Television system to extract TV advertisement contact data and to store contact data in a TV remote control

• US 8,291,465 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lester Sussman
• Original Assignee: Lester Sussman
• Inventors: Sussman, Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bantamoi, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/679,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,298 Days
• Field of Search: 725/137, 725/81
• US Class Current: 725/137
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035

Abstract

A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves advertisement teletext contact information of an advertisement that has been displayed on the viewer'"'"'s television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain ad′ contact information, in-hand, which can then be used at will. Teletext data is associated with an advertisement video signal, which is then decoded and stored in the television'"'"'s or TV'"'"'s set-top box'"'"'s page memory. The viewer can retrieve, on demand, the advertisement'"'"'s teletext data stored in the television'"'"'s, or set-top box'"'"'s page memory by using a wireless remote control. The advertisement data is transferred to and stored in the remote control'"'"'s memory. The data is displayed on the remote'"'"'s screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to automatically contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase an advertised product or service. This is achieved by wirelessly transferring pertinent contact information from the remote control to various communication devices, such as a computer, a telephone, a PDA, etc.

Claims

1. An active television apparatus to extract on-demand television advertisement contact information by a television viewer comprising:

(a) a television receiver in said active television apparatus for receiving a television advertisement picture signal having a television advertisement data signal embedded therein, wherein said television advertisement data signal representing a page of teletext data in said television advertisement picture signal,

wherein said television advertisement picture signal displayed on said active television apparatus,

(b) a data acquisition circuit for acquiring said page of teletext data in said television advertisement picture signal,

wherein said page of teletext data in said television advertisement picture signal comprising a teletext advertisement contact data block and other teletext data block, said teletext advertisement contact data block comprising a plurality of data, said plurality of data including contact information to contact a representative of said television advertisement picture signal by said television viewer,

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block embedded in said television advertisement picture signal occurring at an advertisement teletext block insertion time, said advertisement teletext block insertion time occurring in non real-time to said television advertisement picture signal transmission to said active television apparatus,

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block available for acquisition by said data acquisition circuit during display of said television advertisement picture signal on said active television apparatus,

(c) a first memory in said active television apparatus for storing simultaneously a plurality of said teletext advertisement contact data block,

(d) a second memory in said active television apparatus for storing simultaneously a plurality of said other teletext data block,

(e) a first display in said active television apparatus for generating images representative of selected portions by said television viewer of said teletext advertisement contact data block,

(f) a first block selection means for selecting by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block for display by said television viewer on said first display in said active television apparatus,

(g) a first wireless transceiver circuit in said active television apparatus for (1) transmitting said teletext advertisement contact data block to a remote control device upon receiving a request signal from said remote control device for said first block selection of said television advertisement picture signal, and for (2) receiving a set of teletext advertisement contact data block navigation instructions into said active television apparatus, said teletext advertisement contact data block navigation instructions to navigate by said television viewer, a plurality of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored simultaneously in said first memory in said active television apparatus,

(h) a second block selection means for selecting by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block for display by said television viewer on a second display on said remote control device,

(i) a third block selection means for selecting by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block for transmission to said remote control device, from said first memory, and

(j) a microcontroller in said active television apparatus coupled to said first memory, said second memory, said first display, said first block selection means, said second block selection means, said third block selection means, and said first wireless transmitter circuit, and

wherein said microcontroller in said active television apparatus being (1) configured to cause delivery of a set of television control signals to said first wireless transmitter circuit upon receiving a set of signals from said remote control device via said first wireless transmitter circuit and (2) to select said teletext advertisement contact data block, stored in said first memory in said active television apparatus, to be displayed by said television viewer on said first display in said active television apparatus in response to a request signal received from said remote control device.

2. The active television apparatus in claim 1, wherein said first block selection means, said second block selection means and said third block selection means comprise a remote control device having a plurality of command keys.

3. The teletext in claim 1 is selected from the group comprising an analog teletext system and a digital teletext system.

4. The wireless transceiver circuit in claim 1 being selected from the group consisting of an infrared circuit and a Bluetooth-enabled circuit.

5. The television apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selected teletext advertisement contact data block is transmitted and printed on a printing device by said television viewer.

6. The television apparatus in claim 1, wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block comprises a first tag marking a start of said teletext advertisement contact data block, and a second tag marking an end of said teletext advertisement contact block,

wherein said first tag and said second tag uniquely distinguishing said teletext advertisement contact data block from said other teletext data block.

7. A remote control device to extract on-demand television advertisement contact information of a television advertisement picture signal displayed on an active television apparatus by a television viewer comprising:

(a) said television advertisement picture signal comprising a page of television teletext data embedded therein,

wherein said page of television teletext data comprising a teletext advertisement contact data block and other teletext data block, said teletext advertisement contact data block comprising a plurality of data, said plurality of data including contact information to contact on-demand by said television viewer a representative of said television advertisement picture signal,

(b) a first memory in said active television apparatus for storing simultaneously a plurality of said teletext advertisement contact data block,

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block embedded in said television advertisement picture signal occurring at an advertisement teletext block insertion time, said advertisement teletext block insertion time occurring in non real-time to said television advertisement picture signal transmission to said television apparatus, wherein said television advertisement picture signal received and displayed on said active television apparatus,

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block available for acquisition by a data acquisition circuit in said active television apparatus during display of said television advertisement picture signal on said active television apparatus,

(c) a second memory in said active television apparatus for storing simultaneously said other teletext data block,

(d) a third memory in said remote control device for storing simultaneously a plurality of said teletext advertisement contact data block, each of said teletext advertisement contact data block selected and stored on-demand by said television viewer in said third memory,

wherein said selected and stored teletext advertisement contact data block associated with said television advertisement picture signal displayed on said active television apparatus,

wherein said active television apparatus is a first electronic device and wherein said remote control device is a second electronic device,

(e) a display in said remote control device for generating images representative of selected portions by said television viewer of said television advertisement picture signal and said teletext advertisement contact data block,

(f) a user input device in said remote control device for enabling (1) input of television channel selection, (2) input of television volume control, (3) a set of television advertisement teletext advertisement contact data block navigation instructions by said television viewer, including (4) a selection input by said television viewer of said television advertisement picture signal displayed on said active television apparatus, and (5) a set of communications instructions into said remote control device,

(g) a wireless transceiver circuit in said remote control device for transmitting (1) a set of control signals and (2) a set of data signals to said active television apparatus and a third electronic device, and (3) for receiving an on-demand selection by said television viewer of said teletext advertisement contact data block from said active television apparatus, and

(h) a microprocessor in said remote control device coupled to said third memory, said display, said user input device and said wireless transmitter circuit in said remote control device,

wherein said microprocessor in said remote control device being configured to cause delivery of (1) said set of control signals and (2) said set of data signals to said wireless transmitter circuit and (3) to select by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block to be displayed on said display in said remote control device in response to said set of communications instructions received from said user input device, and

wherein said television advertisement teletext data is selected from the group comprising an analog teletext system and a digital teletext system.

8. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said set of communications instructions executed by said television viewer include:

(i) retrieval by said television viewer and display on said display in said remote control device of said teletext advertisement contact data block for an advertisement displayed on said active television apparatus;

(ii) retrieval by said television viewer and display on said display in said remote control device of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored in said active television apparatus first memory of a television advertisement picture signal previously displayed on said active television apparatus;

(iii) selection and deletion by said television viewer of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored in said first memory in said active television apparatus; and

(iv) retrieval by said television viewer of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored in said active television apparatus first memory of a television advertisement picture signal currently displayed on said active television apparatus.

9. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said set of communications instructions executed by said television viewer include:

(v) retrieval by said television viewer and display on said display in said remote control device of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored on-demand by said television viewer in said third memory in said remote control device;

(vi) transmission of said retrieved teletext advertisement contact data block, on-demand by said television viewer to said third electronic device from said remote control device; and

(vii) selection and deletion by said television viewer of said teletext advertisement contact data block stored on-demand by said television viewer in said third memory in said remote control device.

10. The third electronic device in claim 9 being selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computer, a personal digital assistant device and a television set-top box, and

wherein said third electronic device comprising an electronic device other than said first electronic device and said second electronic device.

11. The wireless transceiver circuit in claim 7 being selected from the group consisting of an infrared circuit and a Bluetooth-enabled circuit.

12. The remote control device in claim 7 wherein said selected teletext advertisement contact data block is transmitted and printed on a printing device by said television viewer.

13. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block comprises a first tag marking a start of said teletext advertisement contact data block, and a second tag marking an end of said teletext advertisement contact data block,

wherein said first tag and said second tag uniquely distinguishing said teletext advertisement contact data block from said other teletext data block.

14. A method to extract on-demand television advertisement contact information by a television viewer comprising the steps:

(a) embedding said television advertisement contact information in a television picture signal of a television advertisement;

wherein said embedded television advertisement contact information embedded in a page of teletext data,

wherein said page of teletext data comprising a teletext advertisement contact data block and other teletext data block, said teletext advertisement contact data block comprising a plurality of data, said plurality of data including contact information to contact a representative of said television advertisement by said television viewer;

(b) receiving a multiplicity of said television advertisement and said teletext advertisement contact data block on an active television apparatus;

(c) extracting a multiplicity of said teletext advertisement contact data block of said television advertisement, each of said teletext advertisement contact data block associated with a television advertisement picture signal of said television advertisement displayed on said active television apparatus, and storing simultaneously on demand by said television viewer, said teletext advertisement contact data block in a first memory means in said active television apparatus,

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block available for acquisition by a data acquisition circuit in said active television apparatus during display of said television advertisement on said active television apparatus;

(d) extracting a multiplicity of said other teletext data block on said active television apparatus, and storing simultaneously each of said other teletext data block in a second memory means in said active television apparatus;

(e) using a remote control device to transmit on-demand by said television viewer, a multiplicity of said teletext advertisement contact data block of said displayed television advertisement picture signal on said active television apparatus from said first memory means in said active television apparatus to a third memory means in said remote control device; and

wherein said active television apparatus is a first electronic device and wherein said remote control device is a second electronic device; and

wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block embedded in said television advertisement picture signal occurring at an advertisement teletext block insertion time, said advertisement teletext block insertion time occurring in non real-time to said television advertisement picture signal transmission to said active television apparatus; and

wherein said page of teletext data is selected from the group comprising an analog teletext system and a digital teletext system.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising additional steps, executed by said television viewer, of:

(f) selecting by said television viewer a specific teletext advertisement contact data block stored simultaneously in said first memory means in said active television apparatus and transmitting said teletext advertisement contact data block to said remote control device;

(g) storing simultaneously by said television viewer said transmitted teletext advertisement contact data block in said third memory means in said remote control device;

(h) navigating by said television viewer said first memory means in said active television apparatus using an input means on said remote control device; and

(i) displaying by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block, stored simultaneously in said first memory means in said active television apparatus, on said active television apparatus display using said remote control device.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising additional steps, executed by said television viewer, of:

(j) displaying by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block, stored simultaneously on-demand by said television viewer in said third memory means in said remote control device, on a second display means on said remote control device;

(k) navigating by said television viewer said third memory means in said remote control device using said input means on said remote control device;

(i) using by said television viewer said teletext advertisement contact data block stored simultaneously on-demand by said television viewer in said third memory means in said remote control device to contact a representative of said television advertisement, using a third electronic device over a network means.

17. The third electronic device in claim 16 being selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computer, a personal digital assistant device and a television set-top box;

and

wherein said third electronic device comprising an electronic device other than said first electronic device and said second electronic device; and

wherein said network means being selected from the group consisting of an internet and a public telephone network.

18. The television picture signal of claim 14 being selected from the group consisting of a cable television signal, a satellite television signal and a broadcast television signal.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said selected teletext advertisement contact data block is transmitted and printed on a printing device by said television viewer.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said teletext advertisement contact data block comprises a first tag marking a start of said teletext advertisement contact data block, and a second tag marking an end of said teletext advertisement contact data block,

wherein said first tag and said second tag uniquely distinguishing said teletext advertisement contact data block from said other teletext data block.