Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with upstream communication – Server or headend
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2001-08-28
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2711)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with upstream communication
Server or headend
C725S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282715
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for telecommunication, specifically interactive telecommunication.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication between the user apparatus and the server is often not possible as a result of differences in the ways the apparatuses communicate.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide means enabling interactive communication along any chosen transmission medium between user apparatuses of various kinds and a server apparatus.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide means performing a minimum number of functions to enable communication between the user apparatus and the server apparatus.
According to the present invention a system is provided, characterized in that the coupling means comprise means for controlling the user apparatus based on information from the server apparatus and for controlling the server apparatus based on information from the user apparatus; and means for creating and for performing communication with the server apparatus and the user apparatus.
Furthermore, said system according to the present invention is characterized in that the coupling means comprises a Set-Top Unit (Set-Top Unit) and a physical medium converter, in that the means for controlling the user apparatus are present in the Set-Top Unit and comprise mainly a program for a dynamic process down-loaded from the server apparatus and stored in a RAM memory and in that means for creating communicating is a program for a static process stored in a ROM memory of the Set-Top Unit.
As a result of the above-mentioned characteristic properties of the system according to the invention, adjustment is achieved in two levels, namely adjustment of the Set-Top Unit to the transmission medium by the physical medium converter and adjustment of the communication between the Set-Top Unit and the server apparatus by programs in the Set-Top Unit originating from the server apparatus.
According to the present invention, a number of Set-Top Units can be provided as commercial products. Also in order to promote the development of interactive digital audio-video services, Set-Top Unit manufacturers will be left as free as possible to compete in the supply of these Set-Top Units. Therefore, only a minimal set of functionalities is defined in order to be incorporated in a standard. This set can be viewed as a “smart gateway” to interactive digital audio-video services.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5481542 (1996-01-01), Logston et al.
patent: 5512936 (1996-04-01), Burton et al.
patent: 5594726 (1997-01-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5659350 (1997-08-01), Hendricks et al.
patent: 5734853 (1998-03-01), Hendricks et al.
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Kessler Gordon
Kostak Victor R.
Sony Europa B.V.
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