Internet-based information distribution and processing system

• US 20070258430A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Data Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Chan, Hark
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/09 Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

An information distribution and processing system contains a remote site, a sender and a receiving apparatus. The remote site contains a first set of digital data. The sender delivers a second set of digital data to the receiving device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving device contain a timing device for automatically receiving the second set of digital data at predetermined times. The second set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbol, and at least one linking reference associated with the second set of displayable data. If desired, a user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the remote site. The associated linking reference is used by the remote site to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. An internet information distribution system for distributing digital data to a plurality of receiving devices in a plurality of locations, at least one of said receiving devices being connected to a display device, said system comprising:

a central site containing a first set of digital data and being in communication with said at least one of said receiving devices;

a plurality of receiving stations located remotely from said central site and said at least one of said receiving devices;

a first transmitter transmitting a first set of signals to at least one of said receiving stations, said first transmitter being located remotely from said central site and said receiving stations, said first set of signals comprising a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data and a second set of displayable data adapted to appear on said display device, said second set of displayable data having an appearance on said display device distinct from the appearance of said first set of displayable data on said display device for facilitating a user to select said second set of displayable data,

a first set of undisplayed data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

at least a first linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and at least one portion of said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference not being displayed on said display device;

said at least one of said receiving stations containing a second transmitter configured to transmit a second set of signals to said at least one of said receiving devices, said second set of signals containing said second set of digital data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data includes multimedia data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data includes video data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data includes electronic mails.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data is transmitted by at least one television frequency signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data is transmitted by at least one radio frequency signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of displayable data appears on said display device in a different color than said first set of displayable data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said central site is adapted to transmit said at least one portion of said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices upon receiving said first linkage reference from said at least one of said receiving devices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said receiving devices is adapted to cause said at least one portion of said first set of digital data to be displayed on said display device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data includes a second set of undisplayed data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said central site includes a third set of digital data and said second set of digital data includes at least a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data is encrypted.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said central site is in wireless communication with said at least one of said receiving devices.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said central site is in wired communication with said at least one of said receiving devices.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data is stored in a database located at said central site.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data is stored in a database located separate from said central site.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said first set of digital data is transmitted from said central site in a form of an applet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said applet is a Java applet.