Start signal for a computer program in a network environment with start signal of time information, program ID and CM data
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorKan Ebisawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This game machine system includes a set top box 51 as a receiving unit for receiving digital data distributed using a broadcast system or a communication system. In a game dedicated device 52, starting of a game software item is inhibited until a software start enable signal is received by the receiving unit. Next to the software start enable signal, data for substitution or insertion for data of part of the game software is sent. This data can be commercial ads. The game dedicated machine 52 can judge whether or not the commercial ads have been introduced into and are in operation in the game software and, if the commercial ads are not in the game software, the game dedicated machine 52 can be made so as to be out of operation.
Claims18
A data distribution system for distributing data to a plurality of receiving devices, comprising:
- means for recognizing at a server controlling computer a starting of a software program on a receiving side device upon reception at said server controlling computer of a supplied program identification information generated at said receiving side device;
- means for generating transmission data comprising at least a program start enable signal including time information, a program ID identifying the software program, and a CM data signal including current software program data, and means for comparing said time information with a clock at said receiving side device to determine if an error is within a pre-set allowable value so that said software program can be recognized as a current software program, thus enabling the continued operation of the current software program.
A data distribution method for distributing data to a plurality of receiving devices, comprising the steps of recognizing at a server controlling computer a starting of a software program on a receiving side device upon reception at said server controlling computer of a supplied program identification information generated at said receiving side device;
- generating transmission data comprising at least a program start enable signal including time information, a program ID identifying the software program, and a CM data signal including current software program data, and comparing said time information with a clock at said receiving side device to determine if an error is within a pre-set allowable value so that said software program can be recognized as a current software program, thus enabling the continued operation of the current software program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.