Message delivery method for interactive televideo system
First Claim
1. In an interactive televideo system having a central control node in bidirectional communication with plural viewer stations that include video-display sets operably coupled to interactive station controllers, the central control node interactive televideo system delivering programming over multiple channels to the plural viewer stations and receiving information from the interactive station controllers, a selected viewer station receiving selected programming on a selected programming channel and rendering the selected programming on a selected video display set, a method of delivering a message to the selected viewer station, comprising:
- transmitting a message signal over the interactive televideo system to the selected viewer station; and
generating a viewer message from the message signal on the selected video display set, the viewer message being generated over the selected programming.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a method of selectively delivering programming to a viewer station (e.g., a home) on an interactive television or televideo (IT) system. The method includes delivering a message to a selected viewer station having a selected video display set. The message may be delivered while the selected viewer station receives virtually any programming over the interactive televideo system, including selected programming that is chosen by a viewer at the selected viewer station and is carried on a selected programming channel. With reference to a preferred embodiment, the IT system transmits a message signal to the selected viewer station on a communication channel different from the channels carrying the programming, including the selected programming channel. The interactive station controller receives the message signal and generates from it a viewer message.
22 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In an interactive televideo system having a central control node in bidirectional communication with plural viewer stations that include video-display sets operably coupled to interactive station controllers, the central control node interactive televideo system delivering programming over multiple channels to the plural viewer stations and receiving information from the interactive station controllers, a selected viewer station receiving selected programming on a selected programming channel and rendering the selected programming on a selected video display set, a method of delivering a message to the selected viewer station, comprising:
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transmitting a message signal over the interactive televideo system to the selected viewer station; and
generating a viewer message from the message signal on the selected video display set, the viewer message being generated over the selected programming. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
transmitting the message signal over the interactive televideo system to plural viewer stations that have associated video display sets and receive programming over multiple channels; and
generating the viewer message from the message signal on the associated video display sets over the programming received over multiple channels.
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10. The method of claim 1 in which the selected programming includes a computer-executed application and generating the viewer message includes suspending execution of the application.
Specification