DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

28. FIG. 2 shows an interactive entertainment system 20 implemented as an interactive television (ITV) system. System 20 includes a centralized headend 22 which is configured to provide continuous video content programs to multiple subscribers. These programs might include traditional broadcast TV shows, movies, games, and the like. The programs are transmitted as a continuous data stream, which is non-interactive in itself.

29. Each subscriber has a viewer computing unit 24. In the illustrated implementation, the viewer computing unit is embodied as a set-top box (STB) 26 coupled to a television (TV) 28. The STB 26 receives digital video signals from headend 22 and controls which programs are displayed on the TV 28. The STB 26 is controlled by the viewer through use of a panel control located on its face, or a hand held remote control unit 30. Instead of a separate STB, however, a viewer computing unit can be incorporated in the TV itself. In addition to televisions, the viewer computing unit might be implemented with other types of visual display units, such as a computer monitor, as is described below with respect to the FIG. 4 implementation.

30. Each viewer computing unit 24 is configured to run an electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG provides an on-screen listing of various programs or program titles. The listing is organized in a predetermined arrangement that is displayed on the television. The EPG might also include other program descriptive information, including whether the program is provided in closed s caption or stereo.

31. Headend 22 is interconnected to the subscribers via a distribution structure or network 32. The distribution structure 32 can be implemented in different ways. One implementation is a multi-tier network which includes a high-speed, high-bandwidth fiber optic cable network between the headend and regional distribution nodes (not shown), and conventional home entry lines, such as twisted-pair lines or coaxial cable, between the distribution nodes and viewer computing units. Other implementations include satellite communications (e.g., DSS technologies), RF communication, or other wireless technologies. Moreover, the network can be constructed using a combination of wireless and wire-based technologies.

32. In the illustrated implementation, the network 32 provides both the pipeline for distribution of programs from the headend to the subscriber, as well as a back channel which enables communication from the subscriber to the headend. The back channel permits the viewer to send requests and instructions to the headend to facilitate interactive control.

33. Headend 22 provides video content programs to the viewer computing unit 24. The programs are embodied as video data streams that are transmitted from headend 22 over distribution structure 32 to the viewer computing unit. The headend maintains a database of programs 40 that can be served by a continuous media server 42 to individual viewers in an on-demand mode. The headend can also retransmit to its subscribers broadcast video signals that it receives from another source, such as a satellite feed or another cable system. The video data streams are sent to the viewer computing units in digital or analog format.

34. An EPG server 44 is provided at headend 22 to serve the programming information needed by the EPG at the viewer computing unit 24. The EPG server 44 is implemented as a structured query language (SQL) database 46 with records containing information relating to available shows or programs.

35. The headend 22 further includes an enhanced content server 52 which serves supplemental interactive content to the viewer computing units to enhance or supplement the continuous video streams served by the continuous media server 42. The supplemental content is stored digitally in database 54 and can be text, graphics, video, picture, sound, or other multimedia types. Examples of supplemental content include trivia questions or games related to the program, advertisements, merchandise or other memorabilia, hyperlinks to similar programs of similar type or starring the same actor/actress, and so on.

36. In the implementation described herein, the supplemental content is constructed as a hypertext file which is rendered by a browser. Hypertext, or hypermedia, is a metaphor for presenting information in which text, images, sounds, and actions become linked together in a complex, non-sequential web of associations that permit a user to browse through related topics, regardless of the presented order of the topics. Hypermedia content is widely used for navigation and information dissemination on the “World-Wide Web” (WWW or Web) of the Internet.

37. Hypermedia content is commonly organized as documents with embedded control information. The embedded control information includes formatting specifications, indicating how a document is to be rendered by the browser. In addition, such control information can include links or “hyperlinks,” which are symbols or instructions telling the browser where to find other related documents on the Internet. A hyperlink includes a label, which is typically rendered as a graphical icon or as highlighted keywords, and an underlying target specification. The target specification is set forth in the underlying hypermedia document, but is normally invisible to the user. The target specification unambiguously identifies a targeted document or resource, specifying the name of the computer on which the document resides and the complete file name of the document.

