EP1676436A2

EP1676436A2 - Advanced personal video recorder programming

Info

Publication number: EP1676436A2
Application number: EP04817349A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel S. Simpkins; Charles W. K. Gritton; Negar Moshiri
Original assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Inc
Priority date: 2003-10-23
Filing date: 2004-10-25
Publication date: 2006-07-05
Also published as: WO2005040987A2; EP1676436A4; WO2005040987A3

Abstract

Methods and systems in which Personal Video Recorders, Video On-Demand systems, Internet media visual data providers are employed to deliver visual content to gain specialized programming slots are described. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide ways to use these visual content suppliers (100) to produce screen space (111) that can be used for advertisement, still pictures, interactive games, slide shows, telephony functions or other images (115) while the Personal Video Recorder (or like device) is in a state other than 'play.' The present invention may be used in conjunction with, for example, televisions, computers, cellular phones and other visual media systems.

Description

ADVANCED PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER PROGRAMMING

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to the field of media management and visual content suppliers. More specifically, this invention concentrates on the challenge of incorporating marketing and media techniques into visual content suppliers such as Personal Video Recorders by creating specialized programming slots. [0002] Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) and other visual content suppliers have revolutionized the media industry in the past few years. These devices brought together the functionality of the VCR, the extensive memory of a hard disc and the simplicity of a television display to change the way that people watch television. The PVR allows time- shift broadcast programming by enabling users to program their televisions to record multiple shows of their choice and then archives those shows within a hard disc. The user can then access those shows and watch them at convenient times and with the added luxury of "trick functions," such as fast forward, rewind, pause, freeze and instant-replay. Video On-Demand services work on the same principle as PVRs, but the metadata is provided by the cable companies. With internet video suppliers the metadata is stored online, but the same functions are applicable in these systems as in the PVRs. It is likely that in the present years visual content suppliers will begin to apply PVR functionality to additional video media outlets beyond the televisions, such as personal computers, palm pilots and cellular phones. The present invention is designed to be compatible with video content of all types and can be used in any of the above circumstances. 0320-006 2 In 2003 police departments began using PVRs in patrol cars to record the behavior of both officers and suspects. Today, PVRs are becoming increasingly popular because, compared to analog video systems (VCRs) PVRs are more reliable, have a higher video quality and are more cost effective.

[0003] While PVRs can make watching television a more satisfactory experience for the user, they also present a plethora of problems to advertising and broadcasting companies. The popular "trick functions" that PVRs and other visual content suppliers employ, allow users to fast forward or skip advertisements. As PVRs rise in popularity, advertisements become more obsolete and unwatched. The elimination of advertisement is problematic not only for the advertising corporations, but for the broadcasters and programmers who are funded by the advertising capital.

[0004] Currently there is no way to satisfy both the convenience and control of the visual content suppliers and the needs of the advertisers and broadcasting companies.

SUMMARY [0005] Methods and systems in which Personal Video Recorders, Video On-

Demand systems, Internet media visual data providers are employed to deliver visual content to gain specialized programming slots are described. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide ways to use these visual content suppliers to produce screen space that can be used for advertisement, still pictures, interactive games, slide shows, telephony functions or other images while the Personal Video Recorder (or like device) is in a state other than "play." The present invention may be used in conjunction with, for example, televisions, computers, cellular phones and other visual media systems. 0320-006 3 [0006] According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a personal video recorder includes: a plurality of control features, including a play feature which commands the personal video recorder to output a primary media program to a display, and a plurality of other control features in addition to the play feature; and a switching function for switching from the primary media program to an alternate media program when one of the other control features is actuated by the user, whereupon a secondary media program is output to the display; wherein the switching function reverts back to the primary media program when the play feature is actuated by the user. [0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for outputting media content in a media system includes the steps of outputting a first media stream to a media output device, receiving a control command to perform one of pause, rewind, fast forward or rewind the first media stream, switching, in response to the control command, to a second media stream, wherein the second media stream includes advertising material, outputting the second media stream to the media output device, receiving a control command to perform a play operation, switching, in response to the play control command, to the first media stream and outputting the first media stream to the media output device.

0320-006

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein: [0009] FIG. 1 depicts a personal video recorder system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2 depicts a personal video recorder system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein a user has issued a pause command; [0011] FIG. 3 depicts a personal video recorder system according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG.2 when the user generated a play command.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. [0013] The present invention includes several different enhancements to the standard control features of a PVR and other visual content suppliers that enable additional programming or advertising opportunities. In a standard PVR or other visual content supplier, control features such as pause or rewind merely change the speed at which the current program is displayed. A "stop" or "pause" command results in a freeze-frame image on the screen. A "fast forward" command speeds the video while 0320-006 5 "rewind" reverses it, both generally at speeds between two and eight times faster than real-time. The present invention is a method to substitute alternative programming, either as a full or a partial screen, in place of the original display while the PVR is not set to "play" the video.

[0014] For example, if a user is watching a pre-recorded program, and implements the "pause" command, instead of seeing only a freeze-frame television image, he or she will see a sequence of visual-only advertisements or other graphical elements. Each on-screen graphic would show for a pre-specified maximum period of time (for example, graphics could be set to display for ten seconds each). These graphics could be displayed in a looped sequence or at random.

[0015] Another implementation of this invention could be the display of conventional advertisements or other programming in place of, or in addition to, the original image. For example, if a user is watching a pre-recorded program and implements the "pause" command, instead of seeing only a freeze-frame television image, he or she will see an advertisement, previously requested programming (such as an update on a the score of a soccer game) or some other video display. With this invention it is also possible to suit the advertisements to the content of the show that the user is watching. For example, if a user is watching a fashion show and presses the pause key, the present invention can insert an advertisement relating to clothing, shoes or accessories rather than to chain saws. To further customize the advertising, our invention can also directly advertise products seen within the show the user is viewing. For example, if a user is viewing a golf tournament, this invention may show an 0320-006 6 advertisement for the specific type of golf club the champion of the tournament used for his winning hole.

[0016] Other usages for the gained screen time include: interactive games, news, slide shows, personal photos, telephony functions, weather displays, screen saver images, home security camera views, lists of other recorded media, personal calendars, personal to-do lists, baby monitors, telephone answering machine options, access to other home medias (CD players, computers, cellular phones) and many more. For example, the secondary media program can provide an update screen on the display, such as a messaging system screen, where status of items like voicemail and email can be seen. [0017] The present invention recognizes when a control feature such as pause, stop, rewind or fast- forward is selected and selects an alternate media program for full or partial screen display during the time that a control feature (other than play) is active. The invention then recognizes that "play" has been activated and reverts to the original programming.

[0018] The present invention makes this programming space available during stop, rewind, fast-forward, pause and all other screen controls. The result of this invention is that the PVR and other visual content suppliers produce an additional programming spot that is captured and available and can be sold for other purposes, including advertising. Video content suppliers thus expand from being mere time-shifters and recording devices into tools for program generation.

[0019] More detailed exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as Figures 1-3. Therein, with respect to Figure 1, a video source 99 (e.g., a cable feed) supplies, e.g., MPEG video over connection 100 to a media switch 106. The 0320-006 7 media switch receives commands from the CPU 107 over connection 104 regarding how to handle data from input source 100 and also how to access the stream exiting the media switch 107 onto connection 101. In addition, the CPU 107 can also command certain locations within a program to begin playing content and also command the speed of playback. For example, a TV program "Friends" could be coming in live on connection

100 and stored on disk 109 for later viewing while a different TV program "Fear Factor" could be played out to the TV 111.

[0020] The video stream going to the second media switch 113 over connection

101 is then automatically routed to the TV display 111 unless the CPU 107 commands otherwise over connection 105. In one example, the original program playing out of the first media switch 106 is paused by the user, e.g., using a remote control 114 and depressing a "pause" key which transmits a pause command to the CPU 107 via connection 103. The CPU 107 would then have relayed that command to the first media switch 106 over connection 104. As mentioned above, the present invention considers the actuation of a non-play function key, e.g., pause, rewind, fast forward, stop, etc. as providing an opportunity to insert another programming slot into the video stream being forwarded to the display 111. For example, for the first X seconds after the pause command is received by CPU 107, the TV 111 can simply display the freeze frame image. However, after that X seconds has expired and the original program is still paused, the CPU 107 can send a command to the second media switch 113 over connection 105 to play a particular ad sequence to the TV instead of the freeze frame image. This ad sequence could be a set of still images with or without an audio underlay or a video sequence or other multimedia segment. Also the trigger could be other things 0320-006 8 besides a timer off a pause command. In any event, the original image, e.g., the freeze frame image in the case of the pause command, can be substituted for automatically by the CPU 107, without further user action being required.

[0021] In this example, the substituted programming comes in off the disk 115 as a default mode. However, the substituted programming could also come in live from a dedicated broadcast feed, created automatically from stored and live data and/or retrieved from a separate data network connection (e.g., Internet). Continuing with the example, when the user hits play on the remote control 114, the command is sent to the CPU 107 over connection 103 and the CPU 107 commands the first media switch 106 over connection 104 to resume playing and the CPU 107 commands the second media switch 113 over connection 105 to begin sending the video from the first media switch 106 over connection 101 to the display 111 over connection 102. The substituted multimedia flow is then stopped.

[0022] It should be noted that the separate media switches 106 and 113 and disk drives 109 and 115 are depicted for illustrative purposes. These devices could be merged into one unit as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Therein, the general nature of exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide for a plurality of video sources 202]._N which are multiplexed to provide an output to display 111 via multiplexer 204. Multiplexer 204 is controlled to selectively output a particular video source (or other content) in response to a particular transport control received from, e.g., the user's remote control device 114. In the example of Figure 2, the multiplexer 204 selects the video source available from device 202 upon receipt of a pause command from the user (or, e.g., X seconds after receipt of the pause command). As shown in Figure 3, when a play 0320-006 9 command is generated by the user, then the original video source 202] is switched back into the signal path by multiplexer 204.

[0023] The above-described exemplary embodiments are intended to be illustrative in all respects, rather than restrictive, of the present invention. Thus the present invention is capable of many variations in detailed implementation that can be derived from the description contained herein by a person skilled in the art. All such i variations and modifications are considered to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims. No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more items.

Claims

0320-006 10 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A personal video recorder comprising: a plurality of control features, including a play feature which commands said personal video recorder to output a primary media program to a display, and a plurality of other control features in addition to said play feature; and a switching function for switching from said primary media program to an alternate media program when one of said other control features is actuated by said user, whereupon a secondary media program is output to said display; wherein said switching function reverts back to said primary media program when said play feature is actuated by said user.

2. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the secondary media program is a sequence of visual advertisements each shown for a fixed length of time.

3. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the secondary media program is a sequence of advertising segments.

4. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the secondary media program is a special program segment such as a sports update. 0320-006 1 1

5. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the secondary media program provides an update screen on said display such as a messaging system screen where status of items like voicemail and email can be seen.

6. The personal video recorder of claim 1 wherein the secondary media program is displayed on a partial screen.

7. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the remainder of the display is shows either additional alternate media segments, system screens, or the primary media program.

8. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein the secondary media program is a sequence of static, visual ads each of which are shown on said display for a predetermined time period.

9. The personal video recorder of claim 1, wherein said predetermined time period is 10 seconds.

10. The personal video recorder of claim 8, wherein said sequence of ads is displayed in a predetermined order and loops back to a beginning of the sequence when the end of the sequence is reached. 0320-006 12

11. The personal video recorder of claim 8, wherein said sequence of ads is displayed in random order.

12. A method for outputting media content in a media system comprising the steps of: outputting a first media stream to a media output device; receiving a control command to perform one of pause, rewind, fast forward or rewind said first media stream; switching, in response to said control command, to a second media stream, wherein said second media stream includes advertising material; outputting said second media stream to said media output device; receiving a control command to perform a play operation; switching, in response to said play control command, to said first media stream; and outputting said first media stream to said media output device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second media stream is a sequence of advertising segments.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second media stream includes a special program segment such as a sports update. 0320-006 13

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second media stream provides an update screen on a display such as a messaging system screen where status of items like voicemail and email can be seen.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the secondary media stream is displayed on a partial screen.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the remainder of the display is shows either additional alternate media segments, system screens, or the primary media program.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the secondary media program is a sequence of static, visual ads each of which are shown on said display for a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said predetermined time period is 10 seconds.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said sequence of ads is displayed in a predetermined order and loops back to a beginning of the sequence when the end of the sequence is reached.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said sequence of ads is displayed in random order.