Patent US6446262B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6446262B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Broadcasting interactive applications
Assignee: Mec Management LLC
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Filing: 1999-10-15
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2019-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces. Initially, setup data is placed on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces. A status flag is broadcast to the user interfaces to indicate that the setup data has been placed on the broadcast carousel. Real time data is broadcast to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time. Electronic programme guide (EPG) data indicating a scheduled start time for the scheduled interactive application is further broadcast to the user interfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason Robert Malaure
- 👤 Richard Andrew Kydd
- 👤 Simon Anthony Vivian Cornwell
- 👤 Matthew Edward Tims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces, the status flag being indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a) or the real time data broadcast carried out in step b), wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces, the status flag being indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a) or the real time data broadcast carried out in step b), wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein step a) comprises broadcasting the setup data between a setup start time and a setup stop time, and wherein the status flag is indicative of the setup start time or the setup stop time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises broadcasting the real time data between a scheduled start time and a scheduled stop time, and wherein the status flag is indicative of the scheduled start time or the scheduled stop time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting electronic program guide (EPG) data to the user interfaces, the FPG data being indicative of the scheduled start time for the real time data broadcast.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein step b) comprises broadcasting the real time data between a scheduled start time and a scheduled stop time, and wherein the status flag is indicative of the scheduled start time or the scheduled stop time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 2 , further comprising broadcasting electronic program guide (EPG) data to the user interfaces, the EPG data being indicative of the scheduled start time for the real time data broadcast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 7 , further comprising broadcasting electronic programme guide (EPG) data to the user interfaces, the EPG data being. indicative of the scheduled start time for the real time data broadcast.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the status flag is broadcast at the same broadcast frequency as the EPG data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 3 , further comprising broadcasting electronic program guide (EPG) data to the user interfaces, the EPG data being indicative of the scheduled start time for the real time data broadcast.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the apparatus comprising: means for placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces; means for broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means for broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces, the status flag being indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast means or the real time data broadcast means, wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the apparatus comprising: means for placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces; means for broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means for broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces, the status flag being indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast means or the real time data broadcast means, wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the status flag is broadcast by a first transmitter at a respective first frequency, and the setup data is broadcast by a second transmitter at a respective different second frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising means for broadcasting electronic programme guide (EPG) data to the user interfaces, the EPG data specifying the scheduled start time of the real time data broadcast.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the status flag and EPG data are multiplexed on a common frequency by a head end multiplexer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a), wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a), wherein the status flag and setup data are broadcast at different broadcast frequencies.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a), wherein the status flag is broadcast separately from the setup data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of broadcasting a scheduled interactive application to a plurality of users via respective user interfaces, the method comprising: a) placing setup data on a broadcast carousel prior to a scheduled start time of the interactive application whereby setup data is repeatedly broadcast to the user interfaces prior to the scheduled start time; b) broadcasting real time data to the user interfaces at the scheduled start time; and c) broadcasting a status flag to the user interfaces indicative of the status of the setup data broadcast carried out in step a), wherein the status flag is broadcast separately from the setup data.
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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) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |