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:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1997
Applicant:
Inventor:
Jeffrey Schindler, Sioux City, IA (US);
Assignee:
Gateway 2000, Inc., North Sioux City, SD (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F / ; G06F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
709204 ; 709223 ; 709229 ; 709233 ; 34082503 ; 345327 ; 348-7 ; 348552 ; 348564 ; 455-31 ; 455-51 ; 455-61 ; 455-63 ;
Abstract
The automatic linking to program-specific computer chat rooms is disclosed. A computer detects the channel selected on a corresponding tuner. By referencing the channel and the time and date in which the computer is operating against an electronic program guide, the computer is able to determine the specific program currently on the channel. A unique identification code for the program is sent to a central server. The server links the computer to a computer chat room specific to the program for the unique identification code. This enables computer users viewing the same program to automatically enter the same chat room and chat to one another.
Published as: