(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0042921 A1
`(43) Pub. Date: Apr. 11, 2002
`
`Ellis
`
`US 20020042921A1
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CACHING
`DATA IN MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEMS
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Michael D. Ellis, Boulder, CO (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FISH & NEAVE
`1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
`50TH FLOOR
`
`NEW YORK, NY 10020-1105 (US)
`
`application No.
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional
`60/239,377, filed on Oct. 11, 2000. Non-provisional
`of provisional application No. 60/270,351, filed on
`Feb. 21, 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................ G06F 3/00; H04N 5/445;
`G06F 13/00; H04N 7/173
`............................... 725/87; 725/39; 725/101
`
`(52) us. Cl.
`
`(73) Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(21) Appl. N0.:
`
`09/974,666
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 9, 2001
`
`Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-
`on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is
`
`provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data
`may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on
`the distribution network.
`
`NON-ON-
`
`DEMAND DATA
`
`SOURCE
`
`SOU RCE 110
`
`LOCAL INFORMATION
`SERVICE
`
`LOCAL DATA
`
`
`
`ON- DEMAND
`
`MEDIA DATA
`
`
`
`SOURCE
`
`
`
`
`INTERACTIVE
`APPLICATION
`
`
` 106
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`BBiTV EX2022
`
`Dish Network v. Broadband iTV
`
`IPR2020-01280
`
`BBiTV EX2022
`Dish Network v. Broadband iTV
`IPR2020-01280
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 1 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`M
`
`
`ON- DEMAND
`108
`MEDIA DATA
`K
`\b SOURCE
`
`
`
`
` 105 INTERACTIVE
`
`
`
`APPLICATION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`NON-ON-
`
`DEMAND DATA
`
`SOURCE
`
`SOURCE
`
`LOCAL INFORMATION
`SERVICE
`
`LOCAL DATA
`
`110
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 2 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`-—__.——--—————_-—_—__’—_______——
`
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION FACILITY
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`USER
`
`122
`
`
`
`TELEVISION
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 3 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION FACILITY
`
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`132
`
`SERVER
`
`
`
`USER TELEVISION
`
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 4 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`134
`
`
`INTERNET
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION FACILITY
`
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`SERVICE
`
`
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
` USER
`
`TELEVISION
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 5 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`EQUIPMENT
`
`132 INTERNET
`
`SERVICE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`
`
` USER
`TELEVISION
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 6 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`DISTRIBUTION
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`
`INTERNET
`
`SERVICE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`134
`
`
`
`
`
`USER
`TELEVISION
`
`
`EQUIPMENT
`
`
`FIG. 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 7 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`12
`
`VIDEO AND DATA IN
`
`SET-TOP BOX
`
`
`
`
`204
`
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`
`206
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`
`‘STORAGE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`DEVICE
`
`
`CONTROL
`
`DIGITAL
`
`REMOTE
`
`
`CONTROL
`
`
`
`SECONDARY STORAGE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`216
`
`212
`
`TELEVISION
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 8 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`12
`
`VIDEO AND DATA IN
`
`306
`
`AUDIO
`DEVICE
`
`300
`
`CONTROL CIRCUITRY
`302
`MEMORY
`
`308
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`DEVICE
`
`31o
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`
`20°
`
`DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE
`
`312
`
`304
`
`v USER INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`314
`
`SECONDARY STORAGE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 9 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`00
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE NON-ON-DEMAND
`402
`
`MEDIA DATA (E.G., TELEVISION
`
`
`PROGRAM GUIDE DATA) FROM
`
`
`A NON-ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`DATA SOURCE
`
`
`
`
`404
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY RETRIEVE
`ON-DEMAND MEDIA DATA (E.G.,
`
`VIDEO-ON-DEMAND) FROM ON-
`DEMAND MEDIA DATA SOURCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY CACHE THE
`ON-DEMAND MEDIA DATA
`
`406
`
`
`DISPLAY THE ON-DEMAND
`MEDIA DATA FROM- CACHE IN
`
`RESPONSE TO A USER
`
`INDICATION TO ACCESS AT
`
`LEAST THE ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`
`
`408
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY THE ON-DEMAND
`410
`
`MEDIA DATA IN RESPONSE TO
`
`A USER INDICATION To ACCESS
`
`
`AT LEAST THE NON-ON-
`
`
`DEMAND MEDIA
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 10 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`502
`
`DISPLAY TELEVISION PROGRAM
`
`
`
`
`VIEW MEDIA
`INFORMATION (E.G.,
`
`TV PROGRAM LISTINGS,
`VIDEO-ON-DEMAND
`LISTINGS, ETC.)?
