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:
Oct. 28, 1997
Filed:
May. 05, 1995
Jonathan N Sposato, Isaquah, WA (US);
Jon B Kimmich, S.E. Bellevue, WA (US);
Jeffrey Aaron Lubetkin, Seattle, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A graphical viewer interface appropriate for children's programming provided through an interactive television system for running programs ordered by the viewer. The inventive system includes a method for displaying on a television screen a plurality of control items including a character window, an episode window, an order button, and a scram button, wherein the viewer may navigate the focus among the various control items by manipulating a remote control. The viewer browses among options, and orders options for viewing using a handheld remote control. The character window displays one among a plurality of cartoon characters. The episode window displays a scene from one among a plurality of cartoon episodes within a category of cartoon episodes featuring the character displayed in the first window. The scene displayed in the second window is a single frame from the cartoon episode depicting a 'key defining moment' that differentiates the selected cartoon from all other cartoons featuring the same character. The viewer orders a cartoon episode for viewing by first selecting a desired character using the character window, then selecting a desired episode using the episode window, and then selecting and executing the order button.