SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AND UTILIZING SUPPLEMENTAL DATA VIA TELEVISION SYSTEMS

• US 3,848,082 A
• Filed: 01/16/1973
• Issued: 11/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George D. Summers
• Original Assignee: George D. Summers
• Inventors: Summers, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Godfrey, R. John
• Application Number:
  US05/324,166
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.6,DIG.23,5.8R,DIG.13,6.8 179/DIG.22,DIG.27,7.5R,15BV,15BY,15RA,DIG.35
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting and utilizing supplemental data via television signals. A portion of the field of a video signal is replaced with one or more supplemental data signals, and the modified television signal is transmitted by a television transmitter. The modified television signal can be received by a television receiver and displayed on the television screen. The portion of the field which contains the supplemental data signal or signals, which may appear as a visible or invisible dot on the television screen, is monitored by an optical transducer. The output of the optical transducer is applied to an output means which may decode variations in the optical transducer output and apply the decoded signal to a display, such as a visual read-out or printer, or other means for storing or utilizing the signal.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting and receiving a supplemental data signal with a normal video signal, said system comprising:

a. transmitter means for transmitting said supplemental data signal and said video signal as a modified video signal, said transmitter means comprising;

i. television camera means for producing said normal video signal in accordance with the image in the field of view of said camera means, ii serial data generator means for generating said supplemental data signal in coded form, iii video insertion means connected to said camera means and said data generator means for receiving said ordinary video signal and said coded supplemental data signal and for producing said modified video signal, and iv a transmitter for transmitting said modified video signal; and

b receiver means for receiving said modified video signal, said receiver means comprising;

i television receiver means for displaying said modified video signal such that said coded supplemental data signal occupies a portion of the field of said normal video signal, ii optical transducer means for detecting said supplemental data signal;

iii decoding mans connected to said optical transducer means for decoding said supplemental data signal, and iv output means coupled to said optical transducer means and said decoding means, for producing an output indicative of said supplemental data signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said supplemental data is digital.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said data generator means includes keyboard means for entering said supplemental data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said data generator further includes parallel-to-serial convertor means connected to said video insertion means and said keyboard means for converting parallel data from said keyboard to serial data for application to said video insertion means.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said video insertion means includes control means for controlling the size and location of said portion of the field of said video signal occupied by said supplemental data signal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the portion of said field of said video signal occupied by said supplemental data signal appears as a spot on said receiver means having a pattern of brightness and darkness corresponding to the serial digital data applied to said video insertion means frOm said parallel-to-serial convertor means.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said output means includes display means for receiving said decoded supplemental data signal and for displaying said supplemental data.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said output means further includes acceptor means for passing said supplemental data signal to said decoding means only when said supplemental data signal includes a predetermined initial code signal.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said output means includes a keyboard means for supplying additional data to said display means for comparision with said supplemental data, thereby providing a participative system.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said display means comprise a visual read-out device, a printer, and a switch means for selecting said read-out and/or said printer.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein means are provided to divide said supplemental data signal into a plurality of time division multiplexed channels and to create different predetermined code signals preceding the data in each channel, and wherein said acceptor means includes selector means for selecting a predetermined initial code signal and its corresponding supplemental data for passage to said decoder means and to said display means.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein means are provided to divide said supplemental data signal into a plurality of space diversity channels and to arrange said supplemental data in said channels in a pseudo-random or non pseudo-random sequence.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said output means comprises means for storing said supplemental data signal for future use.