The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 1996
Filed:
May. 31, 1995
Randall L Bertram, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Television viewers are presented with the opportunity to be diverted during intervals such as display of commercials, delays pending initiation of a near video on demand signal stream, and the like. The diversions take the form of overlaying on a frozen or continuing moving frame of visual images various game playing constructs manipulable by the remote control used to perform other control functions for the display device. The display device may be a television receiver linked to a set top device, an intelligent television receiver, or a personal computer provided with television image reception and display capability. Overlaying occurs over a frozen frame in certain disclosed diversions and over moving images in others. The accompanying audio signal stream may also be modified.