Information distribution and processing system

• US 7,830,830 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• 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:
  US11/825,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 725/110, 725/105, 709/219
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• 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 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• 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: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

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 distribution system for distributing information to a plurality of receiving devices in a plurality of locations, at least one of said receiving devices being connected to a display, said system comprising:

a first remote site containing at least a first set of digital data;

a second remote site containing at least a second set of digital data;

said first remote site adapted to transmit a radio frequency signal encoded with television information and at least said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices, said first set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data and a second set of displayable data adapted to appear on said display, said second set of displayable data having an appearance on said display distinct from the appearance of said first set of displayable data on said display for facilitating a subscriber to select said second set of displayable data;

a first set of indicating data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, said first set of indicating data being non-visible to the subscriber; and

at least a first linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and at least one portion of said second set of digital data, said first linkage reference not being displayed on said display;

said at least one of said receiving devices being configured to transmit said first linkage reference to said second remote site upon the subscriber'"'"'s selection of said second set of displayable data on said display, said second remote site adapted to transmit said second set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices after said first linkage reference is received at said second remote site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data includes multimedia data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data includes video data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data is transmitted by at least one television video signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of displayable data appears highlighted on said display.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of displayable data appears on said display in a different color than said first set of displayable data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said receiving devices is adapted to cause said at least one portion of said second set of digital data to be displayed on said display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data includes a second set of indicating data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference, said second set of indicating data being non-visible to the subscriber.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second remote site includes a third set of digital data and said second set of digital data includes at least a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of digital data is encrypted.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data is encrypted.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second remote sites is in wireless communication with said at least one of said receiving devices.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second remote sites is in wired communication with said at least one of said receiving devices.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of digital data is stored in a database located at said second remote site.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency signal is a television frequency signal.

15. An information distribution system for distributing information to a plurality of receiving devices in a plurality of locations, at least one of said receiving devices being connected to a display, said system comprising:

a first remote site containing at least a first set of digital data;

a second remote site containing at least a second set of digital data;

said first remote site adapted to transmit a radio frequency signal encoded with television information and at least said first set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices, said first set of digital data comprising;

a first set of displayable data and a second set of displayable data adapted to appear on said display, said second set of displayable data having an appearance on said display distinct from the appearance of said first set of displayable data on said display for facilitating a subscriber to select said second set of displayable data;

a first set of indicating data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data; and

at least a first linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and at least one portion of said second set of digital data;

said at least one of said receiving devices being configured to transmit said first linkage reference to said second remote site upon the subscriber'"'"'s selection of said second set of displayable data on said display, said second remote site adapted to transmit said second set of digital data to said at least one of said receiving devices after said first linkage reference is received at said second remote site.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first set of digital data includes multimedia data.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said first set of digital data includes video data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said first set of digital data is transmitted by at least one television video signal.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said second set of displayable data appears on said display in a different color than said first set of displayable data.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second remote sites is in wireless communication with said at least one of said receiving devices.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said radio frequency signal is a television frequency signal.