System and method for simulating two-way connectivity for one way data streams

• US 5,818,441 A
• Filed: 06/15/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Throckmorton, John A., Harrison, Edward R., Perry, Burt
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/490,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/473, 348/714
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system supplying information associated with a broadcast television program to a consumer such that said consumer perceives the associated data as the result of two way interactivity with external sources of data such as online services or the Internet. The system includes equipment for inserting the associated data into the vertical blanking interval of the television signal on the supplier side of the system. On the receiving side, the system includes a personal computer capable of receiving the television program and storing the associated data locally. The consumer may then interact with the stored associated data in an apparently two way interactive manner. Additional interactivity may be achieved by adding an actual two way communication channel to the personal computer so that online services or the Internet may be accessed. This two way communication channel is made particularly effective if the associated data contains pointers to locations in the online services or the Internet which are particularly relevant to the television program.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

creation means for creating a primary data stream and associated data;

one-way delivery means for delivering said primary data stream and said associated data in a single integrated signal stream from a network to a consumer;

consumer location equipment comprising;

means for receiving and separating said primary data stream and associated data;

memory means storing said associated data, said means being connected to said receiving means;

processing means connected to said memory means for accessing said stored associated data; and

human interface means connected to said processing means for selectively interacting with said associated data.

2. The system of claim 1 further characterized by a two-way communications channel connected to said processing means, said two-way communications channel being adapted to carry digital data in two directions.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for processing said associated data includes means for consummating transactions over said two-way communications channel based at least in part upon said associated data.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for processing said associated data includes means for requesting additional data over said second channel of data based at least in part on information in said associated data.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said associated data includes data from an online service.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for delivering said associated data is storage media.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said primary data stream and said associated data are communicated by the same delivery medium.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said primary stream of data is audio only.

9. A system comprising:

a one-way delivery sub-system for delivering from a network to a consumer a combined data stream having a primary data stream that contains a plurality of programs and associated data that relates to one or more of said plurality of programs;

consumer location equipment comprising;

a receiver for receiving said combined data stream;

a digital processor connected to said receiving means for separating said associated data from said combined data stream;

memory storing said associated data, said memory being connected to said processor;

a human interface connected to said memory means for accessing and selectively interacting with said stored associated data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said one-way delivery means for delivering said combined data stream to said consumer is television.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said associated data is inserted into available unused bandwidth in said television signal.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said television is broadcast television.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said one-way delivery means for delivering said combined data stream to said consumer is radio.

14. A system comprising:

first creation means for creating a primary data stream;

second creation means for creating associated data,

first one-way delivery means communicating with said first creation means for delivering said primary data stream to said consumer;

second one-way delivery means communicating with said second creation means for delivering said associated data to said consumer;

consumer location equipment comprising;

first means for receiving said primary data stream;

second means for receiving said associated data stream;

memory means storing said associated data;

processing means connected to said memory means for accessing said stored associated data;

a two-way communications channel connected to said processing means, sand two-way communications channel being adapted to carry digital communications in two directions; and

a consumer interface connected to said processing means for interacting with said associated data.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said second one-way delivery means for communicating said associated data is a sideband carrier.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said second one-way delivery means for communicating said associated data is a cable television communications network.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said second one-way delivery means for communicating said associated data is a telephone line.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for processing said associated data includes means for requesting additional data over said two-way communications channel and wherein said additional data is referenced by said associated data.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for processing said associated data includes means for consummating transactions over said second channel of communication based at least in part upon said associated data.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said associated data includes pointers to data in an online service.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein said associated data includes data acquired from the Internet.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein said associated data includes pointers to data on the Internet.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein said associated data includes pointers to instructions and data on another computer to be executed by said processing means.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein said primary stream of data is audio only.

25. The system of claim 14 wherein said primary stream of data is a subscription digital audio service.

26. A method comprising:

generating a stream of primary data;

generating a stream of associated data;

combining said primary and associated data into a single data stream;

delivering said combined data stream to a consumer;

separating said associated data from said combined data stream;

storing said separated associated data;

displaying said accessed associated data;

selectively interacting with said stored associated data using a computer.

27. The method of claim 26 further including processing said associated data before the displaying thereof.

28. The method of claim 27 further including storing said associated data in local non-volatile storage.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said processing said associated data includes sorting said associated data.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said processing said associated data includes categorizing said associated data.

31. The method of claim 26 further including accessing remote computers based upon references included in said associated data.

32. The method of claim 26 further including printing portions of said associated data.

33. A system comprising:

a primary data stream generator;

an associated data stream generator;

a data synchronizer;

a sequencer having as inputs said primary data stream generator, said associated data stream generator and said synchronizer, said sequencer being adapted to generate a combination signal containing said primary data stream and said associated data;

a delivery sub-system connected to the output of said sequencer for delivering said combination signal to said consumer;

consumer location equipment comprising;

a receiver for said combination signal;

a decoder connected to said receiver for separating said associated data from said combination signal;

a memory storing said associated data, said means being connected to said decoder;

a processor connected to said memory for accessing said stored associated data;

a human interface connected to said processor for displaying said associated data; and

a two-way communications channel connected to said processor.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said human interface comprises a computer monitor and keyboard.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes data acquired from an online service.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes data acquired from the Internet.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes pointers to data in an online service.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes instructions and data to be executed by said processing means.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes pointers to data on the Internet.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes pointers to Internet News Group articles.

41. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes pointers to Internet Relay Chat forums.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein said associated data includes pointers to World Wide Web pages.