Abstract:
A system and method for modifying and displaying ticker data information to a user. The method of displaying data through an information ticker comprises receiving programming data from a remote source, displaying the programming data to a user as an information ticker and providing a user interface adapted to modify the extent that the programming data is displayed to the user. An enhanced television content delivery system for delivering ticker data comprises a device coupled to a communications link wherein the device is operative to receive the ticker data via the communications link. The device comprises a processor configured to filter the ticker data in accordance with a user supplied parameter.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/222,048, filed Jul. 31, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to interactive and enhanced television and, more particularly, to information displays in interactive and enhanced television environments.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Conventionally, scrolling text and/or graphics displays (i.e., on-screen “tickers”) are used to provide television viewers with various information, such as stock quotes, news reports, sports scores, weather and traffic reports, etc. However, known techniques for providing such information tickers in the enhanced and interactive television environments do not permit viewers to configure ticker display format or ticker content. Viewers are thus bound to the format and content dictated by a service provider. Consequently, there is a need for improved methods and apparatus for providing information tickers in the interactive and enhanced television space.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A method of displaying data through an information ticker comprises receiving programming data from a remote source, displaying the programming data to a user as an information ticker and providing a user interface adapted to modify the extent that the programming data is displayed to the user.  
           [0005]    In another aspect, an enhanced television content delivery system for delivering ticker data comprises a device coupled to a communications link wherein the device is operative to receive the ticker data via the communications link. The device comprises a processor configured to filter the ticker data in accordance with a user supplied parameter.  
           [0006]    In a further aspect, a method of method of displaying an information ticker on a television, comprises collecting ticker data from a data source, filtering the ticker data according to a configuration parameter supplied by a user, and constructing the information ticker using the filtered ticker data.  
           [0007]    Numerous other embodiments and aspects of the invention will become evident hereinafter from the following description, drawings, and claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The drawings illustrate both the design and utility of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary television distribution system in which a configurable information ticker constructed in accordance with the present invention can be implemented;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary enhanced television information ticker constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3 and 4 depict an exemplary main ticker configuration screen constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    FIGS.  5 - 13  depict exemplary auxiliary ticker configuration screens constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram depicting steps in an exemplary ticker configuration process in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary television system  100  in which embodiments of the present invention can be implemented. As shown, the exemplary system  100  includes a head-end server  110 , a communications link  120 , a set-top box  130 , a television  140  and a user remote control  150 . In operation, the head-end server  110  provides television programming to the set-top box  130 , via the communications link  120  (e.g., a standard cable or satellite television delivery system). The set-top box  130  then converts the incoming programming information into a format appropriate for input to the television  140 , and the television viewer can control operation of the set-top box  130  and/or the television  140  via the user remote control  150 .  
         [0015]    For enhanced and/or interactive television applications, information ticker data can be collected at the head-end server  110  (e.g., from various commercial data providers via ftp and/or HTTP over the Internet, dedicated lines, or dial-up) and passed on to the set-top box  130  along with the television programming information. One or more information tickers can then be displayed on the television (e.g., superimposed on the television image) at the discretion of the viewer. Conventionally, however, the viewer has no control over the content or format of the information tickers. In other words, once the viewer has subscribed to a television channel that contains one or more ticker services, he or she cannot adjust the look of, or the data in, the tickers.  
         [0016]    Embodiments of the invention permit a user to adjust both the data content and display format of an information ticker. According to exemplary embodiments, ticker data is categorized into major and minor data areas, each of which can be selected for display at the discretion of the viewer. For example, major data areas can include headline news, stock quotes, sports scores, traffic and weather, etc., and each major data area can have a number of associated minor data areas. For example, the headline news area can include minor data areas for national news, business news, sports news, local news and/or entertainment, and the stock quotes area can include minor data areas for the NYSE, NASDAQ and/or AMEX indices and/or individual stocks specified by stock call letters. Additionally, the sports scores area can include minor data areas for pro sports generally and/or specific leagues (e.g., NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB and/or USPGA) by team and/or player, and the traffic and weather area can include minor data areas for traffic reports in the city where the head-end server is located and/or prevailing regional and local weather conditions. Major and minor data areas can be modified (added or deleted) as dictated by regional requirements.  
         [0017]    With respect to display format, embodiments of the invention permit a user to configure an information ticker as either a single-layer or multiple-layer ticker. If the ticker is configured as a single layer (deck), all the major and minor data areas that have been selected can be chained together and displayed one after another. For example, a user can configure the ticker as a single deck, and then select headline news with national news and sports news and stock quotes with the NASDAQ index and a single preferred stock. In such case, when the ticker is toggled on, the single-deck ticker displays the national news followed immediately by sports news, the NASDAQ stock quotes, and finally the single preferred stock quote.  
         [0018]    Alternatively, if the ticker is configured to include multiple decks, the number of decks can be set equal to the number of major data areas the user has selected. The minor data areas within each major data area can then be chained together and displayed one after another. The decks can be stacked upon one another and color coded to provide distinction. Using the same selected areas as in the single-deck example provided above, when the ticker is toggled on, a double-deck ticker can display the national news followed immediately by sports news in a top deck, and the NASDAQ stock quotes followed by the particular stock quote in a bottom deck.  
         [0019]    By way of example, FIG. 2 depicts a television image  200  including a four-layer information ticker  210  superimposed on an ordinary television image. It is noted that the embodiment described in conjunction with FIGS.  2 - 13  is only an example and numerous variations on the format of the information display are contemplated. For instance, additional levels of information can be added to each layer, and the actual content of each layer can be modified. As shown in FIG. 2, the ticker  210  includes four vertically stacked layers  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214  corresponding, respectively, to the major data areas of sports scores, headline news, stock quotes and traffic/weather.  
         [0020]    In addition to selecting between single and multiple decks, embodiments of the invention permit a user to position the ticker at different locations on the television screen and/or select the speed with which data changes within each deck. Additionally, the user can select among data update/refresh options for each deck (e.g., scrolling data horizontally across each deck as described above, shifting up or down from a displayed line of data to a next line of data within each deck, or fading from a displayed line of data into a next line of data within each deck).  
         [0021]    To provide the above described content and format configuration capabilities, embodiments of the invention permit the television user to access a ticker configuration program for activating and deactivating ticker data areas and/or adjusting ticker display attributes. An exemplary ticker configuration program is activated when the user presses a “hot” key (e.g., the “A” key or a menu key on a standard set-top box, or a similar function key on a remote control keypad) and presents the television viewer with a series of configuration screens including options (e.g., check boxes or other visual selection controls) for ticker content and format adjustment. Such a configuration program can be implemented, for example, by way of Java scripts running on a set-top box configured to support third-party application programming. Once the viewer has selected a particular ticker configuration using the configuration menus, the ticker data provided to the head-end server by the commercial data providers is filtered at the set-top and presented to the viewer in accordance with that configuration.  
         [0022]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a data-receptacle, database or other storage mechanism is established at the server side of the communications link  120  in order to manipulate incoming ticker information. Since commercial data providers use pre-determined formats to deliver data, templates congruent with such formats are used, according to the embodiment, to re-format the data so that all of it is consistent and more readily stored in the data receptacle and utilized by the configurable information ticker. Server-side algorithms and processes are provided to obtain information from sources which require that data be “pulled” and to accept information from sources which “push” data, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.  
         [0023]    The server-side storage mechanism can be run in conjunction with the access and retrieval processes to facilitate unattended, automatic data access and retrieval from the providers. During these processes, the data can be re-packaged and stored in the server-side data receptacle. Additionally, optimization algorithms can be used to retrieve data from the data receptacle and send it to the delivery medium  120  for efficient transmission to the set-top box. The above described server side functionality can be incorporated within the head-end server  110 , or a dedicated server can be provided for the data-receptacle (including all code needed to implement the above described data storage, access, retrieval and optimization).  
         [0024]    According to the exemplary embodiment, filtering of ticker data in accordance with the prevailing user-specified ticker configuration is accomplished on the client side (e.g., via code running on the set-top box  130 ). Additionally, available memory-resident data space on the set-top box  130  can be used to cache streaming data to fuel the information ticker. Usage of the memory-resident data space can be implemented via a database, a flat-file structure or other data storage methods. Also, data updating algorithms can be used to update parts of the memory-resident data space so that specific data, such as stock quotes, can be updated more often than relatively slow-changing data, such as news headlines.  
         [0025]    Note that the above described distribution of functionality between the server and client sides of the communications link  120  is exemplary and can be varied as appropriate in view of other design considerations. For example, the user configuration and/or information filtering processes can be run on the server side. Doing so, however, requires two-way communication between the server and the set-top box (i.e., to pass configuration parameters input by the user at the set-top back to the configuration program/information filter at the server). Advantageously, the above described embodiment (i.e., configuration programming and ticker information filtering at the set-top) requires only one-way communication from the server to the set-top.  
         [0026]    FIGS.  3 - 13  depict ticker configuration screens generated by an exemplary ticker configuration program according to the invention. Using the exemplary configuration program, a user can select or clear any or all of a number of available major and minor data areas by selecting them individually or by selecting a control that globally selects or globally clears all available areas simultaneously. If a major data area is cleared, settings for the minor data areas within the major data area can remain intact so that the user can easily toggle the major data area without having to reset configurations for the corresponding minor data areas.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 depicts a main ticker configuration screen  300  according to an embodiment of the invention. Such a configuration screen is displayed, for example, on the television  140  where a television viewer presses a particular key on the set-top box  130  or the user remote control  150 . As shown, the main configuration screen includes five primary push buttons  311 , 312 , 313 ,  314 ,  315 , as well as first and second selection columns  320 ,  330 . The first primary push button  311  corresponds to the main configuration screen  300  itself, while the remaining primary push buttons  312 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315  correspond to the major data areas headline news, stock quotes, sports scores and local traffic and weather, respectively. On the main configuration screen  300 , the first selection column  320  provides the user with four check boxes corresponding to four major data areas, and thus permits the viewer to select and deselect each of the four major data areas individually. A virtually infinite number of data areas, subjects or information stations can be incorporated into the systems and the configuration screen  300 . Additionally, the first selection column  320  includes a show all button and a clear all button, so that the viewer can select or deselect all four major data areas simultaneously. The second selection column  330  includes push buttons which permit the viewer to position the ticker at either the top or bottom of the viewing screen, as well as push buttons which permit the viewer to select either a single-deck or a multi-deck ticker display.  
         [0028]    To access items on the main configuration screen  300 , the user can for example press up-arrow, down-arrow, left-arrow and right-arrow buttons on the user remote control  150  to highlight a particular button or check box (as shown in FIG. 3, the display push button  311  is highlighted originally), and then press a select key, such as OK, on the remote  150  to toggle or select the highlighted item. Alternately, the remote control can take the form of a joystick or other handheld device. By way of example, FIG. 4 depicts a scenario in which the viewer has selected the display button  311  (shown depressed in FIG. 4) and then highlighted and selected the clear all button in the first selection column  320  to deselect all four major data areas (as indicated by the fact that all four check boxes in the first selection column  320  are shown empty).  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 depicts a news area configuration screen  500  which appears, for example, where the viewer selects the headline news button  312  on the main configuration screen  300 . As shown, the news area configuration screen  500  includes the primary push buttons  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315  and a news area selection column  520 . The news area selection column  520  includes five individually selectable check boxes, corresponding to the minor news data areas of national news, world news, business news, sports news and entertainment news. The news area selection column  520  also includes a show all button and a clear all button so that all of the minor news data areas can be selected or deselected simultaneously. FIG. 6 depicts a scenario in which a viewer has chosen to display only business news within the main news area.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 depicts a stock quotes configuration screen  700  which appears, for example, upon the viewer selecting the stock quotes button  313  on the main configuration screen  300  (or on the news area configuration screen  500 ). As shown, the stock quotes configuration screen  700  includes the primary push buttons  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315 , first and second stock selection columns  720 ,  730  and a display list column  740 . The first stock selection column  720  includes two individually selectable check boxes, corresponding to the minor stock quotes data areas of major indices (e.g., NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX) and custom stocks (e.g., specific user-selected stocks). The first stock selection column  720  also includes a show all button and a clear all button so that both of the minor stock quotes data areas can be selected or deselected simultaneously. The second stock selection column  730  includes a series of scroll boxes which the viewer can use to specify a particular stock by its call letters. The second stock selection column  730  also includes an add stock button so that the viewer can add a specified stock to a list of prevailing (i.e., currently selected) custom stocks shown in the display list column  740 . The display list column  740  includes a delete button so that prevailing custom stocks can be deleted from the list. FIG. 8 depicts a scenario in which a viewer has chosen to display both major indices and custom stocks (note both boxes checked in the first stock selection column  720 ). In FIG. 8, the display list column  740  indicates three prevailing custom stocks (call letters CSCO, WCOM and IBM), and the second stock selection column  730  indicates that custom stock WCOM has been most recently added to the display list.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 depicts a sports scores configuration screen  900  which would appear, for example, upon the viewer selecting the sports scores button  314  on the main configuration screen  300  (or on the news area configuration screen  500  or the stock quotes configuration screen  700 ). As shown, the sports scores configuration screen  900  includes the primary push buttons  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315  and a sports scores selection column  920 . The sports scores selection column  920  includes four individually selectable check boxes, corresponding to the minor sports scores data areas of National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. The first sports scores selection column  920  also includes a show all button and a clear all button so that all of the minor sports scores data areas can be selected or deselected simultaneously. FIG. 10 depicts a scenario in which a viewer has chosen to display only Major League Baseball. In FIG. 10, display list columns  930 ,  940  provide individually selectable check boxes for specific teams within Major League Baseball. Each display list column also includes a select all button and a clear all button for user convenience. It will be understood that other minor sports scores data areas (e.g., NFL, NHL, NBA, USPGA, etc.) can be specified similarly by specific team and/or player.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 depicts a local weather and traffic configuration screen  1100  which would appear, for example, upon the viewer selecting the local button  315  on the main configuration screen  300  (or on the other major data area configuration screens  500 ,  700 ,  900 ). As shown, the weather and traffic configuration screen  1100  includes the primary push buttons  311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314 ,  315 , a weather selection column  1120  and a traffic selection column  1130 . The weather selection column  1120  includes three individually selectable check boxes, corresponding to the minor weather data areas of current, forecast and 5-day outlook, and the traffic selection column  1130  includes three individually selectable check boxes, corresponding to the minor traffic data areas of current, cone zone (i.e., a particular local traffic zone) and other (e.g., a particular road or intersection, etc.). Each of the weather and traffic selection columns  1120 ,  1130  also includes a show all button and a clear all button so that all of the weather or traffic minor data areas can be selected or deselected simultaneously. FIG. 12 depicts a scenario in which a viewer has chosen to display only the current weather, and FIG. 13 depicts a scenario in which a viewer has chosen to display the current weather and a particular traffic zone.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 depicts an exemplary general configuration process  1400  for generating configuration screens such as those shown in FIGS.  3 - 13 . The process of FIG. 14 can be implemented, for example, via Java scripts running on a programmable set-top box such as model No. DCT-5000 manufactured by the General Instrument Company. As shown, the exemplary process  1400  starts at step  1402  when the television viewer activates the configuration process, for example by pressing a hot key on the set-top box  130  or on the user remote control  150 . Thereafter, the configuration process starts at step  1404 , and a configuration menu is displayed on the television  140  at step  1406 . Upon the user selecting a first category at step  1408  (e.g., by pressing up, down, left, right and select keys on the set top box  130  or on the user remote control  150 ), the selected category is displayed on the television at step  1410 .  
