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. 02, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1999
Andrew T. McFadden, Cupertino, CA (US);
Mark Wagner, San Mateo, CA (US);
Wei Huang, Mountain View, CA (US);
Dean J. Blackketter, San Francisco, CA (US);
Michael A. Killianey, San Mateo, CA (US);
Alan G. Bishop, Campbell, CA (US);
WEBTV Networks, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention involves transmission download of data to plural, mass storage medium-based remote users of content or software upgrades or multiple versions. Optionally provided are pre-download scheduling of one or more future download sessions and post-download remote scripted software execution by the remote clients. For purposes of more efficient use of the transmission link, low-volume scheduling information or content are transmitted within designated narrow-bandwidth sub-channels or trickle streams allocated within the broad bandwidth of the transmission channel and such allocation may be dynamic to vary the allocation based upon relative high-volume, high-speed and low-volume, low-speed demands. The invention is implemented in software residing primarily in the server computer connected with the transmission provider. The software schedules allotted bandwidth within the broadcast band of the transmission link and formats high-volume data for transmission within sub-allocation channels logically devised therein. Client software at the plural distributed home entertainment device sites reserves capacity on disk and receives such transmission data for storage thereon, optionally executing a downloaded execution script that may reconfigure the client software so that new options and features are available at the client site for operational enhancements as well as video program or content enhancements. Client software at the plural distributed home entertainment device sites reserves capacity on disk and receives such broadcast data for storage thereon, optionally executing a downloaded execution script that may reconfigure the client software.