Receiver for user-demand information and entertainment system using wide area digital broadcast

• US 6,658,231 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakatsuyama, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): EWART, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US09/566,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 455/45, 455/154.1, 455/158.2, 455/158.5, 455/180.1, 455/181.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/189.1, 455/422.1, 455/3.06, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/09 Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A receiver is provided for an information system that provides selected information to individual users. A high speed digital program signal is broadcast and contains program data that begins at a reference time and is repeated at set intervals. An index signal that contains the receiver'"'"'s identifier associated with the reference time and interval information is also broadcast. The receiver monitors the index signal for its identifier. When the receiver detects its identifier, the receiver downloads the time and tuning information. The receiver then uses the time and tuning information to receive, download, and store the user'"'"'s selected program. In some embodiments a transceiver replaces the receiver to allow the user to make remote program requests.

Claims

1. A receiver comprising:

a logic unit;

a memory coupled to the logic unit, wherein the memory contains data representing a unique identification number associated with the receiver; and

a turning system coupled to the logic unit;

wherein the receiver is configured to monitor a broadcast index signal containing tuning data, to download and store in the memory the tuning data subsequent to detecting the unique identification number associated with the receiver in the broadcast index signal, and to used the stored tuning data to receive a program signal containing program data associated with a program.

2. The receiver of claim 1 wherein the tuning data includes a reference time at which the program data is broadcast in the program signal, and the receiver is configured to tune to the program signal at approximately the reference time.

3. The receiver of claim 1 wherein a tuning time is associated with the identification number, and the receiver is configured to operate in at least a first state during which the receiver monitors the index signal just prior to the tuning time, and a second state during which the receiver does not monitor the index signal.

4. The receiver of claim 3 wherein the receiver enters a power saving mode during at least a portion of the second state.

5. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising an output unit coupled to the logic unit, wherein the receiver is configured to output a foreground program upon receiver power-on, and to output a background program subsequent to the user selecting the background program for output.

6. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising a display, and wherein either or both the index signal and the program signal include data used to present a menu of new programs and/or updates to programs broadcast on the program signal.

7. An information system transceiver comprising:

a logic unit;

a memory coupled to the logic unit, wherein the memory contains data representing a unique identification number associated with the receiver;

a tuning system coupled to the logic unit; and

a transmitter coupled to the logic unit;

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to a wireless communication system a request signal, the request signal including the unique identification number and a request for a program, to receive from the wireless communication system a broadcast index signal containing the unique identification number associated with the receiver and tuning data and to store the tuning data in the memory, and to used the stored tuning data to receive a program signal containing program data associated with a program.

8. The transceiver of claim 7 further comprising a display, wherein either or both the index signal and the program signal include data, representing new programs and/or updates to programs broadcast on the program signal, used to present on the display a menu of program choices to a user.

9. The transceiver of claim 8, wherein the request is associated with a selection by the user from the menu of program choices.

11. The transceiver of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit electronic mail (email) to the wireless communication system.

12. The transceiver of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular telephone system.

13. The transceiver of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication system is a two-way paging system.

14. The transceiver of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to output a foreground program upon receiver power-on, and to output a background program when the user selects the background program for output.

15. The transceiver of claim 7 further comprising a display, wherein the transceiver is configured to output on the display an order form and to transmit an order associated with the order form for goods and/or services.

16. The transceiver of claim 7 further comprising a display, wherein the transceiver is configured to output on the display an invoice.

17. The transceiver of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a payment by the user.

10. An information system transceiver comprising:

a logic unit,

a memory coupled to the logic unit, wherein the memory contains data representing an identification number associated with the receiver,

a tuning system coupled to the logic unit, and

a transmitter coupled to the logic unit,

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to a wireless communication system a request signal, the request signal including the identification number and a request for a program, to receive from the wireless communication system an index signal including the tuning data and to store the tuning data in the memory, and to use the stored tuning data to receive a program signal containing a program, and

further wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit at least a portion of the stored tuning data to a second transceiver.