Transaction based interactive television system

Patent 5526035 Issued on June 11, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 1, 2014. 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

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Inventors

Assignee

Zing Systems, L.P.

Application

No. 252942 filed on 06/01/1994

US Classes:

725/136, Interactive data transmitted in video signal band (e.g., VBI or HBI data)348/473, Including additional information725/139Receiver (e.g., set-top box)

Examiners

Primary: Harvey, David E.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Fliesler, Dubb, Meyer & Lovejoy

Foreign Patent References

0267085A1 EP 10/13/1987
0338936A1 EP 04/13/1989
0399897A1 EP 05/13/1990
1287304 GB. 08/13/1972
2120507 GB. 05/13/1983
2154344 GB. 04/13/1985
2231470 GB. 11/13/1990

International Class

H04N 007/08

Abstract

An interactive television system where interactive information is inserted in the vertical blanking interval of a standard television signal. The signal is received and decoded by a settop decoder which sends the decoded signal via an infrared signal to a handheld device. The viewer using the handheld device can interact with a game, sports, or educational event or other presentation on the television. The system includes a proprietary high level command language and programmer (PIU) tables which are maintained in the memory of the handheld device. The PIU tables store the transactions of the various events presented on the television. The transactions are sent from the insertion system to the decoder throughout the broadcast of the television program. Thus, for a sports event with interleaved commercials, one or more of the PIU tables would be used to store a collection of transactions used for the main event and one or more additional PIU tables are used for storing transactions for each of the interleaved commercials. This system allows a viewer to enter and exit any event at any time without having to wait for information to be downloaded and without losing any scores. Further, the system allows the user to change from event to event such as, for example, by tuning to different stations and be able to immediately interact and have responses scored and stored.

Other References

"This Just In--TV Answer: Interactive Device Below $500", HFD, The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper, 1 page, date unknown
"Marketing Update--TV Answer: New and Improved", Interactive World, 1 page, Nov. 1992
"New Boss Lehman Challenges Staff To Come Up With Best TV Answer", The Washington Times, 2 pages, Friday, Nov. 20, 1992
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TV Answer--Personal TV Unit, 2 pages, Feb., 1993
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TV Answer--Service Providers, 2 pages, 1993
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TV Answer--Background "The Transmission/Reception Path", 1 page, Apr. 1993
TV Answer--Profile "Corporate Profile", 1 page, Apr. 1993
TV Answer--Press Release "TV Answer's Interactive Technology Adopted By Montgomery, Zukerman, Davis, Inc. For Inclusion In Client's Marketing Mix", 2 pages, Apr. 5, 1993
TV Answer--Press Release "TV Answer And Griffin Promotions To Create Interactive Marketing Programs", 2 pages, Apr. 5, 1993
TV Answer--News Release "TV Answer Teams With Road Runner Sports, Inc. For Easy Fitness Wear Ordering Via Interactive Television", 2 pages, Apr. 12, 1993
TV Answer--News Release "TV Answer and PBS Team Up To Enhance Viewer Service Through Interactive Television", 2 pages, Apr. 19, 1993
TV Answer--Press Release "TV Answer And DMGT Corp. Form Alliance To Add Interactive Television To Direct Marketers' Service Options", 2 pages, Apr. 22, 1993
TV Answer--News Release "TV Answer Lets Consumers Order Exercise Equipment Via Interactive Television Without Missing A Beat Of Their Workout As a Result Of Agreement With Fitness Quest", 2 pages, May 19, 1993
TV Answer--News Release "Jerrold Communications, And TV Answer Announce Plans To Provide Interactive Services For TV Answer's Cable Affiliates", 3 pages, Jun. 7, 1993
TV Answer--Backgrounder "TV Answer: More Than Just Interactive Television", 1 page, Jun. 1993
"PBS and TV Answer Team To Bring Interactivity To Public Television", Transactions, 8 pages, Jun. 1993
Interactive Systems, Inc. Core Technology, brochure, 2 pages, date unknown
"The Interactive Unit", promotional brochure, 5 pages, date unknown
"The InTOUCH TV System, A Technology Description", by Thad A. Young and William Laumeister, Interactive Systems, Beaverton, Oregon, pp. 1-10, date unknown
The International Jounral of ITV, International Edition, Summer 1993, by Paul McKellips, .COPYRGT.Interactive Systems Worldwide, Inc., pp. 1-