Information distribution and processing apparatus being connected to a local display

• US 6,349,409 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IP Innovation LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/812,003
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/109, 725/135
• 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 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 contains a remote site, a sender and a receiving apparatus. The remote site contains a first set of digital data. The sender 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. 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 remote site. The associated linking reference is used by the remote site to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus located in a separate site from a sender and a remote site, said apparatus being connected to a local display device for displaying information to a user, said remote site containing a first set of digital data and being in communication with said apparatus, said sender sending a second set of digital data for processing by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

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

a timing device causing said receiver to receive said second set of digital data at predetermined times;

means for displaying said first set of displayable data in a first way on said display device and said second set of displayable data in a second way on said display device, said second way indicating to said user that said second set of displayable data is selectable;

an input device allowing a user to select said second set of displayable data;

means for extracting said first linkage reference to obtain an extracted first linkage reference if said second set of displayable data is selected; and

a communication interface sending said extracted first linkage reference to said remote site if said second set of displayable data is selected, said first linkage reference being used by said remote site to retrieve said first set of digital data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data comprises video data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and said second sets of digital data is encrypted, and said apparatus further comprising means for decrypting said encrypted digital data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code and a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data comprises electronic mail.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals, and wherein said receiver further comprises a data interface for retrieving said second set of digital data from said radio frequency signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code and a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second set of digital data comprises video data.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second set of digital data comprises electronic mail.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote 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 if said second set of displayable data is selected.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code and a second set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second set of digital data comprises video data.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals, and wherein said receiver further comprises a data interface for retrieving said second set of digital data from said radio frequency signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.