KR100281818B1 - Transaction-based interactive television system - Google Patents

Abstract

The transaction-based interactive television system 20 includes an insertion system 22 for inserting encoded interactive information in the preferred embodiment in the vertical blanking time of a standard television signal. The signal is received and decoded by a decoded system 24 comprising a set top decoder 30 for sending an infrared signal to the handheld device 28. The viewer using the handheld device 28 may be a gaming, sports, Or may communicate educational or event or other indications on television. The system includes a patented set of patented instructions and a PIU table held in the non-volatile memory of the handheld device 28. The PIU table stores transactions of the various events shown on the television. The PIU table allows various events to be classified by the number of transactions. Thus, for sports with interleaved private broadcasts, the number of PIU tables is used to store the set of transactions used for the main event, and the additional PIU table is used to store each transaction of the various interleaved private broadcasts Loses. This arrangement allows viewers to instantly participate in interactive events without having to wait for the game to be downloaded. The system also allows a number of interactive events to be interleaved, resulting in the viewer being able to communicate with a number of other unrelated events and to communicate the acquired scores. Additionally, such a system allows a viewer to enter and exit a series or event of an event at any time without having to wait for information to be downloaded and without losing any score. The system can also switch from one event to another, for example, by tuning to another station, and the user can immediately respond to the scored and earned points.

Description

[Title of the Invention]

Transaction-based interactive television system

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.

1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an insertion system and a decoding system of an embodiment of a transaction based interactive television system of the present invention; Fig.

FIG. 2 is a format diagram of a data line at a vertical blanking interval; FIG.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of data having space for data of FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an IR data stream depicted as a biphase encoded data stream with FSK; FIG.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the set-top decoder of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a handheld device or terminal of FIG. 1; FIG.

7 is a schematic illustration of an IR detector of the handheld device of the receiver of the system.

Figure 8 is a top view of the " T " type handheld device of one embodiment of the present invention in Figure 1;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of a keypad layout for a device of FIG. 8; FIG.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an IR coverage area for the invention of FIG. 1; FIG.

11 is an illustration of an embodiment of a memory map of static RAM of an embodiment of the handheld terminal of the present invention of FIG. 1;

12 is a schematic diagram of a static RAM interface of an embodiment of the handheld terminal of the present invention of FIG. 1; FIG.

Description of the Related Art

20: interactive system 22: insertion system

24: Decryption system 28: Handheld device

30: Decoder 32: Infrared transmitting device

34: video tape recorder 40: computer

44: Horizontal line 45: Start bit

47: Color burst signal 48: Synchronous pulse

49: Color run-in signal 50: VCR

52: VBI data clear signal 54: data stream

56: first-in first-out buffer 60: synchronous detector and line counter

62: Data Recovery and Jitter Correction Device

64: Microprocessor 66: FSK modulator and IR driver

68: IR diode array 70: IR receiver or detector

72: Microprocessor 74: RAM

76: keyboard 78: clock circuit

80: LCD display part 84: Photo diode

86: Frequency discriminator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [

Some of the descriptions of this patent specification include materials (code lists and message lists) for which copyright protection is claimed. The copyright owner owns all other rights except copies of others' facsimiles of the patent specification or patent publication specified in the United States Patent and Trademark Office filings or records. Copyright 1991 Watch & Win.

The present invention relates to an interactive communication system and, more particularly, to an existing broadcasting, cable and satellite television or radio or other communication system suitable for use by a participant and audience, To an interactive communication system that allows the participant or the audience to make an appropriate response to the event, allowing the user to interact with the system to operate other events or educational indicia.

Many products have introduced the ability to participate in television programs. These products receive a cue signal transmitted by a handheld device that detects and controls the viewer ' s response to allow the viewer to participate in the program. Some of these devices implement hardware that monitors response results over time and responses, and reports the results to the center. One early example of this technique is the QUBE interactive two-way television introduced by Warner Communication in early 1982. Other systems include the INDAX system field tested in early 1984 by Cox Communication and the Interactive Network System field tested in 1990 and 1991.

The interactive active network system is described, at least in part, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,546, entitled " GAME OF SKILL PLAYABLE BY A REMOTE PARTICIPANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A LIVE EVENT, " issued June 3, 1986. In one embodiment, the system is adapted to utilize the vertical blanking time of a standard NTSC television signal for downloading to remotely control a viewer's remote handheld device game game or other interactive command. In addition, a lock-out signal is sent via the vertical blanking time (VBI) to prevent a score from being generated after the correct answer to the event appears on the screen. Such a system demonstrates the ability to accumulate scores via television display, for example, after a program has terminated, the digital data is transmitted over the modem for a time interval that is much less than the entire time interval of the program, .

All of these products generally fall into one of two categories of products. The first category is software that is implemented in code in the firmware of the participant remote handheld device so that the participant can start the elevation as an interactive program as soon as the program is started. The second category is to keep the software on the random access memory device of the viewer's handheld device and the program must be downloaded before the event starts. This process may require that participants wait up to five minutes before participating in the interactive program.

Both ranges of the device are designed to operate as one interactive program at a time, requiring participants to exit the previous program in order to participate in the new program.

These products clearly show significant deficiencies when compared to consumer viewing habits. Most viewers do not watch one program in a row. Viewers typically switch between a few channels and watch. As this is widely known in the industry, the term "grazing" has been added to the habit of changing channels while viewing a program.

The interactive system concept is successfully integrated into the audience viewing habits required for interactive television. Such a system keeps several interactive programs active at the same time and does not require initialization information or prior downloading of the program. When the viewer turns the channel, the viewer can see the program for the first time, or the viewer can watch the program for a short time or for an extended period of time, or immediately participate in the interactive program.

If the viewer turns the channel to a previously watched program, the interactive game continues, leaving only the missing portion. Any cumulative score is entered during the portion of the event that actually participated. The result is like the missing questions that can not be answered.

The present invention is designed to address the problems and drawbacks associated with the prior art and to focus on how participants actually view television events. In particular, the present invention provides a transaction based system whereby various conversations that may occur over a period of time between a system and a viewer are classified and defined as multiple transactions. A transaction is a handheld device that is identified by a programmer identification (PID) number, stored in a programmer (PIU) table that is provided in non-volatile memory, and used by a viewer to interact with, for example, a television display. In a preferred embodiment, a table of each of the data for updating and reprogramming is provided and is provided with the television display via vertical blanking time. Once the structure of the PIU is established, the game is initialized through advanced commands that are incorporated into the subsequent VBI line and sent via it to initialize the various transactions.

With transactions-based systems, conversations involving multiple games and different problems are achieved in an interleaved way. For example, during one hour of television display, multiple transactions are concatenated to interact with a continuous theme that appears within the main programming during that time. Additionally, once the main programming is categorized into sections, the transactions are separated into as many groups as necessary to preferably communicate with each part of the main program. Additionally, for example, the system has the capability to cause a transaction or a group of transactions to occur on each of multiple private broadcasts spread over the primary indication. Thus, the present display system can have all transactions accurately recorded and scored, allowing the viewer to talk and play with multiple transactions that can combine with completely different interactive displays on the screen. Each PIU table can be determined by using only a few VBI lines and the system allows the viewer to start a conversation or game with the television display even during a portion of the display and also allows the viewer to change channels or & Even if the game is displayed on the currently selected channel, the game or display can be instantly heightened or communicated.

This functionality represents a significant advantage over the prior art in that the necessary gaming software must be downloaded to the remote terminal over a valid time interval before the game begins by pre-tuning the viewer to a particular channel before the game, as described above. Such prior art devices also allow a viewer to switch between interleaved events on the same channel, for example, between a main event and a private broadcast, or switch to another channel to talk to the event of that channel, It provides only the ability to talk or play with a main event or a single game at the same time without any function. Such grazing is not possible with conventional devices because the remote terminal is not properly programmed. In fact, viewers can change channels through prior art, but they can not talk to events on that channel until they are waiting for software downloads before a particular event begins interactively, or until the next event begins.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an interactive display system including an apparatus for receiving interactive data at a remote location in connection with an indication of an event. The interactive display system also includes an apparatus for defining a transactional structure that allows interactive active data to communicate with a particular aspect of each event only as needed through an event without disturbing the event. In addition, the transactional structure allows the events and aspects within each event to be interleaved while maintaining the same conversation for each. The system includes a device that reports the result of the conversation.

