Abstract:
Provided is a method and system for displaying video streams, including receiving video data from a plurality of video stream by a frame controller in communication with a television display including a first picture and a second picture, and also receiving a television program summary list. The television program summary list includes television program data corresponding to the received video streams, and displaying the television program summary list in the second picture, and allowing the selection of a program from the television program summary list by a consumer, and displaying the selected video stream in the first picture.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to media, and more particularly, to a method and system to tailor displaying on a television set based on a television program summary. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is commonplace today for cable television and satellite television networks to carry several hundred channels. Typically, even a subscriber to basic services gets over 50 channels. It is not uncommon for a subscriber to have over 100 channels available with a subscription. Advances in Internet video and television make available thousands more channels and videos for consumer entertainment. When a consumer wants to spend an hour watching television, they may have, at their choice, thousands and thousands of television programs available during the hour. Choosing a television program or channel to watch may then become a non-trivial and painful task, defeating the purpose of watching television as an entertaining event. 
         [0003]    Many Internet videos and television channels are closely related to television programs shown on regular television channels, yet consumers cannot view a television program and switch to related Internet videos easily on their television set. 
         [0004]    For example, in one scenario, Lucy has a television set connected to a cable television network, and an Internet television set-top box allowing her to watch televised video on the Internet. Lucy wants to watch cooking programs, hoping to find a special dish to make for a weekend party. Lucy scans all the cable channels plus at least a hundred Internet television channels before she finds a channel she likes. 
         [0005]    In another exemplary scenario, Jack is watching live televised Olympics events on television. Jack learns that there are at least 100 broadcast and Internet television channels showing Olympic events. These hundred channels publish program schedules of several possible events. Due to the unpredictable timing of an event, the channels do not publish a firm program schedule. The program schedules suggest consumers to check the channels for the actual events covered. After watching a 100 m freestyle swimming heat, Jack wants to watch a bicycle racing event. Jack flips through the hundred channels to find an Internet television channel televising a bicycle race. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need to tailor display of a television set based on a television program summary and updates. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An aspect of the present invention provides a television system and method including a frame controller for receiving video data from a video stream. The frame controller is further in communication with a television display. The television display includes a first picture and a second picture, and the video stream is displayed in the first picture. The frame controller further receives a television program summary list and displays it in the second picture. The television program summary list includes television program data for at least one television program. 
         [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, the television program data includes a program title, a channel reference, a schedule, and a preview. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller allows a consumer to select a television program from the television program summary list. 
         [0010]    In one aspect of the invention, the frame controller selects a television program from the television program summary list and displays the selected television program in the first picture. 
         [0011]    In one aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an image and sound signal from a multi-channel operator. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to an image and sound signal from a multi-service operator. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, the video stream relates to one of an online Internet television portal, a satellite television network, a cable television network, or a broadcast television network. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the invention, the television program data further comprises consumer comments regarding at least one television program. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary list includes television program data for a plurality of television programs having a common theme. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the invention, the frame controller further receives a television program summary list update including updated television program data. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the invention, the television program summary list is updated with the updated television program data. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a television set tuned to a television programming summary channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program summary, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating television program summary processing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process for receiving a television programming summary update, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0023]    The term “video data” referred to in the descriptions of various embodiments of the invention herein described is intended to generally describe electronic audio and video signals containing or incorporating video for display on a television or other video display device. This term is used in the broadest sense as known in the electronic arts, and may include analog and/or digital signals. Likewise, the term “video stream” is used in a non-limiting fashion and generally refers to the collection of video data, together with any carrier signals, data headers or other electronic information, which singularly or taken together allow the described embodiments to operate. For example, a digital video stream from a given video source might include multiple packets of compressed video data, each packet or group thereof having one or more packet headers. Typically, one or more of the headers includes information relating to the video data, such as the compression algorithm used, the aspect ratio, etc. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary television set  100  tuned to a television programming summary channel. In an embodiment of the invention, television set  100  is an electronic device that receives image and sound signals from a plurality of television channels, including a broadcast channel  161  and a television program summary (“TPS”) channel  165 . Broadcast channel  161  relates to image and sound signal source  191 . In one embodiment, signal source  191  is from a broadcast television network, a cable television network, a satellite television network, an online Internet television portal, or any other multi-service or multi-channel operator, while TPS channel  165  relates to image and sound signal source  195 , which may be from a web portal or a web site. In various embodiments signal source  195  may be from the Internet, a home network, an enterprise network, or a public network, such as a community network, a WiFi hotspot, a service network of a merchant such as a coffee shop or a restaurant, or other signal source, without limitation. 