         [0034]    Then, at step  1412 , a determination is made as to whether the selected item is a main category (e.g., a main data area). If so, then the corresponding sub-categories (e.g., minor data areas) are displayed on the television at step  1414 , items corresponding to the minor categories are displayed on the television at step  1416 , and the process then waits for additional user input at step  1418 . Returning to step  1412 , if a determination is made that the selected item is not a main category, then a determination is made at step  1420  as to whether the selected item is a sub-category (i.e., minor data area). If so, then the items corresponding to the selected minor data area are displayed on the television at step  1416 , and the process waits for additional user input at step  1418 . If the selected item is neither a main category nor a sub-category, then the process proceeds directly to step  1418  to await further user input.  
         [0035]    Upon the user pressing an additional key at step  1422 , a determination is made at step  1424  as to whether the pressed key is an up-arrow key. If so, then a previous item on the presently displayed configuration screen is highlighted at step  1426 , and processing returns to step  1410 . If the pressed key is not an up-arrow key, then a determination is made at step  1428  as to whether the pressed key is a down-arrow key. If so, then a next item on the presently displayed configuration screen is highlighted at step  1430 , and processing returns to step  1410 . If the pressed key is not a down-arrow key, then a determination is made at step  1432  as to whether the pressed key is a left-arrow key. If so, then a nearest-left item is highlighted on the presently displayed configuration screen at step  1434 , and processing returns to step  1410 . If the pressed key is not a left-arrow key, then a determination is made at step  1436  as to whether the pressed key is a right-arrow key. If so, then a nearest-right item on the currently displayed configuration screen is highlighted at step  1438 , and processing returns to step  1410 .  
         [0036]    If the pressed key is not an up-arrow, down-arrow, left-arrow or right-arrow key, then a determination is made at step  1440  as to whether the pressed key is a select key. If so, then a determination is made at step  1442  as to whether the presently highlighted item is a discreet, lowest level item (e.g., a check box). If so, then a determination is made at step  1444  as to whether the item is presently selected, and the item is toggled and displayed in its new state at steps  1446 ,  1448  and  1450  (and processing returns to step  1418  to await further user input). If the item selected at step  1442  is not a lowest level item, then a determination is made at step  1452  as to whether the selected item is a select-all button. If so, then every lowest level item in the category corresponding to the select-all button is selected and displayed as such at step  1454 , and processing returns to step  1418  to await further user input. If it is determined at step  1452  that the selected item is not a select-all button, then a determination is made at step  1456  as to whether the selected item is a clear-all button. If so, then each item in the category corresponding to the selected clear-all button is deselected and displayed as such at step  1458 , and processing returns to step  1418  to await further user input. If it is determined at step  1456  that the selected item is neither a show all button nor a clear-all button, then processing returns directly to step  1418  to await further user input.  
         [0037]    Returning to step  1440 , if it is determined that the pressed key is not a select key, then a determination is made at step  1460  as to whether the pressed key is an escape key. If not, then processing returns directly to step  1418  to await further user input (i.e., the pressed key was an invalid key for the configuration program). However, if the pressed key is an escape key (indicating that the user wishes to exit the configuration program), then all items selected during the configuration process are saved at step  1462  (e.g., in memory within the set-top box  130 ), ordinary television programming resumes at step  1464 , and the configuration process stops at step  1466 . The information saved is then applied to the ticker decks when they are activated.  
         [0038]    Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the above described embodiments are provided by way of illustration only, and that numerous equivalent embodiments are contemplated herein. For example, although not explicitly shown in the configuration screens of FIGS.  3 - 13 , additional configuration options are readily included (e.g., adjustment of the speed with which data changes in each ticker deck, the update/refresh style used within each ticker deck, etc.).  
         [0039]    Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in the above description and drawings, it is understood that this description is by example only and that numerous changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted, except by the following claims and their equivalents.