Method of and client device for interactive television communication
First Claim
1. A client device, comprising:
- a connection interface operable to connect to a server through a network;
a receiver operable to receive content data for displaying content;
a data storage unit operable to store icon identification data sets that each corresponds to a different icon;
a display unit operable to display the content based on the content data, and to display icon buttons that represent the icons;
a selection unit enabling a first user to select a desired one of the icon buttons; and
a transmitter operable to transmit a request to the server, the request including the icon identification data set that corresponds to the icon represented by the selected icon button, and a command that the server transmit the icon identification data set to another client device connected to the server.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television system includes a plurality of client devices connected to a server through a network. The client devices display broadcast contents based on received broadcast data. Icon buttons are displayed superimposed on the displayed broadcast contents. Each icon button represents a different icon. When one of the displayed icon buttons is selected at one of the client devices, then the client device sends a request to the server, asking to execute, at another client device, an icon represented by the selected icon button. When the server receives the request over the network, the server sends icon identification data that corresponds to the icon over the network to the other client device. The other client device executes the icon based on the received icon identification data.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A client device, comprising:
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a connection interface operable to connect to a server through a network;
a receiver operable to receive content data for displaying content;
a data storage unit operable to store icon identification data sets that each corresponds to a different icon;
a display unit operable to display the content based on the content data, and to display icon buttons that represent the icons;
a selection unit enabling a first user to select a desired one of the icon buttons; and
a transmitter operable to transmit a request to the server, the request including the icon identification data set that corresponds to the icon represented by the selected icon button, and a command that the server transmit the icon identification data set to another client device connected to the server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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24. A method of interactive television communication between a plurality of client devices connected to a server through a network, comprising:
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receiving over the network from the client devices information on a television viewing status of the client devices;
preparing a buddy list of client devices for one of the client devices, the buddy list including the information on the television viewing status of the client devices in the buddy list;
sending the information on the television viewing status of the client devices in the buddy list over the network to the one client device;
receiving a request over the network from the one client device to execute a desired icon at a particular client device in the buddy list; and
sending icon identification data corresponding to the desired icon over the network to the particular client device in the buddy list.
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50. A method of interactive television communication between a plurality of client devices connected to a server through a network, comprising:
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receiving content data at a first one of the client devices;
displaying content based on the content data received at the first one of the client devices;
displaying icon buttons each representing a different icon;
selecting one of the icon buttons representing a desired icon;
sending a request from the first one of the client devices to the server, the request instructing that the desired icon be executed at another one of the client devices;
receiving the request at the server over the network;
sending icon identification data corresponding to the desired icon over the network to the another one of the client devices;
receiving the icon identification data at the another one of the client devices; and
executing the desired icon at the another one of the client devices based on the icon identification data. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification