Transmission/reception system and receiver

• US 6,320,868 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawamura, Masao, Okano, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/442, 370/431, 370/449, 370/458, 370/462, 370/463, 370/464, 370/465, 370/474, 370/475, 370/476, 370/486, 370/498, 370/901, 370/908, 370/916, 370/311, 370/312, 370/313, 370/314, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/340, 370/351, 455/403, 455/412, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 345/133, 345/141, 345/902, 345/961, 345/965, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 370/442
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/53 Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/98 Physical distribution of media, e.g. postcards, CDs or DVDs

Abstract

A transmitting station transmits FM radio waves which carry program information, such as news, and time information representing the current time. Each of receivers generates the first time information in accordance with an internal clock, corrects the first time information in accordance with the time information transmitted from the transmitting station, and generates the second time information. Each receiver progresses a game by changing the image displayed on the display, in accordance with a predetermined element, which is obtained from the program information transmitted from the transmitting station, and the first or second time information. Therefore, the progress of the game differs depending on the reception of the second information and the time information, and accordingly the progress of the game is unexpectable.

Claims

1. A transmission/reception system comprising:

a transmitting station which transmits radio waves carrying first information, second information and information representing time; and

at least one receiver which receives the radio waves transmitted from said transmitting station and demodulates said first information, said second information and said information representing time, said at least one receiver including;

a display,

a time counter which generates first time information in response to a clock signal,

a corrector which corrects the first time information generated by said time counter in accordance with the received information representing time, and generates second time information, and

a game controller;

wherein said game controller progresses a game by changing an image displayed on said display, in accordance with a predetermined element obtained from the received second information, and time information, such that a state of the progress of said game varies in accordance with a state of the reception of said second information and said time information.

2. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said time information is one of said first time information and second time information.

3. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said radio waves are FM radio waves, and said first information, said second information and said information representing time are multiplexed on said FM radio waves.

4. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting station has a service center, and receives said first information and said second information from said service center.

5. The transmission/reception system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one receiver further includes a sender which sends a reply information to said service center.

6. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein the number of receivers is plural, and said transmitting station receives said second information from one of receivers other than said at least one receiver.

7. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting station is an FM radio broadcasting station, said at least one receiver is an FM teletext broadcast receiver, and said first information represents an FM teletext information program.

8. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver is a pager, said transmitting station transmits said radio waves to said pager, and said first information represents a paging message.

9. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first information and said second information is pay information.

10. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said first information is free information, and said second information is pay information.

11. The transmission/reception system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver further includes a key input section inputting an element which changes the state of the progress of said game.

12. A transmission/reception system comprising:

a transmitting station which transmits radio waves carrying first information, second information and information representing time; and

at least one receiver which receives the radio waves transmitted from said transmitting station and demodulates said first information, said second information and said information representing time,

said at least one receiver including;

display means for displaying an image,

time counting means for generating first time information in response to a clock signal,

correction means for correcting the first time information generated by said time counting means, in accordance with the received information representing time, and for generating second time information, and

display control means for controlling said display means;

wherein said display control means changes the image displayed on said display means in accordance with a predetermined element obtained from the received second information, and time information, such that a state of the image displayed on said display means varies in accordance with a state of the reception of said second information and said time information.

13. A transmission/reception system comprising:

a transmitting station which transmits radio waves carrying program information; and

a receiver which receives the radio waves transmitted from said transmitting station and demodulates said program information,

said receiver including;

display means for displaying an image, and

game means for performing a game;

wherein said game means progresses said game by changing the image displayed on said display means, in accordance with a predetermined element obtained from the received program information, and time information, such that a state of the progress of said game varies in accordance with a state of the reception of said program information and said time information.

14. The transmission/reception system according to claim 13, wherein the state of the reception of said program information differs depending on which of a plurality of programs is received by said receiver.

15. The transmission/reception system according to claim 13, wherein the state of the reception of said program information differs depending on a time at which said program information has been received by said receiver.

16. A transmission/reception system comprising:

a transmitting station which transmits radio waves carrying first information and second information; and

a receiver which receives the radio waves transmitted from said transmitting station and demodulates said first information and said second information, said receiver including;

a display, and

a game controller which progresses a game by changing an image displayed on said display in accordance with a predetermined element obtained from the received second information, such that a state of the progress of said game varies in accordance with a state of the reception of said second information.

17. A receiver comprising:

a demodulator which receives radio waves carrying first information, second information and information representing time, and demodulates said first information, said second information and said information representing time,

a display;

a time counter which generates first time information in response to an internal clock signal;

a corrector which corrects the first time information generated by said time counter in accordance with the received information representing time, and generates second time information; and

a game controller;

wherein said game controller progresses a game by changing an image displayed on said display, in accordance with a predetermined element obtained from the received second information, and time information, such that a state of the progress of said game varies in accordance with a state of the reception of said second information and said time information.

18. The receiver according to claim 17, further comprising a key input section which inputs the element which changes the state of the progress of said game.