Interactive display system

• US 6,593,972 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1998
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clark E. Johnson Jr
• Inventors: Johnson, Clark E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US09/076,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 348/460, 348/553, 348/473, 348/468, 348/552, 348/461, 348/465, 348/563, 348/480, 725/136, 725/51, 345/717, 345/718, 345/719, 386/124, 386/40, 386/39
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91342 the copy protection signal being an authentication signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/083 with signal insertion during the vertical and the horizontal blanking interval , e.g. MAC data signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/085 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

An interactive display system is provided for use with (i) a program source having an associated video output signal and a digital data stream, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system. The system in a preferred embodiment has a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream and a viewer control box. The control box has a user input for receiving user selections, a data input in communication with the data decoder for receiving the digital data stream, and a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input. A video cassette for use in such a system is also provided.

Claims

1. An interactive display system, for use with (i) a program source from a video player device providing an associated video output signal and a digital data stream, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal to provide control data for user interaction with the program source, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system comprising:

(a) a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream from the video output signal;

(b) a viewer control box having

(i) a user input for receiving user selections;

(ii) a data input in communication with the decoder for receiving the digital data stream; and

(iii) a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input; and

(c) a visual status display, removably attachable to the monitor, in communication with the program execution module, for displaying the current state of the module so as to enable real time user interaction with the program source.

2. A display system according to claim 1, wherein the data decoder includes a light detector that is removably attachable to the monitor and the visual status display is mounted on the detector.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the program source is a video storage medium, such medium being one of a video cassette and a CD-ROM.

4. An interactive display system, for use with (i) a program source from a video player device providing an associated video output signal and a digital data stream output, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal to provide control data for user interaction with the program source, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system comprising:

(a) a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream from the video output signal;

(b) a viewer control box having

(i) a user input for receiving user selections;

(ii) a data input in communication with the decoder for receiving the digital data stream; and

(iii) a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input; and

(c) an audio transducer in communication with the program execution module, wherein the program execution module includes an arrangement for determining an audio output that is configured by the digital data stream output and responsive to the user selections;

so that the digital data stream provides control data to the program execution module so as to enable real time user interaction with the program source.

5. An interactive display system according to claim 4, wherein the viewer control box includes a visual status display in communication with the program execution module for displaying the current state of the module.

6. An interactive display system, for use with (i) a program source from a video player device providing an associated video output signal and a digital data stream output, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal to provide control data for user interaction with the program source, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system comprising:

(a) a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream from the video output signal;

(b) a viewer control box having

(i) a user input for receiving user selections;

(ii) a data input in communication with the decoder for receiving the digital data stream; and

(iii) a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input, wherein the program execution module includes an arrangement for scoring user selections and providing a score output; and

(iv) a data transmitter for transmitting the score output to a remote location;

so that the digital data stream provides control data to the program execution module so as to enable real time user interaction with the program source.

7. An interactive display system, for use with (i) a program source from a video player device providing an associated video output signal and a digital data stream output, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal to provide control data for user interaction with the program source, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system comprising:

(a) a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream from the video output signal;

(b) a viewer control box having

(i) a user input for receiving user selections;

(ii) a data input in communication with the decoder for receiving the digital data stream; and

(iii) an authentication arrangement for decrypting an authentication code that has been modulated on a portion of the video output signal associated with the program source and comparing the authentication code with a reference for authenticating the program source; and

(iv) a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input;

so that the digital data stream provides control data to the program execution module so as to enable real time user interaction with the program source.

8. An interactive display system, for use with (i) a program source from a video player device providing an associated video output signal and a digital data stream output, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal to provide control data for user interaction with the program source, and (ii) a monitor in communication with the program source for displaying the output, the display system comprising:

(a) a data decoder, for separating the digital data stream from the video output signal;

(b) a viewer control box having

(i) a user input for receiving user selections;

(ii) a data input in communication with the decoder for receiving the digital data stream; and

(iii) an authentication arrangement for decrypting an authentication code that has been recorded on the case of a video storage medium associated with the program source and comparing the authentication code with a reference for authenticating the program source; and

(iv) a program execution module in communication with the user input and the data input;

so that the digital data stream provides control data to the program execution module so as to enable real time user interaction with the program source.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising a second authentication arrangement for decrypting a second authentication code that has been modulated on a portion of the video output signal associated with the program source wherein the reference is the second authentication code.

10. A video storage medium on which has been recorded video information constituting a program source, the video information so arranged that the video storage medium is utilized in a video player device, the device produces:

(a) a video output signal;

(b) a digital data stream, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal and capable of being separated from the video output signal by a data decoder, the digital data stream providing control data for real time user interaction with the program source pursuant to which are made user selections; and

(c) audio data, included in the digital data stream output, for configuring an audio output that is responsive to the user selections.

11. A video storage medium on which has been recorded video information constituting a program source, the video information so arranged that the video storage medium is utilized in a video player device, the device produces:

(a) a video output signal;

(b) a digital data stream, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal and capable of being separated from the video output signal by a data decoder, the digital data stream providing control data for real time user interaction with the program source pursuant to which are made user selections; and

(c) an authentication code magnetically encoded on the housing of the video storage medium.

12. A video storage medium on which has been recorded video information constituting a program source, the video information so arranged that the video storage medium is utilized in a video player device, the device produces:

(a) a video output signal;

(b) a digital data stream, the digital data stream being modulated on the video output signal and capable of being separated from the video output signal by a data decoder, the digital data stream providing control data for real time user interaction with the program source pursuant to which are made user selections; and

(c) an authentication code modulated on a portion of the video output signal on which the digital data stream is modulated, so that the authentication code is received by the data decoder.

13. A video storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising a second authentication code magnetically encoded on the housing of the video storage medium.

14. A video storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the video information is so arranged that the video storage medium is utilized in a video player device, the device produces:

audio data, included in the digital data stream output, for configuring an audio output that is responsive to the user selections.

15. A video storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the video information is so arranged that the video storage medium is utilized in a video player device, the device produces:

audio data, included in the digital data stream output, for configuring an audio output that is responsive to the user selections.