Broadcast system with associated data capabilities

• US 5,491,838 A
• Filed: 04/08/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital DJ, Inc. (Beverly Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital DJ, Inc. (Beverly Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahisa, Tsutomu, Allen, Lucille, Iida, Motohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US08/045,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 455/154.1, 455/158.2, 455/158.4, 455/158.5, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/68, 455/70, 455/45, 455/3.1, 455/6.3, 455/66, 381/3, 381/4
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation

Abstract

A broadcast system includes a device to compare program material to be transmitted with a database of known material, and to transmit along with the program material data corresponding to that program material. A corresponding receiving system stores the data in memory and displays, at the selection of the user, the data corresponding to the program material. The user selectively stores the data on a magnetic recording card for electronic coupon or other uses.

Claims

1. A system for simultaneously transmitting program material and data corresponding to the program material, comprising:

a plurality of program sources;

a transmitter;

a mixing board for routing said program material from a selected one of said program sources to said transmitter by selectively switching among said program sources and providing as an output signal said program material from said selected program source;

program source detection means coupled to said mixing board for providing a program source signal corresponding to said selected program source;

program material recognition means, coupled to said mixing board output signal, for comparing said program material with a database of known program material data and generating a program material identifying signal in response to the results of said comparison; and

a data stream generator, coupled to said program recognition means, to said program source detection means and to said transmitter, for applying a data stream to said transmitter for transmission with the program material responsive to said program material identifying signal and said program source signal.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said data corresponding to the program material comprise a computer software program;

said system further comprising a receiver, including,

a demodulator for detecting said program material and said computer software program;

means for reproducing said program material; and

data memory means for storing said computer software program.

3. A method of simultaneously transmitting program material and data corresponding to the program material, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of program sources for said program material;

comparing said program material with a database of known program material data;

generating a program material identifying signal in response to the results of said step of comparing;

applying said program material to a first input of a transmitter; and

selectively applying a data stream corresponding to the program material identifying signal to a second input of said transmitter, in response to said steps of selecting and generating.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said data corresponding to the program material comprise a computer software program, said method further comprising the steps of:

detecting at a receiver said program material and said computer software program as detected program material and detected computer software program, respectively;

reproducing said detected program material; and

storing said detected computer software program.