`
`
`
`YES
`
`506
`
`MEDIA
`
`
`DATA IN
`
`CACHE?
`
`
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE ON-DEMAND MEDIA DATA
`INFORMATION FROM CACHE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE
`
`ADDITIONAL
`
`
`ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`
`DATA FROM A
`
`DATA SOURCE?
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH
`
`
`CONNECTION
`CONNECTION WITH
`
`WITH ON-DEMAND
`
`
`ON-DEMAND MEDIA
`DATA SOURCE
`
`
`DATA SOURCE
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 11 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`RETRIEVE MEDIA DATA FROM
`
`
`
`ON-DEMAND MEDIA DATA SOURCE
` DISPLAY MEDIA INFORMATION
`
`
`(E.G., TELEVISION PROGRAM LISTINGS,
`VIDEO-ON-DEMAND LISTINGS, ETC.)
`
`
`
`
`RETURN TO
`TELEVISION
`
`
`PROGRAM?
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`DISPLAY TELEVISION PROGRAM
`
`522
`
`FIG. 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 12 0f 19
`
`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
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`
`
`
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`SHOWCASE
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 13 0f 19
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 14 0f 19
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 15 0f 19
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`US 2002/0042921 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 16 0f 19
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 17 0f 19
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 18 0f 19
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2002 Sheet 19 0f 19
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`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CACHING DATA
`IN MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEMS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States
`Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/239,377 and 60/270,
`351, filed on Oct. 11, 2000 and Feb. 21, 2001, respectively.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to systems and meth-
`ods for interactive television applications. More particularly,
`the present invention relates to systems and methods for
`retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media
`data from separate data sources in an interactive television
`application system.
`
`[0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems
`provide users with a large number of television channels.
`Users have traditionally consulted printed television pro-
`gram schedules to determine the programs being broadcast
`at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic
`television program guides have been developed that allow
`television program information to be displayed on a user’s
`television.
`
`Interactive television program guides are typically
`[0004]
`implemented on television set-top boxes. Such program
`guides allow users to view television program listings in
`different display formats. For example, a user may instruct
`the program guide to display a grid of program listings
`organized in a channel-ordered and time-ordered array.
`Users may also search and sort program listings by theme
`(e.g., movies, sports, etc.) or by title (e.g., alphabetically). A
`user may obtain additional
`information for a particular
`program listing, and may purchase a program for viewing.
`
`[0005] Some interactive program guide systems may pro-
`vide listings for on-demand videos. In some systems, the
`on-demand video listings are provided from a data source
`that is separate from the source that provides listings and
`other information for non-on-demand media, such as tele-
`vision programs. A video-on-demand server may,
`for
`example, provide the listings for on-demand videos to the
`program guide in-band with or out-of-band from the pro-
`gram guide data or normal television programming. When
`video-on-demand listings are provided in band, the program
`guide must establish a connection with the video-on-demand
`server (if one is not established), and tune the user away
`from the television program the user is watching in order to
`retrieve listings. This causes the user to miss part of the
`programming that he or she is watching. When video-on-
`demand listings are provided out-of-band,
`the program
`guide must also establish a connection with the video-on-
`demand server (if one is not established), and retrieve the
`listings. In such approaches,
`low bandwidth connections
`may cause unacceptable delays in the display of the video-
`on-demand listings.
`In addition, some video-on-demand
`information, such as new release listings,
`is frequently
`accessed by many users throughout the network. Each user’s
`equipment must establish a session with the server every
`time information is needed. This may cause huge peak
`resource demands on the distribution network.
`
`[0006] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide sys-
`tems and methods for retrieving non-on-demand media data
`
`and on-demand media data from separate data sources in a
`way that reduces the undesirable consequences associated
`with current approaches such as, for example, the disruption
`of the user’s viewing experience or delays in displaying
`application screens.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0007] The present invention relates to systems and meth-
`ods for retrieving media data from separate non-on-demand
`and on-demand media data sources. Illustrative features of
`
`some embodiments of the present invention are described,
`for example,
`in: US. Provisional Patent Application No.
`60/239,377, filed Oct. 11, 2000; US. Provisional Patent
`Application No. 60/252,171, filed Nov. 20, 2000; and US.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/270,351, filed Feb.
`21, 2001 which are hereby incorporated by reference herein
`in their entirety.
`
`[0008] As used herein, non-on-demand media may be any
`suitable media that
`is provided to users without a user
`request. For example, non-on-demand media may be tele-
`vision programs, audio programs, or any other suitable
`programs. On-demand media may be any suitable media that
`is provided to users in response to user requests. For
`example, on-demand media may be on-demand videos or
`on-demand audio media, downloadable software, or any
`other media suitable for on-demand distribution.
`
`[0009] Data for on-demand and non-on-demand media
`may be any data which describes the media or is associated
`with the media. For example, non-on-demand media data
`may be television program titles, additional television pro-
`gram information, television programming advertisements,
`or pay-per-view ordering information. On-demand media
`data may be, for example,
`titles or descriptions of on-
`demand videos or downloadable software.
`
`[0010] Non-on-demand media data and on-demand media
`data are retrieved from separate data sources by,
`for
`example, an interactive television application such as an
`interactive television program guide, or other software run-
`ning on in-home equipment. The on-demand media data
`may be provided, for example, in-band or out-of-band from
`the non-on-demand media or non-on-demand media data. In
`
`the on-demand media data may be
`some embodiments,
`provided as a continuous or periodic data stream using, for
`example, a carousel-based approach. In other embodiments,
`the on-demand media data may be provided using a client-
`server based approach.
`
`automatically
`is
`[0011] The on-demand media data
`retrieved and cached to reduce, for example, system latency
`or the disruption of the user’s viewing experience. Caching
`the on-demand media data may be staggered in time among
`users to lessen the peak loads on the network which distrib-
`utes the on-demand media data. The on-demand media data
`
`may be cached, for example, periodically or when the user
`invokes a particular interface. In some approaches, caching
`may be predictive. For example, on-demand media data for
`features accessible to a user from a given display may be
`cached. In other approaches,
`the most popular media on
`demand data may be cached. In still other approaches, the
`data that is cached may be personalized. For example, user
`activity may be monitored and the on-demand media may be
`cached based on the user history. Any other suitable predic-
`tive caching may be used.
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`[0012] On-demand media data may be retrieved from
`cache for display. For example, the on-demand media data
`may be retrieved from cache and displayed in response to a
`user indicating a desire to access at least the non-on-demand
`data in, for example, a non-on-demand media listings dis-
`play.
`In some embodiments,
`the non-on-demand media
`listings may be displayed along with on-demand media
`listings, or other content such as panel or banner advertise-
`ments.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`its nature and
`[0013] Further features of the invention,
`various advantages will become more apparent from the
`following detailed description of the preferred embodi-
`ments, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in
`which like reference characters refer to like parts through-
`out, and in which:
`
`[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illus-
`trative interactive television system,
`in accordance with
`various embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0015] FIGS. 2-6 show illustrative arrangements for the
`interactive television application equipment of FIG. 1, in
`accordance with various embodiments of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0016] FIG. 7 is an illustrative schematic block diagram
`of the user television equipment of FIGS. 2-6, in accordance
`with various embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0017] FIG. 8 is a illustrative schematic block diagram of
`portions of the illustrative user television equipment of FIG.
`7, in accordance with various embodiments of the present
`invention;
`
`[0018] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrative of retrieving,
`caching, and displaying non-on-demand and on-demand
`data from different data sources in accordance with various
`
`embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0019] FIGS. 10-11 are more detailed flow diagrams of
`FIG. 9 illustrative of retrieving, caching, and displaying
`non-on-demand and on-demand data from different data
`sources in accordance with various embodiments of the
`
`present invention;
`
`[0020] FIG. 12 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application menu display in accordance with various
`embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0021] FIG. 13 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application video-on-demand display in accordance with
`various embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0022] FIG. 14 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application video-on-demand alphabetical movie listings
`display in accordance with various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`
`[0023] FIG. 15 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application video-on-demand individual movie information
`display in accordance with various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`
`[0024] FIG. 16 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application display with video-on-demand listings and tele-
`vision program listings organized by time in accordance
`with various embodiments of the present invention;
`
`[0025] FIG. 17 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application display with video-on-demand listings and tele-
`vision program listings organized by the sports genre in
`accordance with various embodiments of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0026] FIG. 18 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application display with video-on-demand listings and tele-
`vision program listings organized by the movie genre in
`accordance with various embodiments of the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0027] FIG. 19 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application display with video-on-demand listings and tele-
`vision program listings organized by the children’s genre in
`accordance with various embodiments of the present inven-
`tion; and
`
`[0028] FIG. 20 shows an illustrative interactive television
`application display promoting video-on-demand listings and
`television program listings organized by time in accordance
`with various embodiments of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0029] Systems and methods for caching for non-on-
`demand and on-demand media data from multiple sources
`for use in an interactive television application may be based
`on any suitable hardware platform or topology. Suitable
`hardware may include, for example, satellite receivers, per-
`sonal computer televisions (PC/TVS), personal computers
`(e.g., with television tuner cards), cable set-top boxes, or any
`other suitable hardware.
`
`In some embodiments, an interactive television
`[0030]
`application, such as an interactive television program guide,
`home shopping application or other suitable interactive
`television application, may run on such hardware. Illustra-
`tive interactive television program guide systems are
`described, for example, in Knee et al. US. Pat. No. 5,589,
`892 and Knudson et al. US. patent application Ser. No.
`09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which are hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference herein in their entireties. Client-server
`program guide systems are described, for example, in Ellis
`et al. US. patent application Ser. No. 09/374,043, filed Aug.
`13, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein
`in its entirety. On-line program guide systems are described,
`for example, in Boyer et al. US. patent application Ser. No.
`08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`[0031] An illustrative system 100 in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.
`Main facility 102 may provide non-on-demand media data
`from non-on-demand media data source 124 to interactive
`
`application equipment 106 via communications path 108.
`Non-on-demand data source 124 of main facility 102 may be
`any suitable computer or computer-based system for gener-
`ating, storing, or obtaining non-on-demand media data (e.g.,
`manually from an operator, electronically via a computer
`network or other connection, or via storage media) and
`putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main
`facility 102. In some embodiments, non-on-demand media
`data source 124 may provide application data in addition to
`the non-on-demand media data. In other embodiments, main
`facility 102 may have multiple data sources for providing
`on-demand media data, non-on-demand media data, and
`other application data.
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`In some embodiments, application data sources
`[0032]
`may be located at facilities separate from main facility 102,
`such as at local information service 110, and have their
`media data provided to main facility 102 via communica-
`tions path 114 for localization and distribution. Local infor-
`mation service 110 may contain local data source 112. Local
`data source 112 may be any suitable computer or computer-
`based system for generating, storing, or obtaining local
`information data (e. g., manually from an operator, electroni-
`cally via a computer network or other connection, or via
`storage media) and putting the data into electronic form for
`distribution by main facility 102.
`
`[0033] Local information service 110 may be any facility
`suitable for obtaining data particular to a localized region
`and providing the data to main facility 102 over communi-
`cations path 114. Local information data may include, for
`example,
`local advertisements,
`local sports information,
`local news information, or other suitable local information.
`Local information service 110 may be, for example, a local
`weather station that measures weather data, a local news-
`paper that distributes local news information, or any other
`suitable provider of information. Main facility 102 may
`aggregate the program guide data and local information data
`and distribute them to interactive television equipment 106.
`
`[0034] Communication paths 108 and 114 may be satellite
`communications paths, fiber-optic paths, wired communica-
`tions paths, coaxial cable paths,
`radio frequency paths,
`electromagnetic communications paths, microwave commu-
`nications paths, lightwave paths, Internet paths, a combina-
`tion of such paths, or any suitable communication paths.
`Video signals may also be transmitted over paths 108 and
`114 if desired.
`
`[0035] Main facility 102 may transmit non-on-demand
`media data and other application data to interactive appli-
`cation equipment 106 using any suitable approach. For
`example, main facility 102 may distribute non-on-demand
`media data periodically, continuously, or with any other
`suitable frequency. In some approaches, media data may be
`distributed as files, packets, or as a data stream. Systems in
`which data is transmitted from a main facility to television
`distribution facilities using such an approach are described,
`for example, in Gollahon et al. US. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incor-
`porated by reference herein in its entirety. There may be
`numerous pieces or installations of interactive application
`equipment 106, although only one is shown in FIG. 1 to
`avoid over-complicating the drawing.
`
`[0036] On-demand media data source 128 may provide
`on-demand media data, such as video-on-demand informa-
`tion (e.g., titles of on-demand videos, genre information fo
`on-demand videos, additional information for on-demand
`videos, and ordering information), audio-on-demand infor-
`mation (e.g., titles of on-demand audio media, additional
`information for on-demand audio media, and ordering infor-
`mation), interactive video game or other application infor-
`mation, stock market
`information, weather information,
`sports scores, sports statistics, or other suitable on-demand
`media information, to interactive application equipment 106
`over communications link 130. On-demand media data
`
`source 128 may be any suitable computer or computer-based
`system for generating, storing, or obtaining such on-demand
`media data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically
`
`via a computer network or other connection, or via storage
`media) and putting the data into electronic form for distri-
`bution. On-demand media data source may also provide
`on-demand media, such as on-demand videos, audio media,
`or application software.
`
`[0037] Communication path 130 may be a satellite com-
`munications path, fiber-optic path, wired communications
`path, coaxial cable path, radio frequency path, electromag-
`netic communications path, microwave communications
`path, lightwave path, Internet path, a combination of such
`paths, or any suitable communication path. On-demand
`media may be provided over path 130.
`
`In other embodiments, on-demand media data may
`[0038]
`be provided to main facility 102 for transmission to inter-
`active application equipment 106. For example, on-demand
`media data may be generated at an on-demand media data
`source (not shown), transmitted to main facility 102, and
`transmitted to distribution facility 116 (illustrated in FIGS.
`2-6) of interactive application equipment 106 via commu-
`nications path 108.
`
`[0039] An interactive television application may be imple-
`mented on interactive application equipment 106. Illustra-
`tive arrangements for interactive application equipment 106
`are shown in FIGS. 2-6.
`
`[0040] The interactive television application, such as an
`interactive television program guide, other guidance appli-
`cation, web browser, or other suitable interactive television
`application, may run on user television equipment 122 using
`the arrangements of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, or may run partially
`on user television equipment 122 and partially on other
`components of interactive application equipment 106 using
`a suitable client-server or distributed processing arrange-
`ment such as those shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5. Distribution
`
`facility 116, illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, may be any suitable
`distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a satellite
`distribution facility, a broadcast distribution facility, or any
`other suitable type of distribution facility), and may have
`distribution equipment 118. Typically, numerous distribu-
`tion facilities 116 may be included in FIGS. 2-6.
`
`[0041] Distribution equipment 118 of FIGS. 2-6 may be
`equipment suitable for providing media data (i.e., on-de-
`mand media data and non-on-demand media data) and other
`application data to user television equipment 122 over
`communications path 120. In FIG. 6, distribution equipment
`118 may provide media data, such as program guide data, to
`personal computer 140 via Internet service system 134 and
`suitable communications paths 136 and 138.
`
`[0042] Distribution equipment 118 of FIGS. 2-6 may
`include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for
`distributing media data and other application data on a
`television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval
`of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using
`an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data
`transmission technique. Analog or digital signals for non-
`on-demand media and on-demand media (e.g., television
`programs, on-demand movies, on-demand music, etc.) may
`also be distributed by distribution equipment 118 to user
`television equipment 122 over communication path 120 on
`multiple television channels.
`
`In some embodiments, media information may be
`[0043]
`provided as synchronous metadata. Synchronous metadata is
`
`

`

`US 2002/0042921 A1
`
`Apr. 11, 2002
`
`data that is distributed to user television equipment 122 in
`FIGS. 2-5 or personal computer 140 of FIG. 6 logically at
`the same time as the media with which it is associated. For
`
`example, the synchronous metadata may be supplied con-
`temporaneously with the non-on-demand or on-demand
`media, or prior to the media data but with information
`associating it with the data (e.g., identifiers, paths, or any
`other suitable information). The metadata may be provided
`in-band, out-of-band, using a carousel-based approach,
`using a client-server based approach, using localized cach-
`ing, using a combination of these approaches, or using any
`other suitable approach.
`
`[0044] The metadata may include other types of data. The
`metadata distributed to user television equipment 122 of
`FIGS. 2-5 or personal computer 140 of FIG. 6 may include,
`for example, commands that indicate to the user’s in-home
`equipment (or client applications running on the equipment)
`that a particular action is to be performed (e.g., overlaying
`a visual indicator onto the on-demand media). The metadata
`may include a directory that
`indicates segments of on-
`demand media data. In some approaches, the metadata may
`be used as markers within the non-on-demand or on-demand
`
`media data. For example, the data may include actor inter-
`views, trailers, selected scenes in a movie, music videos, or
`any other suitable media data segments. The data segments
`may be provided along with non-on-demand or on-demand
`data. Synchronous metadata that is distributed to interactive
`television applications is described, for example,
`in US.
`provisional patent application No. 60/239,521, filed Oct. 11,
`2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
`entirety.
`
`[0045] Communication path 120 of FIGS. 2-5 and com-
`munication paths 136 and 138 of FIG. 6 may have sufficient
`bandwidth to allow distribution facility 116 or another
`distribution facility to distribute television programming to
`user television equipment 122 of FIGS. 2-5 or personal
`computer 140 of FIG. 6. There are typically multiple pieces
`of user television equipment 122 associated with commu-
`nication paths 120 in FIGS. 2-5, although only one piece of
`user television equipment 118 and communication path 120
`are shown in FIGS. 2-5 to avoid over-complicating the
`drawings. Similarly, there may be multiple personal com-
`puters 140 and multiple associated communication paths
`(FIG. 6), although only one personal computer 140 and
`communication path 138 are shown in FIG. 6 to avoid
`over-complicating the drawings. If desired, non-on-demand
`media data and on-demand media data may be provided over
`separate communication paths.
`
`[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement for interactive
`application equipment 106 in a client-server based or dis-
`tributed interactive application system. The illustrated cli-
`ent-server based or distributed interactive application sys-
`tems of FIG. 3 may process non-on-demand media data,
`on-demand media, data, any suitable combination thereof, or
`any other suitable data. In some embodiments, non-on-
`demand media data source 124 (FIG. 1) may be a server that
`provides non-on-demand media data via communication
`paths 108 (FIG. 1) and 120 (FIG. 2) to an application client
`implemented on user television equipment 122 (FIG. 3-5).
`Distribution equipment 118, as shown in FIG. 3, may
`include server 132. Server 132 may use any suitable com-
`bination of hardware and software to provide a client-server
`based application. Server 132 may, for example, run a
`
`suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft)
`and provide non-on-demand data, on-demand data, or a
`combination thereof to an application client implemented on
`user television equipment 122. For example, server 132 may
`request or otherwise receive on-demand media data from
`on-demand media data source 128 (FIG. 1).
`In other
`approaches, user television equipment may request or oth-
`erwise receive on-demand media data from on-demand
`
`media data source 128 (FIG. 1). If desired, server 132 may
`be located at main facility 102, or other location, such as a
`cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a
`satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable
`type of television distribution facility.
`
`[0047] An application client may retrieve application data
`from server 132 using any suitable client-server based
`approach. The client may, for example, pass SQL (structured
`query language) requests as messages to server 132. In
`another suitable approach, the application client may invoke
`remote procedures that reside on server 132 using one or
`more remote procedure calls. Server 132 may execute SQL
`statements for such invoked remote procedures. In another
`suitable approach, client objects executed by the application
`may communicate with server objects executed by server
`132 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB).
`
`[0048] FIGS. 4-5 show illustrative Internet-based interac-
`tive television application systems. As shown in FIG. 4,
`distribution facility 116 may, for example, include Internet
`service system 134. Internet service system 134 may be any
`suitable combination of hardware and software capable of
`providing application data to the application using an Inter-
`net based approach (e.g., the HyperText Transfer Protocol
`(HTTP)). If desired, Internet service system 134 may be
`located at a facility that is separate from distribution facility
`116, as shown in FIG. 5.
`
`In embodiments where the interactive television
`[0049]
`application is implemented on user television equipment 122
`of interactive application equipment 106 as illustrated in
`FIG. 4,
`Internet service system 134 (or other suitable
`equipment at distribution facility 116 that is connected to
`Internet service system 134) may provide non-on-demand
`media data, on-demand media data and other application
`data to user television equipment 122 via the Internet, or via
`distribution equipment 118 using any suitable Internet-based
`approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol
`(HTTP) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Pro-
`tocol (TCP/IP) type path). In embodiments where the inter-
`active television application implemented on interactive
`application equipment 106 is a client-server based applica-
`tion as shown in FIG. 5, server 132 may obtain on-demand
`media data and other application data from Internet service
`