System to syncronize and access broadcast information
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer implemented information system to present program description information for one or more broadcast programs, the system comprising:
- a processing system for execution by a computer;
a user interface coupled to said processing system, said user interface providing means for receiving one or more user inquiries regarding one or more broadcast programs;
a database coupled to said processing system;
an input means coupled to said processing system, for inputting program description information of one or more broadcast programs to be broadcast in the future; and
a program description transmission means coupled to said processing system and to said user interface,wherein said processing system comprises;
means for synchronizing said inputted program description information with one or more broadcast programs of a broadcast transmission;
means for responding to a user inquiry placed through said user interface; and
means for further responding to said user inquiry by causing said program description transmission means to transmit program description information responsive to said user inquiry.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system enables listeners and viewers of a broadcast to access additional information associated with a broadcast. Listeners and viewers utilize a user device to connect to a database containing program descriptions (e.g. audio, text, video or combination thereof) further describing the programming and ancillary information. The database is indexed by the broadcast'"'"'s program list or schedule thereby allowing a user of the system to search and select a particular program description of interest. Hearing or viewing program descriptions enables users to preview excerpts and review a broadcast before purchasing an item heard or viewed on a broadcast.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. A computer implemented information system to present program description information for one or more broadcast programs, the system comprising:
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a processing system for execution by a computer; a user interface coupled to said processing system, said user interface providing means for receiving one or more user inquiries regarding one or more broadcast programs; a database coupled to said processing system; an input means coupled to said processing system, for inputting program description information of one or more broadcast programs to be broadcast in the future; and a program description transmission means coupled to said processing system and to said user interface, wherein said processing system comprises; means for synchronizing said inputted program description information with one or more broadcast programs of a broadcast transmission; means for responding to a user inquiry placed through said user interface; and means for further responding to said user inquiry by causing said program description transmission means to transmit program description information responsive to said user inquiry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing recipients of a broadcast with automated information about program material, the method comprising:
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broadcasting program material in at least one broadcast; receiving one or more user inquiries from one or more recipients of said at least one broadcast, said one or more inquiries including broadcast identifier information; creating a program description file comprising program information related to program material to be broadcast in the future; communicating the program information into a programmed data processor; synchronizing said communicated program information with said program material of said at least one broadcast; and using said programmed data processor to communicate, to the one or more recipients, program information that corresponds to the broadcast identifier information included in said one or more inquiries, wherein at least one of the program description file, the program information, and the synchronized program information is associated with the broadcast identifier information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for providing program description information which is related to content of a broadcast, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a receiver, a broadcast signal comprising a selection signal, wherein said selection signal is associated with the content of the broadcast; determining from said selection signal, by a signal detector, information related to one or more databases, the one or more databases storing one or more program descriptions, wherein the one or more program descriptions, when initially stored in the one or more databases, relate to content to be broadcast in the future, and wherein at least one of the one or more databases and the one or more program descriptions are associated with broadcast content identifier information; sending, by a communications interface, at least one request to the one or more databases for the one or more program descriptions, the at least one request including broadcast content identifier information; receiving, by the communications interface, from said one or more databases, said one or more program descriptions that correspond to the broadcast content identifier information included in the at least one request; and providing, by an interface, said one or more received program descriptions, wherein the provided one or more program descriptions are synchronized to said content of said broadcast signal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus for providing program description information which is related to content of a broadcast, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving at least one broadcast signal, said broadcast signal comprising a selection signal, wherein said selection signal is associated with the content of the broadcast; a signal detector for detecting the selection signal from the at least one broadcast signal, wherein the detected selection signal comprises information related to one or more databases, the one or more databases storing one or more program descriptions, wherein the one or more program descriptions, when initially stored in the one or more databases, relate to the content to be broadcast in the future, and wherein at least one of the one or more databases and the one or more program descriptions are associated with broadcast content identifier information; a communications interface for sending at least one request to the one or more databases for the one or more program descriptions, the at least one request including broadcast content identifier information, and for receiving, from said one or more databases, said one or more program descriptions that correspond to the broadcast content identifier information included in the at least one request; and an interface for providing said received one or more program descriptions, wherein the provided one or more program descriptions are synchronized to said content of said broadcast signal. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An information system for use with a broadcast signal for providing access to program description information which is related to content of the broadcast signal, said system comprising:
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at least one broadcast signal from a broadcast signal source; a program description source associated with program description information, wherein, when the program description source is initially associated with the program description information, the program description information relates to content to be broadcast in the future; a plurality of terminals, each of said terminals including; a first receiver for receiving program description information from said program description source; means for generating a request for program description information to be received from said program description source, said request including broadcast identifier information relating to a broadcast signal being broadcast; and a first transmitting device for transmitting said request for program description information; and a network for receiving program description information from said program description source, and distributing said program description information to a receiver of at least one of said terminals transmitting a request for program description information, said network including; a second receiver for receiving one or more requests for program description information from one or more of said plurality of terminals; means responsive to the receipt of said one or more requests for program description information for employing said broadcast identifier information to access program description information from said program description source; and a second transmission device for transmitting said program description information to said one or more of said plurality of terminals, wherein said program description information is presented and further wherein the presented program description information is synchronized to content broadcast in said broadcast signal. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification