US5935004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for scheduled delivery of a software program over a cable network
Assignee: Comcast MO Group Inc
•
Filing: 1995-08-28
•
Granted: 1999-08-10
•
Expires: 2015-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for delivering a software program over a cable network includes a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of software programs and transmit the compressed software programs over the cable network at a plurality of corresponding predetermined scheduled times. A primary processor in communication with the cable network receives a selected one of the plurality of software programs at the corresponding predetermined scheduled time, decompresses the program and stores it. A secondary processor in communication with the primary processor includes navigational software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the software program from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey R. Tarr
- 👤 J. Clarke Stevens
- 👤 Jeffrey C. Lutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; A63F13/12; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/30; A63F13/33; A63F13/338; G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/77; H04H20/78; H04H20/86; H04H20/91; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; H04N21/4355; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4781; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6583; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8166; H04N21/8173; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17336; H04N7/24; H04H20/02; H04H20/06; H04H20/16; H04H40/00; H04H40/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for delivering a software program over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising: a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of software programs and transmit the compressed software programs over the cable network at a plurality of corresponding predetermined scheduled times; a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of software programs at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and storing the selected software program until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received; and a secondary processor in communication with the primary processor, the secondary processor including navigational software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the software program from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for delivering a software program over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising: a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of software programs and transmit the compressed software programs over the cable network at a plurality of corresponding predetermined scheduled times; a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of software programs at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and storing the selected software program until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received; and a secondary processor in communication with the primary processor, the secondary processor including navigational software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the software program from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the primary processor comprises a low end processing chip, a motherboard, a cable modem, and a hard disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary processor comprises a game machine which includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a game player.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary processor includes a CD-ROM drive operative to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software and drivers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3, further comprising a display monitor in communication with the CPU.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3, further comprising a television set in communication with the CPU.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the head-end server is operative to transmit broadcast data for receipt by the primary processor, the broadcast data corresponding to a predetermined scheduled time the software program is available to be received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 7, wherein the secondary processor further includes executable code and art for converting the broadcast data to graphic data for display on a television or monitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 8, wherein the secondary processor includes a CD-ROM drive operative to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the operating software, drivers, executable code and art.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the head-end server includes encryption means to encode the software program before transmission and the secondary processor includes decryption means to decode the transmitted software program upon receipt.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for delivering a video game over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising: a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of video games and transmit the compressed video games over the cable network at corresponding predetermined scheduled times; a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of video games at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and temporarily storing the selected video game until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received; a monitor; and a video game machine in communication with the primary processor and the monitor, the video game machine including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a game player containing operating software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the video game from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for delivering a video game over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising: a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of video games and transmit the compressed video games over the cable network at corresponding predetermined scheduled times; a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of video games at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and temporarily storing the selected video game until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received; a monitor; and a video game machine in communication with the primary processor and the monitor, the video game machine including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a game player containing operating software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the video game from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the head-end server is operative to transmit broadcast data for receipt by the primary processor, the broadcast data corresponding to a time the video game is available to be received.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the game player further includes executable code and art for converting the broadcast data to graphic data for display on the video monitor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the game player includes a CD-ROM drive adapted to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software and drivers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the game player includes a CD-ROM drive adapted to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software, drivers, executable code and art.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the head-end server includes encryption means to encode the software program before transmission and the game player includes decryption means to decode the transmitted software program upon receipt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the monitor is a television.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4168532A
Cited
US4247106A
Cited
US4799677A
Cited
US5166886A
Cited
US5051822A
Cited
US5283819A
Cited
US5251909A
Cited
JPH05116063A
Cited
US5347304A
Cited
US5319705A
Cited
JPH0773124A
Cited
US5488411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |