vice versa, to accomplish the methods and systems described herein. Additional embodiments may include a network104of mobile telephone networks that use a protocol to communicate among mobile devices, where the protocol can be any one of the following: LTE, AMPS; TDMA; CDMA; GSM; GPRS UMTS; or any other protocol able to transmit data among mobile devices to accomplish the systems and methods described herein.

For example while the TV display being shown as a television device, it should also be noted that the TV display may also comprise a TV/video projector or any type of devices that produce or display images from a video signal.