James A Lipscomb

US Patent:

7039933, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Nov 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/725009

Inventors:

Shu-Chun Jeane Chen - San Diego CA, US
James S. Lipscomb - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Jai Menon - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N 7/25
H04N 7/10

US Classification:

725 36, 725 35

Abstract:

A system, method and program product uses tags as markers for incorporating local content in a communications stream, e. g. , TV broadcast, cable transmission. A transmitter generates a communication stream including program content for transmission to a receiver. The transmitter includes an authoring tool for generating two types of tags for incorporation into the program content. The receiver captures the program content and stores the tags in tables. One type of tag initiates local action in the program content in the communication stream. A second type of tag is capable of modifying the first type of tag in the tables. When the time for a local action according to a first type of tag is detected, the program content is interrupted by splicing or inserting the local content.