(12) Umted States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 8,434,118 132
`
`Gonder et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`USOO8434118B2
`
`(75)
`
`(54) PLAYLIST MENU NAVIGATION
`.
`~
`Inventors TI}?"1:51?' 1(3;Ogdelr’ Wesltgmullgter’CCC?
`(
`),
`0 n -
`“F “F“: 0“ er,
`(UShth&$flmm&Gd®mCO
`(US); Steven E. Riedl, Superior, CO
`(US) Vipul B. Patel Upper Holland pA
`(US)’
`’
`’
`_
`_
`.
`(73) ASSlgneei Tlme Warner Cable EnterPI‘lseS LLC,
`New York, NY (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjuSted under 35
`U'S'C‘ 15403) by 1566 days.
`
`.
`(21) Appl. No" 10/856383
`
`.................. 725/43
`
`7,124,424 B2 * 10/2006 Gordon et a1.
`2001/0014975 A1
`8/2001 Gordon et al.
`2002/0032882 A1
`3/2002 Mann et al.
`2002/0059394 A1
`5/2002 Sanders
`2003/0002862 A1*
`1/2003 Rodriguez et a1.
`mmmmmm.m 1mmm anan
`2004/0015986 A1
`1/2004 Carver et al.
`2004/0078822 A1*
`4/2004 Breen et a1.
`2005/0005308 A1*
`1/2005 Logan et a1.
`2005/0060745 A1
`3/2005 Riedl et al.
`2005/0166017 A1
`7/2005 Mann et al.
`,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 726/27
`zoos/0112434 A1 *
`5/2006 Banker et 31.
`2006/0259940 A1* 11/2006 Fries ............................. 725/131
`
`............ 386/125
`
`..................... 725/86
`.................. 725/135
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Concurrent Files Patent for Technology that Enables Broadband
`Operators to Improve VOD Marketing by Using Video to Sell More
`On-Demand Content,” Press Release, Apr. 30, 2004, Concurrent
`Computer Corporation, Duluth, USA.
`
`Flled:
`
`May 27, 2004
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Prlor Publlcatlon Data
`US 2005/0278761 A1
`Dec. 15, 2005
`
`(51)
`
`(2011.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 7/173
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`........................................ 725/87
`USPC ...........
`(58) Fleld of ClaSSIficatlon Search .................... 725/49,
`725/61, 91, 93, 95, 112, 134
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`................... 715/841
`
`4/1997 Rowe et a1.
`5,623,613 A *
`1/1999 Mann et a1.
`5,862,312 A
`11/1999 Mann et a1.
`5,996,089 A
`11/2001 Mann et a1.
`6,321,345 B1
`9/2002 Trasatti et a1.
`6,449,248 B1
`9/2002 Mann et a1.
`6,449,730 B2
`4/2003 Mann et a1.
`6,557,114 B2
`5/2003 Mann et a1.
`6,567,926 B2
`6/2003 Mann et a1.
`6,574,745 B2
`6,642,939 B1 * 11/2003 Vallone et a1.
`6,754,439 B1
`6/2004 Hensley et a1.
`
`................ 715/721
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Vivek Srivastava
`Assistant Examiner 7 Alfonso Castro
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 Otterstedt, Ellenbogen &
`Kammer, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In one embodiment, a method ofoperating a communications
`system is disclosed comprising receiving a request for estab-
`lishment of a session from a terminal, establishing the session
`with the terminal, and providing at least one navigation Video
`segment to the terminal, Via the session. The communications
`system may be a source of programming, such as a cable
`system, and the terminal may be a set-top terminal coupled to
`a display device. The navigation Video segment may be used
`by the terminal to create selection menus to be displayed for
`user navigation. The Video segments may be rich media Video
`segments. A playlist may be generated comprising an indexed
`listing of a plurality of available Video segments. The playlist
`may facilitate retrieval of Video segments requested by a
`terminal. Communications systems, terminals and methods
`of operating a terminal are disclosed, as well.
`
`40 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`PROVIDE NAVIGATION CATALOGS TO THE TERMINAL
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A SESSION
`WITH A TERMINAL AND ESTABLISH SESSION
`
`GENERATE PLAYLIST
`
`PROVIDE FIRST VIDEO SEGMENT
`ON PLAYLIST TO TERMINAL
`
`PROVIDE OESCRIFTORS TO THE TERMINAL
`RECEIVE NPT START AND END TIMES FOR A
`SUBSEOUENT VIDEO SEGMENT FROM THE TERMINAL
`IDENTIFY VIDEO SEGMENT ON PLAYUST
`BASED ON NFT START AND END TIMES
`
`LOCATE IDENTIFIED VIDEO SEGMENT
`AND PROVIDE TO THE TERMINAL
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST FOR A PROGRAM
`
`END SESSION
`
`
`
`/ SOD
`502
`
`304
`
`506
`
`308
`
`310
`
`312
`
`314
`
`316
`
`513
`
`320
`
`BBiTV EX2021
`
`Dish Network v. Broadband iTV
`
`IPR2020-01268
`
`BBiTV EX2021
`Dish Network v. Broadband iTV
`IPR2020-01268
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`85%
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FIG. 2
`
`HEADEND
`
`40
`
`44
`
`SERVER
`
`CATCHER
`
`V00
`SERVER
`
`SWITCH
`
`42
`
`46
`
`ON DEMAND
`
`SERVER
`
`FS
`
`FIG. 3
`
`60
`
`TERMINAL
`62
`
`55
`
`MPEG
`DECODER
`
`
`
`
` DISPLAY
`
`
`
`INTEREACE
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`DEVICE
`
`64
`
`66
`
`MEMORY
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FIG. 4
`
`100
`
`J
`
`
`1 14 Sex and the City
`.....3 MM“
`
`
`?:~:-:3:3:3§........1....-.23.3.?.3
`S
`rt
`Sopranos
`
`po 5
`The Wire
`
`
`114
`
`‘06
`1 08
`104 “0
`
`1 160
`
`FIG.
`
`50L
`
`116
`
`Extras
`
`Sex and the City
`Sopranos
`The Wire
`
`Movies
`Serles
`59"”
`
`1 16b
`
`FIG. 5b
`
`102
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`Sopranos
`The Wire
`
`Episode 2
`Episode 3
`
`114
`
`132
`
`134
`136
`
`FIG. 7
`
`152
`
`Episode 3
`
`Episode 2
`
`152
`
`156
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 5 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`[Catalog ID: 1] HBO
`[Catalog ID: 2] Movies
`Two Weeks Notice
`
`Terminator 3
`
`[Catalog ID: 9] Extras
`
`Harry Potter
`[Catalog ID: 4] Series
`[Catalog ID: 5] Sex and the City
`Episode 1
`Episode 2
`Episode 3
`[Catalog ID: 7] Sopranos
`
`[Catalog ID: 8] The Wire
`
`[Catalog ID: 6] Sports
`Event
`1
`
`Event 2
`
`Event 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 6 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FI G. 9
`
`200\
`
`HBO (DEFAULT)
`
`HBO SERIES
`
`NPT: 10000 (lOsec)
`
`Sex and the City
`
`NPT? 15000 (15866)
`
`202
`
`204
`
`206
`
`203
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NPT: 25000 (255ec)
`
`NPT: 45000 (455cc)
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 7 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`222
`
`224
`
`226
`
`228
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`230
`
`232
`
`234
`
`J 220
`
`FIG.
`
`11
`
`[300
`
`PROVIDE NAVIGATION CATALOGS TO THE TERMINAL
`
`302
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A SESSION
`WITH A TERMINAL AND ESTABLISH SESSION
`
`GENERATE PLAYLIST
`
`PROVIDE FIRST VIDEO SEGMENT
`ON PLAYLIST T0 TERMINAL
`
`PROVIDE DESCRIPTORS TO THE TERMINAL
`
`RECEIVE NPT START AND END TIMES FOR A
`SUBSEQUENT VIDEO SEGMENT FROM THE TERMINAL
`
`IDENTIFY VIDEO SEGMENT 0N PLAYLIST
`BASED ON NPT START AND END TIMES
`
`LOCATE IDENTIFIED VIDEO SEGMENT
`AND PROVIDE TO THE TERMINAL
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST FOR A PROGRAM
`
`END SESSION
`
`304
`
`306
`
`308
`
`310
`
`312
`
`314
`
`316
`
`318
`
`320
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 30, 2013
`
`Sheet 8 of8
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`FIG. 72a
`
`400\
`
`
`
`RECEIVE SELECTION OF ON DEMAND SERVICE
`
`ACQUIRE NAVIGATION CATALOGS
`
`
`REQUEST ESTABLISHMENT OF A SESSION
`
`
`
`404
`
`
`402
`
`406
`
`408
`
`410
`
`412
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE INITIAL VIDEO SEGMENT
`
`
`RETRIEVE INITIAL SELECTION LINKS FROM A
`
`CATALOG, SUPERIMPOSE OVER INITIAL VIDEO
`SEGMENT AND DISPLAY INITIAL SELECTION MENU
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE DESCRIPTORS
`
`
`
`T0 STEP 414, FIG. 12b
`
`FIC- 72b FROM STEP 412, FIG. 120
`
`IDENTIFY DESCRIPTOR
`RECEIVE A SELECTION,
`AND CHECK RECEIVED DESCRIPTORS
`
`4
`
`‘5
`
`IS
`DESCRIPTOR 0N DESCRIPTOR LIST
`?
`
`REQUEST VIDEO SEGMENT
`
`RECEIVE REQUESTED VIDEO SEGMENT
`
`
`RETRIEVE DEFAULT
`
`
`
`414
`
`
`
`
`VIDEO SEGMENT
`
`
`
`
`
` YES
`
`426
`
`RETRIEVE CORRESPONDING SELECTION
`
`LINKS, SUPERIMPOSE OVER VIDEO
`SEGMENT AND DISPLAY SELECTION MENU
`
`RECEIVE SELECTION
`
`IS
`SELECTION A PROGRAM SELECTION
`9
`
`
`REQUEST PROGRAM
`
`

`

`1
`PLAYLIST MENU NAVIGATION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`2
`
`The invention relates generally to a communications sys-
`tem and method and, more particularly,
`to a system and
`method for providing programming content on demand,
`through a communications network, such as a cable system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Broadcast of entertainment programming content, such as
`TV programs, over broadband communications networks,
`such as cable networks, is well known. As a matter of fact, the
`amount of programming content delivered over such net-
`works is ever increasing. At the same time, the number and
`types of cable services, such as Video On Demand (“VOD”),
`movie-On Demand (“MOD”), subscription VOD (“SVOD”),
`free on demand (“FOD”) and pay per view (“PPV”), etc.,
`introduced to enhance a user’s program enjoyment, are ever
`growing. The array of such features has become diverse in
`nature, and in some instances complex.
`User’s of on demand services typically navigate through a
`series of selection menus displayed on a television screen by
`a set-top terminal to locate and request a desired program.
`Each selection menu has different selection links. The selec-
`
`tion links may be provided to the set-top terminal by a cable
`system offering the on demand services, via a broadcast file
`system server carousel for example. The carousel may con-
`tinuously and serially provide files containing selection links
`for all the available services provided by the cable system.
`The set-top terminal may retrieve the appropriate files from
`the carousel after a service is selected by a user. Typically, the
`selection links are displayed on a blank or colored screen.
`There is limited, if any, graphics provided, since the carousel
`is generally too slow.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with embodiments of the invention, video
`segments, which may include media rich graphics, are pro-
`vided to a terminal coupled to a display device, such as a
`television, during a session between a communications sys-
`tem and the terminal. Selection links may be superimposed
`over the video segments to form selection menus for user
`navigation of a service, such as an on demand service. The
`terminal may be a set-top terminal, for example. The media
`rich video graphics may include video, music, audio
`voiceover, animated text, etc. Establishing a session to pro-
`vide the navigation video segments enables such media rich
`video segments to be readily conveyed to the terminal from
`the communications system. The communications system
`may be a cable system offering multiple on demand services
`for selection by a user, as well as conventional television
`programming services, for example. Each on demand or other
`such service may provide their own, unique video segments to
`the cable system, for conveyance to the terminal when a
`particular service is selected by a user. One or more selection
`menus of the same service may also have their own unique,
`video segment providing a unique background signature. For
`example, if the service offers episodes of different television
`series, the selection menu for each series may have a unique
`video segment displayed as part of the selection menu. The
`selection menus may also include descriptive information
`related to the particular selection options. For example, if the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`selection options relate to episodes of a program, the descrip-
`tive information may include a short description of each epi-
`sode.
`
`Selection links for the selection menus may be provided to
`the terminal via an out of band channel in files, referred to as
`navigation catalogs. The navigation catalogs are related to
`enable the terminal to retrieve the proper selection links for a
`selection screen as a user navigates through the available
`options to select a program. The selection links are superim-
`posed over the applicable video segment to form the selection
`screen. The video segments available for a particular on
`demand service may be indexed in a playlist in the cable
`system. Descriptors correlating navigation catalogs with the
`indexed video segments are provided to the terminal,
`enabling the terminal to request a particular video segment,
`based on selections of the user.
`
`As used herein, the term “terminal” encompasses hardware
`or software that acts as an interface between a display device,
`such as a TV, and cable system or other such communications
`system, and controls operation of the display device. The
`terminal may be separate from and coupled to the display
`device, or may be part of or include the display device. The
`use of the terms “terminal” and “set-top terminal” encom-
`passes devices also referred to as set-top boxes and clients.
`In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a
`method of operating a communications system to provide
`navigation video segments to a terminal for display as part of
`a selection menu is disclosed. The method comprises receiv-
`ing a request for establishment of a session from a terminal,
`establishing a session with the terminal, and providing at least
`one navigation video segment to the terminal via the session,
`for display with at least one selection menu. Establishment of
`a session may comprise allocating bandwidth for communi-
`cation with the terminal. The method may further comprise
`generating a playlist comprising an indexed listing of the
`plurality of available navigation video segments. The playlist
`may comprise pointers to storage locations of the video seg-
`ments. The playlist may be indexed by normal play time
`(NPT), for example. A descriptor may be provided for each
`available navigation video segment to the terminal, wherein
`each descriptor comprises an identification of an index value
`of a respective navigation video segment. At least one navi-
`gation catalog comprising at least one selection link for at
`least one respective selection menu, may be provided to the
`terminal. Descriptive information related to a selection link
`may be included in the navigation catalog. The descriptor for
`each available video segment may further comprise an iden-
`tification of a navigation catalog containing selection links to
`be used with a respective navigation video segment. The
`navigation catalogs may be provided to the terminal via a
`carousel, for example. A request may be received for a navi-
`gation video segment from the terminal, comprising the
`indexed value. The communications system may provide at
`least one on demand service to the terminal.
`In accordance with a related embodiment, a communica-
`tions system is disclosed comprising a processor and memory
`coupled to the processor. The memory stores at least one
`navigation video segment for display with a selection menu.
`The processor is programmed to establish a session with a
`terminal upon request by the terminal and to provide at least
`one navigation video segment to the terminal via the session.
