Communication system and method

• US 20060288374A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Ferris, Gavin Robert, Florence, Peter Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/484,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A remote control device for consumer broadcast receivers, particularly television and radio receivers, is disclosed. In addition to the remote control features normally found on such a device, the device also contains a display on which advertisements, product and service offers, and other information (collectively, “display data”) may be shown to the user. The device receives such display data via a radio link from one of a plurality of central processing stations. The user of the device may interact with such display data (for example, to purchase an advertised good), and the device may send back details of such interactions to a central processing station, which in turn may initiate a transaction with the appropriate sponsoring party.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus comprising means for determining whether a broadcast receiver is receiving a particular channel, the apparatus further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal, means for displaying information in response to a signal received by the receiving means, means responsive to a user input to provide an outgoing signal and transmitting means for transmitting the outgoing signal, wherein at least one of the receiving means and the transmitting means is for communicating by radio with a remote station responsive to outgoing signals from a plurality of communications apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote station is distinct from a primary station providing signals to a broadcast receiver.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one of the receiving means and transmitting means for communicating with a remote station comprises a means for communicating with a station in a cell of a multi-cell communication system.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the multi-cell communication system comprises a paging system.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for transmitting the outgoing signal is arranged to transmit the outgoing signal as soon as a user input is complete.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for receiving a signal is arranged to receive a signal from a broadcast receiver.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for displaying information is arranged to display information immediately in response to a signal received by the receiving means.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising means for storing a signal received by the receiving means.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising time comparison means for controlling display of information in response to a stored signal at a predetermined time.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the apparatus is portable.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a remote control.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the receiving means and the means for displaying information is responsive to alter the information displayed in response to a channel selected using the remote control.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the means for determining whether a broadcast receiver is receiving a particular channel comprises means for receiving a signal from the broadcast receiver, and means for comparing this signal with a signal received from the receiving means.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the means for determining whether a broadcast receiver is receiving a particular channel comprises means for receiving a signal from a remote control.

15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the means for displaying information is further responsive to the user input.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the transmitting means is arranged to transmit an encoded authorisation signal.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 to 16, further comprising security means responsive to a predetermined user input for preventing the transmission of at least part of an outbound signal if the predetermined user input is not correctly provided.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least part of an outbound signal is the encoded authorisation signal.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the security means is responsive to a plurality of different predetermined user inputs.

20. A transmitter apparatus comprising means for storing information concerning transmission from a primary broadcaster, means for transmitting the information and means for synchronising the transmission of information to at least one transmission from the primary broadcaster, wherein the means for transmitting information transmits distinct from the primary broadcast chain.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for storing the information includes means for storing timing data associated with the information and the means for synchronising the transmission of information is responsive to the stored timing data.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for sychronising the transmission of information controls the means for transmitting the information to transmit the information before an intended time for display, and to transmit cueing information.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means for receiving a signal from the primary broadcaster, wherein the means for synchronising the transmission of information is responsive to at least one portion of the signal from the primary broadcaster.

24. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 20 to 23, wherein the means for transmitting information comprises a multi-cell communications system.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the multi-cell communications system comprises a cellular paging system.

26. A communication system comprising:

transmitter apparatus comprising means for storing information concerning transmission from a primary broadcaster, means for transmitting the information and means for synchronising the transmission of information to at least one transmission from the primary broadcaster, wherein the means for transmitting information transmits distinct from the primary broadcast chain;

apparatus comprising receiving means for receiving a signal from the transmitter apparatus, means for displaying information in response to a signal received by the receiving means, means responsive to a user input to provide an outgoing signal and transmitting means for transmitting the outgoing signal; and

receiving apparatus for receiving the outgoing signal.

27. A communications system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the receiving apparatus further comprises means for storing the received outgoing signal for subsequent processing.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the receiving apparatus comprises a station in a cell of a multi-cell communication system.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the multi-cell communication system comprises a paging system.

30. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 27 to 29, wherein the means for displaying information is arranged to display information immediately in response to a signal received by the receiving means.

31. A method of communication comprising:

storing information concerning transmission from a primary broadcaster, transmitting the information and synchronising the transmission of information to at least one transmission from the primary broadcaster, wherein the information is transmitted distinct from the primary broadcast chain;

receiving a signal from the transmitter apparatus, displaying information in response to a signal received by the receiving means, providing an outgoing signal in response to a user input and transmitting the outgoing signal; and

receiving the outgoing signal.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the transmission distinct from the primary broadcast chain is via a cellular paging system.