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. 04, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1999
Eric E. Del Sesto, Alameda, CA (US);
Charlie McCullough, Saratoga, CA (US);
Pat Ransil, Alameda, CA (US);
Houman Azarm, Oakland, CA (US);
Wink Communications, Inc., Alameda, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus facilitate control of interactive application execution through use of defined time periods. A broadcaster transmits a broadcast program, an associated interactive application, and at least one definition of a time period from a set including: a first time period, during which an option to execute the application may be offered to a viewer; a second time period, during which execution of the application may be started; and a third time period, during which the application may be executed. A viewer tunes to a channel associated with the broadcast program and interactive application. A broadcast receiver offers the viewer the option to execute the interactive application, if within the first defined time period. If the user elects to so execute, the broadcast receiver starts said execution, if within the second defined time period. If the interactive application continues to execute at the end of the third defined time period, the broadcast receiver retires the interactive application.