Interavtive applications

• US 6,806,889 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Two-Way Media Ltd
• Inventors: Kydd, Richard Andrew, Cornwell, Simon Anthony Vivian, Malaure, Jason Robert, Hamon, John Francis, Tims, Matthew Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/453,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716-718, 345/733, 345/740, 345/744, 345/748, 345/749, 345/753, 345/756, 345/758, 463/40-43, 725/37-61
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method of supplying information from a central source (1) to a plurality of remote user interfaces (9) relating to an interactive application. The method comprises:

i) transmitting application data associated with the interactive application to the user interfaces (9); and,

ii) thereafter, transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces (9) to enable the interactive application to begin substantially simultaneously at each user interface.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the apparatus comprising:

i) means for transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, the applications data associated with the interactive application, the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running;

ii) means for transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and

iii) means for transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces to cause the interactive application at each user interface, that selected the interactive application, to begin at the same time after the scheduled start time.

2. User interface apparatus for use with apparatus according to claim 1, the user interface apparatus comprising a processor means for implementing an interactive application and being adapted to be responsive to the receipt of a real time start signal to initiate at least the interactive part of the application.

3. A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising:

i. transmitting application data to the remote user interfaces, associated with the interactive application,

the interactive application relating to a television program which is broadcast while the interactive application is running;

ii. transmitting electronic program guide data to the user interfaces, the electronic program guide data indicating the scheduled start time of the television program; and

iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interface, the real time start signal causing the interactive applications to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein step i) comprises repeatedly transmitting the application data from a predetermined time before the interactive application is to begin.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising broadcasting an “

application available”

signal at the predetermined time to all the remote user interfaces.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the “

application available”

signal is broadcast as part of an electronic program guide.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein each user interface increments an application time value which is initiated when the application begins.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the application data comprises a set of rules associated with the application.

9. A method according to claim 3, wherein the application data comprises executable computer code.

10. A method according to claim 3, wherein the interactive application comprises an interactive game.

11. A method of supplying information from a central source to a plurality of remote user interfaces relating to an interactive application, the method comprising:

i. transmitting application data associated with the interactive application to the user interfaces;

ii. advertising the scheduled start time of the interactive application; and

iii. transmitting a real time start signal to the user interfaces, the real time start signal causing the interactive application to begin at a time after the scheduled start time and at the same time, at each user interface that selected the interactive application.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the real time start signal defines a time in the future at which the interactive application begins.