Incorporating graphics and interactive triggers in a video stream

Abstract

Triggers for interactive television display are incorporated into a video stream in coordination with graphics associated with the triggers. Graphic sources such as channels (16, 18) of a character generator (21) supply graphics associated with the triggers to graphic signal inputs (26, 28) of a switch. When a channel supplies a graphic, a message denoting the associated trigger and associating the trigger with the channel is forwarded to a gateway computer (60). The gateway computer monitors connections between graphic signal inputs (26, 28) and the video output (32) of the switch, and forwards triggers associated with a particular channel to an inserter (40) only if such channel is connected to output (32).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 782,229, filed Feb. 9, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 181,461, filed Feb. 10, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to production of interactive video. [0003] Interactive television systems allow the viewer to interact with the program. For example, an interactive broadcast of a sporting event may allow the user to retrieve additional information about a particular player or to participate in an interactive game related to the sporting event. These actions are performed using a computer associated with the user's television set. Most typically, the computer is incorporated in a “set-top box.” The interactive program stream includes conventional video signals which are displayed on the television set and also includ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides a system for adding interactive triggers to a video stream. The system includes a plurality of video sources and a video switch that can selectively connect the video sources to an output video stream. The video switch includes an inserter that can insert triggers into the output video stream. The triggers are supplied by a gateway circuit that receives information about the video sources and triggers from a source specification unit. The system also includes a video output with a trigger input for adding triggers to the video stream. The triggers can be associated with specific graphic sources or with specific video frames. The system allows for easy and automated addition of triggers to video streams, without requiring additional action from the operator."

Problems solved by technology

However, the gateway circuit will only supply the trigger to the inserter if the graphic is incorporated into the output video stream by the switch.

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