Video on demand methods and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing interactive entertainment comprising:
- receiving a composite signal on a client terminal comprising at least one video on demand program, at least one interactive service, and a control instruction;
transmitting a selection request for an interactive game on a specific viewing channel;
receiving the game on the composite signal on a first transmission channel, the first transmission channel mapped to the specific viewing channel;
displaying the received game;
transmitting a pause request to pause the game;
receiving the control instruction comprising an instruction to receive a resumed playback of the game;
assigning a second transmission channel, on the same client terminal, to the specific viewing channel; and
displaying the resumed playback of the game on the specific viewing channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers'"'"' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.
178 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of providing interactive entertainment comprising:
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receiving a composite signal on a client terminal comprising at least one video on demand program, at least one interactive service, and a control instruction; transmitting a selection request for an interactive game on a specific viewing channel; receiving the game on the composite signal on a first transmission channel, the first transmission channel mapped to the specific viewing channel; displaying the received game; transmitting a pause request to pause the game; receiving the control instruction comprising an instruction to receive a resumed playback of the game; assigning a second transmission channel, on the same client terminal, to the specific viewing channel; and displaying the resumed playback of the game on the specific viewing channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer readable storage device encoded with computer readable instructions comprising instructions for performing a method comprising:
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receiving a composite signal comprising at least one video on demand channel, and at least one control instruction; transmitting a selection request for an interactive game program on a specific viewing channel; receiving the game program on the composite signal on a first transmission channel, the first transmission channel mapped to the specific viewing channel; displaying the received game program; transmitting a pause request to pause the game program; transmitting a resume request to resume playback of the game program; if a predetermined time period has passed, assigning a second transmission channel to the specific viewing channel; if the predetermined time period has not passed, maintaining the first transmission channel for the specific viewing channel; receiving a resumed playback of the game program on the second transmission channel; and displaying the resumed playback of the game program on the specific viewing channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for providing entertainment comprising:
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a display; a digital processor; memory; and the system performing a method comprising, receiving a composite signal on a client terminal comprising plural transmission channels; mapping a viewing channel to a specific transmission channel; displaying an interactive game on the viewing channel mapped to the specific transmission channel received on the composite signal; receiving a request from a user to control the displayed game; receiving a hypertext markup based user interface responsive to the request from the user to control the displayed game; displaying the hypertext markup based user interface; and the hypertext markup based user interface having an on-screen menu comprising a play control and a pause control; wherein the menu disappears if the play control is actuated, and the menu persists if the pause control is actuated; wherein if the pause control is actuated, the displayed game is paused and alternative temporary entertainment, unrelated to the displayed game, is displayed until the play control is actuated and wherein when the game is resumed it is received on a different transmission channel than that with which it was originally received. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification