Patent · US Expired

Message delivery method for interactive televideo system

US5874985A · kind A · utility

172Cited by
5References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 1997
Grant dateFeb 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/814
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of selectively delivering programming to a viewer station (e.g., a home) on an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. The method includes delivering a message to a selected viewer station having a selected video display set. The message may be delivered while the selected viewer station receives virtually any programming over the interactive televideo system, including selected programming that is chosen by a viewer at the selected viewer station and is carried on a selected programming channel. With reference to a preferred embodiment, the IT system transmits a message signal to the selected viewer station on a communication channel different from the channels carrying the programming, including the selected programming channel. The interactive station controller receives the message signal and generates from it a viewer message.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.