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:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1995
Bruce Kostreski, Wheaton, MD (US);
Henry G Hudson, Jr, Annapolis, MD (US);
Nick Davis, Warrenton, VA (US);
Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc., Arlington, VA (US);
Abstract
Dynamic programming of a digital entertainment terminal (DET) facilitates operation of the terminal to offer a variety of functionally different broadband services. The terminal includes a network interface module which couples the terminal to a specific type of communication network for receiving a digital broadband channel. The DET downloads on a narrowband signaling channel a VIP program map that identifies the available video information service providers (VIPs) on the basis of the location of their corresponding software control signals. The software control signals are transmitted cyclically to enable access by a random DET at any time. A program memory captures the VIP program map and at least a portion of the software control signals received over the digital broadband channel as software executable by the control processor during turn-on of the DET. When a user presses a GUIDE button on a remote control service, the DET displays the available information service providers in accordance with the VIP program map, thereby enabling the user to conveniently access the broadband services offered by the selected information service provider.