Patent · US Expired

Method for flow scheduling

US6738972B1 · kind B1 · utility

46Cited by
21References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 30, 1999
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8166
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method implemented in an interactive television system for scheduling delivery of modules of interactive television applications from a broadcast station to a receiving station. In one embodiment, a list of modules and corresponding start times, end times and durations is provided. Minimum beginning times and maximum beginning times are determined for each of the modules. The modules in the list are prioritized, first according to minimum beginning times and then according to maximum beginning times. A module having the earliest maximum beginning time is selected from those modules for which the minimum beginning time is equal or prior to a current time. A portion of the selected module is scheduled. After a portion of a module is scheduled, the information in the module list is updated, the modules in the list are re-prioritized, and another module is selected for scheduling. This is repeated until all of the modules have been scheduled.

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