United States Patent [19]
`Matthews, III et al.
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`[73]
`
`[21]
`[22]
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING A LIST ON A.
`DISPLAY SCREEN
`Inventors: Joseph H. Matthews, III. Redmond;
`JoGene Kapell, Bellevue; Keith
`Lindsey Rowe, Seattle, all of Wash.
`Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash.
`
`Appl. No.: 435,292
`Filed:
`May 5, 1995
`Int. Cl* … H04N 7/173; G09G 3/02
`U.S. Cl. … 345/115; 345/123; 348/906;
`348/7
`Field of Search ..................................... 345/115, 116,
`345/123, 124; 348/906, 7, 12. 13; 455/4.2,
`158.5: 395/155; H04N 7/173
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,196,838 3/1993 Meier et al. ............................ 34.5/115
`5,479.266 12/1995 Young et al. ..
`.... 348/906
`5,495,267 2/1996 Fujitaka .........
`... 345/123
`5.532,754 7/1996 Young et al. … 348/906
`
`|||||||||||||||||||||||
`
`US005677708A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,677,708
`Oct. 14, 1997
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO 92/04801
`95/01058
`
`3/1992 WIPO .
`1/1995 WIPO .............................. HO4N 7/16
`
`Primary Examiner—Wendy Garber
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jones & Askew
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A system for displaying a list of items containing informa
`tion or alternative choices associated with a subscriber
`service of an interactive network system. At least one item
`in the list is displayed in its entirety. The items at the border
`of the list are only partially displayed to give the user an
`indication that the list extends beyond the borders of the list.
`Additional list items can be displayed by scrolling the list by
`manipulating a directional control on a remote control unit
`that operates in conjunction with a set-top terminal of the
`interactive system. An item in the list, or another control
`object on the display screen, is highlighted in a manner to
`give the user a visible indication that the list can be scrolled,
`or shifted, within the display to display new items in the list
`and remove previously displayed items.
`
`44 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`130 Y
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`160 | 164
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`4.
`142
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`G
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`Page 1 of 24
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`US. Patent
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`5,677,708
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 14, 1997
`Oct. 14, 1997
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`Sheet 3 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 14, 1997
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`Sheet 4 of 7
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`FIG.4
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`FIG.6A
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`FIG.7
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`FIG.6B
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Oct. 14, 1997
`Oct. 14, 1997
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`Sheet 5 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 14, 1997
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`ITEM
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 14, 1997
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`Sheet 7 of 7
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`START
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`200
`
`SERVICE
`DISPLAYS
`LIST?
`203TYES 202
`DISPLAY
`LIST
`
`06 2
`NAVIGATE
`TOCONTROL
`|NPUT”
`
`08 2
`209T YES
`POSITION FOCUS
`ON CONTROL
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`1
`SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING A LIST ON A
`DISPLAY SCREEN
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`5,677,708
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention relates generally to interactive
`network systems and, more specifically, to an interactive
`network system for displaying a list containing multiple
`items on a display screen.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Cable television systems, sometimes referred to as
`community-antenna television (CATV) systems, are broad
`band communications networks of coaxial cable and optical
`fiber that distribute video, audio, and data signals to the
`15
`homes or businesses of subscribers. In a typical CATV
`system, a single advantageously located antenna array feed
`ing a cable network supplies each individual subscriber with
`a usable television signal.
`CATV networks have experienced enormous growth and
`expansion in the United States, particularly in urban areas.
`It is estimated that CATV networks currently pass near and
`are accessible to approximately 90% of the population in the
`United States, with approximately 60–65% of all households
`actually being connected to such communications networks.
`While cable systems originally had very simple architectures
`and provided a limited number of different television
`signals, the increase in the number of television
`broadcasters, owners, and services over the last several
`decades has resulted in much more complex modem cable
`distribution systems.
`A typical CATV system for the delivery of television
`programming to subscribers comprises three main elements:
`a headend, a distribution system, and subscriber drops.
`The “headend” is a signal reception and processing center
`that collects, organizes and distributes signals. The headend
`receives satellite-delivered video and audio programming,
`over-the-air broadcast television station signals, and net
`work feeds delivered by terrestrial microwave and other
`communication systems. In addition, headends may inject
`local broadcast programming into the package of signals
`sent to subscribers, such as commercials and live programs
`created in a television studio,
`The “distribution system” carries the signals from the
`headend to a number of distribution points in a community
`and, in turn, distributes the these signals to individual
`neighborhoods for delivery to subscribers. A modem distri
`bution system typically comprises a combination of coaxial
`cable and optical fibers with trunk amplifiers periodically
`spaced to compensate for attenuation of the signals along the
`line.
`“Subscriber drops” are taps in the distribution system that
`feed individual 75 Q coaxial cable lines into subscribers'
`television sets or subscriber set-top terminals, often referred
`to as “subscriber premises equipment” or “customer pre
`mises equipment” (“CPE”).
`CATV distribution systems were originally designed to
`distribute television signals in the “downstream” direction
`only, i.e., from a central headend location to multiple sub
`scriber locations, also referred to as the “forward” path. For
`downstream transmissions, typical CATV systems provide a
`series of video channels, each 6 MHz in bandwidth, which
`are frequency division multiplexed across the forward band,
`in the 50 MHz to 550 MHz region of the frequency spec
`trum. As optical fiber more deeply penetrates the service
`areas with hybrid optical fiber/coaxial cable (HFC)
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`configurations, the bandwidth of the coaxial cable portion is
`expected to increase to over 1 GHz, thereby increasing the
`number of available channels for potential services.
`The advent of pay-per-view services and other interactive
`television applications has fueled the development of bidi
`rectional or “two-way” cable systems that also provide for
`the transmission of signals from the subscriber locations
`back to the headend via an “upstream” direction or a
`“reverse” path. By upgrading CATV systems employing
`relatively limited bandwidth coaxial cable with broadband
`distribution networks having HFC configurations, multiple
`service operators (MSOs) can use the additional channels
`gained by this wider bandwidth network to provide many
`new subscriber services. This ever-expanding deployment of
`fiber optic technology supports the implementation of an
`“interactive network” to allow a subscriber to obtain desir
`able service of programming at a time and date specified by
`the subscriber. Indeed, it is feasible that this interactive
`network will have sufficient bandwidth to supply hundreds
`of channels of programming information, thereby leading to
`an explosion of program options available to subscribers.
`Potential subscriber services supported by this interactive
`network include Movies on Demand (MOD) or Video on
`Demand (VOD), interactive computing, shopping.
`entertainment, and other related services.
`The delivery of a variety of interactive services via a
`broadband network distribution system raises the critical
`issue of defining an efficient mechanism for presenting both
`operation and program-related information to an audience of
`possible consumers representing diverse technological back
`grounds and interests. From an ergonomic perspective, this
`“user interface” for such an interactive network should
`appeal to a “typical” viewer of standard broadcast television
`programs and should be easy for this mythical person to
`understand and use. Because computer users reflect only a
`portion of the overall audience for interactive services, it is
`desirable that the features of this user interface be based
`upon the assumption that the typical viewer is not familiar
`with user interface customs that are otherwise acceptable
`and understood by the computer-literate community. In
`addition. the functions of the user interface should be
`controllable with a control device familiar with this typical
`television viewer, such as a handheld remote control. This
`user interface also should be readily readable from an
`acceptable viewing distance that typically separates the
`viewer from a television screen.
`The typical television viewer is accustomed to viewing
`sophisticated graphics for broadcast programs that are pro
`duced with complex and expensive production equipment. It
`is desirable for the user interface of an interactive network
`to support similar graphical features, including visual
`objects having a 3-dimensional appearance, image transition
`effects such as wipes, dissolves, and rambles, and a variety
`of colors and fonts. This user interface also preferably
`supports active animation of displayed objects to entertain
`the viewer and to focus the viewer’s attention upon a
`particular object for controlling a feature of the user inter
`face. The user interface also should be sufficiently flexible in
`appearance to allow a service provider to design and imple
`ment objects having a unique appearance for different
`applications, thereby permitting a user to distinguish these
`applications.
`From a technical perspective, the delivery of video signals
`for presentation by a conventional television screen is lim
`ited by the display screen variations in the numerous models
`of televisions and the limitations inherent in the National
`Television Systems Committee (NTSC) standards for for
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`3
`matting video signals. The NTSC has established title and
`video safety standards to define a space along the television
`screen for readable text and images. The area of the televi
`sion screen that is considered to support the most reliable
`presentation of images, which is known as the “safe title”
`zone, is approximately the center 80% of the horizontal and
`vertical space of a television screen. Likewise, the area of
`the television screen that is considered to support the most
`reliable presentation of moving images, which is known as
`the “safe action” zone, is approximately the center 90% of
`the horizontal and vertical space of a television screen.
`Because these NTSC standards suggest that the video
`performance of even modem television monitors suffers
`from horizontal and vertical drift problems, the user inter
`face for an interactive network should support the video
`safety standards to ensure that objects intended for display
`are actually presented to the viewer. However, it will appre
`ciated that this implementation also effectively reduces
`“usable screen space” or display resolution for the user
`interface. This is dramatically different from the computer
`environment, where the entire screen of a computer monitor
`can predictably be used to present static and dynamic objects
`to a user.
`The design of the user interface for an interactive network
`also must consider the well known phenomenon of “flicker”
`arising from the scanning of vertical and horizontal scan
`lines in a television screen. It would be desirable for the
`objects of a user interface for the interactive network to be
`drawn with lines having a pixel width of more than one pixel
`to reduce flicker and to support a more readable presentation
`of the displayed objects.
`In summary, for an interactive network environment,
`there is a need for a user interface having simplified user
`interface controls that are optimized for the television envi
`ronment in both appearance and behavior. The user interface
`should be entertaining and have the look of a television
`program. The controls of the user interface are preferably
`operable with a handheld control device, such as a remote
`control. The user interface should support NTSC video
`safety standards to ensure that objects intended for display
`are actually presented to the viewer in a manner that is easily
`readable on a variety of conventional television sets. The
`present invention addresses these issues by providing a user
`interface designed for use in the environment of an interac
`tive network.
`The many subscriber services supported by interactive
`networks give the user the ability to choose desired pro
`gramming or viewing options. The range of possible options
`associated with each service is typically displayed to the
`user on the television screen in some form of list such that
`the user can visually observe the available choices. The user
`then selects the desired choice via a remote control unit or
`other similar device.
`The various alterative choices associated with a sub
`scriber service are usually displayed to the user on the
`television display screen in the form of a list. The list is
`typically contained with a box or other control object with
`distinct boundaries or borders. Lists can, and usually do,
`contain more items than can be shown on the display screen
`at any one time. Thus, the user must scroll through the list,
`i.e., cause new items in the list to be displayed on the display
`screen while causing old items previously displayed to be
`removed from the display. Scrolling is usually accomplished
`by providing arrows, buttons, or other visible indicators on
`the screen that the user may manipulate via a remote control
`or other device to cause the list to be shifted within the
`control object on the display screen.
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`The items displayed in the list are typically shown in their
`entirety. Thus, the first and last items displayed in the control
`object, i.e., those items displayed at the border of the control
`object, are completely displayed. This manner of display of
`list items creates a recognition problem for the user in that
`the display of border items in their entirety does not provide
`the user with any visual indication that additional items are
`contained, but are not yet displayed, in the list. One method
`of providing the user with such an indication is to display an
`arrow or other visual indicator, such as a scroll bar, that
`communicates to the user that other items are contained in
`the list but are not shown on the display screen. However,
`this method does not allow the user to recognize instinc
`tively that the list extends beyond the items displayed, i.e.,
`the display of the item itself does not provide a visual
`indication to the user that additional list items exist beyond
`those displayed.
`Additionally, the variation in the size of the safe title and
`safe action zones of television screens creates problems for
`lists displaying items in their entirety. First, the display of
`list items at or near the border of the display screen in their
`entirety cannot be guaranteed due to the variation is safe
`zones. Thus, certain items in the list may not be properly
`displayed. Second, the display of any visual indicator near
`the border of the control object on the screen to alert the
`viewer of additional list items cannot be guaranteed. Thus,
`the user may be left without any means of instinctively
`recognizing that additional list items exist beyond those
`displayed on the screen.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a system for displaying a
`list of items in a control object on a television display screen
`in association with an interactive network system. At least
`three items are displayed in the control object, which
`extends between the borders of the screen. The first and last
`items of the list are only partially displayed so that the user
`can instinctively recognize that additional list items exist
`beyond those displayed. The list is displayed in a control
`object that spans the entire display screen and can be
`oriented horizontally, vertically, or in a two-dimensional
`grid arrangement.
`The user can scroll through items in the list by manipu
`lating a directional control on a remote control unit. The user
`can manipulate the directional control on the remote control
`to put a focus frame on an item completely displayed in the
`control object. The user can then use the directional control
`on the remote control to shift the list items displayed in the
`control object such that new items are displayed and old
`items are removed from the display.
`Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
`system for displaying a list of items in a control object on a
`display screen.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`system for displaying a list of items in a control object that
`is guaranteed to be only partially displayed.
`It is a further object of the present invention to only
`partially display the first and last items in the control object.
`It is a still further object of the present invention to display
`a list of items in a control object such that provides the user
`with an instinctive indication that additional items exist
`beyond those displayed in the control object.
`Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
`invention will become apparent upon reading the following
`specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings
`and the appended claims.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the operating environment
`for an interactive network system.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the basic components of a
`set-top terminal.
`FIG. 3 shows the face of a remote control unit for
`communicating with the set-top terminal.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of the “safe title” and “safe action”
`zones of a television display screen.
`FIG. 5 is a list as shown on the display screen in
`accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 6A shows a list as interpreted by the user in
`15
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 6B shows the interpretation of the list in FIG. 6A
`after it has been scrolled one item.
`FIGS. 7A–C illustrates the display screen during scrolling
`of the list.
`FIG. 8 shows a list employing a dynamic focus frame in
`accordance with another embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`FIG. 9 is a list shown on the display screen in accordance
`with another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a list shown on the display screen in accordance
`with another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a grid shown on the display screen in accor
`dance with another embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the steps required to display and
`operate the partial scrolling list in accordance with the
`present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Turning next to the figures, the preferred embodiment will
`now be described in detail. The present invention is directed
`to a system for displaying a list of available options on a
`display screen in connection with a subscriber service of an
`interactive network system. Although the preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention will be described with respect
`to subscriber services displayed to a user on a television
`display screen, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
`present invention may be utilized in connection with other
`forms of communications media and other output display
`devices.
`In general, the present invention provides a system for
`displaying a list of multiple items containing information or
`alternative choices associated with a subscriber service of an
`interactive network system. At least one item in the list is
`displayed in its entirety. The items at the border of the list are
`only partially displayed to give the user an indication that the
`list extends beyond the borders of the list. Additional list
`items can be displayed by scrolling the list by manipulating
`a directional control on a remote control unit that operates in
`conjunction with a set-top terminal of the interactive system.
`An item in the list, or another control object on the display
`screen, is highlighted in a manner to give the user a visible
`indication that the list can be scrolled, or shifted, within the
`display to display new items in the list and remove previ
`ously displayed items.
`Turning first to the nomenclature of the specification, the
`detailed description which follows is represented largely in
`terms of processes and symbolic representations of opera
`tions by conventional computer components, including a
`central processing unit (CPU) associated with a general
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`purpose computer system, memory storage devices for the
`CPU, and connected pixel-oriented display devices. These
`operations include the manipulation of data bits by the CPU
`and the maintenance of these bits within data structures
`resident in one or more of the memory storage devices. Such
`data structures impose a physical organization upon the
`collection of data bits stored within computer memory and
`represent specific electrical or magnetic elements. These
`symbolic representations are the means used by those skilled
`in the art of computer programming and computer construc
`tion to most effectively convey teachings and discoveries to
`others skilled in the art.
`For the purposes of this discussion, a process is generally
`conceived to be a sequence of computer-executed steps
`leading to a desired result. These steps generally require
`physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually,
`though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of
`electrical, magnetic. or optical signals capable of being
`stored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise
`manipulated. It is conventional for those skilled in the art to
`refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols,
`characters, terms, numbers, records, files or the like. It
`should be kept in mind, however, that these and similar
`terms should be associated with appropriate physical quan
`tities for computer operations, and that these terms are
`merely conventional labels applied to physical quantities
`that exist within and during operation of the computer.
`It should also be understood that manipulations within the
`computer are often referred to in terms such as adding.
`comparing, moving, etc. which are often associated with
`manual operations performed by a human operator. It must
`be understood that no involvement of a human operator is
`necessary or even desirable in the present invention. The
`operations described herein are machine operations per
`formed in conjunction with a human operator or user that
`interacts with the computer. The machines used for perform
`ing the operation of the present invention, as will be
`understood, include general purpose digital computers or
`other similar computing devices.
`In addition, it should be understood that the programs,
`processes, methods, etc. described herein are not related or
`limited to any particular computer or apparatus. Rather,
`various types of general purpose machines may be used with
`programs constructed in accordance with the teachings
`described herein. Similarly, it may prove advantageous to
`construct specialized apparatus to perform the method steps
`described herein by way of dedicated computer systems with
`hard-wired logic or programs stored in nonvolatile memory,
`such as read only memory.
`Furthermore, it should be understood that there is a
`distinction between the methods, steps, or operations com
`pleted by a computer, and the method of computation itself.
`The present invention does not involve a method of com
`putation. Instead, the present invention relates to methods,
`processes, steps, or operations for a computer and the
`processing of electrical or other physical signals to generate
`desired physical signals and to display results and interac
`tions.
`The preferred embodiment of the present invention is
`directed to a user interface for an interactive network system
`that can deliver a variety of services, including
`entertainment, information, and transaction services, to con
`sumers via an interactive broadband network. This user
`interface, which is typically presented via an output device,
`such as a display or monitor, can include one or more control
`items or images representing various control functions asso
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`ciated with the operation of the interactive network. For
`example, the user interface can include control items rep
`resenting functions for controlling a display of available
`program options. The present invention provides a system
`for both “highlighting” the currently selected control item
`and for supplying the user with an indication of other control
`items that are available for selection by the user. The
`innovative solution provided by this system addresses the
`requirements of limited display “real estate” for displaying
`such control images, as well as the dynamic nature of
`programming information presented by the interactive net
`work.
`Although the preferred embodiment will be generally
`described as an interactive television system for delivering
`broadcast television programs and related information, those
`skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention
`also can be used to support the delivery of other forms of
`programming information, including radio, broadcast print,
`audio, games, computer software, including program mod
`ules such as application programs and operating systems,
`and other combinations of audio, video and/or computer
`software. Accordingly, it will be understood that program
`ming information generally includes information transmit
`ted electronically to entertain, instruct, educate, or inform
`the recipient, as well as program modules for supporting
`these services.
`Likewise, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that
`the present invention can be extended to communicating
`control information within the general purpose computing
`environment. Specifically, the present invention supports
`user interfaces for displaying control information with gen
`eral purpose computer systems, including desktop
`computers, portable computers, and handheld computers,
`including personal digital administrators.
`Turning now to the drawings, in which like numerals
`indicate like elements throughout the several figures, FIG. 1
`illustrates the operating environment for an interactive net
`work system. Referring to FIG. 1, the interactive network
`system 10 includes a headend system 12 for delivering
`programming information to and receiving instructions from
`a consumer system 14 via a “two-way” distribution network
`16. The headend system 12 is the control center for
`collecting, organizing, and distributing the signals for all
`interactive network operations and the source for all pro
`45
`gramming information. The distribution network 16 trans
`ports signals carrying programming information and instruc
`tions between the headend system 12 and the consumer
`system 14. The distribution network 16 can include a
`worldwide public asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) com
`50
`patible network with links to the Internet, third party service
`providers, and other wired and wireless communications
`networks. The consumer system 14 includes the equipment
`required for a consumer to receive programming informa
`tion directly at his or her office or residence and to transmit
`requests and instructions to the headend system 12.
`The headend system 12 can include a set of headend
`servers 20, including a continuous media server (CMS)
`system 22 and one or more administrative servers 24, to
`support various networkfunctions, and a control network 26
`linking these headend servers. The headend servers 20 can
`execute program modules, including service and application
`program software, to support the transmission of program
`ming information and the reception of requests for such
`programming information.
`It will be appreciated that the headend servers 20 are not
`necessarily located in one physical location, but can be
`
`35
`
`8
`linked by wired and/or wireless communications paths sup
`plied by the control network. The control network 26 can be
`a local area network, a wide area network, or a combination
`of both types of networks. For the preferred embodiment,
`the control network 26 is implemented as an ATM-based
`network for routing digital data between the headend servers
`20 and the distribution network 16.
`The CMS system 22 is a server-based file storage and
`delivery system that can manage on-demand access to stored
`digitized data. On-demand access of digitized data is a
`particularly desirable characteristic of the CMS system 22 if
`the interactive network supports the delivery of Video on
`Demand (VOD) or Movies on Demand (MOD) services.
`The preferred CMS system 22 can supply digital data
`streams at a constant rate to numerous consumers of the
`consumer system 14.
`The CMS system 22 includes one or more storage servers
`28, which operate to retrieve and to transmit the digitized
`data as required by clients of the CMS system, i.e., the
`equipment of the consumer system 14. The digitized data,
`which typically comprises programming information, is
`maintained on one or more memory storage devices 30
`connected to the storage servers 28. Each memory storage
`device 30 can be implemented as a SCSI hard disk drive, an
`optical storage system, or any other similar mass storage
`media. By spreading the data management operations across
`a group of storage servers and memory storage devices, user
`load can be balanced with the limited disk, network, and
`input/output (I/O) resources of the headend system. This
`also supports fault tolerance by replicating digitized data
`within the CMS system 22 to survive the failure of a storage
`server or a memory storage device.
`To support the tasks of updating or revising programming
`information stored on a memory storage device 30 of the
`CMS system 22, a computer workstation 32 and a remote
`server 34 can be connected to the control network 26 via a
`communications link36. This communications link allows a
`program distributor or supplier, which typically operates at
`a location remote from the CMS system 22, to transmit
`programming information for storage by one or more of the
`memory storage devices 30 and eventual distribution to
`consumers via the headend system 12. The communications
`link 36 can be implemented by either a wireless or wired
`communications system. For example, the communications
`link 36 can be constructed as a microwave link or as a
`conventional telephone link.
`The administrative servers 24 of the headend system 12
`can support a variety of services and applications associated
`with the interactive network system 10, including network
`security, monitoring, object storage, financial transactions,
`data management, and other administrative functions. The
`administrative servers 24 also handle the interactive service
`requests or instructions transmitted via the consumer sys