Interactive television with correlation of viewers input and results made available to each viewer

• US 5,530,469 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Norton Garfinkle
• Original Assignee: Norton Garfinkle
• Inventors: Garfinkle, Norton
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/359,536
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 348/1, 348/3, 348/5, 348/6, 348/12, 348/13, 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive television system in which the television program and a computer program are integrated to provide a viewer-friendly environment in which the viewer can participate on a real time basis with other viewers. The programmed computer system receives inputs from viewers in response to the television program content. A programmed interactive computer system processes the viewer inputs in accordance with parameters and algorithms correlated with the transmitted television program material. The system processes, for each participating viewer, his or her results based on the algorithm for the broadcast television program and the inputs of the other participating viewers. This individual data is stored and is made accessible to the viewer; in the preferred embodiment via a voice synthesizer to the participating viewer who initiates a call to the system.

Claims

1. An interactive television system to allow viewers to interact with televised program material, comprising in combination:

means for digitally encoding inbound audio telephone call information;

means for directing inbound audio calls as inputs to said means for digitally encoding inbound audio telephone call information;

a computer processor;

means for coupling an output of said means for digitally encoding inbound audio telephone call information to an input of said computer processor;

means for storing parameters and computer program routines for correlating multiple viewer responses with said television program material;

said computer processor computing a result for each viewer based on said multiple viewer responses and a tabulation of results for a group of viewers in response to said digitally encoded inbound audio telephone call information, said computation made in accordance with said parameters and computer routines accessed from said means for storing;

a second means for storing said result for each viewer and a tabulation of results for a group of responding viewers;

said computer processor calculating a composite result for a viewer based on the viewer'"'"'s result and said results for a group of responding viewers; and

voice synthesizer means coupled to said processor to transmit said composite result to a viewer in response to a viewer request for said composite result.

2. An interactive television system to allow viewers to interact with televised program material as in claim 1 wherein said viewer responses are correlated with said television program material based upon a time of receipt of said viewer responses.

3. An interactive television system to allow viewers to interact with televised program material as in claim 1 wherein said viewer responses are correlated with said television program material based upon content of said viewer responses.

4. An interactive television system to allow viewers to interact with televised program material, comprising in combination:

means for encoding inbound telephone call information;

a computer processor;

means for coupling an output of said means for encoding inbound telephone call information to an input of said computer processor;

means for storing parameters and computer program routines for correlating viewer responses with said television program material;

said computer processor computing a result for each viewer and a tabulation of results for a group of viewers in response to said inbound telephone call information, said computation made in accordance with said parameters and computer routines accessed from said means for storing;

a second means for storing said result for each viewer and a tabulation of results for a group of responding viewers;

said computer processor calculating a composite result for a viewer based on the viewer'"'"'s result and said results for a group of responding viewers; and

means coupled to said processor to transmit said composite result to a viewer in response to a viewer request for said composite result.

5. An interactive television method to allow viewers to interact with televised program material, comprising in combination:

encoding inbound telephone call information;

storing parameters and computer program routines for correlating viewer responses with said television program material;

computing a result for each viewer and a tabulation of results for a group of viewers in response to said inbound telephone call information, said computation made in accordance with said parameters and computer routines from said storing parameters and computer program routines step;

storing said result for each viewer and a tabulation of results for a group of responding viewers;

calculating a composite result for a viewer based on the viewer'"'"'s result and said results for a group of responding viewers; and

transmitting said composite result to a viewer in response to a viewer request for said composite result.

6. An interactive method to allow a plurality of users to interact with program material, comprising in combination:

encoding inbound user responses from said plurality of users;

storing parameters and computer program routines for correlating user responses with said program material;

computing a result for each user and a tabulation of results for a group of users in response to said inbound user responses, said computation made in accordance with said parameters and computer routines from said parameters and computer program routines step storing;

storing said result for each user and a tabulation of results for a group of responding users;

calculating a composite result for a user based on the user'"'"'s result and said results for a group of responding users; and

transmitting said composite result to a user in response to a user request for said composite result.