Information distribution and processing system

• US 6,343,380 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• 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:
  US09/686,276
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/109, 725/135, 455/3.01
• US Class Current: 725/105
• 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 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 has a broadcast channel for delivering a first 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. In one embodiment of the present invention, the broadcast channel uses a satellite to broadcast the data. In another embodiment of the invention, the bi-directional channel is a telephone system. At predetermined locations of the first set of digital data, linking references are embedded. If desired, the user can select a linking reference and send a request 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 digital data to be displayed by a plurality of processing devices each located in a separate remote site and connected to a display device, comprising:

a central site containing a first set of digital data and being in wireless communication with said plurality of processing devices;

a first transmitter;

a plurality of receiving stations designed to receive transmission from said first transmitter and located remotely from said first transmitter, said central site and said plurality of processing devices;

said first transmitter transmitting a first set of radio frequency signals to at least one of said plurality of receiving stations, said first transmitter being located remotely from said plurality of processing devices and said plurality of receiving stations, said first set of radio frequency signals comprising 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 for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first non-displayable linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data;

each of said receiving stations containing another transmitter for transmitting to some of said plurality of processing devices; and

said another transmitter in said at least one of said plurality of receiving stations transmitting a second set of radio frequency signals to at least one of said plurality of processing devices, said second set of radio frequency signals containing said second set of digital data.

2. 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.

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

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

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

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said central site further contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

7. The system of claim 6 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.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

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

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises games.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first set of radio frequency signals is at a higher frequency band than said second set of radio frequency signals.

12. The system of claim 11 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.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said first transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said second set of digital data.

14. The system of claim 13 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.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said central site further contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

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

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises games.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

20. An information distribution system for distributing digital data to be displayed by a plurality of processing devices each located in a separate remote site and connected to a display device, said system comprising:

a central site containing a first set of digital data and connected to said plurality of processing devices, said central site delivering said first set of digital data to at least one of said plurality of processing devices in response to a request by said at least one of said plurality of processing devices;

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

a plurality of receiving stations that receive said second set of digital data and located remotely from said transmitter, said central site and said plurality of processing devices; and

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

wherein said at least one of said plurality of processing 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 that allows a user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

means for retrieving said first 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 that sends said retrieved first linkage reference to said central site.

21. The system of claim 20 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.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

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

24. The system of claim 20 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises games.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein said central site further contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

26. The system of claim 25 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.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises games.

30. The system of claim 20 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

31. An information distribution system for distributing digital data to be displayed by a plurality of processing devices each located in a separate remote site and connected to a display device, said system comprising:

a central site containing a first set of digital data and connected to said plurality of processing devices, said central site delivering said first set of digital data to at least one of said plurality of processing devices in response to a request by said at least one of said plurality of processing devices;

a first transmitter;

a plurality of receiving stations that receive transmission from said first transmitter and located remotely from said first transmitter, said central site and said plurality of processing devices;

said first transmitter transmitting a second set of digital data to at least one of said plurality of receiving stations, said first transmitter being located remotely from said plurality of processing devices and said plurality of receiving stations, 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 for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first non-displayable linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data;

each of said receiving stations containing another transmitter that transmits to some of said plurality of processing devices; and

said another transmitter in said at least one of said plurality of receiving stations transmitting said second set of digital data to said at least one of said plurality of processing devices;

wherein said at least one of said plurality of processing 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 that allows a user to select at least a portion of said second set of displayable data;

means for retrieving said first 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 that sends said retrieved first linkage reference to said central site.

32. The system of claim 31 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.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises games.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein said central site further contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

37. The system of claim 36 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.

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

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

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

41. The system of claim 31 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.