         [0025]    Also in an embodiment, television set  100  includes picture  121  and picture  125 , which are controlled by a frame controller  150 , which displays broadcast channel  161  onto picture  121 , and Internet channel  165  onto picture  125 . The frame controller  150  displays picture  121  and picture  125  simultaneously. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the frame controller  150  is included in television set  100 . In another embodiment, the frame controller  150  connects to television set  100  through an interface. The interface may be an RF interface, a HDMI interface, an S-video interface, a component interface, a composite interface, a network interface, or a wireless network interface such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) network, or other suitable interface, without limitation. 
         [0027]    In various embodiments of the invention, the frame controller  150  connects to a broadcast television channel input  190 , such as an antenna, cable television network, satellite television network, IPTV. The broadcast television channel input  190  includes a signal source  191 . The frame controller  150  also connects to a data network  193 , which may include a home network, an Ethernet network, a WiFi network, a DSL network, an Intranet network, a hotspot network, a public data network, a cellular data network, or a private data network. Data network  193  includes signal source  195 . 
         [0028]    In exemplary operation, the frame controller  150  receives a television program summary (“TPS”) list  180  from TPS channel  165 . The TPS list includes television program data, i.e., information about or concerning the listed television programs. TPS channel  165  may be served by a network computer  120 . Frame controller  150  connects to the network computer  120  through a data network  193 . In various embodiments, the network computer  120  is a media server, a media center, a web server, a content delivery platform server, or a video server, without limitation. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, frame controller  150  connects to the network computer  120  over a communication session  145 , which may be included in TPS channel  165 . Communication session  145  may be based on IP or Web technologies. In one scenario wherein communication session  145  is a HTTP session, frame controller  150  sends a HTTP request to the network computer  120 , and receives a Web page including TPS list  180 , such as an HTML page. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the frame controller  150  displays TPS list  180  onto picture  125  and further selects broadcast channel  161  based on TPS list  180 , and displays broadcast channel  161  onto picture  121 . 
         [0031]    At a later time, frame controller  150  may receive a TPS list update  182  from TPS channel  165 . For example, frame controller  150  sends a HTTP request to network computer  120  and receives a HTML web page including TPS list update  182 . TPS list update  182  is an update of TPS list  180 , and the frame controller  150  modifies TPS list  180  based on TPS list update  182 . Frame controller  150  then displays the modified TPS list  180  onto picture  125 . In a further example, frame controller  150  might select broadcast channel  162 , different from broadcast channel  161 , based on modified TPS list  180 . Frame controller  150  then displays broadcast channel  162  onto picture  121 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary TPS. TPS list  180  includes TPS  171 , which further includes information related to a television program  175  from broadcast channel  161 , program title  210 , channel reference  211 , schedule  214 , and, optionally, a preview  216 . Program title  210  is a title of television program  175 . Examples of program titles  210  includes a name, such as “CSI: Miami”, “NFL Super Bowl XLII”, “ER”, or “Batman Returns”. 
         [0033]    Channel reference  211  references to broadcast channel  161 . for example, channel reference  211  may include a URL format such as tv://OTA/channel/34 indicating broadcast channel  161  being off-the-air channel number  34 , or tv://cable/channel/7 indicating cable channel number  7 . Other examples include sub-channels, such as tv://channel/7.4 indicating sub-channel  4  of channel  7 . In another example, channel reference  211  may include a name such as “espn” indicating broadcast channel  161  having a channel name “espn”, or a number such as “38” indicating broadcast channel  161  having a channel number “38”. 
         [0034]    Schedule  214  references a time/date when television program  175  is to be shown on broadcast channel  161 . For example, schedule  214  includes a date and starting time. In another example, schedule  214  includes an ending time, or duration of television program  175 . In another example, television program  175  is a television series, and schedule  214  includes a plurality of times. In yet another example, schedule  214  includes a daily, weekly or monthly schedule for television program  175 . 
         [0035]    Preview  216  includes image and sound signals. For example, preview  216  may include a video file such as a Moving Pictures Expert Group v4.0 (MPEG-4) file, an Audio Video Interleave (AVI) file, a Flash Video (FLV) file, or a Quicktime MOV file. In one embodiment, preview  216  includes a video stream such as an MPEG-2 stream, MPEG-1 stream, or H.264/MPEG-4 AVC stream. In another embodiment, preview  216  includes an Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) metafile. 
         [0036]    In various embodiments, TPS  171  may include additional information, such as television program rating, user review, content classification, casts, or a score of a sport event, individually or in combination. Additional information may also include a monetary amount or token amount for viewing the television program. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary processing of a TPS. In operation, frame controller  150  receives TPS  171  from TPS channel  165 , and displays TPS  171  onto picture  125 . For example, frame controller  150  receives image and sound signals of preview  216  and displays the signals onto picture  125 . In another example, frame controller  150  displays schedule  214  onto picture  125 . Additionally, frame controller  150  may display program title  210  and channel reference  211  onto picture  125 , and perhaps the additional information of TPS  171  as well. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list  180  includes a second TPS  172 , which may also be displayed by the frame controller  150 . 
         [0039]    In an embodiment of the invention, frame controller  150  determines broadcast channel  161  for picture  121 , based on TSP list  180 . For example, frame controller  150  selects TPS  171 , and processes channel reference  211  to determine displaying broadcast channel  161 . 
         [0040]    Alternatively, frame controller  150  connects to user  110 , using an input interface module such as a pointing device, a remote control, an electronic programming guide, or a button. Frame controller  150  then displays TPS  171  as a user selectable object in picture  125 , and user  110  selects TPS  171  from picture  125 . Frame controller  150  selects TPS  171 , based on selection of user  110 , to determine displaying broadcast channel  161 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, frame controller  150  includes a clock  153 . Frame controller  150  obtains current time  157  from clock  153 . Frame controller  150  compares current time  157  with schedule  214  of TPS  171  and determines current time  157  is within schedule  214 . Frame controller  150  selects TPS  171 . 
         [0042]    In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list  180  includes TPS  172 . TPS  171  follows TPS  172  in TPS list  180 . TPS  172  relates to television program  176  from broadcast channel  162 . Frame controller  150  displays television program  176  from broadcast channel  162 . In one embodiment, frame controller  150  tracks broadcast channel  162  and determines when television program  176  ends. Frame controller  150  selects TPS  171  to determine broadcast channel  161  for picture  121 . In operation, frame controller  150  determines that current time  157  exceeds or equals to the end time of the schedule of TPS  172 , and then selects TPS  171  for display. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary process to receive a television programming summary update. In operation, after frame controller  150  receives TPS  180  from TPS channel  165 , frame controller  150  further receives TPS list update  182  from TPS channel  165 . Frame controller  150  may receive a TPS list update  182  regularly after a pre-determined period of time, or periodically. In one example, frame controller  150  receives a TPS list update  182  when TPS list update  182  is made available on TPS channel  165 . In another, frame controller  150  sends an update request to network computer  120 , and receives TPS list update  182  based on the update request. 
         [0044]    Once the TPS list update  182  is received, the frame controller  150  modifies TPS list  180  with the TPS list update  182 . In one embodiment, frame controller  150  replaces TPS list  180  with TPS list update  182 . In another embodiment, TPS list update  182  includes TPS  178 , and the frame controller  150  adds TPS  178  into TPS list  180 . In one embodiment, TPS  178  has the same program title  210  as TPS  171 , and frame controller  150  replaces TPS  171  by TPS  178 . In another embodiment, TPS list update  182  includes a removal instruction in TPS  178 , and frame controller  150  removes TPS  171  from TPS list  180 . In one embodiment, TPS  178  includes additional information relating television program  175 , and frame controller  150  combines the additional information in TPS  178  into TPS  171 . 
         [0045]    After modifying the TPS list  180 , the frame controller  150  displays the modified TPS list  180  onto picture  125 . In one embodiment, frame controller  150  updates picture  121  by selecting broadcast channel  162  based on the modified TPS list  180 , according to the process in  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment, broadcast channel  162  is different from broadcast channel  161 , and frame controller  150  displays broadcast channel  162  onto picture  121 . 
         [0046]    In an embodiment of the invention, TPS channel  165  provides a television program guide for broadcast channel  161 , wherein TPS list  180  is a daily, weekly or monthly program guide. TPS list  180  includes information relating to a plurality of television programs to be shown on broadcast channel  161 . TPS channel  165  updates TPS list  180  regularly, for example hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. In one embodiment, TPS channel  165  updates TPS list  180  whenever there is a change in television program scheduling. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, TPS channel  165  provides a program guide for a televised event, such as the Olympics, an NFL sport program for 2008, or televised movies for the coming week. 
         [0048]    In an embodiment of the invention, TPS list  180  comprises a plurality of programs TPS related to a common theme. For example, the theme may be related to an ethnic group, such as Japanese, French, or Spanish. In another example, the theme may be related to an age group, such as kids, teens, or adults. In another example, the theme may be related to a gender, like female or male. In another example, the theme may be related to an activity, such as cooking or home repair. In yet another example, the theme may be related to current events, such as the weather or news. In a last example, preview  216  of TPS  171  may include a summary of weather conditions, and broadcast channel  161  may be a weather channel. 
         [0049]    In an embodiment of the invention, additional information of TPS  171  includes user comment or criticism of television program  175 , and frame controller  150  displays the user comment/criticism on picture  125 . In a further embodiment, after viewing television program  175 , the consumer  110  may provide comment/criticism about television program  175  to frame controller  150 , which then sends the consumer comment/criticism to network computer  120 . 
         [0050]    Additional information of TPS  171  may also include demographic and/or popularity information for television program  175 . Frame controller  150  displays the demographic information/popularity information on picture  125 , and consumer  110  selects TPS  171  based on the displayed information. In an embodiment, after consumer  110  selects TPS  171 , frame controller  150  sends the selection of TPS  171  to network computer  120 . 
         [0051]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.