Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for purchasing upgraded media features for programming transmissions

US6157377A · kind A · utility

209Cited by
4References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1998
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/84
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for purchasing media features for programming transmissions. A selection is sent to a server system to buy an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission. The server system automatically coordinates purchasing the media feature from a programming transmission source and providing the media feature from the programming transmission source. In one embodiment, an entertainment system includes a user interface from which a viewer selects an upgraded media feature for a programming transmission, wherein the programming transmission with the upgraded media feature is provided to the entertainment system.

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