Education utility

Patent 4768087 Issued on August 30, 1988. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 30, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3729581

Digital video modulation and demodulation system
Patent #: 3993861
Issued on: 11/23/1976
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System for transmitting information provided with means for controlling access to the information transmitted
Patent #: 4323921
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Subscription card for a videotex receiver
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Patent #: 4417349
Issued on: 11/22/1983
Inventor: Hills , et al.

Programming-on-demand cable system and method
Patent #: 4506387
Issued on: 03/19/1985
Inventor: Walter

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Patent #: 4538993
Issued on: 09/03/1985
Inventor: Krumholz

Remote control switching of television sources
Patent #: 4625235
Issued on: 11/25/1986
Inventor: Watson

Cluster computer based education delivery system Patent #: 4636174
Issued on: 01/13/1987
Inventor: Andersen , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

National Information Utilities Corporation

Application

No. 06/748037 filed on 06/06/1985

US Classes:

725/4, Data stored at intermediate point (i.e., at location between headend or server and receiver)434/307R, CATHODE RAY SCREEN DISPLAY AND AUDIO MEANS725/119, Having significant intermediate network unit (e.g., hub, substation, etc.)725/78Multiunit or multiroom structure (e.g., home, hospital, hotel, office building, school, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: George, Keith E.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Kenyon & Kenyon

International Classes

G09B 5/00 (20060101)
G09B 5/12 (20060101)
H04H 1/00 (20060101)
H04N 7/00 (20060101)

Abstract

A system for distributing educational information in digital form to a plurality of schools simultaneously transmits the information via a satellite (15) to FM stations (18) which retransmit to schools having receivers for receiving the information and a main computer (101) for storing the information. Access to the information is subsequently provided to a plurality of students via classroom computers (111) and individual terminals (121). Usage and performance data is automatically stored in the main computer (101) and sent to the sender by dial-up modem (105) to keep track of usage and to permit billing usage and royalty charges.

Other References

McClannan et al, "A Satellite System for CATV, " Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 58, No. 7, Jul. 1970, pp. 987-1001
J. Hedger, "Telesoftware: Home Computing Via Broadcast Teletext," IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. CE-25, No. 3, Jul. 1979, pp. 279-287
Hurly et al, "The Videotex and Teletext Handbook," .COPYRGT.1985, Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc., NY, p. 115; TK 5105.H87
Richard C. Hallgren, "A Multiple-Machine Loader for Classroom Computers," Byte, Oct. 1980, pp. 90, 92, 94