Information distribution and processing system

• US 6,253,059 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dr. Hark C. Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/426,375
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/6.2, 455/450
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/09 Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An information distribution and processing system uses a transmitter to deliver a set of digital data and a bi-directional channel for allowing a user to obtain additional information. The additional information is stored in a database. The set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbol, and at least one linking reference associated with the second set of displayable data. If desired, the user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the database via the bi-directional channel. The database uses the selected linking reference to search for information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. An information distribution system for distributing information of a distributor and information in a central site to a plurality of receiving devices located in remote sites, each of said receiving devices being operated by a user and connected to a display device, said central site containing a first set of digital data, means for retrieving said first set of digital data in response to a request from at least one of said receiving devices, and a channel for receiving said request, said system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency signals encoded with a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way;

a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way indicating that it is selectable by said user;

a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

a linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said linkage reference not displayable on said display device;

a plurality of remote stations for receiving said radio frequency signals; and

a plurality of wired communication channels, each of said wired communication channels linking each of said plurality of stations to some of said plurality of receiving devices;

wherein each of said plurality of receiving devices comprising;

means for displaying said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second sets of displayable data in said second way on said display device;

an input device for allowing a user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

means for retrieving said linkage reference associated with said selected data after a selection of said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data by said user; and

a communication interface for sending said retrieved linkage reference to said central site, said retrieved linkage reference being used by said central site as said request.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein at least one of said plurality of receiving devices further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wired communication channels comprises cables.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wired communication channels comprises optic fibers.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a satellite transponder.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of remote stations comprises an antenna.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmitting said radio frequency signals without receiving a signal sent by at least one of said plurality of receiving devices.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein at least one of said plurality of receiving devices further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter is a satellite transponder.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of remote stations comprises an antenna.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmitting an alert signal to said plurality of remote stations associated with said second set of digital data.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein at least one of said plurality of receiving devices further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said transmitter is a satellite transponder.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each of said plurality of remote stations comprises an antenna.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

74. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

75. The system of claim 9 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

76. The system of claim 15 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

86. The system of claim 1 wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data, wherein said first set of digital data comprises another linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, and wherein said channel comprises means for sending said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices.

21. A method for distributing information of a distributor and information in a central site to a plurality of receiving devices in remote sites, each of said devices being operated by a user and connected to a display device, said central site containing a first set of digital data, means for retrieving said first set of digital data in response to a request from at least one of said receiving devices, and a channel for receiving said request, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting radio frequency signals encoded with a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way;

a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way indicating that it is selectable by said user;

a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

a linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said linkage reference not displayable on said display device;

providing a plurality of remote stations for receiving said second set of digital data; and

providing a plurality of wired communication channels for linking each of said plurality of remote stations to some of said plurality of receiving devices;

wherein each of said plurality of receiving devices performing the following steps;

receiving said second set of digital data from one of said plurality of remote stations;

displaying on said display device said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second sets of displayable data in said second way;

allowing said user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data by said user using an input device;

retrieving said linkage reference associated with said selected data after a selection of said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data by said user; and

sending said retrieved linkage reference to said central site, said retrieved linkage reference being used by said database as said request.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by at least one of said receiving devices said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of said wired communication channels comprises cables.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of said wired communication channels comprises optic fibers.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmitting step is performed by a satellite transponder.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmitting step is performed without receiving a signal sent by at least one of said plurality of receiving devices.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by at least one of said receiving devices said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein said transmitting step is performed by a satellite transponder.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmitting step further comprises a step of transmitting an alert signal associated with said second set of digital data.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by at least one of said receiving devices said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said transmitting step is performed by a satellite transponder.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

77. The method of claim 21 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

78. The method of claim 28 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

79. The method of claim 33 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

87. The method of claim 21 wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data and said first set of digital data comprises another linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, said method further comprising a step of sending said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices.

38. An information distribution system for distributing information of a distributor and information in a central site to a plurality of receiving devices located in remote sites, each of said receiving devices being operated by a users and connected to a display device, said central site containing a first set of digital data, means for retrieving said first set of digital data in response to a request from at least one of said plurality of receiving devices, and a channel for receiving said request, said system comprising:

a first transmitter transmitting a first set of radio frequency signals encoded with a second set of digital data, said first set of radio frequency signals being in a first frequency band;

a plurality of remote stations for receiving said first set of radio frequency signals; and

each of said remote stations containing another transmitter for transmitting another set of radio frequency signals encoded with said second set of digital data, said another set of radio frequency signals being in a frequency band different from said first frequency band;

wherein said second set of digital data comprises;

a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way;

a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way indicating that it is selectable by said user;

a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

a linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said linkage reference not displayable on said display device; and

each of said receiving devices further comprises;

a receiver for receiving said another set of radio frequency signals;

a data interface for retrieving said second set of digital data from said received second set of radio frequency signals;

means for displaying said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way on said display device;

an input device for allowing said user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

means for retrieving said linkage reference associated with said selected data after a selection of said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data by said user; and

a communication interface for sending said retrieved linkage reference to said central site, said retrieved linkage reference being used by said central site as said request.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein said receiving device further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted data.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein said first transmitter is a satellite transponder.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein said first transmitter transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals without receiving a signal sent by one of said receiving devices.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein said receiving device further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

47. The system of claim 44 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

48. The system of claim 44 wherein said first transmitter is a satellite transponder.

49. The system of claim 44 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

50. The system of claim 38 wherein said first transmitter transmitting an alert signal associated with said second set of digital data.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted and wherein said receiving device further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein said first transmitter is a satellite transponder.

54. The system of claim 50 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

80. The system of claim 38 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

81. The system of claim 44 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

82. The system of claim 50 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

88. The system of claim 38 wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data, wherein said first set of digital data comprises another linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, and wherein said channel comprises means for sending said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices.

56. A method for distributing information of a distributor and information in a central site to a receiving device in a remote site, said receiving device being operated by a user and connected to a display device, said central site containing a first set of digital data, means for retrieving said first set of digital data in response to a request from said receiving device, and a channel for receiving said request, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first set of radio frequency signals in a first frequency band, said first set of radio frequency signals encoded with a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way;

a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way indicating that it is selectable by said user;

a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

a linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said linkage reference not displayable on said display device;

providing a plurality of remote stations for receiving said first set of radio frequency signals; and

transmitting by each of said remote stations another set of radio frequency signals in a frequency band different from said first frequency band, said another set of radio frequency signals encoded with said second set of digital data,

wherein said receiving device performing the following steps;

receiving said another set of radio frequency signals;

retrieving said second set of digital data from said another set of radio frequency signals;

displaying on said display device said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second sets of displayable data in said second way;

allowing said user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

retrieving said linkage reference associated with said selected data after a selection of said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data by said user; and

sending said retrieved linkage reference to said remote central site, said retrieved linkage reference being used by said central site as said request.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by said receiving device said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein said step of transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals is performed by a satellite transponder.

62. The method of claim 56 wherein said step of transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals is performed without receiving a signal sent by said receiving device.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by said receiving device said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein said step of transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals is performed by a satellite transponder.

67. The method of claim 62 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

68. The method of claim 56 wherein said step of transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals further comprises a step of transmitting an alert signal associated with said second set of digital data.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, said method further comprising a step of decrypting by aid receiving device said at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

71. The method of claim 68 wherein said step of transmitting said first set of radio frequency signals is performed by a satellite transponder.

72. The method of claim 68 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said linkage reference.

73. The method of claim 68 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

83. The method of claim 56 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

84. The method of claim 62 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

85. The method of claim 68 wherein said another set of radio frequency signals is a set of television frequency signals.

89. The method of claim 56 wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data and said first set of digital data comprises another linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, said method further comprising a step of sending said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices.