Method and system for data communication

• US 6,819,669 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rooney, Sean G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander O.
• Application Number:
  US09/819,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 370/390, 370/392, 370/516, 370/432, 370/470, 370/401, 370/519, 370/282, 370/471, 370/312, 370/316, 370/349, 370/515, 370/389, 370/395.21, 370/395.4, 370/395.52
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method, a system and a device for data communication between a sender and a plurality of recipients are provided to be used for interactive multimedia systems such as interactive television game shows. First, the sender transmits over a data network a first message. The first message causes a response message returned by one of the plurality of recipients to be delayed for a random period of time. Then, the sender broadcasts a second message asking the plurality of recipients for a response message. After having received the second message, each recipient initiates a response message. The response message is delayed for a random delay time. Thereafter, the response message is transmitted to the sender over the data network. Finally, the sender waits for a second period of time for response messages to arrive at the return address. A major advantage of the invention is a reduction of a peak load caused by the recipients'"'"' response messages.

Claims

1. A method for data communication between a sender and a plurality of recipients at least partly taking place over a data network, said method comprising:

transmitting over said data network a first message, whereby said first message contains a return address and information about the length of a first period of time and whereby said first message further causes a response message being sent to said return address by one of said plurality of recipients to be delayed for a random delay time the length of which being derived from the length of said first period of time;

broadcasting a second message asking said plurality of recipients for a response message;

waiting for at least a second period of time for said response messages to arrive at said return address, whereby the length of said second period of time is at least as long as the length of said first period of time.

2. The method for data communication according to claim 1, wherein said data network is formed by a cable television service.

3. The method for data communication according to claim 1, wherein said data network is formed by a computer network.

4. The method for data communication according to claim 3, wherein said computer network is formed by the Internet.

5. The method for data communication according to claim 4, wherein said first message is formed by elements of a web page.

6. The method for data communication according to claim 5, wherein said second message is broadcast via a television or radio channel.

7. The method for data communication according to claim 6, wherein said second message is broadcast to said plurality of recipients (100) substantially at the same instant of time.

8. The method for data communication according to claim 7, wherein the length of said first period of time is determined by dividing an estimated number of expected response messages by a number of response messages that can be handled in a given period of time.

9. The method for data communication according to claim 8, wherein the length of said random delay time is returned to said return address as part of the response messages.

19. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 1.

10. A method for data communication between a sender and a recipient at least partly taking place over a data network, said method comprising:

receiving over said data network a first message containing information about the length of a first period of time and a return address;

receiving a second message asking for a response message;

responding to the second message by initiating a response message to be sent;

delaying said response message for a random delay time derived from the length of said broadcast first period of time;

transmitting said response message to said return address over said data network.

11. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein said data network is formed by a cable television service.

12. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein said data network is formed by a computer network.

13. The method for data communication according to claim 12, wherein said computer network is formed by the Internet.

14. The method for data communication according to claim 13, wherein said first message is formed by elements of a web page.

15. The method for data communication according to claim 14 herein said second message is received via a television or radio channel.

16. The method for data communication according to claim 15 wherein the length of said random delay time is calculated using a pseudo random function.

17. The method for data communication according to claim 16 herein the length of said random period can vary between zero and the provided length of said first period of time.

18. The method for data communication according to claim 17, herein the length of said random delay time is returned to said return address as part of the response message.

28. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 10.

20. A system for data communication between a sender and a plurality of recipients at least partly taking place over a data network, said device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting over said data network a first message, whereby said first message contains a return address and information about the length of a first period of time and whereby said first message further causes a response message being sent to said return address by one of said plurality of recipients to be delayed for a random delay time derived from the length of said first period of time,

a transmitting facility for broadcasting a second message asking said plurality of recipients for a response message,

receiver for receiving said response messages, and

a timer for determining the length of a second period of time waiting for said response messages to arrive at said return address, whereby the length of said second period of time is at least as long as the length of said first period of time.

21. The system for data communication according to claim 20, wherein said data network is formed by a cable television service.

22. The system for data communication according to claim 20, wherein said data network is formed by a computer network.

23. The system for data communication according to claim 22, wherein said computer network is formed by the Internet.

24. The system for data communication according to claim 23, wherein said transmitter is formed by a server and said first message is formed by elements of a web page.

25. The system for data communication according to claim 24, wherein said second transmitting facility is formed by a television or radio channel.

26. The system for data communication according to claim 25, further comprising a calculation unit for calculating the length of said first period of time the length of which being determined by dividing an estimated number of expected response messages by a number of response messages that can be handled in a given period of time.

27. A device for data communication between a sender and a recipient at least partly taking place over a data network, said device comprising:

a connector connecting said device to said data network,

a receiver for receiving over said data network a first message containing information about the length of a first period of time and a return address,

a user interface for initiating a response message to be sent,

a random number generator generating the length of a random delay time derived from the length of said broadcast first period of time,

a timer for measuring a delay said response message getting delayed,

a transmitter for transmitting said response message to said return address over said data network.