38. In concept, the target resource can be virtually any type of object - including executable programs, text or multimedia documents, sound clips, audio segments, still images, computers, directories, and other hyperlinks. In WWW documents, hyperlink targets are most often files that can reside on any computers connected to the Internet. However, a hyperlink target can also be a particular location within a document, including the document that is currently being rendered. Hypertext usage is not limited to the Internet. Various multimedia applications utilize hypertext to allow users to navigate through different pieces of information content.

39. FIG. 3 shows an example data structure 48 which is used by the EPG database 46 to organize programming information and to correlate target specifications with the programs. The data structure includes a number of data records comprising various data fields 50 for holding programming information. The data fields contain program titles, actor names, whether the program has closed captioning or stereo audio, the scheduled time of the program, the network name, and description text. Each program record in the data structure 48 also holds pointers to storage locations within the continuous media server 42 which hold the video data streams of the programs corresponding to the program records.

40. The data structure 48 includes a data field 58 for holding target specifications which reference target resources supporting the supplemental content. The data structure correlates the target specifications with the programs by associating them within the same program record. The presence of a target specification within the data field 58 indicates that the associated program is interactive and that complementary content can be displayed in addition to the program itself. The target specification can be implemented in different forms. The target specification to the supplemental content stored at the headend which enhances the “Murder, She Wrote” program is in the form of a pointer “CONTENT1.” The presence of this pointer in field 58 indicates that the program “Murder, She Wrote” is interactive compatible and that the supplemental content resides at a memory location identified by the pointer “CONTENT1.” Similarly, the programs “Seinfeld” and “Star Trek” are interactive compatible and have associated supplemental content which are located by the hyperlink URLs in corresponding data field 58. These URLs reference resources provided by independent service providers (described below with reference to FIG. 4).

41. A URL (universal resource locator) is a type of target specification used in WWW documents to describe everything about a particular resource that a browser needs to know to request and render it. The URL describes the protocol a browser should use to retrieve the resource, the name of the computer it is on, and the path and file name of the resource.

42. The following is an example of a URL listed in the EPG data structure 48 in association with the “Seinfeld” program:

http://www.nbc.com/seinfeld

43. The “http://” portion of the URL describes the protocol. The letters “http” stand for HyperText Transfer Protocol, the set of rules that a browser will follow to request a document and the remote server will follow to supply the document. The “www.nbc.com” portion of the URL is the name of the remote host computer which maintains the document. The last portion “/seinfeld” is the path and file name of the document on the remote host computer.

44. The development of the EPG data structure 48 includes designating separate data fields 50 within a storage medium for holding programming information, and dedicating at least one of the data fields 58 to storing target specifications to supplemental content. The target specifications can be in the form of memory pointers, hyperlinks, URLs, or any other designation for referencing a location containing supplemental content. For programs with no corresponding supplemental content, the target specifications data field 58 is left empty. However, for those programs with supplemental content, the target specification to the target resource containing the supplemental content is entered in the data field 58 and correlated with the program. The correlation is provided through the data structure by the placing the target specification within the same data record as the program title and other information for a particular program. It is further noted that the target resources can be embedded within other text-based data held in other data fields 50 which also relate to the corresponding programs.

45. The same or a subset of data structure 48 is employed at the EPG application running at the viewer computing unit in the home. The data records stored at the headend on the EPG server are transmitted periodically in batch, or individually, and cached at the local EPG. The local EPG is thus able to identify whether a particular program is interactive compatible by quick reference to the locally cached EPG data structure.

46. FIG. 4 shows an interactive entertainment system 60 according to a second implementation which accommodates third party independent service providers. Interactive entertainment system 60 includes headend 22 which supplies programs and supplemental content to a viewer computing unit 62. In this implementation, the viewer computing unit 62 is implemented as a computer 64 with a monitor 66, a central processing unit 68, a keyboard 70, and a mouse 72 (although other input devices can be used in addition to, or instead of, the keyboard and mouse).

47. The headend 22 serves the programs over a first network 74, which may be implemented like the fiber optic distribution structure described above, or as a satellite system or other wireless broadcast system, or as a conventional data network. It is noted that other program providers may be used instead of a headend, such as a broadcast station or an online service provider.

48. The interactive entertainment system 60 also includes multiple independent service providers (ISPs), as represented by ISP 80, which distribute digital content to the viewer computing unit 62 over a second network 82. An example of the second network 82 is a public network, such as the Internet. The ISP 80 has a host 84 and a content database 86 to serve various multimedia content to the viewer's computer. The ISP host 84 stores one or more target resources that can be rendered by the viewer computing unit 62.

49. The supplemental content provided by the ISP 80 is correlated with the programs by data structure 48 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the data field 58 includes target specifications to supplemental content provided by servers other than the program provider which distributes the show. In the illustrated example, the programs Seinfeld and Star Trek have associated ISP-served content which are located by the hyperlink URLs in corresponding data field 58. It is further noted that a program might have more than one source of supplemental content. The program record for “Star Trek” has two associated target specifications, one that references a target resource at the host computer “www.fox.com” and one that references a target resource at the host computer “www.collections.com.”

50. According to this FIG. 4 arrangement, the viewer computing unit 62 receives a non-interactive, continuous video stream from the headend 22, and supplemental interactive content from either the headend 22 or from an independent service provider 80. The supplemental content might therefore be carried to the viewer's computer over the same channel as the program, over a separate channel, or over a separate connection unrelated to the program channels. The back channel for facilitating interactive control is provided through either network 72 or 82.

51. In another implementation, the interactive content can be supplied locally by a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM. Suppose, for example, a content developer creates an interactive CD-ROM that can be played along with a particular movie. The supplemental content is accessed via disk reads to the local storage drive, rather than using URLs to target resources over a network. The supplemental content is synchronized with the program using open loop control, such as a start time followed by measurable ticks or by frame count.

52. FIG. 5 shows a viewer computing unit, referenced generally as numeral 90, in more detail. The viewer computing unit 90 includes a processor 92, a volatile memory 94, and a program memory 96. The viewer computing unit 90 also has at least one receiver, and possibly two receivers, for receiving the video stream from the headend and the digital supplemental data from the headend or ISP. The first receiver is in the form of a tuner 98 which tunes to the channel or broadcast frequency to receive a video data stream from a program source, such as the headend, broadcaster, or other program provider. The second receiver, referenced generally as 100, can be implemented as a second tuner for receiving the content over a cable or wireless distribution network, or a modem for receiving the supplemental content over the Internet or other data network.

53. The viewer computer runs an operating system 101 which supports multiple applications. The operating system 101 is stored in memory and executes on the processor. The operating system is preferably a multitasking operating system which allows simultaneous execution of multiple applications. The operating system 101 employs a graphical user interface windowing environment which presents the applications or documents in specially delineated areas of the display screen called “windows.” One preferred operating system is a Windows® brand operating system sold by Microsoft Corporation, such as Windows® 95 or Windows® NT or other derivative versions of Windows®. However, other operating systems which provide windowing environments may be employed, such as the Macintosh operating system from Apple Corporation and the OS/2 operating system from IBM.

54. A channel navigator application 102 is stored in program memory 96 and executes on the processor 92 to control the tuners 98 and 100 to select a desired channel for receiving the video content programs. An EPG application 104 is stored in program memory 96 and executes on the processor 92 to organize programming information downloaded from the EPG server at the headend. The EPG 104 supports a displayable user interface (UI) which visually correlates programs titles to scheduled viewing times and tuning information, such as a channel, in a scrollable grid format. The viewer computing unit 90 also has an interactive support module in the form of browser 106 which is kept in memory 96. The browser 106 is dynamically loaded on processor 92 when needed to render content, such as a hypertext document, from an ISP or other content provider. The browser can be implemented as a hyperlink browser, or more particularly, as an Internet Web browser.

55. Although not shown, the viewer computer might also include on or more storage drives, such as a CD-ROM drive, to play interactive CD-ROMs in the event that supplemental data is supplied locally on disk.

56. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a method for operating an interactive entertainment system to enhance a conventional continuous video data stream, such as a television show, with interactive supplemental content. This method is described with additional reference to the screen displays shown in FIGS. 8a-8c.

57. The method begins when a viewer tunes to a particular channel (step 150 in FIG. 6). The channel navigator 102 controls the tuner 98 to tune to the channel. The viewer computing unit checks the appropriate channel and time slot of the EPG data structure 48 to determine if the program being carried on the selected channel at this time is interactive (step 152). As described above, the presence of a target specification in the EPG data field 58 in association with the program is in indication that the program is interactive compatible and that there is supplemental content for the program. If the data field is empty, indicating that no supplemental content exists (i.e., the “no” branch from step 154), the viewer computing unit simply displays the video data stream being received through the tuner 98 (step 156).

58. A run-time technique can alternatively be used for detecting whether a program is interactive compatible. Rather than checking the EPG data field, the viewer computing unit checks a dedicated channel for the existence of new supplemental content data. The dedicated channel is separate from the selected channel carrying the program so that the supplemental content is received by the viewer computing unit currently with the program video data. The existence of a supplemental content data stream over the dedicated channel indicates that the program being received on the selected channel is interactive compatible. This technique can be carried out without reference to the EPG listing.

59. If the program is interactive compatible (i.e., the “yes” branch from step 154), the viewer computing unit retrieves the target specification from the EPG data structure (step 158 in FIG. 6). The target specification might be a pointer to a memory location at the headend, or a pointer to a memory location on a locally running CD-ROM, or a hyperlink to a target resource located at an independent service provider. The hyperlink browser 106 is loaded onto the processor to render the target resource referenced by the target specification (step 160).

60. At this point, there are several ways to initiate viewing the supplemental content. One approach is to permit the viewer to selectively activate the interactive mode (i.e., the “viewer activate” branch from step 160). The viewer may know that the program is interactive compatible by checking a newspaper listing or other program guide. Another way is to have the viewer computing unit display an icon or other indicia on the screen to visually inform the viewer that the program is interactive compatible (step 162 in FIG. 6). The icon can be overlaid on the playing video program in an non-conspicuous manner, like the closed caption or stereo labels.

61. FIG. 8a shows an example screen 200 having a video program 202 playing at full-size on the screen. An icon 204 is displayed at the lower right corner of the screen to inform the viewer that the program 202 is interactive compatible. The icon 204 can be displayed throughout the program, or faded out after a set time period. This initial screen represents a first mode of interactivity, where the viewer is presented with the choice of interactive entertainment or non-interactive viewing of the program. As long as the viewer does not activate the icon 204, the viewer computing unit continues to receive the video content program over the selected channel and display that program alone, without any supplemental content (steps 166 and 168 in FIG. 6).

62. If the viewer decides to enter into an interactive mode, the viewer employs a remote control handset, mouse, keyboard, or other mechanism to actuate the icon 204. This causes the browser 106 to start the target resource located by the target specification listed in the EPG data structure (step 170 via the “yes” branch from step 164).

63. This leads to another approach to invoking the supplemental content. Rather than displaying an icon and waiting for input from the viewer, the viewer computing unit can automatically activate the target resource as soon as the browser is loaded on the processor (step 170 from the “automatic” branch from step 160).

64. The target resource contains digital data which supports interactive functionality in conjunction with the associated video content program. The digital data defines the supplemental content to enable viewer interactivity with the video content program. The digital data also defines a display layout prescribing how the supplemental content and the video program are to appear in relation to one another when displayed on the screen.

65. The digital data further defines timing information to synchronize presentation of the supplemental content with the video content program. This timing information can be implemented in many different ways. One approach is to coordinate the supplemental content to a particular program start time, and then carefully measure time from that start time to synchronize presentation of the supplemental content with the appropriate points in the program. Another approach is to characterize the program in terms of frames, and key the introduction of supplemental content to the frame numbers.

66. The video stream and supplemental content can be transmitted together, as a single signal, or separately. In the former implementation, the digital data is packaged with the video stream and transmitted as one signal from the headend. The viewer computing unit receives the single signal at tuner 98 and separates the digital data from the video signal (steps 172 and 174). In the latter implementation, the video data stream is received over the selected channel via tuner 98 from the program provider (step 172). The digital data is received from the target resource that is activated by the browser (step 174). This target resource might be located at the headend, in which case, the data is received over a separate channel using tuner 100; or the target resource might be served by an independent service provider, in which case, the data is received over a public network using the modem 100.

67. At the viewer computing unit, the digital data is deconstructed to extract the timing information and the display layout from the supplemental content (step 176 in FIG. 6 and step 178 in FIG. 7). The display layout defines a program boundary within which the program is displayed to the viewer. The program boundary is sized and shaped according to parameters prescribed in the display layout. As the size and shape changes, the processor scales the video data for display within the program boundary at that instance (step 180 in FIG. 7).

68. The display layout also defines how the supplemental content is illustrated along with the program. The display layout prescribes the size, style, location, and other parameters for presenting the supplemental content. For instance, the supplemental content might be at least partly overlaid on the video program, or provided as a wrapper around, or along side, the program. The supplemental content is displayed according to this display layout and synchronized to the program according to the timing information (step 182 in FIG. 7). As an example, the supplemental content might be a trivia game which quizzes the viewer as to possible outcomes of various scenes. The questions are displayed on the screen according to the display layout and are timed using the timing information to coincide with the part of the program to which the questions pertain.

69. FIG. 8b illustrates a screen 200 that is part of the interactive mode. Here, the video program is constrained within a program boundary 210 which is less than full-screen size. The program boundary 210 has been reduced in comparison to the full-size presentation of FIG. 8a to make room for the supplemental content. In this illustration, the supplemental content consists of a main menu having soft buttons 212-221, a highlighter or cursor icon 224, graphics bars 226, and a text block 228 to hold the program title. The soft buttons 212-221 present various control options to the viewer to invite interactive involvement with the program.

70. The illustrated screen is taken from an interactive program based on a Star Trek episode. To provide an example of the main menu, the soft buttons 212-216 represent actions for calling up related TV shows and movies. For instance, button 212 relates to the original Star Trek series; button 213 concerns The Next Generation series; button 214 represents the Deep Space Nine series; button 215 represents the Voyager series; and button 216 relates to the various motion pictures.

71. Soft button 217 is an access/classified toggle which allows selection of one of two levels of interactivity. “Access” serves as a default mode of interactivity which contains the main menu functionality. The screen of FIG. 8b is an example of the access mode of interactivity. A voice-over narrative announces the mode when selected by button 217. Once in the access mode, the broadcast video stream is shrunk to fit within the smaller program boundary 210 to accommodate the main menu graphics. The alternate mode of interactivity, or “classified” mode, contains time-linked contextual information to provide a second tier of information. FIG. 8c, shown below, is an example of the classified mode of interactivity.

72. Soft buttons 218-220 enable selection of different types of supplemental content. Button 218 relates to an encyclopedia containing numerous facts and information about the program. In the Star Trek program, for example, the encyclopedia might contain information on aliens, behind-the-scenes tidbits, cast and crew biographies, facts on other episodes, interviews with the actors/actresses, a technical manual explaining intricacies of starship operation and travel, and various timelines.

73. Button 219 is associated with a program guide, which provides a listing of current Star Trek shows for a two week period. The program guide also permits the user to change channels to another channel carrying a Star Trek show, if available.

74. Button 220 allows selection of entertainment content, which includes trivia games related to the program and a merchandise catalog. The trivia games segment allows viewers to compete against other regional competitors. The catalog lists available merchandise related to the program that can be purchased by the viewer.

75. The tenth button 221 is a quit button which allows the viewer to leave the interactive mode and return to a full-screen display, as shown in FIG. 8a.

76. The program and supplemental content are displayed as prescribed by the display layout. The digital data from the target resource, however, can dynamically change the display layout. When the display layout is changed (i.e., the “yes” branch from step 184), the viewer computing unit re-sizes and/or reshapes the program boundary 210 and location of the supplemental content to achieve the presentation envisioned by the content developer (step 186). The display layout can be changed for various reasons. The display layout might change in response to viewer selection of a soft button, as is the case causing the display layout change between FIGS. 8b and 8c. The display layout might also be altered automatically as part of the timing information. For instance, the digital data might invoke a graphic or text to pop up on the screen at a timely point in the program. Such real-time content includes, for example, trivia questions, interesting facts, graphical or sound effects, and so forth that relate to specific parts of the program.

77. FIG. 8c shows the screen 200 at another instance after the viewer has selected soft button 220 to enter into a classified mode of interactivity. The main menu is still present on the screen, but more contextual information is added in a graphical format to represent an extension of the selected soft button 220. The program boundary 210 is further reduced to accommodate the additional graphical and textual information.

78. In this illustration, the viewer has selected the entertainment button 220 to display the merchandise store. This layout places the video program box 210 in the lower right hand corner of the screen, and leaves the remaining area of the screen to be used for supplemental content. The supplemental content comprises a secondary menu having actuatable soft buttons 232-237. The cursor symbol 224 is movable among the various buttons and used to activate a selected button. The buttons correspond to various types of merchandise, such as clothes, posters, collectibles, memorabilia, and toys. There is also an order button 237 that permits the user to place an order for a particular product. A picture window 240 is arranged beside the secondary menu to show a picture of the merchandise associated with the category indicated by the cursor symbol 224. A merchandise description window 242 contains a brief description of the merchandise shown in the picture window 240.

79. The system and method for presenting interactive entertainment programs is advantageous as it returns the freedom of creativity to the content developer. By embedding the display layout instructions within the digital data provided by a target resource, the developer is empowered to create both the content and the presentation format of how the content and broadcast program are displayed to the viewer. The developer is free to control the location and shape of the broadcast program window, as well as the presentation format of the supplemental content relative to the program window. This facilitates a non-restrictive environment in which the developer can create screens with optimal appeal to the viewer. No longer is the developer simply developing content to be displayed within a fixed pane that cannot be dynamically altered relative to the program.

80. The creative power is thus placed in the hands of the target resource author. FIG. 9 shows a method for authoring an interactive entertainment program. The author begins by developing the supplemental content which is to accompany a particular television show or movie (step 250 in FIG. 9). The author designs the presentation format for each scene of the program (step 252), and the timing requirements for synchronizing the supplemental content with the broadcast video stream (step 254).

81. In the implementation described herein, the supplemental content is constructed as a hypertext document which can be rendered by a browser. To control how the content is to be rendered, the author encodes the presentation format and timing instructions as extension attributes to hyperlink codes. More specifically, hypermedia content utilized by the WWW is commonly written using what is referred to as a “markup language.” “SGML” (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is one such language, defined formally as “a language for document representation that formalizes markup and frees it of system and processing dependencies.” SGML is a language for describing the structure of documents and for describing a tagging scheme to delineate that structure within text. For creating hypermedia content, WWW documents utilize a subset of SGML called “HTML” (Hypertext Markup Language). An HTML textual document can be thought of as plain text that contains formatting instructions in the form of HTML markup codes or “tags.” Tags tell Web browsers how to render and print documents, and are also used to specify hyperlinks.

82. The following is a simple example of a start tag for an HTML hyperlink:

<A HREF=“http://www.microsoft.com/upgrades”>

83. The leading “A” in the start tag is the name of HTML element. The letter “A” indicates that the tag is an “anchor” tag-the type of tag that defines a hyperlink. The start tag contains an “attribute” indicating a target specification:

HREF=“http://www.microsoft.com/upgrades”.

84. The attribute name is “HREF” and the attribute value is “http://www.microsoft.com/upgrades.” HTML documents are organized according to various tags. Tags define the start and end of headings, paragraphs, lists, character highlighting and links, and so on.

85. The interactive entertainment system described herein supports conventional HTML documents as target resources. Accordingly, authors can use familiar HTML elements, such as Head, Body, and Character-Level elements, to construct a target resource. However, the inventors have also developed new types of tags, as well as extension attributes to existing HTML tags. The author of a target resource can use the new tags and extension attributes to formulate how and when the browser renders the supplemental content along with the continuous video stream. The new HTML extension attributes are given below in Table 1. 1

86. The new tags supported by the interactive entertainment system are provided in Table 2. 2

87. Using the supplemental content and HTML tags for timing and presentation format, the author constructs the target resource (step 256 in FIG. 9). The target resource is stored in a storage medium at a host computer and a target specification for referencing that location is defined (step 258). The author submits the target specification to the authority responsible for developing the programming information maintained in the EPG database. The target specification is stored in the appropriate data field of the EPG data structure which corresponds to the program to which it pertains (step 260).

88. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structure and method features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features described, since the means herein disclosed comprise exemplary forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents and other applicable judicial doctrines.