System and method for persistent storage of common user information for interactive television using a centrally located repository

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to an interactive television platform that includes several disparate user applications such as games, weather, banking and e-mail, and specifically to an apparatus and method for persistently storing subscriber information related to the interactive television applications remotely in a set-top box and in a single centrally located repository. This allows common user information used by multiple disparate applications to be shared among said applications to ease the burden of data entry of the user.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic satellite television components incorporating the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the architecture for the transmission of data in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a screen shot of the main menu of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the basic system architecture for the provision of an interactive satellite television service is shown at 10. In the diagram, interactive television service provider utilizes satellites; however, the television service may be provided by cable broadcast or equivalent system. In a conventional interactive television service, content is broadcast from a broadcast center 15 at a remote location. The content is uplinked to one or more communication satellites 20. Also uplinked are ancillary data and computer programs for interactive television applications as well as a registration application. A subscriber or user 25, at a location within the satellite's footprint, receives the broadcast via a satellite dish antenna 30. The signal is then passed on to the user's set-top box (STB) 35, or Integrated Receiver/Decoder (IRD). The STB 35 is connected to a graphical user interface (GUI), such as the user's television set 40 or other data viewing device via a standard connection such as a serial data cable 45. Interacting with the downloaded programs, the user then inputs pertinent data for the registration application into data storage within the STB 35 by a keyboard, remote or equivalent device. The data is collected, and initially stored in a local memory storage device 60 within the STB 35, such as RAM or FLASH memory, as a local registry. It can then be transmitted, via traditional data communication device, preferably via a phone line and modem 50, to a central repository 100, which is preferably in electronic communication with the original broadcast center 15. In the preferred embodiment, the transmission of the data is performed in a call-back to a predetermined telephone number, giving the user a unique point of presence (PoP) to the system 10.

#In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the registration information can be transmitted either to the broadcast center 15 or the central repository 100 via traditional, wireless communication device.

#This invention provides a method for persistently storing user information related to registration for interactive television applications in a single centrally located repository. A computer program comprising a series of computer instructions that facilitates registration for applications is transmitted to and stored in a registry in a digital storage medium, located in the STB 35 itself.