Information distribution and processing system

• US 6,339,693 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TechSearch LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/440,502
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• 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 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• 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 uses a transmitter to deliver a set of digital data and a bi-directional channel for allowing a user to obtain additional information. The additional information is stored in a database. The 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, the user can select the second set of displayable data. The associated linking reference is sent to the database via the bi-directional channel. The database uses the selected linking reference to search for information, and returns the requested information to the user.

Claims

1. An information distribution system for distributing information to users in separate locations, said system being associated with a plurality of receiving devices each located in one of said separate locations, each of said receiving devices connecting to a display device that displays said information, said system comprising:

a remote site containing a first set of digital data and connecting to said plurality of receiving devices; and

a transmitter that transmits television frequency signal comprising a video signal and a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way, a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data for indicating a prescence of said second set of displayable data, and a first linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference being not displayable on said display device;

wherein at least one of said receiving devices causes said display device to display said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way, extracts said first linkage reference, and sends said first linkage reference to said remote site.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises multimedia data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data is intergrated into said video signal.

5. The system of claim 1 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.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises multimedia data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said second set of digital data.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises multimedia data.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises electronic mails.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

11. The system of claim 7 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.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises multimedia data.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote site contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said set of video signal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said set of video signal.

16. The system of claim 13 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.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises multimedia data.

18. The system of claim 4 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said set of video signal.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said set of video signal.

20. An information distribution system for distributing information to users in separate locations, said system being associated with a plurality of receiving devices each located in one of said separate locations, each of said receiving devices connecting to a display device that displays said information, said system comprising:

a remote site containing a first set of digital data and connecting to said plurality of receiving devices;

a first transmitter that transmits a first radio frequency signal having a first frequency range, said first radio frequency signal containing a video signal and a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way, a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and said first linkage reference, a first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference being not displayable on said display device; and

a second transmitter that transmits a second radio frequency signal having a second frequency range separated from said first frequency range, said second radio frequency signal containing said second set of digital data, said second transmitter being locate remotely from said first transmitter;

wherein at least one of said receiving devices causes said display device to display said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way, extracts said first linkage reference, and sends said first linkage reference to said remote site.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

22. The system of claim 20 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.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a formatting code.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein said remote site contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

28. The system of claim 20 wehrein one of said first and said second transmitters transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said second set of digital data.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said second set of digital data is intergrated into said video signal.

30. The system of claim 28 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. An information distribution system for distributing information to users in separate locations, said system being associated with a plurality of receiving devices each located in one of said separate locations, each of said receiving devices connecting to a display device that displays said information, said system comprising:

a remote site containing a first set of digital data and connecting to said plurality of receiving devices;

an apparatus to receive a second set of digital data from a remote source; and

a transmitter located in same site of said apparatus to transmit television frequency signal comprising a video signal and said second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way, a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non- displayable data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference being not displayable on said display device;

wherein at least one of said receiving devices causes said display device to display said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way, extracts said first linkage reference, and sends said first linkage reference to said remote site.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

34. The system of claim 31 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.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said second set of digital data further comprises a formatting code.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

38. The system of claim 31 wherein said remote site contains a third set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said third set of digital data.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein said transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said second set of digital data.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said second set of digital data is integrated into said video signal.

42. The system of claim 40 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.

43. An information distribution system for distributing information to users in separate locations, said system being associated with a plurality of receiving devices such located in one of said separate locations, each of said receiving devices connecting to a display device that displays said information, said system comprising:

a remote site containing a first set of digital data and connecting to said plurality of receiving devices; and

a transmitter that transmits television frequency signal comprising a video signal and a digital article, said digital article comprising a plurality of formatting codes, a plurality of displayable terms, a plurality of highlighted terms, a first non-displayable digital data for indicating a presence of said highlighted terms, at least said first linkage reference, and a second non-displayable digital data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference, said highlighted terms being used to facilitate selection by said users, a first linkage reference being associated with at lest one of said highlighted terms and said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference being not displayable on said display device;

wherein at least one of said receiving devices causes said display device to display said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way, extracts said first linkage reference, and sends said first linkage reference to said remote site.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said digital article is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said remote site contains a second set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said second set of digital data.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein said transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said digital article.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.

50. An information distribution system for distributing information to users in separate locations, said system being associated with a plurality of receiving devices each located in one of said separate locations, each of said receiving devices connecting to a display device that displays said information, said system comprising:

a remote site containing a first set of digital data and connecting to said plurality of receiving devices;

a first transmitter that transmits a first radio frequency signal having a first frequency range, said first radio frequency containing a video signal and a digital article, said digital article comprising a plurality of formatting codes, a plurality of regular terms, a plurality of highlighted terms, a first non-displayable digital data for indicating a presence of said highlighted terms, at least a first linkage reference, and a second non-displayable digital data for indicating a presence of said first linkage reference, said highlighted terms being used to facilitate selection by said users, said first linkage reference being associated with at lest one of said highlighted terms and said first set of digital data, said first linkage reference being not displayable on said display device; and

a second transmitter that transmits a second radio frequency signal having a second frequency range separated from said first frequency range, said second radio frequency signal containing said digital article, said second transmitter being located remotely from said first transmitter;

wherein at least one of said receiving devices causes said display device to display said first set of displayable data in said first way and said second set of displayable data in said second way, extracts ssaid first linkage reference, and sends said first linkage reference to said remote site.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said digital article is integrated into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein said remote site contains a second set of digital data, and wherein said first set of digital data contains a second linkage reference associated with said second set of digital data.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein said transmitter transmits an alert signal indicating a transmission of said digital article.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said digital article is integrated into said video signal.