Patents Represented by Attorney Workman Nidegger
  • Patent number: 7174562
    Abstract: An interactive television system includes “connected” receiver units capable of establishing bi-directional connections to remote information stores, such as Web servers, and “disconnected” receiver units unequipped to make such connections. The system supports the use of broadcast triggers that include connectivity values indicating whether an information resource identified by a trigger refers to “connected content” or “disconnected content.” The term “connected content” refers to information resources that require bi-directional connections to remote information stores; the term “disconnected content” refers to information resources, such as a locally stored program guide, that do not require such bi-directional connections. Disconnected receiver units identify and reject connected-content triggers by examining connectivity values broadcast as part of triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Leak, Daniel J. Zigmond, Dean J. Blackketter