Information distribution system which intermittaly transmits radio frequency signal digital data

• US 6,289,200 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TechSearch LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/471,952
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/6.2, 455/450, 455/3.01, 725/136, 370/352
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• 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 60/91 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 contains a central site, a transmitter and a receiving device. The central site contains a first set of digital data. The transmitter delivers a second set of digital data to the receiving device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving device contain a timing device for automatically receiving the second set of digital data at predetermined times. In another embodiment, the transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of the second set of digital data. The second 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, a user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the central site. The associated linking reference is used by the central site to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. An information distribution system for distributing information to a remote site, said remote site having a local display device used by a user to display said information, said remote site being associated with a central site containing a first set of digital data said system comprising:

a receiving device located in said remote site;

a transmitter transmitting radio frequency signals, said radio frequency signals comprising an alert signal and a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprises a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

a non-displayable first linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said alert signal being used to alert said receiving device of a transmission of said second set of disital data; and

said receiving device comprising;

a receiver for receiving said radio frequency signals;

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

means for displaying said first set of displayable data on said display device;

means for displaying said second set of displayable data on said display device in a way that indicates said second set of displayable data is selectable by said user;

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

means for extracting said first linkage reference after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected; and

a communication interface for sending said extracted first linkage reference to said central site.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted and wherein said receiving device further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted 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 first linkage reference.

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

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

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

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

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a portion of said television frequency signals.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmitting said radio frequency signals without initiated by said receiving device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted and wherein said receiving device further comprises means for decrypting said encrypted data.

11. 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 first linkage reference.

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

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

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

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

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a portion of said television frequency signals.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data, wherein said first set of digital data comprises a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, and wherein said communication interface further receives said first set of digital data after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

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

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

21. A method for distributing information to a remote site, said remote site having a receiving device connected to a local display device, said remote site being associated with a central site containing a first set of digital data, said method comprising the steps of:

intermittently transmitting first radio frequency signals containing digital data, said digital data comprising a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprises a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a non-displayable first linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data;

prior to transmitting said second set of digital data, transmitting second radio frequency signals containing an alert signal for alerting said receiving device of a transmission of said second set of digital data;

receiving, by said receiving device, said first and said second radio frequency signals;

retrieving, by said receiving device, said second set of digital data from said received first radio frequency signals;

displaying said first set of displayable data on said display device;

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

allowing, by said receiving device, said user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

extracting, by said receiving device, said first linkage reference after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected; and

sending, by said receiving device, said extracted first linkage reference to said central site.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted and wherein said method further comprises a step of decrypting, by said receiving device, said encrypted 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 first linkage reference.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said first and said second radio frequency signals are transmitted using a satellite transponder.

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

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

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

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a portion of said television frequency signals.

29. A method for distributing information to a remote site, said remote site having a receiving device connected to a local display device, said remote site being associated with a central site containing a first set of digital data, said method comprising the steps of,

transmitting first radio frequency signals containing a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprises a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data and a non-displayable first linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data,

transmitting second radio frequency signals containing an alert signal for alerting said receiving device of a transmission of said second set of digital data;

receiving, by said receiving device, said first and said second radio frequency signals;

retrieving, by said receiving device, said second set of digital data from said received first radio frequency signals;

displaying said first set of displayable data on said display device;

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

allowing, by said receiving device, said user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

extracting, by said receiving device, said first linkage reference after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected; and

sending, by said receiving device, said extracted first linkage reference to said central site;

wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data, wherein said first set of digital data comprises a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, and wherein said method further comprises a step of receiving, by said receiving device, said first set of digital data after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said first radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a portion of said television frequency signals.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said first radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

36. An information distribution system for distributing information to a remote site, said remote site having a local display device used by a user to display said information, said remote site being associated with a central site containing a first set of digital data, said system comprising:

a transmitter transmitting radio frequency signals comprising a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprises a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a non-displayable first linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data; and

a receiving device located in said remote site, comprising;

a timing device;

a receiver receiving said radio frequency signals at times determined by said timing device;

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

means for displaying said first set of displayable data on said display device;

means for displaying said second set of displayable data on said display device in a way that indicates said second set of displayable data is selectable by a user;

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

means for extracting said first linkage reference after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected; and

a communication interface for sending said extracted first linkage reference to said central site;

wherein said central site contains a third set of digital data, wherein said first set of digital data comprises a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data, and wherein said communication interface further receives said first set of digital data after said at least a portion of said second set of displayable data is selected.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a portion of said television frequency signals.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.