Broadcasting system with supplemental data transmission and storge

• US 5,214,792 A
• Filed: 11/05/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Broadcast Data Retrieval Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: David J. Alwadish
• Inventors: Alwadish, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charouel, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US07/788,028
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3, 455/6, 455/42, 455/45, 455/66, 455/68, 455/70, 455/158, 455/195, 455/186, 381/1, 381/2, 381/3, 381/4, 381/5, 381/6, 381/77, 381/78, 381/81, 381/119
• US Class Current: 455/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information

Abstract

A broadcast receiver or monitor unit receives and decodes items of information pertaining to broadcast program material, such as the title of a broadcast musical piece, the artist name, tape/CD catalog number, and the like. The information items can be displayed on a panel simultaneously with the broadcast. Upon entry of a memory command, the receiver stores the decoded items of information data in a memory. Sets of stored information data relating to selected broadcasts can later be retrieved from the memory and recorded in a predetermined format on paper strips or coupons by a printer device.

Claims

1. Receiving apparatus for enabling a listener to obtain certain information associated with program material transmitted over a broadcast carrier to which the apparatus is tuned, comprising:

tuner/demodulator means for responding to the broadcast carrier when the tuner/demodulator means is tuned to receive the broadcast carrier;

decoding means associated with said tuner/demodulator means for decoding information item data associated with the broadcast carrier, wherein said information item data is related to the program material transmitted over the broadcast carrier;

print memory means for storing the decoded information item data related to the program material as desired;

address control means coupled to said print memory means for controlling write and read operations for addresses of the print memory means selectively in response to a memory command signal and to a recall command signal;

memory button means coupled to the address control means for producing said memory command signal when said memory button means is operated;

recall button means coupled to said address control means for producing said recall command signal when said recall button means is operated; and

print buffer/control means for enabling printing on a printer unit of the decoded information item data stored in said print memory means in response to a print command signal.

2. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print buffer/control means includes means for enabling the information item data to be output to the printer unit in the form of successive frames each having a determined number of print lines.

3. Receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to identification of a title of the transmitted program material.

4. Receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to an advertisement.

5. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, including display means arranged to be coupled to an output of said decoding means for displaying the decoded information item data, said display means including a display panel and means for displaying on said display panel the information item data decoded from the broadcast carrier by said decoding means.

6. Receiving apparatus according to claim 5, including display data select means coupled to said output of said decoding means and to an output of said print memory means for selecting one of a first and a second display mode for the display means, wherein said display data select means comprises;

means for displaying on said display means the information item data when decoded rom the broadcast carrier by said decoding means, when the first display mode is selected, and

means for displaying on said display means the decoded information item data stored in said print memory means in response to said recall command signal when the second display mode is selected.

7. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, including;

means for locally generating supplemental information data for supplementing the decoded information item data; and

means coupled to an output of said locally generating means and to an output of said decoding means for providing both of the locally generated supplemental information data and the decoded information item data to a data input of said print memory means.

8. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally generating means includes means for generating frequency data corresponding to a station frequency to which the apparatus is tuned.

9. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally generating means includes means for generating time data corresponding to a current time of day.

10. Receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locally generating means includes means for generating date data corresponding to a current date.

11. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print memory comprises a detachable memory card.

18. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, comprising

display means arranged to be coupled to an output of said decoding means for displaying the decoded information item data;

playback means for reproducing program material and encoded information item data recorded on a recording media, and for producing a corresponding output signal; and

means for coupling the output signal from said playback means to an input of said decoding means so that the information item data encoded on said recording media can be decoded for display on said display means.

19. Receiving apparatus according to claim 18, including print memory means arranged to be coupled to said decoding means for storing the decoded information item data as desired.

20. Receiving apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said print memory means comprises a detachable memory card.

12. A system for receiving broadcast program material, wherein certain information associated with the program material can be stored for later retrieval, comprising:

a receiver including;

tuner/demodulator means for responding to a broadcast carrier when the tuner/demodulator means is tuned to received the broadcast carrier,

decoding means associated with said tuner/demodulator means for decoding information item data associated with the broadcast carrier, wherein said information item data is related to program material transmitted over the broadcast carrier,

detachable print memory means for storing the decoded information item data related to the program material, as desired, and

first connector means for accepting said print memory means and for coupling the print memory means to said decoding means; and

a printer and control unit including;

second connector means for accepting said detachable print memory means,

address control means coupled to said second connector means for controlling addressing of the print memory means when inserted in said second connector means,

a printer, and

print/buffer control means for enabling printing by said printer of the decoded information item data stored in said print memory means in response to a print command signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said print memory means is in the form of a detachable memory card.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the address control means of said printer and control unit includes means for clearing memory storage addresses of said print memory means when inserted in said second connector means, for enabling subsequent storage of new information item data when the print memory means is inserted in the first connector means of said receiver.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said printer/buffer control means includes means for enabling the information item data to be output to the printer in the form of successive frames each having a determined number of print lines.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to identification of a title of the transmitted program material.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the print lines of a frame relate to an advertisement.