Receiving unit for a two-way broadcasting system

• US 5,606,726 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshinobu, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/395,730
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 348/1, 348/2, 348/12, 348/13, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 455/4.2, 455/2, 455/5.1, 379/92, 379/106, 379/107, 379/40, 379/51, 379/88, 379/89, 379/67
• US Class Current: 725/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

In two-way broadcasting, the broadcasting side broadcasts a broadcast signal multiplexed with information for identifying a no-ringing response function of the destination. When the destination has the no-ringing response function, the receiving side dials the no-ringing dialing number before the telephone number of the destination on the basis of the function identifying information. Thus, a telephone service station transmits the specified no-ringing dialing signal such as an NCNG or NRS signal. Moreover, when a broadcasting side having a plurality of destinations corresponding to a plurality of replies broadcasts a signal multiplexed with the information for identifying a plurality of destinations corresponding to a plurality of the replies, the receiving side selectively dials a plurality of the destinations on the basis of the destination identifying information, and terminates the line connection upon reception of the signal.

Claims

1. In a two-way broadcasting system in which a broadcasting side broadcasts a broadcasting program requesting replies of viewers, and a receiving side transmits said replies, including reply information to a specified destination by way of a telephone line, said specified destination having a telephone number associated therewith, wherein:

said broadcasting side broadcasts a main broadcast signal multiplexed with identifying information for detecting the presence or absence of a no-ringing responsive function of said specified destination said no-ringing responsive function having a specified number associated therewith, and,

said receiving side receives said broadcast signal and separates said identifying information from said received broadcast signal, and dials specified number corresponding to said no-ringing responsive function before the telephone number of said destination.

2. A receiving unit for two-way broadcasting, said receiving unit including means for transmitting reply information in response to a question proposed from a broadcasting side to a specified destination through a telephone line, comprising:

means for receiving a multiplexed signal, said multiplexed signal comprising a broadcast signal and information identifying the presence or absence of a no-ringing responsive function of said destination;

means for separating said no-ringing responsive function identifying information from said broadcast signal;

means for incorporating said separated responsive function identifying information, whereby a specified number corresponding to said no-ringing responsive function is dialed before the telephone number of said destination on the basis of said incorporated information.

3. The receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said receiving side dials to said destination determined to have said no-ringing responsive function on the basis of said responsive function identifying information, a-specified number for performing a call based on an NCNG signal before the telephone number of said destination.

4. A receiving unit for two-way broadcasting according to claim 2, wherein said receiving side dials to said destination to have said no-ringing responsive function on the basis of said responsive function identifying information, a specified number for performing a call based on an NRS signal before the telephone number of said destination.