Integrated radio satellite response system and method

• US 5,303,393 A
• Filed: 04/12/1991
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viatech Communications LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Radio Satellite Corporation
• Inventors: Harper, Theodore R., Noreen, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US07/683,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 455/12.1, 455/15, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/88, 455/180.1, 455/188, 455/13.1, 455/89, 455/2, 358/84, 358/86
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/51 specially adapted for satellite broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/14 Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 Programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

A radio response system including a broadcast station, a satellite relay, a processing center, and a plurality of user terminals. Each user terminal has a broadcast receiver, a communications interface device, a controller and a data transmitter. The broadcast station broadcasts a program signal. The broadcast receiver receives the program signal. The communications interface device communicates the program signal to a user. The controller generates a user-data signal from identification information transmitted in connection with the program signal and/or timing, location and frequency information needed for identifying the program signal, and a user-input signal generated in response to the program signal. The data transmitter transmits the user-data signal at a carrier frequency as a transmitted-data signal. The satellite relays the user-data signal to the processing center.

Claims

1. A radio response system for user with a processing center comprising:

transmitter-means for broadcasting a program signal;

a plurality of mobile stations, each mobile station including,

receiver-means for receiving the program signal;

interface means for communicating the program signal to a user;

controller means for processing program identification information from the program signal and for generating from the processed program identification information and a user-input signal, a user-data signal; and

data-transmitter means for transmitting the user-data signal as a transmitted-data signal;

repeater means responsive to receiving the transmitted-data signal for relaying the user-data signal to said processing center; and

location means responsive to receiving the transmitted-data signal through at least two of the repeater means for determining a location of said mobile station.

2. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said repeater means includes a satellite for relaying the transmitted data signal to said processing center.

4. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interface means includes:

a speaker for communicating the program signal to the user; and

means responsive to a user input from the user for generating the user-input signal.

5. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interface means includes:

a display for communicating the program signal to the user; and

means responsive to a user input from the user for generating the user-input signal.

6. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a microphone; and

said interface means is responsive to the user speaking to said microphone for generating the user-input signal.

7. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter means includes a terrestrial transmitter for broadcasting the program signal.

8. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter means includes a satellite transmitter for broadcasting the program signal.

9. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data-transmitter means includes a PSK modulator.

10. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data-transmitter means includes an FM modulator.

11. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data-transmitter means includes a spread spectrum modulator.

12. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said repeater means includes a satellite for relaying the transmitted-data signal to said processing center.

13. The radio response system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said repeater means includes a terrestrial repeater for relaying the transmitted-data signal to said processing center.

14. The radio response system in claim 1 wherein the controller means combines timing information in the user-data signal;

and

wherein the processing center determines the time of generation of the user-input signal from the timing information of the user-data signal.

3. A mobile station for use with a broadcast station for broadcasting a program signal, a processing center and a plurality of mobile stations, said mobile station comprising:

a broadcast receiver for receiving the program signal;

interface means for communicating the program signal to a user;

controller means responsive to the program signal for processing program identification information from the program signal, responsive to a user input from the user for generating a user-input signal, and for combining the processed program identification information and the user-input signal as a user-data signal;

data-transmitter means responsive to the user-data signal for transmitting the user-data signal as a transmitted-data signal to said processing center; and

location means responsive to receiving the transmitted-data signal through at least two repeater means for detecting a location of said mobile station.