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. 29, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1996
Mahesh Balakrishnan, Briarcliff Manor, NY (US);
Prerana Vaidya, Briarcliff Manor, NY (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A system for implementing an interactive broadcast program which includes a transmitter for transmitting a multiplexed data stream which includes a main program and a plurality of different commercials, and a receiver (e.g., a digital television receiver) configured to receive the multiplexed data stream. The receiver includes a display device (e.g., a television monitor) and, facilities responsive to a user action for causing the display device to display a selected one of the plurality of different commercials during a commercial interruption in the main program. Also disclosed is a system for implementing an interactive broadcast program which includes a transmitter for transmitting a multiplexed data stream which includes an interactive main program comprised of a plurality of main program segments including at least a first main program segment and a plurality of different second main program segments, and a receiver. The receiver (e.g., an analog television receiver equipped with a digital set-top box) includes a display device (e.g., a CRT), and facilities responsive to a user action for causing the display device to branch to a selected one of the plurality of different second main program segments at a branching point of the first main program segment.