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:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1997
John R Thompson, LaQuinta, CA (US);
Craig E Trivelpiece, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Steve E Trivelpiece, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Prevue Interactive, Inc., Tulsa, OK (US);
Abstract
An interactive video guide system is provided in which nationally generic guide data, local guide data, and interactive video guide object code are transmitted to set-top decoder units located in customers' homes. Initially, nationally generic data or program information from a variety of sources is gathered together via modem at a central processing unit, and then manipulated, parsed and formatted into a national database compatible for use by a head end computer. This information is typically collected and updated on a daily basis. The manipulated nationally generic data is then transferred via modem to a transmitter for uplink to a selected telecommunications satellite. The satellite signal is then received by one or more local satellite CATV head end receivers which then forward a video base band signal carrying the nationally generic data to associated local head end computers. At the local head end computer, the nationally generic data is again manipulated, winnowed, parsed and processed to suit the requirements of the particular local market. Local guide data and interactive video guide object code may then be added to the nationally generic data and then the combined data and object code is transmitted over the CATV system to one or more decoder units in the consumers' homes.