Playback of interactive programs
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a broadcast signal, wherein said broadcast signal contains a program and wherein said program contains one or more interactive applications;
storing said program on a storage device;
initiating playback of said program from said storage device; and
launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program;
wherein storing said program includes storing an interactive application data stream of said program, wherein said storing of said data stream comprises extracting from said program one or more data objects and storing said data objects on said storage device as a set of files, wherein initiating playback of said data stream comprises retrieving one or more of said set of files from said storage device and wherein detecting said one of said one or more interactive applications comprises comparing a validity range associated with said one of said one or more applications to a current playback index and determining that said current playback index is within said validity range.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.
112 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a broadcast signal, wherein said broadcast signal contains a program and wherein said program contains one or more interactive applications; storing said program on a storage device; initiating playback of said program from said storage device; and launching a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications in response to detecting said first interactive application during said playback of said program; wherein storing said program includes storing an interactive application data stream of said program, wherein said storing of said data stream comprises extracting from said program one or more data objects and storing said data objects on said storage device as a set of files, wherein initiating playback of said data stream comprises retrieving one or more of said set of files from said storage device and wherein detecting said one of said one or more interactive applications comprises comparing a validity range associated with said one of said one or more applications to a current playback index and determining that said current playback index is within said validity range. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method comprising:
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providing a program stored on a storage device, wherein said program contains an interactive application; initiating playback of said program from said storage device; launching said interactive application; initiating a special play mode of said program; conveying a notification signal to said interactive application during said special play mode; wherein during said special play mode, a current playback index changes from a first value to a second value; determining whether events affecting the state of said interactive application would have been encountered in a normal play mode between said first value and said second value; generating signals corresponding to said events; and conveying said signals to said application. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising
providing a program stored on a storage device, wherein said program contains an interactive application; -
initiating playback of said program from said storage device; launching said interactive application; initiating a special play mode of said program; conveying a notification signal to said interactive application during said special play mode; indicating to a receiver on which said interactive application is executing whether said interactive application is configured to operate when a said special play mode is initiated; notifying said interactive application of said special play mode in response to detecting said interactive application is configured to operate during said special play mode; and terminating said interactive application when said special play mode is used in response to detecting said interactive application is not configured to operate during said special play mode. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A device comprising:
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a receiver; and a storage device coupled to said receiver;
wherein said storage device is configured to store a program data stream including one or more interactive application data streams and to provide said program data stream to said receiver for playback;wherein said receiver is configured to detect and launch said one or more interactive applications; and wherein said storage device is configured to store said program data stream as a set of files;
wherein said receiver is configured to retrieve one of said set of files containing interactive applications;
wherein said receiver is configured to compare validity ranges associated with said interactive applications to a current playback index; and
wherein said receiver is configured to launch ones of said interactive applications for which said associated validity range includes said current playback index. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A device comprising:
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a receiver; and a storage device coupled to said receiver;
wherein said storage device is configured to store a program data stream including one or more interactive application data streams and to provide said program data stream to said receiver for playback;wherein said receiver is configured to detect and launch said one or more interactive applications; and wherein said receiver is configured to play back said program using a special playback mode between a first playback index and a second playback index;
wherein said receiver is configured to determine whether one or more events affecting the state of said program would be encountered in a normal playback mode between said first playback index and said second playback index;
wherein if said one or more events would be encountered in said normal playback mode, said receiver is configured to generate one or more signals indicative of said one or more events and to provide said one or more signals to said program.
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16. A device comprising:
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a receiver; and a storage device coupled to said receiver;
wherein said storage device is configured to store a program data stream including one or more interactive application data streams and to provide said program data stream to said receiver for playback;wherein said receiver is configured to detect and launch said one or more interactive applications; and wherein said receiver is configured to receive a notification from a first interactive application of said one or more interactive applications indicating whether said first interactive application is configured to operate in special playback modes;
wherein if said first interactive application is configured to operate in special playback modes, said receiver is configured to provide a notification of said special playback mode to said first interactive application when said special playback mode is used; and
wherein if said first interactive application is not configured to operate in special playback modes, said receiver is configured to terminate said first interactive application when said special playback mode is used. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification