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:
Jul. 11, 2006
Filed:
May. 21, 2002
Patrick M. Sheehan, Jamison, PA (US);
Michael G. Cristofalo, Doyelstown, PA (US);
Patrick M. Sheehan, Jamison, PA (US);
Michael G. Cristofalo, Doyelstown, PA (US);
ACTV, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention involves a system, apparatus, and method for providing private in-band data to digital set-top boxes in a broadcast environment. In one example, a digital set-top box conforming to the present invention includes one or more programmatic identifiers, such as a manufactures identification, a product identification, and software application identifications. On a channel and at a time, the set-top box receives a broadcast transmission of in-band update data, such as profile data or software code, with matching identifiers. Upon receipt of the broadcast transmission having matching identifiers, the in-band update data is stored in a memory of the set-top box or the appropriate application is modified.