Interactive television service utilizing both unidirectional and omnidirectional broadcasting

• US 5,675,373 A
• Filed: 08/19/1994
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marion County School Board
• Original Assignee: Marion County School Board
• Inventors: Joiner, Marion Douglas, Almgren, Gary Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/292,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/16, 348/15, 348/6, 348/17, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/14, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/63
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

The invention concerns an interactive television service in which multiple broadcasting facilities are interconnected through a single broadcast site so that each broadcast facility may interact freely with one another. A method is provided to allow a single broadcasting site to originate a broadcast and retain complete control of that broadcast in which all participating broadcasting sites can engage in two-way audio and full motion video discourse with the originating site as well as with all participating sites during the course of the broadcast. The method utilizes only two broadcast frequencies.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive television service having audio and full motion video communication between a plurality of remote broadcast sites, each of said remote broadcast sites having a means for generating and transmitting an audio and full motion video signal in a unidirectional manner to a central station, a means for receiving a signal from said central station, and a switch means for having the transmission of a signal which said site is generating initiated or terminated, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting any one remote broadcast site as an original broadcast site;

(b) generating an audio and full motion video signal at said original broadcast site and transmitting said signal on a first frequency in a unidirectional manner to said central station;

(c) rebroadcasting said signal from said central station on a second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites;

(d) to initiate interactive communication with a second remote broadcast site, terminating said unidirectional signal of said first frequency from said original broadcast site, generating an audio and full motion video signal at said second remote broadcast site, and transmitting said signal on said first frequency in a unidirectional manner to said central station;

(e) rebroadcasting said signal from the central station on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites including said original broadcast site;

(f) when said audio and full motion video signal from said original broadcast site is to be resumed, terminating said signal from said second remote broadcast site, generating a signal at said original broadcast site, and transmitting said signal on said first frequency to said central station; and

(g) rebroadcasting said signal from said central station on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites;

wherein the transmission and termination of said signals are directed by said original broadcast site.

2. The method, according to claim 1, wherein audio communication is retained among all broadcast sites at all times.

3. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving a signal from said central station is a receiving antenna.

4. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission and termination of said signals are directed by said original broadcast site by generating a tone at said original broadcast site which is transmitted on said first frequency in a unidirectional manner to said central station and is rebroadcast on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to switch said signals on and off.

5. The method, according to claim 4, wherein said tone is generated by a telephone autodialer.

6. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said signal on said second frequency is also received by two-way audio or receive-only sites.

7. A method for providing an interactive television service having audio and full motion video communication between a plurality of remote broadcast sites, each of said remote broadcast sites having a means for generating and transmitting an audio and full motion video signal in a unidirectional manner to a central station, a means for receiving a signal from said central station, and a switch means for having the transmission of a signal which said site is generating initiated or terminated, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating an audio and full motion video signal at an original broadcast site, wherein said original broadcast site may be a remote site or a broadcast site located at said central station, said signal being transmitted to said central station on a first frequency, and transmitting said signal from said central station on a second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to be received by said plurality of remote broadcasting sites;

(b) to initiate interactive communication with a remote broadcast site, terminating said signal, generating an audio and full motion video signal at said remote broadcast site, and transmitting said signal on a first frequency in a unidirectional manner to said central station;

(c) rebroadcasting said signal from said central station on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites including said original broadcast site; and

(d) when said audio and full motion video signal from said original broadcast site is to be resumed, terminating said signal from said remote broadcast site, generating a signal at said original broadcast site, and transmitting said signal on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites;

wherein the transmission and termination of said signals are directed by said original broadcast site.

8. The method, according to claim 7, wherein said original broadcast site is said central station.

9. The method, according to claim 7, wherein said original broadcast site is a remote broadcast site.

10. The method, according to claim 7, wherein audio communication is retained among all broadcast sites at all times.

11. The method, according to claim 7, wherein said means for receiving a signal from said central station is a receiving antenna.

12. The method, according to claim 7, wherein the transmission and termination of said signals are directed by said original broadcast site by generating a tone at said original broadcast site which is transmitted from the central station on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to switch said signals on or off.

13. The method, according to claim 12, wherein said tone is generated by a telephone autodialer.

14. The method, according to claim 7, wherein said signal on said second frequency is also received by two-way audio or receive-only sites.

15. An interactive television system for providing audio and full motion video communication between a plurality of remote broadcast sites, said system comprising:

(a) a central station having a transmitting system and antenna capable of transmitting a signal in an omnidirectional manner and a means for receiving a signal from said remote broadcast sites;

(b) a plurality of remote broadcast sites having a transmitting system and antenna capable of generating and transmitting an audio and full motion video signal in a unidirectional manner to said central station, a means for receiving a signal from said central station, a switch means for having the transmission of a signal which said site is generating initiated or terminated; and

(c) an original broadcast site having a transmitting system and antenna capable of generating and transmitting an audio and full motion video signal, a means for receiving a signal from said central station, a switch means for having the transmission of a signal which said site is generating initiated or terminated, and a control means for initiating and terminating broadcast signals;

whereby an audio and full motion video signal is generated at said original broadcast site and transmitted on a second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to be received by said plurality of remote broadcast sites, to initiate interactive communication with a remote broadcast, said signal is terminated and an audio and full motion video signal is generated at said remote broadcast site and transmitted on a first frequency in a unidirectional manner to said central station wherein said signal is rebroadcast on a second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites including said original broadcast site and when said audio and full motion video signal from said original broadcast site is to be resumed, said signal from said remote broadcast site is terminated and a signal is generated at the original broadcast site and transmitted on a second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to said plurality of remote broadcast sites, wherein the transmission and termination of said signals are directed by said control means at said original broadcast site.

16. The system, according to claim 15, wherein said means for receiving a signal is a receiving antenna.

17. The system, according to claim 15, wherein said control means generates a tone which is transmitted from said central station on said second frequency in an omnidirectional manner to switch said signals on and off.

18. The system, according to claim 17, wherein said control means is a telephone autodialer.

19. The system, according to claim 15, wherein said central station further comprises means for generating an audio and full motion video signal.

20. The system, according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of two-way audio or receive-only sites.

23. The interactive television system of claim 20 wherein said first frequency and said second frequency are microwave signals or other means of connecting any remote site with the central broadcast site.

21. An interactive television system comprising:

(a) a plurality of remote sites which can act as broadcast or receive sites;

(b) a central broadcast station;

(c) a first broadcast frequency for broadcasting a signal in a unidirectional manner from any of said plurality of remote sites to said central broadcast station; and

(d) a second broadcast frequency for broadcasting a signal in an omnidirectional manner from said central broadcast station to said plurality of remote sites;

wherein, at any given time, any one of said plurality of remote sites can act as a host site controlling which site within the interactive television system is able to transmit audio signals, video signals or both, in a unidirectional manner, to said central broadcast station on said first broadcast frequency for omnidirectional rebroadcast from said central broadcast station to said plurality of remote sites on said second frequency.

22. The interactive television system of claim 21 wherein said host controls which site within the interactive television system is able to transmit audio signals, video signals or both by means of a switch which turns said host site'"'"'s transmission off and turns any of said remote sites'"'"' transmission on.

24. An interactive audio and video system comprising:

(a) a plurality of remote sites which can act as broadcast or receive sites;

(b) a central broadcast station;

(c) a first broadcast frequency for broadcasting a signal in a unidirectional manner from any of said plurality of remote sites to said central broadcast station; and

(d) a second broadcast frequency for broadcasting a signal in an omnidirectional manner from said central broadcast station to said plurality of remote sites;

wherein the signal broadcast by any given remote site on said first broadcast frequency, upon receipt at said central broadcast station, is rebroadcast omnidirectionally from said central broadcast station to said plurality of remote sites.