Simulating two way connectivity for one way data streams for multiple parties including the use of proxy

• US 6,249,914 B1
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Harrison, Edward R., Call, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/151,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 348/12, 348/6, 348/10, 348/74, 348/714, 348/552, 455/6.3, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 725/100, 725/110
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A host device is disclosed. The host device includes a processor and a control mechanism. The processor operates to receive primary and associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, selectively cause the separated associated data to be stored, and selectively cause the stored associated data to be rendered on a number of attached clients. The processor also operates the control mechanism to control a separate display apparatus to separately receive and render the primary data.

Claims

1. A set top box comprising:

a processor to receive primary and associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, cause the separated associated data to be stored, and then selectively rendered on a plurality of clients attached to the set top box, responsive to requests received from the attached clients; and

a control mechanism coupled to the processor that operates to facilitate the processor to control a separate display apparatus to separately receive and render the primary data.

2. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage medium coupled to the processor to store the separated associated data.

3. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, further comprising one or more communication interfaces coupled to the processor to facilitate communication between the processor and the attached clients, including said selectively rendering.

4. The set top box as set forth in claim 3, wherein the one or more communication interfaces include at least a selected one or a wire and a wireless communication interface.

5. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor further manages attachment of the clients, validating eligibility of requesting clients to attach to the set top box.

6. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor further determines whether the separated associated data are cacheable or non-cacheable.

7. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor further generates announcement messages for the attached clients for non-cacheable associated data.

8. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor further selectively retrieves the stored associated data responsive to associated data requests from the attached clients.

9. The set top box as set forth in claim 8, wherein the processor further filters the retrieved associated data before causing the retrieved associated data to be rendered on the attached clients.

10. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor further customizes filter parameters responsive to filter parameter set up requests from the attached clients.

11. The set top box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises a computer.

12. A system comprising:

a set top box to receive primary and associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, selectively cause the associated data to be stored, and selectively cause the stored associated data to be rendered on a plurality of client devices, the set top box further operates to cause a separate display device to separately receive and render the primary data; and

the client devices, which are communicatively coupled to the set top box, to request selected ones of the stored associated data, and render returned ones of the associated data from the set top box.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the set top box comprises:

a processor to receive the primary and the associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, selectively cause the separated associated data to be stored, and then selectively render on a plurality of clients attached to the host device, responsive to requests received from the attached clients; and

a control mechanism coupled to the processor to facilitate the processor to control the separate display apparatus to separately receive and render the primary data.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the set top box further includes a storage medium coupled to the processor to store the separated associated data.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the set top box further includes one or more communication interfaces coupled to the processor to facilitate communication between the processor and the attached client devices, including said selectively rendering.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the one or more communication interfaces include at least a selected one of a wire and a wireless communication interface.

17. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor further manages attachment of the client devices, validating eligibility of requesting clients to attach to the host device.

18. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor further determines whether the separated associated data are cacheable or non-cacheable.

19. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor further generates announcement messages for the attached clients for non-cacheable associated data.

20. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor further selectively retrieves the stored associated data responsive to associated data requests from the attached client devices.

21. The system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the processor further filters the retrieved associated data before causing the retrieved associated data to be rendered on the attached clients.

22. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor further customizes filter parameters responsive to filter parameter set up requests from the attached clients.

23. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the set top box comprises a computer.

24. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the separate display device comprises a television.