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:
Feb. 15, 2011
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2000
Jim Barton, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Kevin Smith, Mountain View, CA (US);
David Chamberlin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Howard Look, Mountain View, CA (US);
Jim Barton, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Kevin Smith, Mountain View, CA (US);
David Chamberlin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Howard Look, Mountain View, CA (US);
TiVo Inc., Alviso, CA (US);
Abstract
Tags are inserted into a broadcast stream. The tags contain command and control information that a receiver acts upon. For example, tags may indicate start and end points of a program segment. The receiver may skip the segment automatically or in response to the viewer pressing a button. Or, the receiver may automatically replace commercial segments with new segments. As another example, menus, icons, and Web pages may be displayed based on tags. If a menu requires that the viewer exit from playback of program material, the receiver returns the viewer back to the same exit point when the interaction is complete. Menus and icons may be used to generate leads, generate sales, and schedule the recording of programs. As another example, an icon is displayed to indicate that an advertised program is available for recording. The viewer presses a single button to cause the receiver to schedule the recording.