US6553404B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital system
Assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
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Filing: 1998-08-07
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Granted: 2003-04-22
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Expires: 2018-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A digital department system is disclosed. The digital department system includes a network management center, a network operating center that is coupled to the network management center, a multimedia server, a multicasting transmission medium coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, a listening post coupled to the multimedia server by the network, and one or more audio/video display capable of displaying video and capable of playing audio, the audio video display coupled to the multimedia server by the network. The audio and video content are stored in digitized files on the multimedia server for distribution throughout the site via the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. Stern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A digital department system comprising: a network management center that receives content providers' files and assigns at least one attribute for each content provider file used to designate certain of the content providers' files for distribution to certain end clients, the network management center including one or more databases of 1) digitized and cataloged content provider information and at least one of 2a) sponsor information and 2b) attract videos; a network operating center coupled to the network management center, the network operating center: receiving the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged content provider information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file from the network management center; creating designated files for distribution to end clients by compressing into a single file the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged product information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file; and sending the designated flies for distribution to certain end clients; a multimedia server, the multimedia server receiving and storing the designated files in a digitized form for distribution to certain end clients; a communications network coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, the communications network including a multicasting transmission medium; a plurality of end clients coupled to the multimedia server, each end client of the plurality of end clients receiving its designated files; and a plurality of multimedia displays coupled to the multimedia server.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A digital department system comprising: a network management center that receives content providers' files and assigns at least one attribute for each content provider file used to designate certain of the content providers' files for distribution to certain end clients, the network management center including one or more databases of 1) digitized and cataloged content provider information and at least one of 2a) sponsor information and 2b) attract videos; a network operating center coupled to the network management center, the network operating center: receiving the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged content provider information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file from the network management center; creating designated files for distribution to end clients by compressing into a single file the content providers' files, the digitized and cataloged product information and the at least one attribute for each content provider file; and sending the designated flies for distribution to certain end clients; a multimedia server, the multimedia server receiving and storing the designated files in a digitized form for distribution to certain end clients; a communications network coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, the communications network including a multicasting transmission medium; a plurality of end clients coupled to the multimedia server, each end client of the plurality of end clients receiving its designated files; and a plurality of multimedia displays coupled to the multimedia server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the digital department system includes a 32 bit operating system running in a windows environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the digital department system utilizes a distributed architecture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The digital department system of claim 3 , wherein the distributed architecture includes centralized content management and distribution control via satellite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The digital department system of claim 3 , wherein the distributed architecture includes centralized content management and distribution control via a wide-area network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The digital department system of claim 3 , wherein the distributed architecture includes centralized content management and distribution control via an internet connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The digital department system of claim 3 , wherein the distributed architecture includes centralized content management and distribution control via a series of microwave links.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the digital department system utilizes a distributed three-layer architecture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multimedia displays includes a multiple of collocated video display screens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multimedia displays includes a music video clip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the sponsor information includes one or more of sponsor commercials, sponsor bumpers, and sponsor graphics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The digital department system of claim 1 , wherein the attract videos include one or more of automatically played promotional videos, automatically played informational videos, and automatically played entertainment videos.
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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) | 2006-04-21 | 2006-10-21 | 2007-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-10-21 | 2011-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-21 | 2014-10-21 | 2015-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |