公开(公告)号：US5931908A

公开(公告)日：1999-08-03

申请号：US773263

申请日：1996-12-23

申请人： George Gerba ,  Robert E. Lambert ,  Howard Meiseles ,  Mike Nichols

发明人： George Gerba ,  Robert E. Lambert ,  Howard Meiseles ,  Mike Nichols

IPC分类号： H04N5/445 ,  H04N7/173 ,  H04N21/43 ,  H04N21/431 ,  H04N21/462 ,  H04N21/472 ,  H04N21/4722 ,  H04N21/478 ,  H04N21/4782 ,  H04N21/61 ,  H04N21/81 ,  H04N21/858 ,  G06F17/30

CPC分类号： H04N21/4312 ,  H04N21/4307 ,  H04N21/4314 ,  H04N21/4316 ,  H04N21/4622 ,  H04N21/4722 ,  H04N21/4782 ,  H04N21/6175 ,  H04N21/8133 ,  H04N21/858 ,  H04N5/445 ,  H04N7/17318 ,  H04N21/472 ,  H04N21/478 ,  Y10S707/99945

摘要： The present invention provides a method and apparatus for linking real-time data with audiovisual content to enable a user to make selections, manipulate data, and to execute functions interactively through an audiovisual display unit based upon audiovisual content being displayed at the time. Audiovisual content is synchronized with the available interactive functions so that the user has the ability to interact with and perform functions related to the audiovisual content being shown at the time. In a preferred embodiment, actionable events in audiovisual programs are synchronized with associated overlay functions and interface data. A method is provided to make overlay functions available to the user through an audiovisual display during the actionable events that occur in a program being viewed by the user. A user interface for each overlay function that may be performed, which user interface may or may not be visible to the user, is overlaid on and synchronized with the program being shown. Interaction with selections may be made using any of several known methods such as a screen menu or a cursor controlled by a remote control device.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于将实时数据与视听内容相链接的方法和装置，使得用户能够基于当时显示的视听内容，通过视听显示单元交互地进行选择，操作数据和执行功能。 视听内容与可用的交互功能同步，使得用户能够与当时显示的视听内容交互并执行与该视听内容相关的功能。 在优选实施例中，视听节目中的可操作事件与相关联的重叠功能和接口数据同步。 提供了一种方法，用于通过在由用户观看的节目中发生的可动作事件期间通过视听显示向用户提供叠加功能。 用于可以执行的用于每个覆盖功能的用户界面，哪个用户界面对于用户而言可以是或可能不是可见的，被覆盖在所示程序上并与所示的程序同步。 可以使用诸如屏幕菜单或由遥控设备控制的光标之类的几种已知方法中的任何一种进行与选择的交互。