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. 22, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 23, 1997
James Edwin Hailey, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Michael Wayne Johnson, Indianapolis, IN (US);
James Edwin Hailey, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Michael Wayne Johnson, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Thomson Licensing, Boulogne-Billancourt, FR;
Abstract
A video decoder system operates in different configurations to request and acquire information using one or more communication links and different communication protocols. A method for acquiring information requested by a User via a program guide selection involves retrieving access data from memory. The access data is retrieved in response to a User selection made from options shown on a displayed program guide. A data identifier is derived from program map data associating the data identifier and the User selection. Information is identified in an input signal in response to the access data using the identifier. The identified information is retrieved from the input signal to produce a retrieved information output and the retrieved information is formatted for display. The decoder may establish a Request communication link with a first device using the access data. In addition, the decoder may establish a communication link with another device using a communication protocol derived from an information database.