Patent Publication Number: US-2012042336-A1

Title: Digital Television With Subscriber Conference Overlay

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/239,633 filed on Sep. 26, 2008, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/112,377 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,880,762, which is a continuation Ser. No. 11/645,978 filed on Dec. 26, 2006, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/586,260 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,275, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/585,393 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,917,937, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/514,647 filed on Sep. 1, 2006, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/507,963 filed on Aug. 21, 2006, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 11/059,611 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,621, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 10/444,261 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,387, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 10/026,095 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,602, which is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09/095,390 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,842 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to digital television systems, particularly to subscriber video conferencing with conventional programming. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Digital television (DTV) attributes have been standardized by industry (e.g., Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and government (U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)). Such DTV standards, which provide enhanced multimedia quality, as well as interactive data services, are hereby incorporated by reference. Generally, however, DTV specifications contemplate program delivery to various receiver units, but not necessarily communication between receiver units. Accordingly, there may be need for conferencing between units receiving digital system programming. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The invention resides in digital television system configured for subscriber conference overlay during program delivery. Billing and advertisement may be personalized according to actual program viewing and/or conferencing activity by DTV receiver. Receiver unit includes media input/output device for multi-user conferencing. Subscribers may be added or removed during programming. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is block diagram of integrated digital television program and data delivery system for enabling present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is simplified diagram of novel overlay of subscriber conferencing over program and/or data delivery. 
         FIG. 3  is representative digital TV subscriber unit used according to present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is sample digital TV display according to present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is flow chart of operational steps of present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is block diagram of integrated digital television program and data delivery system, including one or more residential  12 , mobile  14  and business  16  subscriber, receiver and/or digital television (DTV) units coupled over broadcast  6  and/or network  10  channels respectively to program  2  and/or data  4  sources. Controller  8 , which is one or more processor, server, computer or other functionally equivalent controller functionality coupled to broadcast  6  and/or network  10  channel, may affect network  10  and broadcast  6  functionality as described herein. 
     Program source  2  comprises one or more source for broadcasting one or more video and/or data programs, or other functionally equivalent information signal stream, according to conventional digital and/or analog program broadcasting, accessible or addressable publicly or privately over various broadcast  6  equipment, medium, or other functionally equivalent channels, such as cable, optical fiber, microwave, wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), multichannel multipoint distribution system (MMDS), local multipoint distribution service (LMDS), etc. For example, program  2  may comprise live sports or entertainment performance event, such as professional football game, broadcast over restricted pay-per-view television channels. 
     Data source  4  comprises one or more source for providing two-way or interactive access to one or more database, file, directory, or other functionally equivalent data repository site or signal source, accessible or addressable publicly or privately over conventional network  10 , such as local or wide area network, world-wide web Internet/intranet, or combination thereof, including, for example, network switch, router, bridge, gateway, hub, or other wired and/or wireless networking connection equipment for enabling ISDN, SONET, ATM, frame relay, gigabit Ethernet, TCP/IP, virtual private networks, xDSL, or other similar functionality. Additionally, data  4  may comprise text, graphics, video, or other digital or media information, such as current news update, photographic images, video or audio clips, sports statistics or analysis, stock quotes or financial data, weather forecast report, research data, commercial transaction details, product pricing, etc. 
     In accordance with important aspect of present invention, digital television system includes multiple receivers coupled selectively or programmably to program  2  and/or data  4  source over broadcast  6  and/or network  10  communications infrastructure, wherein conferencing or communication among DTV subscribers  18  occurs during program and/or data delivery. Consequently, controller  8  may send or transmit service bill indication to participating DTV units per actual program view or conference usage. As used herein, term “conference” or “conferencing” is interpreted broadly and understood to mean any communication between multiple parties. 
     Additionally, controller may facilitate electronic narrowcast delivery of personalized or customized commercial and/or non-commercial message to select DTV units. Controller  8  and/or subscribers  18  may employ one or more intelligent agents or functionally equivalent software constructs to search, obtain, or transact certain information or activity across network  10 . Controller  8  or subscriber unit  18  processor may selectively restrict or censor pre-defined program or data classes or titles, for example, to content screening criteria and/or procedure provided for so-called V-chip specifications. Preferably, each DTV receiver includes searchable and/or identifiable address and various multimedia input/output device capability for enabling video conferencing. Moreover, DTV units may be added or removed during conference period. 
     Accordingly,  FIG. 2  shows overlay of subscriber conferencing  20  over program and/or data delivery to subscribers  18 . In this networked configuration, controller  8  effectively serves as broadband system headend processor for generating, forwarding, modifying, storing, accessing or otherwise controlling program/data delivery to subscribers  18 , while generating, forwarding, modifying, storing, accessing or otherwise controlling video conferencing signal transmission between subscribers  18 . 
     Preferably, such program/data signal generated, transmitted or otherwise processed to receiver units comply with established DTV standards, such as ATSC or other generally accepted industry DTV information or signal format and/or protocol interface, and video conferencing signal generated, transmitted or otherwise processed between receiver units comply with established video conferencing standards, such as H.323, H.324, H.320, T.120 or other generally accepted industry video/data conferencing information or signal format and/or protocol interface, such currently published or online-accessible standards being hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIG. 3  shows digital television subscriber unit  22 , which may be implemented as one or more DTV receivers  12 ,  14 , or  16  of  FIG. 1 . Preferably, DTV unit  22 , which functions in compliance with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard for DTV equipment and system operation, substantially includes display panel or screen with video frame buffer  24 , digital video-conferencing camera or image sensor  26 , microphone  28 , keyboard and/or mouse  30 , speaker(s)  32 , processor or controller  34 , digital memory or recordable video disk storage  36 , peripheral card reader  38 , remote control infrared interface  40 , network interface or modem  42  (e.g., for coupling to network channel  10 ), digital compressed video encoder/decoder (i.e., according to Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) industry standards)), radio frequency (RF), broadband or wireless communications interface  46  (e.g., for coupling to broadcast channel  6 ), and operating system, BIOS, browser, or other associated kernel software  48  for generally enabling system and controller  34  operation and network communications. 
     It is contemplated that ATSC-compliant DTV unit  22  may be embodied as well in personal or network computer, workstation, set-top television device, or functionally equivalent processing and associated network equipment, as configured to operate as specified herein according to present invention. 
     Moreover, controllers  8 ,  34  execute one or more computer programs for performing functions as described herein, preferably according to embedded or real-time software syntax, such as JAVA and/or Windows CE, which currently published or on-line specifications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     When DTV unit  22  operates according to present invention, sample display  24  screen output may be as represented in  FIG. 4 . In particular, display  24  may integrate, combine, mix, or otherwise include program  52  and/or data  54 , effectively through video frame buffer, with video conferencing windows from current (i.e., self) and/or other DTV participants  56  coupled thereto, preferably during program/data delivery. For example, each screen element  52 ,  54 ,  56  may be shown as picture within or adjacent to another picture element. In this overlaid manner, each DTV unit in select set displays common program and/or data stream, as well as conference video and audio signal output as generated from video camera and microphone from other participant DTV units. 
     Preferably, such program and/or video signals are compressed and encoded according to industry standard such as MPEG format. Display  50  may also show whiteboard-type screen commonly among participants  56  for jointly communicating text, graphics, or other observable or audible program or data, such as for workgroup or class collaboration to review or discuss draft documents, faxes, or other forms or files. 
       FIG. 5  shows operational flow chart, including steps for system configuration and subscription set-up  60 , program and/or data delivery  62 , participant conference  64 , and controller billing  66 . Preferably, controller  8 , serves as central processor to coordinate DTV unit set-up, user smart-card account authorization or identity authentication program/data and/or conference scheduling, programming, viewing, output formatting, conference access and communication, billing, advertising, and other associated activity, particularly for managing access to program  2 , data  4 , as well as DTV video conferencing signals  20 . To reduce latency, controller  8  may transmit static image instead of live video. 
     For example, controller  8  may authorize or cause certain DTV units to be added or removed dynamically from one or more video conferencing active set or selected logical group, as well as restrict select DTV unit(s) from viewing certain program and/or data. Moreover, controller  8  monitors one or more actual program/data viewing and/or conferencing usage for appropriate billing. Furthermore, controller  8  may direct personalized or targeted commercial, incentive, or advertising messages to certain recognized demographic interest group, DTV subscribers or participant video conferencing parties. 
     Preferably, controller  8  directs such messages dynamically or adaptively according to current subscriber or participant information activity or needs, as well as product availability, market pricing, or other commercial attribute. Additionally, controller  8  may take corrective action or functional adjustment to redirect, restrict, control, or otherwise manage network, program/data, or other system resources, upon detecting actual or possible performance bottlenecks or other equipment or connection fault causing undesirable impact on such information delivery. 
     In one embodiment of present invention, DTV system is configured for luxury-suite type or other effectively exclusive membership multi-user conferenced viewing of live sports event, such that professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, or other competitive individual, team, or tournament telecast is provided as program  2  through broadcast channel  6 , including preferably statistical or background data  4  about player, team, or other related game aspect. In particular, controller  8  provides proper access by authorized DTV subscribers  18  to such sports program and/or data. Additionally, controller  8  coordinates or monitors video conferencing activity occurring directly or indirectly between DTV units watching common program/data stream. 
     Hence, for example, initially, during configuration subscription setup phase  60 , system or headend controller  8  begins to identify system configuration, network address, program order and account status of any subscriber units coupled thereto over broadcast  6  and/or network  10  channels. Commercial transaction may occur to define DTV receiver unit user subscriptions, particularly for authenticating, billing, scheduling, notifying, requesting or otherwise providing desired access to any upcoming or current program  2  or database  4 . As appropriate, controller  8  may conduct remote diagnostics over such channels to various units  12 ,  14 ,  16  to ensure proper functioning for signal delivery. 
     Next, program and/or data delivery may commence according to controller  8  programmable selection to enable digital transmission for electronic signal delivery  62  of certain program  2  and/or data  4  for presentation in integrated display  50  of selected or addressed DTV subscriber units  18 . Then, thereafter, prior, or simultaneously, select participants  56  are enabled for video conferencing  20 , particularly by allowing such participants to be monitored by activated video camera  26  and/or microphone  28 , for transmission of monitored static image or live motion video compressed encoded digital signal for presentation in display screen  50 . Upon completion of program/data delivery and conferencing activity, controller  8  may send proper billing indications to participant DTV units. Controller  8  may appropriately add or delete subscriber  18  in active database. 
     Therefore, in this combined DTV program/data viewing and select viewer conferencing scheme, important objective of emulating luxury-suite or otherwise more collaborative, intimate or personal conditions among associated audience members located at different locations is achieved effectively. 
     Optionally, while receiving program/data, conferenced subscriber may also send or receive electronic text message to other subscribers or other mail account addressable through network  10 , or run various application programs locally or in distributed client-server networked manner, preferably in common with other conferenced DTV units, such as for multi-user simulation or gaming application. 
     To improve system program/data broadcast or video conferencing performance, for example, when restricted effectively by channel bandwidth or traffic congestion, controllers  8 ,  34  may reduce or eliminate actual transmission of full content video signal, and preferably transmit information subset, such as static image, text and/or voice. 
     Foregoing described embodiments of invention are provided as illustration and description. It is not intended to limit invention to precise form described. Other variations and embodiments are possible in light of above teaching, and it is thus intended that scope of invention not be limited by detailed description, but rather by claims as follow.