초록 ▼

A system and method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive broadcast television system. The system and method of the present invention may also be used for simulating an Internet home page on an interactive television system. The present invention thus supports

A system and method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive broadcast television system. The system and method of the present invention may also be used for simulating an Internet home page on an interactive television system. The present invention thus supports hyperlinked web-like navigational capabilities in an interactive television system. According to the method of the present invention, the video delivery system provides or broadcasts one or more audio/video channels each comprising video content and also provides or broadcasts at least one still image channel comprising a plurality of still video images, preferably MPEG-2 compressed still images. The user or viewer can select options displayed on the television screen to view desired information. When the set top box receives user input selecting an option to view one of the linked still images, the set top box captures the requested image from the still image broadcast channel, stores the image in memory, and displays the captured still video image corresponding to the selection. The user can also request to view an image which is not currently being transmitted by the video delivery system. In this instance, the system provides user requested still images "on demand" on a dedicated "search" channel. The user can thus selectively navigate between the video content and stills in a web-like hyperlinked fashion.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, where

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive television system, wherein the interactive television system comprises a video delivery system for providing video content, and at least one subscriber television including a display screen, wherein the subscriber television is coupled to the video delivery system, wherein the system further comprises a media server which stores a plurality of still images, the method comprising:the video delivery system broadcasting a plurality of channels each comprising video content;the subscriber television receiving said plurality of channels each comprising video content;displaying on the screen one or more selection options, wherein said one or more selection options includes a first selection option which indicates a request to view at least one still image which is not currently being broadcast by said video delivery system;receiving user input selecting said first selection option which indicates a request to view at least one first still image which is not currently being broadcast by said video delivery system;the subscriber television providing said request to the media server;the media server providing one or more still images to the video delivery system in response to said request;the video delivery system broadcasting said one or more still images on a first channel in response to receiving said one or more still images from the media server;the subscriber television displaying on the screen said at least one first still image received on said first channel; anddisplaying on the screen video content from one of said one or more channels each comprising video content, wherein said displaying on the screen one or more selection options occurs during said displaying on the screen said video content, wherein said video content comprises first video content related to a first subject matter and wherein said one or more still images have video content related to said first subject matter;receiving user input selecting one or more selection options which indicate requests to view one or more still images currently being broadcast by said video delivery system which relate to said first subject matter, wherein said user input selecting said one or more selection options is received prior to said user input selecting said first selection option; andthe subscriber television displaying on the screen said one or more still images currently being broadcast by said video delivery system which relate to said first subject matter.