KR100711750B1 - Apparatus And Method For Retrieving And Utilizing Software And Data Received Through A Digital Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The system retrieves and / or utilizes software and / or data received via a digital receiver. Digital broadcast signal con training programming material and data are received at the digital receiver. The received data is stored in a memory separate from the digital receiver. The memory may be a portable memory device such as a smart card. The data may include coupons and / or account information or other identifying information.

Digital broadcast signal, digital receiver, smart card, PDA, portable memory device

Description

Apparatus And Method For Retrieving And Utilizing Software And Data Received Through A Digital Receiver}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for allowing a user to download, retrieve, use and / or store software and data received via a digital receiver.

The ATCS digital broadcast standard for digital television enables transmission of 19 Mbits / sec on an RF channel with 6 MHz bandwidth. Although this allocated bandwidth is suitable for a single analog NTSC television channel, the ATCS bit rate is the resolution equivalent to the resolution of several digital standard television (SDTV) programs (ie, NTSC analog programs) where the same channel occurs simultaneously. To support the transmission of displayable programs). Alternatively, the bandwidth allocated at the ATCS bit rate allows one channel to support the transmission of a single high definition television (HDTV) program at a time. Moreover, the ATCS digital broadcast standard allows data to be transmitted on the channel with digital programming. Thus, data packets can be multiplexed in the channel with video and audio program packets.

Various receivers, such as digital televisions, digital VCRs, and computers with digital television tuner and demodulator cards can receive digital programming. Since data may be transmitted with one or more programs in a digital RF channel, it is possible to transmit program content including data. Such program content may be, for example, a commercial (CM) with an embedded Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with a website containing additional information about the product or service being advertised, or a coupon for an advertised product. Or application software configured to access the embedded URL or to handle other data transmitted with it.

Since the program content, including the Internet address or website address, is broadcast on a digital RF channel, it can also be received by a digital receiver rather than a computer such as a digital television. However, normal digital television cannot be web enabled. Thus, the user of such a digital television cannot access additional information linked to an Internet address or website address, or any software transmitted with the received program. Moreover, if digital television is not web enabled, the user can also not transmit data in response to the received data.

The present invention enables remote access to data embedded in a program, such as an Internet address, and enables the retrieval of software and other data transmitted as a digital broadcast signal and received by a digital receiver, and the data transmitted therewith. And an apparatus for enabling the use of software relating to and / or for transmitting the data in response to the received data.

According to the present invention, a data retrieval system retrieves data from a digital broadcast signal. The digital broadcast signal includes at least one television packet and at least one data packet including the data. The digital receiver is suitable for receiving the digital broadcast signal having at least one television packet and at least one data packet. The data retrieval system includes a memory for storing data from at least one data packet, the memory being separate from the digital receiver.

These and other aspects and features of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings from the following detailed description.

1 is a block diagram of a data retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a personal digital assistant connected to a personal computer according to another embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram of a data retrieval system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart showing a series of operations according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a block diagram of a data exchange system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; And

6 is a flowchart showing a series of operations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and configurations of other alternatives, certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings and are described in detail below. However, there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as well as the configuration and equivalents thereof, as defined in the appended claims. It should be understood that it includes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data retrieval system 10 includes a digital receiver 12 and a personal digital assistant (PDA) 14. The digital receiver 12 is assumed to be a digital television. However, as mentioned below, the digital receiver 12 may be another type of digital device. Assuming the digital receiver 12 is a digital television, the digital receiver 12 includes a tuner 16 for tuning to one of the plurality of RF channels. The output of the tuner 16 is demodulated by a digital VSB demodulator 18 to recover a baseband digital signal comprising a digital television (DTV) programming packet multiplexed with a data packet. The portion of the baseband digital signal containing the DTV programming packet is provided by the digital VSB demodulator 18 to a set of video / audio processors 20 so that the video portion of the baseband digital signal is properly decoded and processed. And an audio portion of the baseband digital signal is also properly decoded, processed and supplied to a speaker (not shown). The tuner 16, the digital VSB demodulator 18, and the video / audio processor 20 are controlled by the television controller 22 as is conventional. As controlled by the television controller 22, the digital VSB demodulator 18 supplies memory 24 to store a portion of the digital baseband signal including the data packet. To separate video packets, audio packets and data packets, television controller 22 may read the packet code transmitted with the video, audio and data packets of the digital signal received by digital receiver 12.

The data packet transmitted in the digital VSB signal and stored in the memory 24 may or may not be related to the DTV programming transmitted through the DTV programming packet and displayed by the digital television 12. For example, in one embodiment, the DTV programming comprises a television CM for product advertising (not shown), and the data packet transmitted therewith, for example, on a website sponsored by the manufacturer of the product. Include Internet data, including URLs for.

In another embodiment, the data sent with the television CM further includes data for generating coupons or application software for the product advertised in the CM, allowing such coupons or software, or all, of the Internet service provider to access the Internet. This in turn leads to access to a particular website of the manufacturer of the product. Preferably, but not necessarily, the television CM prompts the user to download the data to retrieve the website URL, or prompts the user to generate the coupon, and / or allows the user to do so. It is urged to download the relevant application software.

In another embodiment, the transmitted data includes a product list provided by the manufacturer. The list can be linked to an electronic catalog. The data further includes application software that allows the user to search the electronic catalog for a particular item (s) in the form of a search engine.

To enable access to the stored data, the digital television 12 includes an IR transceiver 26 that communicates with an IR transceiver 28 disposed in the PDA 14. The PDA 14 further includes an input device, such as a button pad 30 that includes, for example, a set of buttons used to enter a download command. The download command is then also sent to the processor 32 in the PDA 14. In response to the download command, the processor 32 causes the IR transceiver 28 to transmit a download command signal to the IR transceiver 26 in the digital television 12. The television controller 22 in the digital television 12 allows the data stored in the memory 24 to be transmitted by the IR transceiver 26 to the IR transceiver 28 of the PDA 14 as a data signal. Responsive to the download command signal received by the IR transceiver 26.

When the data signal is received at the PDA 14, the processor 32 of the PDA 14 is connected to the IR transceiver 28 by the IR transceiver 28 for the data in the data signal. 34). Preferably, after the data signal has been received at the IR transceiver 28 and the transmitted data has been stored in the memory 34, the processor 32 causes the sound generating circuit 36 to successfully transmit the data. An audible sound or horn is generated to notify the user that the digital television 12 has been retrieved. Alternatively, the PDA 14 may complete the data transfer in a flashing state, for example, causing a light emitting diode (LED) (not shown) to flash, remain lit, or indicate that data transfer has occurred. Any other notification signal can be generated to inform the user that the data has been stored, including changing to a stable state indicating that the device is in a stable state.

A prompt may be included in the program content and the prompt may be displayed to the user visually or audibly by the digital receiver 12 to notify the user that the Internet content is searchable by the PDA 14. If the prompt is present, the user operates the button pad 30 as described above to retrieve data and software content if a data search is needed. Alternatively, it is expected that data and software can be used for retrieval and no prompt need be given for the user to operate the PDA 14. In this case, the notification signal provided by the PDA 14 indicates to the user whether the data and software have been retrieved. As another alternative, when data and software are retrieved by the television controller 22 and stored in the memory 24, the television controller 22 may be arranged to provide a prompt to the user. This prompt may be a signal sent by the IR transceiver 26 to the PDA 14 to initiate an on-screen prompt, an audible prompt, or a local prompt by the PDA 14.

Referring also to FIG. 2, in order to transfer data stored in memory 34 to a microprocessor based device, eg, personal computer 40, PDA 14 may associate the data with the personal computer 40. It further includes a data port 38 that is sent to a data port 42. The data ports 38 and 42 may both be serial data ports, such as RS-232 data ports connected by a cable 44. Alternatively, the data ports 38 and 42 may instead be radio transceivers capable of transmitting / receiving infrared, radio frequency, or ultrasonic signals.

In embodiments in which the data includes Internet data including a URL website address and software capable of web browsing, personal computer 40 launches the web browsing software directly to cause the personal computer to display the URL provided to data port 42. You can also find a website address.

In another embodiment where the data includes Internet data including a URL website address, personal computer 40 preferably includes software (not shown) capable of web browsing and data stored on PDA 14. May be further programmed to cause the personal computer 40 to launch web browsing software and also to retrieve the URL website address provided to the data port 42 by providing a to the data port 42. .

In another preferred embodiment, additional data code indicating a URL website address as being downloaded from the digital VSB broadcast signal or identifying the user may also be included in the website URL data. By reading these additional codes, the website provider can determine whether the user accessing the website has actually watched the television CM. Thus, the present invention provides an advertiser with a mechanism for indicating the success of a television viewer and possibly a given television CM. In addition, these codes can be used to allow a user to download a coupon from a website that otherwise would not be accessible.

If the data stored in the PDA 14 includes coupon generation data instead of internet data, the data can be used to print a coupon (not shown) by the personal computer 40 when it is transmitted to the personal computer 40. . Alternatively, the coupon provided in the data signal can be an electronic coupon that can be redeemed by bringing the PDA 14 to a merchant who can download data from the PDA 14. The coupon information may be downloaded to a device that stores data on a smart card (not shown) that is scanned for redemption by a merchant. In another embodiment, instead of generating a coupon, the data downloaded from the PDA 14 is stored by the personal computer 40, for example a merchant having an advertised product, the location of such a merchant and the Can be used to create an advertisement listing price information for the advertised product.

Data transmitted through the digital VSB broadcast signal may include a variety of information that can vary the user's interest. For example, the data may include both an electronic coupon and a website URL. However, the user may only be interested in obtaining an electronic coupon. In order to only enable the download of an electronic coupon, the processor 32 of the PDA 14 may receive data received by the IR transceiver 28 to identify a portion of the data for subsequent storage in the memory 34. It is programmed to analyze it. Moreover, the keypad 30 of the PDA 14 preferably includes a button that allows the user to specify that a portion of the data signal is needed. Alternatively, the processor 32 may be simply programmed to store all of the data received in the memory 34, and in response to a user-entered command, the processor 32 may retrieve the data selected by the user. All data can be passed to a personal computer 40 that can be identifiably programmed. For example, when connecting the PDA 14 to the personal computer 40 using a cable 44, a list of various data sets stored in the PDA memory 34 by the personal computer 40 is displayed. The data guide program (not shown) can be programmed to float. Alternatively, the television controller 22 (see FIG. 1) may be programmed to analyze the data transmitted in the digital VSB broadcast signal and transmit only a specific set of requested data to the PDA 14 for a specific set of data. It may also be programmed to respond to a request from the PDA 14 for.

In addition to having the data transmission and storage capabilities described herein, the PDA 14 can, for example, organize and store daily calendars, and / or store and retrieve data such as telephone numbers and / or addresses. It may further include a feature that can be. The PDA 14 is capable of receiving a telephone signal as performed in a conventional telephone paging system, for example, to facilitate retrieval of telephone messages and / or to notify a user of an incoming telephone call. It may additionally include other features such as / processing. Of course, the PDA 14 may further include a display and other conventional componentry necessary to support these features.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the data retrieval system 10 may include an electronic coupon, URL data, or other received data that may be downloaded to a PDA 14 or a personal computer 40 or a digital television ( 12, a data writer 50 that can be downloaded directly from. The data writer 50 may be one of many commercially available units capable of writing data to the portable memory device 52. As used herein, a "portable memory device" refers to a credit or credit card having a magnetic strip 54 and / or an embedded microprocessor 56 and associated memory 58. It is defined as any type of smart card, including a debit card. Thus, the data writer 50 may write information to the magnetic strip 54 and / or the memory 58. Then, for example, the smart card 52 including the downloaded coupon can be taken to the merchant for redemption of the coupon and read electronically.

The data writer 50 is connected to a digital television 12, a PDA 14, a PC 40, an external module 60 connected to the digital television, or a remote control unit 62 for the digital television. It may be located within the data retrieval system 10 of many convenient locations, including but not limited to.

4 illustrates a typical series of steps performed in conjunction with the data retrieval system 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the digital broadcast signal is received by the digital receiver 12, as shown in step 64. The data contained in the digital broadcast signal is then shown in step 66 and separated from the television programming signal as described in more detail above. In step 68, the processor of the digital receiver monitors the received data to determine if a coupon, URL, or other downloadable data of interest is available in the received data. If such data is available, the user is prompted to download the data, such as by an on screen display (step 70). If the user wants to download the data (step 72), the system 10 checks whether the smart card 52 is in the data writer 50 (step 74). If the user does not want to download the data, the system 10 returns to the basic step (step 76).

The test step 74 becomes positive if the form of the smart card 52 with the magnetic strip 54 and / or the embedded processor 56 and the memory 58 is used and immediately loaded into the data writer 50 (step 75 ). If no smart card 52 is present (step 80), the system 10 prompts the user to insert the smart card 52 into the data writer 50 (step 82). If the smart card 52 is in the data writer 50, the data can be downloaded as shown by step 84. Alternatively, the data may be sent to the data writer 50 for automatic downloading without this prompt, expecting the card 52 to be present.

Once the smart card 52 is present, the system 10 can also identify the existing card type 52 (step 86). This may involve determining whether the card 52 is a credit card, credit card, preferential card, or the like. For example, if it is a preferential card, the downloaded coupon can be doubled or otherwise increased or a large number of frequency flier miles can be credited to the account. After this confirmation, the data is downloaded in step 84. The smart card 52 containing the downloaded data may then be accepted by a merchant providing coupon redemption of goods and services, or by a personal computer, kiosk, etc., for accessing a specified URL (step 88). ).

In another embodiment, the data may not only be retrieved from the digital broadcast, but may also be upstream transmitted in response to the received downstream data. As shown in FIG. 5, a data exchange system 90 is provided in which information can be transmitted by a user in response to data received by the digital receiver 12. For example, financial account numbers and other identifying information are transmitted to the source 92 of the digital broadcast signal or to the associated website 94 to purchase goods or services related to the data received by the digital receiver 12. Can be read from the smart card 52 to do so.

In order to enter this upstream data into the data exchange system 90, a data reader / writer 96 is provided. The data reader / writer 96 may be one of many commercially available units having the above-mentioned write capability as well as the ability to read data from the portable memory device 52. For example, when watching a website providing a television commercial or product for sale, a user may pay for the product by scanning a credit card through the reader / writer 96.

In addition to the reader / writer 96, the data exchange system 90 may include a bar code reader, such as an infrared reader 98. This embodiment can be used when the user owns a barcode 100, another form of portable memory device, known to indicate an Internet product. For example, the barcode may be provided on a print advertisement for the product, a company catalog, an already occupied package, or the like.

Once the barcode reader 98 is used to scan the barcode 100, the system 90 scans the data received by the digital television in a barcode matching search for product, price, source, and the like. If the data is not received, the system 90 may perform an internet search to verify the product, price, and source. Once the product is identified, a suitable display screen may be provided that indicates the product, price and source. The data reader / writer 96 may be used to purchase a product as indicated above. If the product is not immediately identified, the system 90 can continue to examine the received data for a length of time for a match, eg, two days, and notify the user if received.

Bar code reader 98 is included in, but not limited to, digital receiver 12, personal digital assistant 14, personal computer 40, external module 60, or remote control unit 62. It can be located in many convenient locations. Alternatively or in addition, the barcode reader 98 may be provided in the same structure as the data reader / writer 96.

Once the data has been read into the data exchange system 90, the data is transmitted by the transmitter 102 associated with the digital television 12 and / or the product or service of the digital broadcast to purchase goods. Is sent to the associated website 94.

6 shows a possible series of steps performed by the data exchange system 90. Beginning at step 104, a digital broadcast signal is received by the digital television 12 and the data contained in the signal is separated from television programming as shown in step 106.

