US Patent No: 6,496,981
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
System for converting media content for interactive TV use
Stats
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Dec 17, 2002
Issued date -
Sep 19, 1997
filing date -
08/933,666
serial no -
In Force
status
Importance
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Abstract
A system for allowing media content to be used as an interactive media program comprises: (a) media content in the form of successive image display frames indexed in a time sequence; (b) object mapping data specifying the locations of objects appearing in the display of media content which are to be rendered interactive; (c) linkages provided through an associated interactive media program from the objects specified by the object mapping data to interactive functions to be performed upon selection of the objects in the display; and (d) a user system for operating the interactive media program in conjunction with the display of the media content by selecting an object appearing in an image display frame and performing the interactive function linked thereto. The invention includes an authoring system for generating the object mapping data for the media content. In a preferred interactive TV system, media content, in the form of movies, TV programs, advertising, and the like, can be presented as interactive media programs by transmitting the TV content with object mapping data ("hot spots") to a set top box connected to a viewer's TV. The TV set top box has a utility stored therein for performing the interactive functions linked to the defined hot spots in the TV content upon user selection. Interactive TV programs can also be presented using a conventional TV set top box and remote control in conjunction with the current analog video content. For example, the analog video content may be transmitted to the viewer on a channel provided by a cable TV company, with the object mapping data and program linkages for interactive functions transmitted in the video blanking intervals (VBI) interleaved with the video frames.
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First Claim
Related Publications
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International Classification(s)
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Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Jun 17, 2014 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |