US5802284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method using cover bundles to provide immediate feedback to a user in an interactive television environment
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-13
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2015-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based system and method for providing immediate feedback to the user in an interactive television system. The system presents interactive programs to a user; each program can have a "cover bundle" for "covering" the delay between user selection of the program and the program's availability. When a user requests a program having a cover bundle, the cover bundle is downloaded first. The cover bundle provides a simple presentation (e.g., a short movie, music, and the like) to keep the user engaged while the requested program downloads.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip L. Karlton
- 👤 Robert K. Myers
- 👤 Charles V. Rossi
- 👤 Terry Weissman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26233; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8126; H04N21/8166; H04N21/85; H04N21/854; H04N21/8549; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An interactive television system, configured to provide immediate feedback to the user via cover bundles, comprising: at least one remote server comprising at least one viewer application having a cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset file, presenting means for presenting said asset file to the user, and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application, and at least one settop computer coupled to said remote server, configured to retrieve said cover bundle and execute said presenting means and said retrieving means when a user requests said viewer application.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An interactive television system, configured to provide immediate feedback to the user via cover bundles, comprising: at least one remote server comprising at least one viewer application having a cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset file, presenting means for presenting said asset file to the user, and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application, and at least one settop computer coupled to said remote server, configured to retrieve said cover bundle and execute said presenting means and said retrieving means when a user requests said viewer application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said presenting means comprises an executable file for presenting said asset file to the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said presenting means comprises a script file, and wherein said settop computer comprises a script interpreter configured to interpret said script file for presenting said asset file to the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
In an interactive television system, a method for providing immediate feedback to a user comprising the steps of: (a) downloading a cover bundle to a user's settop computer when the user requests a viewer application having said cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset file, presenting means for presenting said asset file to the user and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application; (b) executing said presenting means to thereby present said asset file to the user; and (c) executing said retrieving means to thereby retrieve said viewer application.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
In an interactive television system, a method for providing immediate feedback to a user comprising the steps of: (a) downloading a cover bundle to a user's settop computer when the user requests a viewer application having said cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset file, presenting means for presenting said asset file to the user and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application; (b) executing said presenting means to thereby present said asset file to the user; and (c) executing said retrieving means to thereby retrieve said viewer application.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: (d) terminating presentation of said asset file when said viewer application has been retrieved; and (e) launching said viewer application.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises the step of: (i) launching an executable file, wherein said executable file is an element of said cover bundle and presents said asset to the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises the step of: (i) interpreting a script file, wherein said script file is an element of said cover bundle and presents said asset to the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing a processor in a settop computer in an interactive television system to provide immediate feedback to a user, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing the processor to download a cover bundle to the user's settop computer when the user requests a viewer application having said cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset, presenting means for presenting said asset to the user, and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application; a computer readable second program code means for causing the processor to execute said presenting means to present said asset file to the user; and a computer readable third program code means for causing the processor to execute said retrieving means to retrieve said viewer application.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing a processor in a settop computer in an interactive television system to provide immediate feedback to a user, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing the processor to download a cover bundle to the user's settop computer when the user requests a viewer application having said cover bundle, said cover bundle comprising at least one asset, presenting means for presenting said asset to the user, and retrieving means for retrieving said viewer application; a computer readable second program code means for causing the processor to execute said presenting means to present said asset file to the user; and a computer readable third program code means for causing the processor to execute said retrieving means to retrieve said viewer application.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising: a computer readable fourth program code means for causing the processor to terminate presentation of said assets when said viewer application has been retrieved; and a computer readable fifth program code means for causing the processor to launch said viewer application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said computer readable second program code means further comprises an executable file for presenting said asset file to the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said computer readable second program code means comprises a script file to be interpreted by a script interpreter in the settop computer for presenting said asset file to the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |