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System manager and hypertext control interface for interactive cable television system

  • US 6,305,020 B1
  • Filed: 12/09/1997
  • Issued: 10/16/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system manager for use with an interactive cable system, the cable system having (i) an information service network, for delivering information services to subscriber televisions, (ii) a plurality of home interface controllers, each home interface controller associated with a subscriber television and having a data transceiver operative over a data communications link to the headend, (iii) a plurality of subscriber selection devices, each such device associated with a home interface controller and in communication with the data transceiver thereof, for permitting subscriber interaction, and (iv) a plurality of interactive controllers, disposed at the headend, each interactive controller in assignable television communication over the network with a subscriber television and in data communication with a subscriber selection device, the system manager comprising:

  • a call set-up server to receive and handle an initial data exchange with a calling home interface controller; and

    a first service allocation server to pass communication and control associated with the calling home interface controller to one of a plurality of first application processors, each first application processor being one of the interactive controllers, to provide a first information service;

    wherein the call set-up server and the first service allocation server operate as independent processes;

    a second service allocation server to pass communication and control associated with a home interface controller seeking a second information service to an available one of a plurality of second application processors, each second application processor being one of the interactive controllers, to provide the second information service;

    wherein the second service allocation server operates as an independent process.

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