US6806889B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interavtive applications
Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1999-12-03
•
Granted: 2004-10-19
•
Expires: 2019-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of supplying information from a central source ( 1 ) to a plurality of remote user interfaces ( 9 ) relating to an interactive application. The method comprises: i) transmitting application data associated with the interactive application to the user interfaces ( 9 ); and, ii) thereafter, transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces ( 9 ) to enable the interactive application to begin substantially simultaneously at each user interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason Robert Malaure
- 👤 Richard Andrew Kydd
- 👤 Simon Anthony Vivian Cornwell
- 👤 John Francis Hamon
- 👤 Matthew Edward Tims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/50; H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/23614; H04N21/23617; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26283; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/4348; H04N21/4349; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4781; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/6543; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the apparatus comprising: i) means for transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, the applications data associated with the interactive application, the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running; ii) means for transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and iii) means for transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces to cause the interactive application at each user interface, that selected the interactive application, to begin at the same time after the scheduled start time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the apparatus comprising: i) means for transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, the applications data associated with the interactive application, the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running; ii) means for transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and iii) means for transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces to cause the interactive application at each user interface, that selected the interactive application, to begin at the same time after the scheduled start time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
User interface apparatus for use with apparatus according to claim 1 , the user interface apparatus comprising a processor means for implementing an interactive application and being adapted to be responsive to the receipt of a real time start signal to initiate at least the interactive part of the application.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising: i. transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, associated with the interactive application, the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running; ii. transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interface, the real time start signal causing the interactive applications to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising: i. transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, associated with the interactive application, the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running; ii. transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interface, the real time start signal causing the interactive applications to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein step i) comprises repeatedly transmitting the application data from a predetermined time before the interactive application is to begin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4 , further comprising broadcasting an “application available” signal at the predetermined time to all the remote user interfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 , wherein the “application available” signal is broadcast as part of an electronic program guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each user interface increments an application time value which is initiated when the application begins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the application data comprises a set of rules associated with the application.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the application data comprises executable computer code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the interactive application comprises an interactive game.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising: i. transmitting application data associated with the interactive application to the user interfaces; ii. advertising the scheduled start time of the interactive application; and iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces, the real time start signal causing the interactive application to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising: i. transmitting application data associated with the interactive application to the user interfaces; ii. advertising the scheduled start time of the interactive application; and iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces, the real time start signal causing the interactive application to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein the real time start signal defines a time in the future at which the interactive application begins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6014184A
Cited
US5630757A
Cited
EP0714684A1
Cited
US5630119A
Cited
WO1997008892A2
Cited
US5936661A
Cited
US5695400A
Cited
US5838314A
Cited
US6177931B1
Cited
EP0905928A1
Cited
US6151626A
Cited
US6287199B1
Cited
US6312336B1
Cited
US6446262B1
Cited
US6392664B1
Cited
US6585590B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-10-19 | 2008-04-19 | 2008-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-19 | 2012-04-19 | 2012-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-19 | 2016-04-19 | 2016-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |