Method and apparatus for providing real time data on a viewing screen concurrently with any programing in process
First Claim
1. A method for superimposing a real time video reporter message on a television picture concurrently with any programing in progress, which comprises the steps of:
- splitting a television broadcast signal into at least a first television signal and a second video reporter signal;
continuously tuning the video reporter signal for predetermined channels having video reporter data thereon;
repeating the tuning step until video reporter data is detected;
decoding the video reporter data;
extracting messages from the video reporter data;
selecting the messages to be superimposed on the television picture;
generating a video signal from the video reporter data for superimposing over the television picture; and
,superimposing the video signal over the television picture of the programing in progress.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer microcontroller (225) controls the operational functions of a video reporter (10) for superimposing real time emergency broadcast messages and information on a television picture concurrently with any programing in progress. The video reporter (10) has a signal splitting means for splitting a television broadcast signal such that the signal is transmitted to the video reporter and a TV. A tuner (210) constantly scans predetermined channels for video reporter messages of the type to be superimposed. The video messages are embedded in intelligent data having a preamble (810) which enables the microcontroller to identify the message type and determine whether it is superimposable.
There is a decoding means (230) for decoding the video reporter data and a message extracting means (240) for extracting messages from the video reporter data. An overlay generating means (250) generates a video signal from the video reporter data and the video signal can be superimposed over any television picture of the programing in progress, including VCR, video game, and other programing by means for superimposing the video signal over the television picture (260).
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for superimposing a real time video reporter message on a television picture concurrently with any programing in progress, which comprises the steps of:
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splitting a television broadcast signal into at least a first television signal and a second video reporter signal; continuously tuning the video reporter signal for predetermined channels having video reporter data thereon; repeating the tuning step until video reporter data is detected; decoding the video reporter data; extracting messages from the video reporter data; selecting the messages to be superimposed on the television picture; generating a video signal from the video reporter data for superimposing over the television picture; and
,superimposing the video signal over the television picture of the programing in progress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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10. A video reporter for superimposing real time emergency broadcast messages and information on a television picture concurrently with any programing in progress comprising;
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signal splitting means for splitting a television broadcast signal into at least a first television signal and a second video reporter signal; tuning means for continuously tuning the video reporter signal for predetermined channels having video reporter data thereon; decoding means for decoding the video reporter data; message extracting means for extracting messages from the video reporter data; message selecting means for selecting the messages to be superimposed on the television picture; overlay generating means for generating a video signal from the video reporter data for superimposing over the television picture; and
,superimposing means for superimposing the video signal over the television picture of the programing in progress.
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24. A method for controlling and coordinating the operation of a video reporter involved in the process of simultaneously superimposing various data over a television picture of any programing in progress, which comprises the steps of:
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constantly reading user input data storage means for detecting user input data; constantly determining command functions of a video reporter from the input data; constantly revising the command functions in consideration of the user input data; instructing a tuning means for continuously tuning a video reporter signal to scan predetermined channels until video reporter data is detected by the tuning means; selecting and extracting messages imbedded in the video reporter data for superimposing over a television picture; instructing tone generating means to generate an audible tone for alerting a viewer to the messages to be superimposed; instructing text to speech synthesizing means to synthesize an audio message from the messages to be superimposed; powering on a television set; initiating superimposing means for superimposing the video reporter data over the television picture of the programing in progress; initiating storage and retrieving means for storing and retrieving the video reporter data; and
,powering off the television set. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification