Prior art

The following is an analysis of prior art cited in US Patent 9,055,255.

Claims of US9055255

For context, the independent claims of US9055255 describe:

• Claim 1 (Method): Running a live TV application on an intelligent TV to control interactive user functions, presenting live TV broadcast content to a first portion of the display, receiving a live TV application input, determining a live TV application feature to present, and presenting the live TV application feature to a second portion of the display, where the second portion overlaps at least a portion of the live TV broadcast content.
• Claim 9 (Computer Readable Medium): A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions to perform the method of Claim 1.
• Claim 10 (System): An intelligent TV with a display and tuner, an input device, memory, and a microprocessor configured to perform the method of Claim 1.

The core innovative elements revolve around simultaneously displaying live TV broadcast content and an interactive live TV application feature, where the application feature overlaps the broadcast content, and user input controls interactive functions via this application feature.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US9055255

Identifying the "most relevant" prior art often involves a detailed claim-by-claim analysis. However, based on the abstract and general nature of US9055255 (presenting an interactive application overlaying live TV), prior art that discloses displaying additional information or interactive elements on top of a television program would be highly relevant. Many of the cited patents by Kameyama et al. and Yuen et al. fall into this category, focusing on interactive television systems and user interfaces.

Here's an analysis of a selection of cited patents, focusing on those most likely to anticipate the core elements of US9055255:

U.S. Patent Documents

1. US 5,373,312 A

• Full Citation: US 5,373,312 A to Yuen et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 13, 1994
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system for providing an interactive television program guide. It allows users to browse program listings and select programs for viewing, potentially displaying the guide as an overlay or picture-in-picture with the current television program.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 9, and 10 related to displaying an interactive user interface (program guide) simultaneously with broadcast content and receiving user input to interact with it. Specifically, the concept of an "application" (the program guide) controlling "interactive user functions" (program selection) and being "presented ... to a second portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display overlaps at least a portion of the presented live TV broadcast content" could be found here.

2. US 6,654,964 B1

• Full Citation: US 6,654,964 B1 to Ozer et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 25, 2003
• Brief Description: This patent describes an interactive multimedia system that allows a user to access services such as video-on-demand, interactive television programming, and internet services. It includes a user interface for navigating these options.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates claims 1, 9, and 10 by disclosing an interactive system on a television that offers various services (applications) and responds to user input. If its user interface can overlay or be presented alongside live broadcast content, it could anticipate the simultaneous display and interactive control aspects.

3. US 6,950,984 B1

• Full Citation: US 6,950,984 B1 to Kameyama et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 27, 2005
• Brief Description: This patent details an interactive television system providing on-screen displays (OSDs) for various functions, such as electronic program guides, video-on-demand, and interactive advertisements. The system uses a client device (e.g., set-top box) to generate these OSDs and allow user interaction with them while watching television.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly addresses interactive television with on-screen displays. The "on-screen displays" could be considered "live TV application features" that "overlap at least a portion of the presented live TV broadcast content." The system's ability to receive user input and control functions via these OSDs directly aligns with claims 1, 9, and 10 of US9055255.

4. US 7,412,713 B2

• Full Citation: US 7,412,713 B2 to Ozer et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 12, 2008
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for an interactive program guide, including displaying program information in various formats and allowing user interaction for content selection and control. It further addresses the presentation of such guides in conjunction with a main video program.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 5,373,312 and US 6,950,984, this patent directly deals with interactive program guides that would overlay or appear alongside live TV. The "interactive program guide" acts as a "live TV application" enabling "interactive user functions" (e.g., channel changing, program selection) while "overlapping at least a portion of the presented live TV broadcast content," thus potentially anticipating claims 1, 9, and 10.

5. US 2003/0188310 A1

• Full Citation: US 2003/0188310 A1 to Ozer et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 2, 2003
• Brief Description: This application describes an interactive television system that provides on-screen graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for interacting with various services, including content selection and other TV functions. The GUI can be superimposed on or presented with the broadcast video.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This pre-grant publication clearly teaches displaying interactive on-screen GUIs over broadcast content to control television functions. This directly corresponds to the elements of claims 1, 9, and 10, particularly the "live TV application feature" overlapping the broadcast content and controlling "interactive user functions" via input.

Many of the other patent application publications, particularly those by Kameyama et al. and Yuen et al. published in 2007 and 2008, also describe various aspects of interactive television systems and user interfaces that present on-screen elements (such as menus, guides, or informational overlays) simultaneously with live TV content, enabling user interaction. Without a detailed review of each, it's difficult to pinpoint specific distinctions, but their general theme of interactive TV with on-screen displays suggests broad relevance to US9055255's claims.

The term "Intelligent TV" in US9055255 is defined as a TV providing "one or more intuitive user interfaces and interactions based on a unique application platform and architecture" and integrating "Internet connectivity with parallel application functionality." Many of the prior art references, especially those from the early 2000s, describe systems that would today be considered precursors or early forms of "Smart TVs" or "Intelligent TVs" due to their interactive features and on-screen displays. The novelty of US9055255 would likely rest on the specific nature of the "live TV application" and its integration or "seamless" operation, as opposed to merely displaying an overlay. However, the basic concept of an interactive overlay on live TV is well-covered by the cited prior art.