While the data is received, the user scans the barcode into the system 90 as shown in step 108. The system 90 retrieves the received data to identify the product associated with the bar code as shown in step 110. If the barcode 100 is identified in the received data (step 112), the system may prompt the user to purchase the identified product as shown in step 114.

If the barcode 100 is not retrieved from the received data (step 116), the system 90 performs an internet search to confirm the barcode 100 (step 118). If found (step 120), the system prompts the user to purchase the product as shown in step 114. If not found immediately (step 122), the system 90 may continue to search for as many dates as indicated by the user, possibly as shown in step 124. If the barcode 100 is identified in a continued search (step 126), the user is prompted to purchase the product 114. If not confirmed (step 128), the search stops processing, as shown in step 130.

As above, many methods may prompt the user to purchase a product identified by the barcode 100. If the user wishes to make a purchase (step 132), the system 90 determines whether the smart card 52 is present, as indicated by step 134. If the user does not want to make a purchase, the system 90 returns to the basic step as shown in step 136.

If the card is not present (step 138), the user is urged to insert the card 52 as shown in step 140. If the card 52 is present (step 142), the system 90 identifies the card type as shown in step 144 and described above. Data from the smart card 52 is then uploaded to the system 90 as shown in step 148. Such data may include financial account information, personal identification, and the like. The uploaded data is then sent to the source of the digital broadcast signal 92 and / or website 94 to purchase the product. In addition, additional information, such as shipping address, quality, etc., may be transmitted after being entered via PDA 14 or PC 40.

Certain variations of the invention have been discussed above. Other changes will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, in accordance with the above description, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 enable communication between the digital television 12 and the PDA 14. However, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 may instead be any other type of wireless link, such as an RF or ultrasonic link. Alternatively, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 may instead be replaced by a set of serial data ports coupled by data transmission cables.

It is also proposed above that the digital receiver 12 may be a tunable receiver such as a digital television. Alternatively, the digital receiver 12 may be any receiver capable of receiving digital data. For example, the digitizer receiver 12 may be a radio, a VCR, or a ride.

Moreover, as described above, data is stored by the PDA 14 in the memory 24 for immediate or later retrieval. However, instead, the data need not be stored in the memory 24, in which case the PDA 14 is received from the digital receiver 12 when it is received by the digital receiver 12 or not at all. The data should be retrieved.

In addition, the present invention has at least partially described downloading data transmitted in a vestigial sideband broadcast (VSB) broadcast signal. However, the present invention also applies to downloading data transmitted in other forms of digital broadcasting, such as, for example, an orthogonal coded frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) signal, an orthogonal amplitude modulation (QAM) signal, or an orthogonal phase shift keying (QPSK) signal. Note that this may apply.

Accordingly, the description of the present invention should be understood by way of example only and to teach one skilled in the art the best mode of the invention for carrying out the invention. The details may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims is maintained.

Included in the details of the present invention.

Claims (50)

Retrieve data from a digital broadcast signal comprising at least one program packet and at least one data packet having data, and a digital receiver receives the digital broadcast signal having the at least one program packet and the at least one data packet A data retrieval system configured to And a mobile terminal having a memory for storing the data from the at least one data packet, wherein the memory of the mobile terminal is separated from the digital receiver. The method of claim 1, And said digital receiver is a television. The method of claim 1, And a data writer for recording the data in the memory, wherein the data writer is provided to a receiver remote control unit. The method of claim 1, The mobile terminal comprises a smart card data retrieval system. The method of claim 4, wherein The smart card includes a microprocessor. The method of claim 1, And the data comprises an electronic coupon. The method of claim 1, And the data includes website location information. The method of claim 1, And said data is software. The method of claim 1, And a communication port configured to transmit the data from the digital receiver to the memory. The method of claim 9, The digital receiver is a television, A data retrieval system wherein said communication port is provided within said television. The method of claim 9, The digital receiver is a television, The communication port is provided to a configuration external to the television. The method of claim 11, The configuration is a data retrieval system comprising a television remote control unit. The method of claim 9, And the mobile terminal comprises a personal digital assistant configured to communicate with the communication port. The method of claim 1, The digital broadcast signal further comprises software, the software configured to use the data. The method of claim 14, The software is configured to display the data on an output device of a computer. The method of claim 14, The software is configured to retrieve the data. The method of claim 14, The data includes a website address and the software is configured to retrieve and access the website address. The method of claim 1, And said mobile terminal comprises a personal digital assistant. The method of claim 18, The data is software, and the data retrieval system is provided for the personal digital assistant to execute the software. The method of claim 1, And the data is software in a form executable by the personal computer. The method of claim 1, The digital receiver is a television, and the mobile terminal comprises a personal digital assistant. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and the data retrieval system further comprises a digital transmitter configured to transmit upstream data in response to the downstream data. The method of claim 22, And the upstream data includes identification information. The method of claim 23, And the identification information is product identification information. The method of claim 23, And the identification information is source identification information. The method of claim 1, The digital receiver A tuner configured to tune to the digital broadcast signal; A demodulator coupled to the tuner and configured to demodulate the digital broadcast signal; A controller equipped to obtain the data; And A transceiver coupled to the controller, The controller is configured to cause the data to be supplied to the transceiver for transmission to the memory. The method of claim 26, The transceiver has a first transceiver, The data retrieval system A second transceiver for receiving the data transmitted by the first transceiver; A processor to cause data received by the second transceiver to be stored in the memory; And Further comprising an input device coupled to the processor that accepts input by a user, The processor is configured to generate a data request signal for transmission by the second transceiver to the first transceiver; The input causes the processor to generate the data request signal. The method of claim 27, The first transceiver receives the data request signal from the second transceiver and transmits the data request signal to the controller, wherein the controller responds to the data request signal by causing the data to be sent to the second transceiver. Search system. The method of claim 27, And a sound generating circuit coupled to the processor, the processor causing the sound generating circuit to generate an audible sound when the data is stored. The method of claim 27, The processor having a data communication port for transmitting the data from the memory to a personal computer. The method of claim 27, And the first and second transceivers are infrared signal transceivers. The method of claim 27, And the first and second transceivers are radio frequency signal transceivers. The method of claim 1, And the data includes a website URL. The method of claim 1, The digital receiver comprises a television, The data includes information about a product advertised in a television commercial received by the television. The method of claim 34, wherein The data includes a URL for finding a website, the website including additional information about the product. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein And the data includes a list of merchants selling the product. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein The data is a data retrieval system including price information for the product. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein The data includes a coupon for the product. The method of claim 1, The mobile terminal is provided with a personal digital assistant, The personal digital assistant is Input and output devices; And Further provided with a controller, The controller is arranged to read data from the input device, at which the data is obtained from the digital receiver, the controller causes the data to be stored in the memory and the data from the memory to the output device. Data retrieval system equipped for transmission. The method of claim 1, And the memory comprises a bar code. The method of claim 1, A data retrieval system further comprising a magnetic strip reader. The method of claim 1, A data retrieval system further comprising an infrared reader. The method of claim 1, And the data comprises identifying financial account information. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and for goods and / or services, and the data retrieval system further comprises a data reader for uploading upstream data from the memory to the digital receiver, wherein the upstream data is for the goods and / or services. Data retrieval system to affect the purchase of. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and is for goods and / or services, and the data retrieval system further comprises a transmitter for transmitting upstream data, wherein the upstream data is associated with a purchase of the goods and / or services. . The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and relates to goods and / or services, wherein the data retrieval system further comprises a barcode reader, the barcode reader uploads upstream data from the barcode to the digital receiver, and the upstream data includes goods and Data retrieval system relating to the purchase of services. delete delete A method for realizing, by a mobile terminal, retrieval of data transmitted in a data packet of a digital broadcast signal including at least a program packet associated with a broadcast program, (a) acquiring, at a mobile terminal, data from a digital receiver receiving the digital broadcast signal; And (b) storing the data in a memory of the mobile terminal. The method of claim 49, And transmitting data from the memory of the mobile terminal to a computer separate from the digital receiver and the mobile terminal.

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