Interactive commercial/entertainment network
First Claim
1. A commercial/entertainment network for interactive communications, comprising:
- a plurality of theatres, each having means for substantially simultaneously displaying to all patrons, in all of the theatres, broadcast signals originating from a remote source and means enabling the patron to originate preference data and voice signals responsive to the displayed broadcast signals;
a broadcast center remote from the theatres for originating the broadcast signals transmitted to all of the theatres; and
,a plurality of node/filtering means operatively disposed in a telephone communication system, said plurality of the node/filtering means connected in cascaded tiers of decreasing number from the theatres to the broadcast center, the node/filtering means processing in parallel all data received from upstream sources to reduce data rate transmission requirements downstream and to reduce the number of voice signals forwarded downstream,whereby patrons in the theatres may individually and successively engage in voice communications with persons at the broadcast center and may originate preference data for processing and transmission to the broadcast center responsive to the broadcast signals, displayed for simultaneous perception by all patrons.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A commerical/entertainment network provides interactive communications for patrons and comprises: a plurality of theaters; a plurality of node/filters, connected in tiers; and, a remote broadcast center. Patrons at respective communication positions in the theaters may individually and successively engage in voice conversations with persons at the remote broadcast center and may collectively originate preference data for processing and subsequent telephone transmission to the broadcast center responsive to an audio/video signal displayed in the theater for simultaneous viewing by all patrons and responsive to broadcast data received and simultaneously routed to each of the communication positions. Each of the theaters may comprise: a plurality of uniquely identifiable communication positions, each having a remotely activatable telephone handset and data input/output panel; a telephone connectable to any one of the handsets; a data processor to reduce data rate downstream transmission requirements; a modem enabling two-way voice and data communication with the remote broadcast center; and, a display for audio/video signals originating from the remote broadcast center. Each of the node/filters may comprise: a data processor to reduce downstream data rate transmission requirements; and, a telephone call selector. The remote broadcast center may comprise: a processor for tabulating output data; a telephone; and, audio/video and data broadcast signal sources.
262 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A commercial/entertainment network for interactive communications, comprising:
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a plurality of theatres, each having means for substantially simultaneously displaying to all patrons, in all of the theatres, broadcast signals originating from a remote source and means enabling the patron to originate preference data and voice signals responsive to the displayed broadcast signals; a broadcast center remote from the theatres for originating the broadcast signals transmitted to all of the theatres; and
,a plurality of node/filtering means operatively disposed in a telephone communication system, said plurality of the node/filtering means connected in cascaded tiers of decreasing number from the theatres to the broadcast center, the node/filtering means processing in parallel all data received from upstream sources to reduce data rate transmission requirements downstream and to reduce the number of voice signals forwarded downstream, whereby patrons in the theatres may individually and successively engage in voice communications with persons at the broadcast center and may originate preference data for processing and transmission to the broadcast center responsive to the broadcast signals, displayed for simultaneous perception by all patrons. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A commercial/entertainment network for interactive communications between each of a plurality of theaters and a remote broadcast center, the network comprising:
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a plurality of theaters, each of the theaters comprising; a plurality of uniquely identifiable communication positions, each position having associated therewith a remotely activatable data input/output means for voice and data communications; a telephone coupled to any number of the remotely activatable input/output means; means for processing output data from the communication positions prior to telephone transmission to reduce data rate transmission requirements and for routing voice and data input signals to and among the communication positions; a modem connected to the telephone and to the data processing means for enabling two-way voice and data communication with a remote broadcast center; and
,means for receiving and processing, and selectively displaying audio/video and data broadcast signals originating from the remote broadcast center; at least one node/filtering means, comprising; means for receiving and processing output data from each of the theaters in a predetermined region to generate a combined data output to reduce combined data output rate transmission requirements; means for selecting a telephone call request directed to the remote broadcast center from all such request; and
,means for transmitting the processed combined output data to the remote broadcast center, and, a remote broadcast center, comprising; means for receiving the processed combined output data and selected telephone call from the at least one node/filter; means for conducting two-way voice communication with any of the patrons at a respective communication position in any of the theaters; signal processing and tabulating means for the combined data output, the signal processing means generating output signals reflecting the data preference selections of all responding patrons in all of the theaters; and
,means for generating audio/video and data broadcast signals for transmission to all of said theaters, whereby patrons at respective communication positions in the theaters may individually and successively engage in voice conversations with persons at the remote broadcast center and may collectively originate preference data for processing and subsequent telephone transmission to the broadcast center responsive to the audio/video signal displayed in the theatre for simultaneous viewing by all patrons and responsive to broadcast data received and simultaneously routed to each of the communication positions. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A commercial/entertainment theatre forming part of an interactive network of such theatres, the theatre comprising:
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a data and communications circuit including a shared telephone; a plurality of communication positions, each communication position having remotely activatable input/output means for voice and data communications; remotely addressable switching means, for each of the positions, coded to uniquely identify the position, for selectively connecting the input/output means to the data and communications circuit; and
,means for displaying audio/video signals broadcast simultaneously to each theatre in the network from a remote broadcast center, whereby voice communications may be established between a patron at a respective communication position in the theatre and a person at the remote broadcast center through the shared theatre telephone and whereby a patron may originate preference data for processing and subsequent transmission to the broadcast center responsive to broadcast signals originating from the remote broadcast center. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A commercial/entertainment theatre for interactive communications with a remote broadcast center, the theatre comprising:
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a plurality of uniquely identifiable communication positions, each position having associated therewith a remotely activatable input/output means for voice and data communications; a telephone coupled to any number of the remotely activatable input/output means; means for processing output data from the communication positions prior to telephone transmission to reduce data rate transmission requirements and for routing voice and data input signals to and among the communication positions; a modem connected to the telephone and to the data processing means for enabling two-way voice and data communication with a remote broadcast center; and
,means for receiving and processing, and selectively, displaying audio/video and data broadcast signals originating from the remote broadcast center, whereby patrons at respective communication positions in the theatre may individually and successively engage in voice conversations with persons at the remote broadcast center and may simultaneously originate preference data for processing and subsequent telephone transmission to the broadcast center responsive to the audio/video signal displayed in the theatre for simultaneous viewing by all patrons and responsive to broadcast data received and simultaneously routed to each of the communication positions.
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Specification