`The processor may be programmed to establish the session
`by, at least in part, allocating bandwidth for communication
`with the terminal. The processor may be further programmed
`to generate a playlist comprising an indexed listing of the
`plurality of navigation video segments. The system may fur-
`ther comprise a first server and a second server in communi-
`
`

`

`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`3
`cation with the first server. The navigation Video segments are
`stored by the second server and the first server may be pro-
`grammed to generate the playlist and provide the playlist to
`the second server. The second server may be programmed to
`identify a requested navigation video segment from the play-
`list, retrieve the requested navigation video segment, and
`provide the requested navigation video segment to the termi-
`nal via the session. The system may further comprise a third
`server programmed to provide navigation catalogs to the ter-
`minal via a carousel. The processor may be further pro-
`grammed to provide a descriptor for each available navigation
`video segment to the terminal. The processor may also be
`programmed to provide navigation catalogs comprising
`selection links for respective selection menus, to the terminal.
`In accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention, a
`terminal to receive programming from a source and to display
`the programming on a display is disclosed comprising a pro-
`cessor and memory coupled to the processor. The processor is
`programmed to request establishment of a session between a
`program source and the terminal and store in memory at least
`one navigation video segment received via the session for use
`with at least one selection menu to be displayed on the display
`device. The processor may be further programmed to tune to
`a bandwidth allocated during establishment of the session, to
`receive the at least one navigation video segment. The pro-
`cessor may be further programmed to generate a selection
`menu comprising the navigation video segment. The selec-
`tion menu may be generated by superimposing at least one
`selection link over the navigation video segment during gen-
`eration ofthe selection menu. At least one navigation catalog,
`comprising at least one selection link for the respective selec-
`tion menu, may be received.
`At least one descriptor may be received by the terminal,
`from the program source, for example, to identify at least one
`respective navigation video segment. The processor may be
`programmed to request at least one respective navigation
`video segment from the program source based on the descrip-
`tor. The program source may be a cable system, for example.
`The terminal may receive a plurality of descriptors from the
`source for a respective plurality of navigation video seg-
`ments. The processor may be further programmed to identify
`one of the plurality of descriptors, request a navigation video
`segment identified by the one of the plurality of descriptors,
`retrieve at least one selection link to be superimposed over the
`navigation video segment, superimpose the selection link
`over the received navigation video segment to generate a
`selection menu, and display the generated selection menu.
`The processor may be programmed to identify the descriptor
`based on a user’s selection of a selection link on a displayed
`selection menu. The selection link may be retrieved from one
`ofa plurality ofnavigation catalogs stored by the terminal and
`each of the plurality of navigation catalogs may be associated
`with a respective descriptor.
`In a related embodiment, a method of operating a terminal
`coupled to a communications system and a display device is
`disclosed comprising requesting establishment of a session
`with the communications system, receiving at least one navi-
`gation video segment via the session, and causing display of
`the at least one navigation video segment with at least one
`selection menu on the display device. The method may fur-
`ther comprise generating the at least one selection menu by
`superimposing at least one selection link over a respective
`navigation video segment and displaying the selection menu.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of certain components of a
`broadband communications system including a cable system,
`embodying principles of an embodiment of the invention;
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of certain of the components of
`the headend of the cable system of FIG. 1, which are relevant
`to embodiments of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is an example of a terminal, which is representative
`of one of the set-top terminals of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is an example of a selection menu that may be
`provided in a user interface on a user’s display device, such as
`a TV, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
`FIGS. 5a and 5b are selection links and a video segment,
`respectively, which are superimposed to form the selection
`menu of FIG. 4;
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are additional examples of selection menus;
`FIG. 8 is an example ofa group navigation catalog for HBO
`On Demand service, which contains the navigation catalogs
`containing the selection options and descriptive material for
`HBO On Demand selection menus, such as the selection
`menus of FIGS. 4, 6 and 7;
`FIG. 9 is an example of a navigation playlist of navigation
`video segments for use in embodiments of the present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 10 is an example of a table of descriptors of available
`navigation video segments;
`FIG. 11 is an example of a method enabling menu naviga-
`tion of an on demand service provided by a communications
`system, such as cable system of FIG. 1, in accordance with an
`embodiment of the invention; and
`FIGS. 12a and 12b is an example of a method of operating
`a terminal coupled to a display device, such as a set-up ter-
`minal coupled to a TV, in accordance with an embodiment of
`the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`In accordance with embodiments of the present invention,
`navigation graphics, such as media rich graphics, to be dis-
`played in association with navigation selection menus, are
`provided by a communications system to a terminal during a
`session between the terminal and the communications sys-
`tem. The terminal may be a set-top terminal coupled to a
`display device, such as a television (“TV”), for example. The
`communications system may be a cable system providing one
`or more on demand services and other services that may
`present selection options via selection menus. The cable sys-
`tem may offer conventional television and cable services as
`well. The media rich graphics may include video, music,
`audio voiceover, animated text, etc. Selection links of selec-
`tion menus may be provided to the terminal in an out of band
`channel in files, referred to as navigation catalogs. The navi-
`gation catalogs may be related so that the terminal may create
`appropriate selection menus as a user navigates through the
`selection links to select a program. The selection links may be
`superimposed over the video segments to form the selection
`menus. The video segments available for a particular on
`demand service may be indexed in a playlist in the cable
`system. Descriptors correlating navigation catalogs with the
`indexed video segments are provided to the terminal,
`enabling the terminal to request a particular video segment,
`based on selections of the user.
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of certain components of a
`broadband communications system 10 embodying principles
`of an embodiment of the invention. The system includes one
`or more program sources 12-1 through 12-L, where L is a
`number, a cable system 14 and a plurality of service area
`nodes 16-1 through 16-m in a neighborhood. Service area
`nodes 16-1 through 16-m, where m is a number, are coupled
`to set-top terminals that are coupled to users’ televisions
`
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`US 8,434,118 B2
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`5
`(“TV’s”). Service area node 16-1, for example, is coupled to
`set-top terminals 18-1 through 18-11, where n is a number.
`Cable system 14 delivers information and entertainment ser-
`vices to users’ televisions (TV’s), for example, Via the set-top
`terminals 18-1 through 18-11. Service area nodes 16-1 through
`16-m and/or set-top terminals 18-1 through 18-11 may or may
`not be part of the cable system 14. The broadband communi-
`cations system 10 may be configured to operate in accordance
`with the Interactive Service Architecture (“ISA”) developed
`by Time Warner Cable, Inc., New York, N.Y., for example.
`The ISA is described at www.is a.tv.
`
`Sources 12-1 through 12-L create programming in man-
`ners known in the art, store the programming in a content
`storage 20 and broadcast or “pitch” the programming to cable
`system 14 through a pitcher 21, for example. A pitcher is a
`transmitter in an Asset Distribution Interface (“ADI”) distri-
`bution path in the ISA, as described in VOD MD-SP-VOD-
`Content Specification 101-020327, Mar. 27, 2003 and VOD
`Content Specification MD-SP-ADI 1-1-102-030415,Apr. 15,
`2003, for example, which are incorporated by reference
`herein. The programming provided to an on demand system
`may include movies and previously broadcast television
`shows, for example. In this example, the sources 12-1 through
`12-L format the programming inADI format for transmission
`by the pitcher 21.
`The sources 12-1 through 12-L include analog and digital
`satellite sources, such as HBO, Turner Broadcasting System
`and MTV, for example, which typically provide the tradi-
`tional forms of television broadcast programs and informa-
`tion services. The sources 12-1 through 12-L may also
`include satellite on demand sources, such as HBO On
`Demand. The sources 12-1 through 12-L also include terres-
`trial broadcasters, such as broadcast networks, such as CBS,
`NBC, ABC, etc., for example. Although specific examples of
`programs and services that may be provided by the aforemen-
`tioned sources are given herein, other programs and services
`may also be provided by these or other sources without
`departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`In addition to providing program content, any or all of the
`sources 12-1 through 12-L may provide navigation video
`segments comprising media rich graphics such as video,
`music, audio voiceover, animated text, etc. to the cable sys-
`tem 14 via the pitcher 21. The navigation video segments are
`provided to set-top terminals, such as set-top terminal 18-1, to
`be associated with selection links also provided to the set-top
`terminal 18-1, to form selection menus in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention, as discussed further below.
`The cable system 14 comprises a headend 22, a hub 24 and
`a hybrid fiber coaxial (“HFC”) cable network 28. Assets
`pitched by the sources 12-1 through 12-L are processed in a
`conventional manner by the headend 22 and stored. FIG. 2 is
`a block diagram of certain of the components of the headend
`22 that are relevant to the embodiments of the invention. The
`
`headend 22 includes, in part, a catcher 40, which is a receiver
`in the ADI distribution path, an On Demand Server 42, a
`Video On Demand (“VOD”) Server 44 and a File System
`(“FS”) Server 46. The catcher 40 receives the on demand
`program content, including on demand navigation video seg-
`ments and metadata providing information about the content,
`“pitched” by the pitcher 21 of the sources 12-1 through 12-[.
`The catcher 40 then notifies the On Demand Server 42 of the
`
`identity ofthe received content, based on metadata associated
`with the content. The content may be processed by the head-
`end 22 into assets for storage by the VOD Server 44. An
`“asset” is an aggregation of video and audio. Metadata
`describing the content of one or more assets is combined with
`one or more assets into “packages.” Assets may contain the
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`content or references to the content, which may be stored as
`another asset. The VOD Server 44 may comprise one or more
`types of data stores known in the art, such as a relational
`database, an object oriented database, a hybrid object-rela-
`tional database, or simply as files in a video optimized or
`typical file system known in the art.
`The On Demand Server 42 prepares files based on the
`metadata associated with the received assets, referred to as
`catalogs, which are stored on the FS Server 46, as discussed
`further below. The catalogs contain information for use by the
`set-top terminals 18-1 through 18-11, such as electronic pro-
`gram guide information, formatting information selection
`links for user navigation and/or descriptive material related to
`the selection links, for example. The F8 Server 46 allows
`set-top terminals 18-1 through 18-11 to read/acquire the files
`or catalogs from a broadcast stream as if they were local
`catalogs. In general, the FS Server 46 is used to “trickle,” or
`disseminate piecemeal, catalogs to the set-top terminals 18-1
`through 18-11. To that end, the FS Server 46 applies a well
`known “data carousel” mechanism to periodically provide
`navigation catalogs onto the broadcast stream to the set-top
`terminals 18-1 through 18-11. The set-top terminals 18-1
`through 18-11 retrieve the navigation catalogs associated with
`a selected on demand service from the carousel, as is
`described further below. The F8 Server 46 may operate in
`accordance with a Broadcast File System (BFS) or an Open
`Cable Applications Platform (OCAP) Protocol, which are
`well known in the art. Catalogs may also be provided via an
`internet protocol (IP) request/response gateway (not shown).
`A program available on demand and requested by a user is
`transmitted as a data stream through a transmission channel
`having a specified frequency band. It should be noted that the
`term “transmission channel” should not be confused with a
`
`“program channel.” A “transmission channel” signifies a des-
`ignated frequency band through which a data stream is trans-
`mitted. On the other hand, a “program channel” signifies the
`source of the program material selected by a user to view. For
`example, a user may select program channel 2 to view pro-
`gram material provided by CBS, program channel 14 to view
`program material provided by ESPN, program channel 55 to
`view program material provided by HBO On Demand, etc. In
`this illustrative embodiment, the transmission channels may
`be 6 MHZ bands populating a forwardpassband, e.g., 350-750
`MHZ band, of a coaxial cable, which is allocated for down-
`stream communication from headend 22 to a set-top terminal
`18-1 through 18-11.
`Returning to FIG. 1, the FS carousel and program signal
`data streams of the requested programs are typically trans-
`mitted from the headend 22 to the hub 24 via Internet Protocol
`
`fiber. The program signal
`transport over optical
`(“IP”)
`streams may also be transmitted as intermediate frequency
`signals that have been amplitude modulated (“AM”) or as a
`digital video broadcast (DVB) asynchronous serial interface
`(ASI) that has also been AM modulated. The hub 24 includes
`a modulator bank 26 and a quaternary phase shift keying
`(“QPSK”) modem pool 27, among other components. The
`modulator bank 26 includes multiple modulators, each of
`which is used to modulate data streams comprising the car-
`ousel and program assets onto different carriers. By using a
`256-quadrature-amplitude-modulation (256-QAM)
`tech-
`nique and 6 MHZ transmission channel, each modulator in the
`modulator bank 26 in this instance may modulate up to 9 data
`streams, multiplexed in a transport stream, onto the corre-
`sponding carrier. The resulting modulated carrier is transmit-
`ted through the transmission channel associated with the car-
`rier. The On Demand Server 42 causes switching unit 48 to
`switch the data stream containing a requested program to
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`US 8,434,118 B2
`
`7
`appropriate modulators in the modulation bank 26. The
`modulated carrier traverses the transmission channel associ-
`ated therewith in HFC cable network 28.
`
`The QPSK modem pool 27 modulates data streams onto
`out of band channels. Communications from the set-top ter-
`minals 18-1 through 18-n to the headend 22 may be conveyed
`Via a reverse passband of 5-40 MHZ band of a coaxial cable,
`for example. The reverse passband comprises reverse data
`channels (“RDCs”) having a 1 MHZ bandwidth, for example,
`through which QPSK signals containing the data are trans-
`mitted.
`
`Certain communications from the headend 22 to the set-top
`terminals 18-1 through 18-L may also be conveyed via out of
`band, forward data channels (“FDCs”), through the QPSK
`modem pool 27. FDCs may occupy the 70-130 MHZ band of
`a coaxial cable, for example. QPSK signals containing sys-
`tem messages to a set-top terminal 18-1 through 18-L may be
`transmitted through an FDC having a 1 MHZ bandwidth, for
`example.
`Available programs are stored as assets in the headend 22,
`such as in the VOD Server 44, so that the users at the set-top
`terminals 18-1 through 18-n may request programming on
`demand and manipulate (e.g., pause, fast-forward or rewind)
`the programming content in the recorded streams. Program
`manipulation is described in co-pending, commonly assigned
`application Ser. No. 10/263,015 (“the ’015 application”),
`filed Oct. 2, 2002, for example, which is incorporated by
`reference herein.
`
`FIG. 3 is an example of a terminal 60, which is represen-
`tative of one of the set-top terminals 18-1 through 18-n of
`FIG. 1. The terminal 60 is typically coupled to a display
`device 61, such as a television, at a user location. The terminal
`60 comprises, in part, an interface 62, a processor 64, an
`MPEG decoder 65 and memory 66. A program signal stream
`broadcast by the headend 22 is received by the interface,
`decoded by the MPEG decoder 65 and provided to the display
`device 61. The memory may be hard drive ofthe terminal, for
`example. The terminal is hardware or software that acts as an
`interface between a display device, such as a TV, and cable
`system 14 or other such communications system, and controls
`operation of the display device 61. The terminal may be
`separate from and coupled to the display device 61, or may be
`part of or include the display device. The use of the terms
`“terminal” and “set-top terminal” encompasses devices also
`referred to as set-top boxes and clients.
`During operation, a user operating a terminal, such as the
`set-top terminal 18-1 coupled to the display device 61, such as
`a TV (not shown), selects an on demand service, such as HBO
`On Demand, by selecting an appropriate channel on the ter-
`minal. The selection is typically made via a hand operated
`interface device, such as a remote control (not shown). The
`terminal requests that a session be established with the hea-
`dend 22, based on the service s