DEVICE FOR SIGNAL RECEIVING, SUCH AS A SET-TOP BOX
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Abstract
A device for signal receiving such as a set-top box is disclosed in which there is the presence of at least one unit (2) for receiving a signal (S) and at least one unit (3) for sending the received and processed signal (S′) to an image and/or sound broadcasting apparatus (4) such as a television set, radio set, PC, iPOD, and any other existing and/or achievable apparatus; means for processing the signal (S) converts said signal (S) -into the signal (S′) to be sent through a circuit (5) adapted to allow passage towards the broadcasting apparatus ′ (4) of information, data, promotions or advertising depending on suitable scheduling of said circuit.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A set-top box for receiving radio and television signals, comprising:
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at least one unit for receiving a signal containing at least audio and video data, text information relating to audio and video data and further data; at least one tuner allowing selection of at least one television channel to be displayed by frequency tuning, said tuner being configured for extracting from the signal a tuned signal containing at least the desired audio and video data relating to a selected television channel; a demodulation block, the tuner being configured to produce a digital output in-band signal sent to the demodulation block, the demodulation block being configured to demodulate the in-band signal; an out-of-band receiver, the tuner being configured to produce an out-of-band signal sent to the out-of-band receiver, the out-of-band receiver demodulating the out-of-band signal; a deployment module receiving the demodulated in-band signal and the demodulated out-of-band signal; a control unit to control the tuner, the demodulation block, the out-of-band receiver, the deployment module; at least one unit for sending a processed signal including the demodulated in-band signal and the demodulated out-of-band signal to an image and sound broadcasting apparatus, chosen in the group including a display and a television set, said unit comprising means for processing the tuned signal, enabling the audio and video data of the selected channel to be extracted from the tuned signal and the processed signal for the image and sound broadcasting apparatus to be rebuilt; at least one card reader configured to read and write on a promotional card, said card reader being selectively configured for reading of at least one code contained in the promotional card and writing of a code on the promotional card, the audio and video data of the selected channel being divided into a first part of data relating to the program being transmitted on the selected television channel and into a second part of data relating to advertising, said card reader being configured for reading on the promotional card out concurrently with broadcasting of said second part of data through the apparatus; and an interactive reading and writing unit comprising a connection to a device for signal receiving, said interactive reading and writing unit being configured to read a card and comprising at least one writing unit configured for loading an information chosen in the group including a discount, a promotion, loyalty points, and to write the information on a card, a remote control handset being configured to remotely control activation of said writing unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of displaying dedicated information, promotions and advertising in a set top box for receiving radio and television signals having:
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at least one unit for receiving a signal containing at least audio and video data, text information relating to audio and video data and further data; at least one tuner allowing selection of at least one television channel to be displayed by frequency tuning, said tuner being configured for extracting from the signal a tuned signal containing at least the desired audio and video data relating to a selected television channel; at least one unit for sending a processed signal to an image and sound broadcasting apparatus, chosen in the group including a display and a television set, said unit comprising means for processing the tuned signal, enabling the audio and video data of the selected channel to be extracted from the tuned signal and the processed signal for the image and sound broadcasting apparatus to be rebuilt; at least one card reader configured to read and write on a promotional card, said card reader being selectively configured for reading of at least one code contained in the promotional card and writing of a code on the promotional card, the audio and video data of the selected channel being divided into a first part of data relating to the program being transmitted on the selected television channel and into a second part of data relating to advertising, said card reader being configured for reading on the promotional card out concurrently with broadcasting of said second part of data through the apparatus, the method comprising the following steps; receiving a signal containing at least one predetermined number of information, promotions and advertising messages, each of them being identified through a respective code; comparing each code of said information, promotions and advertising messages with a series of subscriber'"'"'s pre-stored codes; and permitting passage of a processed signal that, among all pieces of information, promotion, advertising, contains the only information, promotion and advertising messages provided with a code that is coincident with a pre-stored code of the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A set-top box for receiving radio and television signals, comprising:
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at least one unit for receiving a signal containing at least audio and video data, text information relating to audio and video data and further data; at least one tuner allowing selection of at least one television channel to be displayed by frequency tuning, said tuner being configured for extracting from the signal a tuned signal containing at least the desired audio and video data relating to a selected television channel; at least one unit for sending a processed signal to an image and sound broadcasting apparatus, chosen in the group including a display and a television set, said unit comprising means for processing the tuned signal, enabling the audio and video data of the selected channel to be extracted from the tuned signal and the processed signal for the image and sound broadcasting apparatus to be rebuilt; at least one card reader configured to read and write on a promotional card, said card reader being selectively configured for reading of at least one code contained in the promotional card and writing of a code on the promotional card, the audio and video data of the selected channel being divided into a first part of data relating to the program being transmitted on the selected television channel and into a second part of data relating to advertising, said card reader being configured for reading on the promotional card out concurrently with broadcasting of said second part of data through the apparatus.
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Specification