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:
Apr. 07, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1995
David Anthony Lavallee, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Gregg S Foster, Seattle, WA (US);
Starwave Corporation, Bellevue, WA (US);
Abstract
A machine, method and computer-readable medium for allowing program information to be conveyed to the user in a linear fashion, while also allowing the user to request additional program information relating to a particular 'scene' that they are viewing. If a user is dissatisfied with the current scene they are viewing, they can request 'alternate' program information. This is accomplished by dividing the program information conveyed to a user into scenes, any of which may have additional program information associated with it. When additional program information is requested, the appropriate scene associated with the current scene is conveyed to the user. Conversely, if a user requests alternate program information, then the requesting scene is conveyed to the user. If there is no requesting scene, then the next scene at the same level is conveyed to the user.