VIDEO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Abstract: A system (10) enables information associated with a video transmission to be selected and retrieved without limiting the bandwidth of the video transmission system. For example, in the course of one video transmission, a user can tag (26) a given portion of the transmission. That tag may be adapted to enable identification of related information that may be transmitted asynchronously on another video transmission channel. The information may be retrieved from a different channel (29) and the user may be notified when the information has been received (45), so that the user can view the information at his or her leisure.

Description: Video Transmission System Background This invention relates generally to video transmission systems and particularly to systems useful with computer processor-based video receiving systems. Computer systems may be utilized in connection with television receivers to provide more advanced functionalities to conventional television receivers. Sometimes called set-top boxes because they may sit on top of a conventional television receiver, computer systems may enable the user to receive more functionality and more control over the reception of information from a broadcast or other video transmission source. For example, a number of electronic programming guides (EPG) may be implemented using set-top boxes associated with television receivers. These systems allow the television viewer to select a show to view from a graphical user interface and that show may automatically be viewed, recorded or identified for later viewing. In addition, a number of interactive broadcasting systems are available which transmit web type content in association with television transmissions. For example, Intel's Intercast technology allows information related to a television program to be transmitted over a vertical blanking interval, in one example. In this way, the television viewer may receive additional information related to the television program. That information may be stored on the user's associated computer system for subsequent viewing. One problem with available systems is that the bandwidth is relatively limited. Therefore, the amount of information that can be transmitted, for example, over the vertical blanking interval, is somewhat limited. Thus, there is a continuing need to provide a system which allows users to receive more video information given the available bandwidths. Summary In accordance with one aspect, a method for receiving a video transmission includes identifying a tag associated with a first video transmission. Upon selection of the tag, the information related to the tag is stored. A second video transmission is scanned for information associated with the tag. Brief Description Of The Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a system for implementing the present invention; Figure 2 is a graphical user interface which may be used in the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a flow chart for one embodiment of software for implementing the system shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a more detailed flow chart for software which may be used, for example, to implement an embodiment such as the one shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is an additional graphical user interface which may be used in connection with the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 6 is a depiction of the video information and associated tags that may be sent on two different video transmission channels; and Figure 7 is a block diagram of hardware for implementing one embodiment of the system shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description A video receiving system 10 may include a television receiver 12, a processor-based controller such as a set-top computer 14, and a remote control unit (RCU) 16. The RCU 16 may include a set of left and right and up and down arrow keys 18 and a selection key 19 which enables a pointer "A" to be moved across a video display screen, for example associated with the television receiver 12. In this way, the cursor or pointer A may be moved using the arrow buttons 18 and various selections may be made on associated graphical user interfaces using the button 19. The RCU 16 may also include a plurality of keys 20 to enable other user selections such as channel selections. The button 20a allows the user to set a tag to implement features to be described hereinafter. Of course, the system shown in Figure 1 is only an example of one embodiment and should not be considered as limiting the invention in any way. In the course of receiving a video transmission, the user can operate the button 20a to set a tag. Initially, a graphical user interface such as the one shown at 22 in Figure 2 may be displayed in response to actuation of the button 20a in the course of receiving a video transmission. For example, in the course of a commercial showing a detergent, the user could operate the button 20a and in response the graphical user interface 22 may be displayed. The interface 22 may overlay over the existing display and may be a relatively small box or window which does not unduly restrict the viewing of the ongoing transmission. The user may be asked whether the user desires additional information about a given brand of product ("brand X") or about detergents in general. By pressing either of the "yes" buttons, the user can select additional information which will be downloaded to the user. Otherwise, the user can operate the return field by tabbing, using the arrow keys 18 and the selection key 19 as described previously. Again, the illustrated graphical user interfaces are by way of example only and should not be considered as limiting the invention in any way. Thus, in one embodiment, in the course of a commercial, the user can operate the button 20a. In response to the user interface 22, the user may indicate that yes, the user wants more information about the particular brand being displayed and yes, the user wants more information about the product in general. When each of these graphical user interfaces are operated to select additional information, tags are set to control the subsequent collection of information for the user. The software for correlating user selected information with information that may be provided at a later time through another channel, is shown in Figure 3 and is called "video tag" software 21. Initially, a tag is identified in the on-going video transmission as indicated in block 23. A tag is identified when the user selects a given segment or portion of a video transmission as one about which the user would like to receive additional information. The tag system may be implemented, for example, using script synchronously transmitted with the video. A check for user selection of the tagged information is then undertaken, as indicated in block 25. Upon selection, the tag information is stored (block 27). A second video transmission is then scanned for information associated with the tag as indicated in block 29. This scanning may occur at a later time when the information eventually is provided over a different channel. The user may then be notified of the acquisition of the requested information. In this way, the user can receive additional information despite bandwidth limitations. Even though the information may be provided at a later time, the system allows the user's request to be correlated to the subsequent transmission. The software for implementing the tag system, shown in more detail in Figure 4, begins by checking whether a tag input has occurred, as indicated in diamond 26. In one illustrated embodiment, the tag input may be initiated by the user operating the button 20a and selecting the "yes" option in connection with a graphical user interface, such as the interface 22 shown in Figure 2. Based on the current video transmission that is being received, the software determines the appropriate identifiers for the ongoing video transmission and stores those identifiers. Thus, the associated identifiers indicate what information was being displayed and what the user selected for further information. These identifiers could be obtained, for example, from information simultaneously transmitted with the television program. For example, that information might be contained within the vertical blanking interval. While the user is viewing one particular channel of video television transmission, the software 21 may initiate a scan of another channel which provides additional information associated with information on one or more other channels, as indicated in block 30. If the identifier which was stored, matches an identifier associated with information being downloaded on the other channel, as indicated in diamond 32, a prompt may be displayed as indicated in block 34. A match indicates that in fact, the information has now been received which matches the identifiers associated with the information the user desired. When a match is detected, a screen display or graphical user interface 44 may be provided, as indicated in Figure 5. Again, the information may be provided as an overlay which does not unduly obstruct the viewing of the ongoing video transmission. Thus, the user is notified that the information is available and may be selected, for example, by tabbing to the block 45 and pressing the enter key 19. Referring again to Figure 4, upon a match, information from the other channel is stored as indicated in block 36. The user can view the stored information whenever the user desires. If there is no match, the software continues to monitor the other channel until a given time period has expired, as indicated in diamond 38. Once the time period has expired, the identifier (stored in block 28) may be deleted (block 40) and a screen display may be provided as indicated in block 42. This screen display may advise the user that the requested information was not received within a predetermined time period and therefore, the user will not receive that information. With the system 10, the user can select information which the user desires and that information may be correlated with information which is being asynchronously downloaded on another channel. This provides additional bandwidth for receiving the related information. In addition, it provides a way to tie the user's desired information to information which is asynchronously transmitted on another channel. Namely, the identifier system may be used to determine what information the user desires. By scanning for the information on the second channel using the same identifier system, the software 21 may find the associated information and notify the user when it is received. The additional information may be received some time after the user makes the initial selection that he or she desires the information. Then when the user is ready to view it, the information is accessed for viewing on the user's system. Thus, in Figure 6, channel one may correspond to the channel that contains program information such as a television program which the user views. In the course of the video transmission 46 on channel one, a plurality of tags X, Y, Z, A, B, C and D may be associated with segments 50 through 62 of the video transmission. These segments could correspond to portions of the television program or one or more advertisements which may be provided in the course of a television program. Thus, if the user clicks on the button 20a during the segment 50, the identifier X is stored. The identifier X may correlate with information on a second channel, channel two, providing a video transmission 48 in Figure 6 having segments 64 through 72. In particular, the information corresponding to the identifier X may occur within a segment 70 in channel two which is displaced in time with respect to the segment 50 that is associated with the identifier X in channel one. This is no problem since the identifier X allows the information to be correlated, obtained at a later time and stored. Thus, channel two may contain information in time periods 64, 66 and 68 that are associated with identifiers E, F, and G which may have no relationship to information on channel one. However, the software may locate the identifier X in the time period 70 and the identifier Y in the time period 72 which are associated with television segments 50 and 52 on channel one. If the user selected the appropriate tags X or Y in the course of viewing channel one, the information in channel two associated with the segment 70 and 72 may be identified and stored for viewing by the user. The head end or transmitter 108, shown in Figure 8, may transmit asynchronously to a plurality of receivers 110 using two channels 112 and 114. That is, the information associated with the same tag may, for example, be transmitted later on one channel than on the other as explained previously. While a single transmitter 108 is illustrated the transmitter may, in one embodiment, include a discrete transmitter for each channel. Turning now to Figure 7, an example of a system that may be used as a processor- based controller 14 is illustrated. The controller 14 may include a processor 74 coupled to an accelerated graphics port (AGP) chipset 76. The chipset 76 may be coupled to a system memory 78 and the accelerated graphics port bus 80. The bus 80 may in turn be coupled to a graphics accelerator 82, also coupled to a television receiver 12. The accelerated graphics port may be implemented in accordance with the Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Specification revision 2.0, published June, 1998, by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California. While the present invention is illustrated in an embodiment using a set-top computer system, other computer systems or processor-based appliances may be utilized to implement the present invention. The system may be a stand alone unit or it may be provided in an appliance such as a television receiver, a cable box or a satellite receiver, as examples. The chipset 76 may also be coupled to a bus 84 that couples a TV tuner/capture card 86. The TV tuner capture card 86 may be coupled to a television input such as a television antenna 88 or another source of video transmissions such as a satellite antenna or a cable connection. The bus 84 may be coupled to a bridge 90, which in turn may be coupled to a hard disk drive 92. The hard disk drive 92 may have the software 21 stored thereon. The software 98 may be script transmitted to the system 10. The bridge 90 may in turn be coupled to another bus 94 which may support a serial output interface 96 and a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 106. The interface 96 may be coupled to a modem 102, and an infrared interface 104. The infrared interface 104 may receive infrared transmissions from the remote control 16. The interface 104 may be implemented in accordance with the standards set forth in the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) specifications (such as the Serial Interface Link Access Protocol, version 1.0, June 23, 1994, which may be found at www.irda.org). While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A method of receiving video transmissions comprising: identifying a tag associated with a first video transmission; upon selection of the tag, storing information related to the tag; and scanning a second video transmission for information associated with said tag. 2. The method of claim 1 further including storing information from said second video transmission associated with said tag. 3. The method of claim 2 further including notifying the user when the information associated with the tag in the second transmission has been stored, and providing an indication to the user when the information from the second video transmission is available for viewing by the user. 4. The method ofclaim 2 further including providing an input device and upon receipt of an input from said input device, providing a graphical user interface to allow the user to select information which the user wishes to receive. 5. The method of claim 4 including allowing the user to select at least two different options for information retrieval. 6. The method ofclaim 2 including obtaining said information from said second video transmission at a time displaced from the time when the tag was selected in the course of a first video transmission. 7. A video receiver comprising: an input device adapted to allow a user to select video content on a first channel; and a video scanner adapted to scan a second channel for information related to the selected video content on the first channel. 8. The receiver of claim 7 including a storage device adapted to store information from said second channel related to the video content selected on the first channel. 9. The receiver of claim 7 including a device adapted to advise when information has been located on a second channel which relates to the video content selected on the first channel. 10. The receiver ofclaim 7 wherein said input device is adapted to cause a graphical user interface to be displayed by said video receiver, said graphical user interface facilitating the user selection of video content on said first charmel. 11. The receiver of claim 10 wherein said input device sets a tag associated with the video content currently being displayed on said video receiver. 12. The receiver ofclaim 11 wherein said video scanner is adapted to locate information on said second channel associated with said tag. 13. The video receiver ofclaim 12 wherein said video scanner is adapted to notify the user when information related to said selected video content is identified using said tag. 14. An article comprising a medium that stores instructions that cause a processor based system to: identify a tag associated with a first video transmission; upon selection of the tag, store information related to the tag; and scan a second video transmission for information associated with said tag. 15. The article ofclaim 14 further including instructions that cause a processor based system to store information from said second video transmission associated with said tag. 16. The article of claim 15 further including instructions that cause a processor based system to notify the user when the information associated with the tag in the second transmission has been stored. 17. The article ofclaim 15 further including instructions that cause a processor based system to provide an indication to the user when the information from the second video transmission is available for viewing by the user. 18. The article of claim 15 including instructions that cause a processor based system to obtain said information from said second video transmission at a time displaced from the time when the tag was identified in the course of a first video transmission. 19. A video transmission system comprising: a first transmission device adapted to transmit video information on a first channel, said information including segments having tags associated with at least one of said segments; and a second transmission device adapted to transmit video information on a second channel and including an identifier associated with one of said tags on said first channel. 20. The system ofclaim 19 wherein said first transmission device is further adapted to transmit script including said tag.

Inventors: RAMAKESAVAN SUNDARAM, RAMAKESAVAN, SUNDARAM
Applicants: INTEL CORP, RAMAKESAVAN SUNDARAM, INTEL CORPORATION, RAMAKESAVAN, SUNDARAM
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04H1, H04N5, H04N7