British Sky Broadcasting Limited

Alun David Webber

Robin Crossley

David Holliday

Christopher Townsend

Nicholas James

Christopher Peter Townsend

A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device. The receiver includes a processor for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. The receiver is arranged to respond to the information data to output for display data derived from said image data and said information data and representing an inter-active image. The receiver is responsive to viewer manipulation of the control device to vary the interactive image and to establish a telecommunications link to a remote site for on-line interaction via the interactive image between the viewer and the remote site. The interactive image may form part of an interactive services interface comprising a broadcast entry level and plural broadcast interactive levels. The interactive services interface may comprise one or more on-line interactive levels entered from one of the broadcast interactive levels for establishing an on-line connection with a remote site.

Receivers for television signals

Television broadcast receiver comprising a processor to provide an interactive services interface

A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device (). The receiver includes a processor () for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. In one mode of operation the decoder responds to manipulation of the control device by causing brief scheduling information pertaining to programmes transmitted in the received signal to be displayed. In another mode of operation the receiver is arranged to display detailed scheduling information pertaining to plural different television signals. The receiver is operable to receive signals containing video data representing a plurality of video clips. The processor is arranged to process the signals and to cause simultaneous display of the clips on a television screen. The processor is arranged to respond to user manipulation of the control device by storing data for subsequent viewing of user selected programmes. The decoder may further comprise a modem () and a CD-ROM drive ().

A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device ( ). The receiver includes a processor ( ) for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. In one mode of operation the decoder responds to manipulation of the control device by causing brief scheduling information pertaining to programmes transmitted in the received signal to be displayed. In another mode of operation the receiver is arranged to display detailed scheduling information pertaining to plural different television signals. The receiver is operable to receive signals containing video data representing a plurality of video clips. The processor is arranged to process the signals and to cause simultaneous display of the clips on a television screen. The processor is arranged to respond to user manipulation of the control device by storing data for subsequent viewing of user selected programmes. The decoder may further comprise a modem ( ) and a CD-ROM drive ( ).

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Middlesex, United Kingdom

Alun David Webber