Patent ID: 6215484
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: G06F,H04H,H04N

Abstract:
An interactive television system comprising:a subscriber television reception system for receiving interactive television programming, the interactive television programming comprising one or more interactive television program signals placed at one or more communication frequencies, each interactive television program signal comprising a data stream containing a plurality of digitally compressed video signals, the reception system comprising:a user interface for receiving subscriber selections;a microprocessor, connected to the user interface, for selecting one of the video signals and directing a seamless switch to the selected video signal;a multi-frequency receiver, for tuning to one or more frequencies and demodulating an interactive television program signal on the tuned-to frequency;a means for demultiplexing the demodulated interactive television program signal to obtain a selected video signal;a memory for storing the selected video signal; anda decompressor/decoder for decompressing the selected video signal and converting the decompressed video signal into an analog television signal;a means for displaying the selected video signal, wherein the seamless switch results in a transition to the selected video signal on the display means without a visually perceptible delay; andwherein subscribers in said interactive television system independently select and view said interactive television programming.