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:
Nov. 04, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2000
Robert C. Booth, Jamison, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
The Domain Name System (DNS), which has been used for mapping names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, is adapted to a broadcast environment, such as a broadband cable or satellite television network. A number of master files are stored on a broadcast name server that define zones of domains in a domain name space, which may include a television-related domain, with sub-domains for different service providers (e.g., ABC, HBO), and a cable domain, with sub-domains for applications, administrative functions and operating system-functions, e.g., at a set-top terminal. The television sub-domains may have their own sub-domains. For example, “ABC” may have the sub-domains “NEWS”, “WEATHER”, and “SPORTS.” The master files are used to form broadcast resource records, which include an identifier for broadcast services (e.g., “ABC”) or other data sources, and which are transmitted to end user terminal devices periodically, or in response to a query. The identifier identifies, e.g., an Internet Protocol address, a name, or a virtual channel that are associated with a broadcast or interactive service.