Method and apparatus for prompting a reverse channel response from receiver in a digital broadcast system
First Claim
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1. A method of providing a response channel from a mobile platform in a digital broadcast system comprising:
- generating a message comprising a request for information from a mobile platform device and identification of at least a selected one of receivers in said digital broadcast system, said digital broadcast system being operable to transmit a broadcast data stream comprising a plurality of programs, said receivers being operable to playback a selected one of said programs;
transmitting said message via said digital broadcast system by inserting said message into said broadcast data stream;
receiving said message at said receivers in said digital broadcast system;
generating a command signal at said selected receiver in response to said message;
providing said command signal to a network on said mobile platform;
transmitting said command signal to said mobile platform device via said network;
generating a response signal from said mobile platform device comprising said information; and
transmitting said response signal via a communication system different from said digital broadcast system.
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Abstract
The invention relates generally to a digital broadcast system and receivers therein which are configured to allow the use of a reverse channel for transmitting responses to broadcast messages. The digital broadcast system is configured to receive requests for information from a mobile platform device (e.g., a GPS receiver) and broadcast information request messages. The receivers are configured to receive a broadcast information request message and communicate with a telematics-enabled device in a mobile platform such as a cellular telephone to initiate a transmission of a response message therefrom.
224 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of providing a response channel from a mobile platform in a digital broadcast system comprising:
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generating a message comprising a request for information from a mobile platform device and identification of at least a selected one of receivers in said digital broadcast system, said digital broadcast system being operable to transmit a broadcast data stream comprising a plurality of programs, said receivers being operable to playback a selected one of said programs;
transmitting said message via said digital broadcast system by inserting said message into said broadcast data stream;
receiving said message at said receivers in said digital broadcast system;
generating a command signal at said selected receiver in response to said message;
providing said command signal to a network on said mobile platform;
transmitting said command signal to said mobile platform device via said network;
generating a response signal from said mobile platform device comprising said information; and
transmitting said response signal via a communication system different from said digital broadcast system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing a response channel from a mobile platform in a digital broadcast system, the digital broadcast system being operable to transmit a broadcast data stream comprising a plurality of program channels to receivers, the receivers being configured for reception-only operation to playback a selected one of the programs, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said broadcast data stream at one of said receivers, said broadcast data stream comprising at least one message, said message comprising a request for information from a mobile platform device connected to a selected one of said receivers via at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link, and identification of the selected said receiver;
determining if said identification in said message corresponds to said one of said receivers;
generating a command signal at said one of said receivers in response to said message if said identification in said message corresponds thereto;
transmitting said command signal to said mobile platform device via said at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link;
generating a response signal from said mobile platform device comprising said information; and
transmitting said response signal via a communication system different from said digital broadcast system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
examining said data at said one of said receivers after said message is received to determine if said message is directed thereto; and
generating said command signal when said message is directed to said one of said receivers.
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14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of storing a plurality of identifiers at said one of said receivers corresponding to respective ones of said groups of said receivers to which said one of said receivers belongs, said examining step further comprising the step of comparing said data to said plurality of identifiers.
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15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein receiver comprises a controller, said controller being operable to communicate with said mobile platform device via said at least one of a wireless link and a wireline link and to generate said command signal.
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16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said receiving step comprises the steps of:
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performing at least one of a group of operations consisting of downconverting, demodulating, synchronizing, demultiplexing, deinterleaving and decoding on the received said broadcast data stream to extract and playback a selected one of said plurality of programs and to locate said message;
providing said message to said controller; and
further comprising the step of controlling generation and transmission of said command signal to said mobile platform device using said controller.
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17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said controlling step comprises the steps of formatting said command signal using a format compatible with said mobile platform device.
Specification