Information distribution and processing system

• US 6,766,140 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Data Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/493,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/6.2, 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• 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 60/91 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 sender and a plurality of processing units. The sender delivers a set of digital date without receiving a request signal, to the plurality of processor units. The set of digital data contains a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, at least one non-displayable symbols 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 a database. The database contains additional information. The associated linking reference is used by the database to search for the additional information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. A method for distributing information of a sender to a plurality of processor units located in separate remote sites, each of said processor units being connected to a local display device, said display device being used by a user to view said information, said plurality of processor units being coupled to a remote database, said database comprising a first set of digital data, said method comprising the steps of:

sending, by said sender a second set of digital data to said plurality of processor units, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data designating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first non-displayable linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and with said first set of digital data, said sender sending said second set of digital data without receiving a request signal from at least one of said plurality of processor units to request said second set of digital data; and

processing said second set of digital data by each of said plurality of processor units, comprising the following steps performed by each of said plurality of processor units;

receiving said second set of digital data;

causing said display device to display said received first set of displayable data;

causing said display device to display said received second set of displayable data in a way to show said user that said second set of displayable data is selectable;

allowing said user to select said second set of displayable data;

extracting said first linkage reference after said second set of displayable data is selected; and

sending, after said second set of displayable data is selected, said extracted first linkage reference to said database for retrieving said first set of digital data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of sending, by said sender, an alert signal to said plurality of processor units prior to sending said second set of digital data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a computer game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a game.

13. The method of claim 3 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

14. The method of claim 3 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 method of claim 14 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code.

16. The method of claim 3 wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signal.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said database 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 step of processing said second set of digital data by each of said plurality of processor units further comprises a step of receiving said retrieved first set of digital data after said second set of displayable data is selected.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a game.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

23. The method of claim 19 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.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

2. The method of claim I wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

4. The method of claim I 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.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code.

26. A system for distributing information to a plurality of remote sites, each of said sites having a local display device used by a user to view said information, a portion of said information being stored in a database, said database containing a first set of digital data, said system comprising:

a plurality of processor units; and

a sender sending a second set of digital data to said plurality of processor units, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data, a second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data designating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first non-displayable linkage reference associated with said second set of displayable data and with said first set of digital data, said sender sending said second set of digital data without receiving a request signal from at least one of said plurality of processor units to request said second set of digital data;

wherein each of said plurality of processor units comprising;

a receiver for receiving said second set of digital data;

means for displaying said received first set of displayable data on said display device;

means for displaying said received second set of displayable data in a way to show said user that said second set of displayable data is selectable;

means for allowing said user to select said second set of displayable data;

means for extracting said first linkage reference after said second set of displayable data is selected; and

a communication interface for sending, after said second set of displayable data is selected, said extracted first linkage reference to said database so as to retrieve said first set of digital data.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a game.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

30. The system of claim 26 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.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises at least one formatting code.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein said sender comprises a transmitter transmitting said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein said sender sending an alert signal to said plurality of receivers prior to sending said second set of digital data.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a game.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

38. The system of claim 34 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.

39. The system of claim 34 wherein said sender comprises a transmitter transmitting said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.

41. The system of claim 26 wherein said database 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 after said second set of displayable data is selected.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises video data.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a game.

44. The system of claim 41 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mail.

45. The system of claim 41 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.

46. The system of claim 41 wherein said sender sending said second set of digital data using radio frequency signals.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said radio frequency signals are television frequency signals.