Ludovic A Pierre

US Patent:

6970641, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Sep 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/663759

Inventors:

Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US
Vincent Dureau - Palo Alto CA, US
Alain Delpuch - Les Essarts, FR

Assignee:

OpenTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N005/91

US Classification:

386 83, 386 68, 386125, 725 61

Abstract:

A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.

US Patent:

7386221, Jun 10, 2008

Filed:

Aug 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/205238

Inventors:

Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US
Vincent Dureau - Palo Alto CA, US
Alain Delpuch - Les Essarts, FR

Assignee:

OpenTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/91

US Classification:

386 83, 386 68, 386125, 725 61

Abstract:

A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.

US Patent:

7536704, May 19, 2009

Filed:

Oct 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/972821

Inventors:

Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US
Janice Mead - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

OpenTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/455

US Classification:

725 58, 725 89, 725100, 725134, 386 68, 4554041

Abstract:

A method and apparatus providing display of content and automatic pause of the display. The method and apparatus exists in a client device and/or ahead-end or network operator. Event are assigned a relative priority based on event type, originator and the type of current display so that a variable response level ranging from a required viewer action to the viewer completely ignoring an event is provided.

US Patent:

7890978, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

Apr 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/827358

Inventors:

Vincent Dureau - Palo Alto CA, US
Debra Hensgen - Redwood City CA, US
Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US
Jean-Rene Menand - Los Altos CA, US

Assignee:

Opentv, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 48, 725132, 725140, 715235, 348553

Abstract:

A generic data processing engine is operable to receive a format definition and process data formatted according to the definition, without use of formatting information in the data. The format definition includes a description of the syntax of the format, and a description of the semantics of the format. The syntax and semantics may be described in the same language or in different languages, and the engine is configured to produce an internal representation of the syntax and semantics. The engine receives queries and uses them together with the internal representation to set masks for the filters. The filters apply the masks to the data and return filtered data to the engine, which may forward a portion of the filtered data to applications, store a portion of the filtered data, set new masks based on a portion of the filtered data, or modify the existing masks based on a portion of the filtered data. The filters may also be configured to return filtered data directly to applications, bypassing the engine.

US Patent:

7950033, May 24, 2011

Filed:

Oct 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/974142

Inventors:

Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US
Steven Szymanski - Mountain View CA, US
Debra Hensgen - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Opentv, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 39, 725 40, 725 44, 348465, 709219

Abstract:

A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming. Among the actions which may be automatically performed include replacing the first identified data with the second data on the storage device, deleting the first or second data from the storage device, requesting the second data from a remote location, or copying a previously captured portion of a broadcast signal from a temporary buffer to a mass storage device. Further, utilizing the relational metadata, personalized viewing content and experiences may be created by a viewer.

US Patent:

8032913, Oct 4, 2011

Filed:

Sep 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/657250

Inventors:

Ludovic Pierre - Sunnyvale CA, US
Thierry Godin - Paris, FR
Rama Kalluri - San Jose CA, US
Jino Nguyen - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

OpenTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 93, 725 53, 725116, 719318, 709219

Abstract:

A mechanism for booking events comprising an event broker, one or more event managers and one or more action handlers. In one embodiment, the event broker is configured to register a plurality of event bookings, each of which identifies an event and a corresponding action. For each event booking, the event broker notifies an event manager which is configured to detect the type of event identified in the event booking. When the event manager detects the identified event, it notifies the event broker. The broker then notifies an action handler which is configured to initiate the type of action identified in the event booking. The action handler then initiates the action. If the event booking is non-recurring and the action is complete, the event booking is unregistered by the event broker. The event broker is configured to work in conjunction with a plurality of event managers which can detect different types of events and a plurality of action handlers which can initiate different types of actions. The event broker is configured to resolve resource conflicts between actions for which the corresponding events have been detected.

US Patent:

8250617, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

Jan 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/765965

Inventors:

Debra Hensgen - Redwood City CA, US
Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

OpenTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 93, 725116, 709219

Abstract:

A method for processing broadcasts comprises receiving a broadcast of the program containing a plurality of perspectives of the program and presenting at least one of the plurality of perspectives to a viewer. The method further includes automatically recording the plurality of perspectives in a storage device and playing alternate recorded perspectives for the viewer without interrupting the recording of the broadcast. A system for recording a broadcast containing a plurality of perspectives of a program is also disclosed.

US Patent:

20020056112, May 9, 2002

Filed:

Mar 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/534672

Inventors:

Vincent Dureau - Palo Alto CA, US
Joel Zdepski - Mountain View CA, US
Jan Steenkamp - Woodside CA, US
Ludovic Pierre - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

H04N007/18

US Classification:

725/078000

Abstract:

A home digital assistant which, in one embodiment, is coupled by a local communication link to the receiver of an interactive television system. The home digital assistant is configured to enable a user to obtain information from and to interact with the interactive television system. The interactive television system includes a broadcast station and one or more receiving stations which are coupled to the broadcast station by a broadcast communication link. A broadcast signal which includes data targeted to the home digital assistant is transmitted from the broadcast station to the receiving stations over the broadcast link. The receiving stations separate the data targeted to the home digital assistant from the remainder of the signal and transmit this data to the home digital assistant over the local communication link. The data may be application code, raw data, streaming audio or video, triggers, control information, or other types of data. The home digital assistant can store, execute, display, play or otherwise use the data. In one embodiment, the home digital assistant can transmit information such as user input, control data or the like back to the receiver.