Method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an interactive information distribution system
US5966162A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4384
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency within an information distribution system. The apparatus comprises a set top terminal that requests and receives information from an information server within the information distribution system. The information is generally displayed upon a conventional television that is coupled to the set top terminal. The set top terminal contains a central processing unit and an information stream decoder that are programmed to implement the method. The method is a routine which is executed when a subscriber selects certain functions, usually via a remote control, that are available for the set top terminal to perform. Upon execution, the method recalls a predefined image from memory and begins to fade the presently displayed image into a predefined image, e.g., a white screen. Simultaneously, the presently playing sound is also faded into the predefined sound, e.g., no sound. The decoder within the set top terminal is reset to flush from its buffer and residual sound or video information from the previously decoded video. Lastly, once the new video stream has arrived and begins to be decoded, the set top terminal fades up from the pre-…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.