Patent ID: 6252586
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
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 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;means for independently receiving and demodulating an interactive program signal from one or more communication frequencies;means for demultiplexing received interactive program signal into two video signals;a pair of digital video buffers, each buffer receiving one video signal from the demultiplexing means and buffering the demultiplexed video signal;a pair of decompressor/decoders, each decompressor/decoder connected to one digital video buffer, for decompressing the buffered video signals and converting the decompressed signals into standard video signals;a pair of synchronization means, each synchronization means connected to the decompressor/decoder, for synchronizing the standard video signals; anda vertical blanking interval switch, connected to each synchronization means, for switching between the synchronized signals during the vertical blanking interval of the current synchronized signal;a means, connected to the vertical blanking interval switch, for displaying said selected video signal, wherein the seamless switch to the selected video signal results in a transition without a visually perceptible delay; andwherein subscribers in said interactive television system independently select and view said interactive television programming.