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Software controlled multi-mode interactive TV systems

DC CAFC
  • US 5,663,757 A
  • Filed: 03/25/1991
  • Issued: 09/02/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A local subscriber'"'"'s data processing station for a wireless television program communication network coupling together a set of interactive subscriber television receiver stations, comprising in combination,an operation control system in said data processing station for controlling video signals, system operating modes and interactive communications available to the subscriber,a television receiver with a video display screen, program control means and television program channel selection means,a plurality of sources of video text and television program channels available from said network for individual presentation on said display screen in response to operator control by way of said operation control system,a programmable computer interconnected with said television receiver and said operation control system,radio wave transmission and reception means for sending and receiving video and interactive control signal information wirelessly to and from the subscriber television receiver stations in said network including messages with subscriber identification, video text and control signals for said television receiver,said operation control system providing local station organization and operation in different operating modes permitting various degrees of interactive participation by a local subscriber, including network communication interconnection between the subscriber television receiver stations, television program viewing options, fiscal transactions and audience response modes,subscriber manual control means for interactive participation and operation of said operation control system over an authorized range of optional features,monitoring means for generating video displays of instructions and interactive menus on said video screen related to said operating modes,self contained software programs operable with said operation control system at the subscriber'"'"'s data processing station for identifying program and operating mode options individually authorized to the subscriber for controlling the local station options by means of said software programs,replaceable software means located at the subscriber station for storing at least one replaceable software control program defining authorized operating conditions for that station, and operating means for programming said computer with said software control program to establish optional operating mode conditions authorized to said subscriber at the local data processing station as defined by the software control program.

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