System to syncronize and access broadcast information

US 8,032,907 B2
Filed: 09/29/2005
Issued: 10/04/2011
Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A computer implemented information system to present program description information for one or more broadcast programs, the system comprising:

a processing system for execution by a computer;

a user interface coupled to said processing system, said user interface providing means for receiving one or more user inquiries regarding one or more broadcast programs;

a database coupled to said processing system;

an input means coupled to said processing system, for inputting program description information of one or more broadcast programs to be broadcast in the future; and

a program description transmission means coupled to said processing system and to said user interface,wherein said processing system comprises;

means for synchronizing said inputted program description information with one or more broadcast programs of a broadcast transmission;

means for responding to a user inquiry placed through said user interface; and

means for further responding to said user inquiry by causing said program description transmission means to transmit program description information responsive to said user inquiry.

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Abstract

The system enables listeners and viewers of a broadcast to access additional information associated with a broadcast. Listeners and viewers utilize a user device to connect to a database containing program descriptions (e.g. audio, text, video or combination thereof) further describing the programming and ancillary information. The database is indexed by the broadcast'"'"'s program list or schedule thereby allowing a user of the system to search and select a particular program description of interest. Hearing or viewing program descriptions enables users to preview excerpts and review a broadcast before purchasing an item heard or viewed on a broadcast.

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90 Claims

1. A computer implemented information system to present program description information for one or more broadcast programs, the system comprising:
- a processing system for execution by a computer;
  
  a user interface coupled to said processing system, said user interface providing means for receiving one or more user inquiries regarding one or more broadcast programs;
  
  a database coupled to said processing system;
  
  an input means coupled to said processing system, for inputting program description information of one or more broadcast programs to be broadcast in the future; and
  
  a program description transmission means coupled to said processing system and to said user interface,wherein said processing system comprises;
  
  means for synchronizing said inputted program description information with one or more broadcast programs of a broadcast transmission;
  
  means for responding to a user inquiry placed through said user interface; and
  
  means for further responding to said user inquiry by causing said program description transmission means to transmit program description information responsive to said user inquiry.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- - 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said input means includes a broadcast receiver.
  - 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said program description information comprises one or more reference codes associated with a master listing.
  - 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing means synchronizes said program description information to another program description information.
  - 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said program description information transmitted in response to said user inquiry is transmitted in an order associated with one of a program list and a broadcasted order of the broadcast programs.
  - 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said program description information is transmitted according to a program list.
  - 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a signal insertion device, wherein said signal insertion device inserts a selection signal into at least one of said broadcast transmission and the one or more broadcast programs.
  - 8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the one or more broadcast programs is recorded from said broadcast transmission, and further wherein the recording of the one or more broadcast programs is controlled based on said selection signal.
  - 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing comprises at least one of generating a playlist, synchronizing a playlist, synchronizing a playlist to another playlist, generating a program list, synchronizing a program list, synchronizing a program list to another program list, synchronizing said program description information to other program description information, synchronizing based on date and time of day, synchronizing at preset times, and synchronizing based on a selection signal included at least one of said broadcast transmission and the one or more broadcast programs.
  - 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing is based on one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the program description information transmitted in response to said user inquiry is transmitted in one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 12. The system of claim 1, wherein any number of the one or more broadcast programs comprises a radio broadcast program, a television broadcast program, a cable broadcast program, a satellite broadcast program, a telecast broadcast program, and a telephone broadcast program.
  - 13. The system of claim 1, wherein said program description information comprises at least one of audio, video, data, text, and a reference code.
  - 14. The system of claim 1, wherein said user inquiry placed through said user interface includes additional information, the additional information comprising one or more of location information, a network address, a content identifier, station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, an identification number and a predetermined identifier, andwherein the means for further responding to said user inquiry causes said program description means to transmit program description information responsive to said user inquiry based on the additional information.
  - 15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more broadcast programs is recorded from said broadcast transmission.
  - 16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the recorded one or more broadcast programs is included in corresponding program description information.
  - 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the one or more broadcast programs is controlled based on a synchronization between the one or more broadcast programs of said broadcast transmission and one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.

18. A method for providing recipients of a broadcast with automated information about program material, the method comprising:
- broadcasting program material in at least one broadcast;
  
  receiving one or more user inquiries from one or more recipients of said at least one broadcast, said one or more inquiries including broadcast identifier information;
  
  creating a program description file comprising program information related to program material to be broadcast in the future;
  
  communicating the program information into a programmed data processor;
  
  synchronizing said communicated program information with said program material of said at least one broadcast; and
  
  using said programmed data processor to communicate, to the one or more recipients, program information that corresponds to the broadcast identifier information included in said one or more inquiries,wherein at least one of the program description file, the program information, and the synchronized program information is associated with the broadcast identifier information.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- - 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising inserting at least one selection signal into said broadcast or said program material.
  - 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said selection signal comprises at least one reference code.
  - 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
    - receiving a plurality of broadcasted program material; and
      
      at least one of detecting and extracting said selection signal from each of said broadcasted program material.
  - 22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said program material is recorded from said at least one broadcast, and further wherein the recording of the at least a portion of said program material is controlled based on said selection signal.
  - 23. The method of claim 18, wherein information from two or more program lists are synchronized to each other.
  - 24. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of said one or more user inquiries and said broadcast identifier information comprises one or more of location information, a network address, a content identifier, station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, an identification number and a predetermined identifier, andwherein at least one of said one or more user inquiries and said broadcast identifier information being used to identify said broadcast, or being used to create a subset of broadcasts.
  - 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the synchronizing comprises at least one of generating a playlist, synchronizing a playlist, synchronizing a playlist to another playlist, generating a program list, synchronizing a program list, synchronizing a program list to another program list, synchronizing said program information to other program information, synchronizing based on date and time of day, synchronizing at preset times, and synchronizing based on a selection signal included at least one of said program material and said at least one broadcast.
  - 26. The system of claim 18, wherein the synchronizing is based on one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 27. The system of claim 18, wherein the program information communicated in response to said user inquiry is communicated in one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 28. The system of claim 18, wherein any number of the at least one broadcast comprises a radio broadcast, a television broadcast, a cable broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a telecast broadcast, and a telephone broadcast.
  - 29. The system of claim 18, wherein said program information comprises at least one of audio, video, data, text, and a reference code.
  - 30. The method of claim 18, wherein the program information communicated in response to said user inquiry is communicated in an order associated with one of a program list and an order of the broadcasted program material.
  - 31. The system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the program material is recorded from said at least one broadcast.
  - 32. The system of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the recorded program material is included in corresponding program information.
  - 33. The system of claim 31, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of said program material is controlled based on a synchronization between the program material broadcast in said at least one broadcast and one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.

34. A method for providing program description information which is related to content of a broadcast, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a receiver, a broadcast signal comprising a selection signal, wherein said selection signal is associated with the content of the broadcast;
  
  determining from said selection signal, by a signal detector, information related to one or more databases, the one or more databases storing one or more program descriptions, wherein the one or more program descriptions, when initially stored in the one or more databases, relate to content to be broadcast in the future, and wherein at least one of the one or more databases and the one or more program descriptions are associated with broadcast content identifier information;
  
  sending, by a communications interface, at least one request to the one or more databases for the one or more program descriptions, the at least one request including broadcast content identifier information;
  
  receiving, by the communications interface, from said one or more databases, said one or more program descriptions that correspond to the broadcast content identifier information included in the at least one request; and
  
  providing, by an interface, said one or more received program descriptions, wherein the provided one or more program descriptions are synchronized to said content of said broadcast signal.
- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
- - 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one broadcast signal comprises at least one of a radio broadcast signal, a television broadcast signal, a cable broadcast signal, a satellite broadcast signal, a telecast broadcast signal, and a telephone broadcast signal.
  - 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more program descriptions each comprise at least one of audio, video, data, text, and a reference code.
  - 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more program descriptions each comprise at least a portion of the content broadcast in said broadcast signal corresponding thereto.
  - 38. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more program descriptions are one of received and provided in an order associated with one of a program list and an order of the content broadcast in the broadcast signal.
  - 39. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the at least one request and the broadcast content identifier information includes one or more of location information, a network address, a broadcast identifier, a content identifier, station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, an identification number and a predetermined identifier.
  - 40. The system of claim 34, wherein the synchronizing comprises at least one of generating a playlist, synchronizing a playlist, synchronizing a playlist to another playlist, generating a program list, synchronizing a program list, synchronizing a program list to another program list, synchronizing said program descriptions to other program descriptions, synchronizing based on date and time of day, synchronizing at preset times, and synchronizing based on said selection signal.
  - 41. The system of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the content is recorded from said broadcast signal.
  - 42. The system of claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the recorded content is included in corresponding program descriptions.
  - 43. The system of claim 41, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the content is controlled based on a synchronization between the one or more broadcast programs of said broadcast transmission and one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 44. The system of claim 41, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the content is controlled based on said selection signal.

45. An apparatus for providing program description information which is related to content of a broadcast, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiver for receiving at least one broadcast signal, said broadcast signal comprising a selection signal, wherein said selection signal is associated with the content of the broadcast;
  
  a signal detector for detecting the selection signal from the at least one broadcast signal, wherein the detected selection signal comprises information related to one or more databases, the one or more databases storing one or more program descriptions, wherein the one or more program descriptions, when initially stored in the one or more databases, relate to the content to be broadcast in the future, and wherein at least one of the one or more databases and the one or more program descriptions are associated with broadcast content identifier information;
  
  a communications interface for sending at least one request to the one or more databases for the one or more program descriptions, the at least one request including broadcast content identifier information, and for receiving, from said one or more databases, said one or more program descriptions that correspond to the broadcast content identifier information included in the at least one request; and
  
  an interface for providing said received one or more program descriptions, wherein the provided one or more program descriptions are synchronized to said content of said broadcast signal.
- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
- - 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the at least one broadcast signal comprises at least one of a radio broadcast signal, a television broadcast signal, a cable broadcast signal, a satellite broadcast signal, a telecast broadcast signal, and a telephone broadcast signal.
  - 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the one or more program descriptions each comprise at least one of audio, video, data, text, and a reference code.
  - 48. The method of claim 45, wherein the one or more program descriptions each comprise at least a portion of the content broadcast in said broadcast signal corresponding thereto.
  - 49. The method of claim 45, wherein the one or more program descriptions are one of received and provided in an order associated with one of a program list and an order of the content broadcast in the broadcast signal.
  - 50. The method of claim 45, wherein at least one of the at least one request and the broadcast content identifier information includes one or more of location information, a network address, a broadcast identifier, a content identifier, station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, an identification number and a predetermined identifier.
  - 51. The system of claim 45, wherein the synchronizing comprises at least one of generating a playlist, synchronizing a playlist, synchronizing a playlist to another playlist, generating a program list, synchronizing a program list, synchronizing a program list to another program list, synchronizing said program descriptions to other program descriptions, synchronizing based on date and time of day, synchronizing at preset times, and synchronizing based on said selection signal.
  - 52. The system of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the content is recorded from said broadcast signal.
  - 53. The system of claim 52, wherein at least a portion of the recorded content is included in corresponding program descriptions.
  - 54. The system of claim 52, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the content is controlled based on a synchronization between the one or more broadcast programs of said broadcast transmission and one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 55. The system of claim 52, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the content is controlled based on said selection signal.

56. An information system for use with a broadcast signal for providing access to program description information which is related to content of the broadcast signal, said system comprising:
- at least one broadcast signal from a broadcast signal source;
  
  a program description source associated with program description information, wherein, when the program description source is initially associated with the program description information, the program description information relates to content to be broadcast in the future;
  
  a plurality of terminals, each of said terminals including;
  
  a first receiver for receiving program description information from said program description source;
  
  means for generating a request for program description information to be received from said program description source, said request including broadcast identifier information relating to a broadcast signal being broadcast; and
  
  a first transmitting device for transmitting said request for program description information; and
  
  a network for receiving program description information from said program description source, and distributing said program description information to a receiver of at least one of said terminals transmitting a request for program description information, said network including;
  
  a second receiver for receiving one or more requests for program description information from one or more of said plurality of terminals;
  
  means responsive to the receipt of said one or more requests for program description information for employing said broadcast identifier information to access program description information from said program description source; and
  
  a second transmission device for transmitting said program description information to said one or more of said plurality of terminals,wherein said program description information is presented and further wherein the presented program description information is synchronized to content broadcast in said broadcast signal.
- View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
- - 57. The system of claim 56, wherein the program description information is, one of transmitted to said one or more of said plurality of terminals and provided, in an order associated with one of a program list and an order of said content broadcast in said broadcast signal.
  - 58. The system of claim 56, wherein the synchronizing comprises at least one of generating a playlist, synchronizing a playlist, synchronizing a playlist to another playlist, generating a program list, synchronizing a program list, synchronizing a program list to another program list, synchronizing said program description information to other program description information, synchronizing based on date and time of day, and synchronizing at preset times.
  - 59. The system of claim 56, wherein program description information is stored at one or a plurality of remote program description sources.
  - 60. The system of claim 56, wherein said program description source comprises a storage device for storing said program description information.
  - 61. The system of claim 56, wherein said program description source comprises a database for receiving and storing program description information related to content for a plurality of broadcast signals.
  - 62. The system of claim 56, wherein said second receiver for receiving one or more requests for program description information captures a network address associated with said one or more requests, said network address used to access said program description information from said program description source.
  - 63. The system of claim 56, wherein each of the plurality of terminals comprises a decoder coupled to a receiver of the broadcast signal to decode said selection signal for presenting said program description information.
  - 64. The system of claim 56, wherein said broadcast identifier information includes at least one of station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable subscriber or provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, a network address, an identification number and a predetermined identifier.
  - 65. The system of claim 56, wherein said network comprises a synchronizing means for synchronizing said program description information to the content broadcast in said broadcast signal.
  - 66. The system of claim 65, wherein said synchronizing means synchronizes one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file, that comprises the program description information.
  - 67. The system of claim 56, wherein the second transmission device transmits said program description information to said one or more of said plurality of terminals in one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 68. The system of claim 56, wherein the plurality of terminals comprises one or more of a telephonic device, cable converter device, and a personal computer.
  - 69. The system of claim 56, wherein the at least one broadcast signal comprises at least one of a radio broadcast signal, a television broadcast signal, a cable broadcast signal, a satellite broadcast signal, a telecast broadcast signal, and a telephone broadcast signal.
  - 70. The system of claim 56, wherein said network comprises a broadcast signal receiver for receiving the at least one broadcast signal.
  - 71. The system of claim 56, wherein said program description information comprises at least one of audio, video, data, text, and a reference code.
  - 72. The system of claim 56, wherein said program description information comprises at least a portion of the content broadcast in said broadcast signal corresponding thereto.
  - 73. The system of claim 56, wherein at least a portion of the content is recorded from said broadcast signal.
  - 74. The system of claim 73, wherein at least a portion of the recorded content is included in corresponding program description information.
  - 75. The system of claim 73, wherein the recording of the at least a portion of the content is controlled based on a synchronization between the content broadcast in said broadcast signal and one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 76. The system of claim 56, wherein the synchronizing is based on one of a playlist, a program list, a program schedule, an audio description file, and a video description file.
  - 77. The system of claim 56, wherein said one or more requests for program description information include additional information, the additional information comprising one or more of location information, a network address, a content identifier, station call letters, a station tuning frequency, a television channel allocation, a cable provider identification, a music genre, a telephone number, an identification number and a predetermined identifier, andwherein the means responsive to the receipt of said one or more requests for program description information accesses program description information from said program description source based on the additional information.
  - 78. The system of claim 56, wherein said broadcast signal includes a selection signal, said selection signal associated with program description information related to content broadcast in said broadcast signal.
  - 79. The system of claim 78, wherein the content is recorded from said broadcast signal and further wherein the recording of the content is controlled based on said selection signal.
  - 80. The system of claim 78, wherein said synchronization is bases on said selection signal.
  - 81. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal identifies the content being broadcast in said broadcast signal.
  - 82. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal is the program description source and denotes or comprises program description information related to content of said broadcast signal.
  - 83. The system of claim 78, wherein said network further includes:
    - means for receiving the at least one broadcast signal; and
      
      means for detecting said selection signal from said at least one broadcast signal.
  - 84. The system of claim 83, wherein the means for transmitting said selection signal transmits the selection signal to at least one of said second receiver in said network and said first receiver of one or more of said plurality of terminals.
  - 85. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal provides an identification of program description information associated with said program description source.
  - 86. The system of claim 85, wherein, said program description information comprises one or more reference codes.
  - 87. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal identifies program description information on a remotely located program description source.
  - 88. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal is comprised by one of said broadcast signal and said content broadcast in said broadcast signal.
  - 89. The system of claim 78, wherein said selection signal is periodically transmitted with said broadcast signal.
  - 90. The system of claim 78, wherein said network further comprises a decoder coupled to a receiver of the at least one broadcast signal to decode said selection signal.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Global Interactive Media, Inc.
Original Assignee
POCOCK, MICHAEL
Inventors
Pocock, Michael
Primary Examiner(s)
Kumar, Pankaj
Assistant Examiner(s)
BROWN, RUEBEN M

Application Number

US11/238,772
Publication Number

US 20060026640A1
Time in Patent Office

2,196 Days
Field of Search

725/39, 725/82, 725/37, 725/40, 725/102, 725/103, 725/105, 725/127
US Class Current

725/39
CPC Class Codes

H04H 60/27   Arrangements for recording ...

H04H 60/40   for identifying broadcast time

H04H 60/44   for identifying broadcast s...

H04H 60/63   for services of sales data ...

H04H 60/72   using electronic programme ...

H04H 60/74   using programme related inf...

H04H 60/83   accessed over telephonic ne...

H04H 60/91   Mobile communication networ...

H04H 60/94   Telephonic networks for acc...

H04M 11/08   specially adapted for optio...

H04M 3/493   Interactive information ser...

H04N 21/2542   for selling goods, e.g. TV ...

H04N 21/4334   Recording operations record...

H04N 21/4668   for recommending content, e...

H04N 21/6187   involving transmission via ...

H04N 21/63   Control signaling related t...

H04N 21/8113   comprising music, e.g. song...

H04N 21/812   involving advertisement dat...

H04N 21/8586   by using a URL processing c...

System to syncronize and access broadcast information

First Claim

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Abstract

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System to syncronize and access broadcast information

First Claim

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