The receiver mechanism of the present invention includes a set-top decoder for decoding received interactive data in connection with a signal of an event. The receiver device further comprises a handheld terminal for allowing a user to interact with the event and a mechanism for providing communication between the set top decoder and the handheld terminal.

In another aspect of the present invention, the transaction structure includes an apparatus for storing identification for each of a plurality of transaction tables and an apparatus for storing at least a part of user responses to interactive data and interactive data.

In another aspect of the present invention, the interactive data includes interactive instructions and specific data of events associated with each event or each particular event.

In another aspect of the present invention, the receiving apparatus includes a message display unit, and the interactive command causes the message to be displayed on the message display unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, the receiving device can receive the displayed message, and the transaction structure can store the received message. The interactive command is additionally for receiving or storing a displayed message to maintain or initialize the interactive display.

Thus, in the present invention, a viewer may have the ability to interact with a plurality of interleaved events, to initiate and stop a conversation at a time the viewer chooses, to select events provided on the plurality of channels, And a function of having all the responses to various events stored and scored for the part where the viewer participates are provided.

The interactive system 20 of the present invention (FIG. 1) is best implemented by the transmission of interactive control information along with the television program, and includes the ability for a viewer to participate in an interactive television program on multiple channels .

One of the authorized schemes for data transmission associated with television video signals is to insert data into lines 10-20 of vertical blanking time (VBI). An embodiment of this method of data transmission is closed captioning information for inserting data on the line 21 of the VBI.

The system 20 is inserted into the insertion system 22 on the VBI of program data before broadcasting and has data decrypted by the decryption system 24 so that the participant can watch the program. At each receiving location 26 the data is recovered from the VBI by the decryption system 24 including the decoder 30 and the handheld device 28 and the decoder 30 sends the data to the interactive event To the handheld device (28) that is used to participate in the handheld device (28).

Consideration of marketing explains that the settop data converter or decoder 30 decodes the VBI information and transmits the interactive data to the handheld device 28 via the infrared transmission device 32. [ Using IR transmission, a participant can freely move around the room with the handheld device 28 facing it to the settop data converter 30 generally.

The video tape recorder 34 of the insertion system 22 is used to operate an interesting source program. This program is a field event, and in this situation the camera is replaced by a tape recorder. The output of the recorder 34 is an NTSC video and audio signal that can be transmitted over a number of distances, such as, for example, a home, via a cable or a video communication system, such as a typical television broadcast system 36.

The NTSC video output signal is provided to a standard data bridge luminance inserter 38 which has the function of inserting the luminance modulated data on a line of horizontal blanking time in vertical blanking time. The inserted interactive data is transferred to the computer 40 that synchronizes this data by using a typical frame grabber card 42 that provides hardware interrupts for vertical and horizontal blanking times of the program material from the VTR 34 Lt; / RTI > The format of the horizontal line 44 of data is shown in FIG.

One format for data transmitted within the VBI that is considered well-recorded and reliable is the format chosen for the subtitle information. This format is located between sync pulses 48 and transmits a data burst 46 preceded by a start bit 45 driving one line of VBI. Color burst signal 47 and clock run-in signal 49 are also shown. Each burst is repeated at a TV field rate of 16.67 milliseconds, as shown in FIG. This data format provides 14 bits of data with parity bits per 7 bits.

Any typical data format will be acceptable to understand that the data is inserted on the blanking line within the vertical blanking time. The luminance or output signal from the VITS inserter 38 is transmitted through any typical TV wiring system, including a broadcast, satellite or cable transmission system. Each television channel that transmits the program is selected using a typical TV tuner, which can be found on a television or consumer VCR 50. [ If the VCR is used as a tuner, the VCR includes a baseband video output including video of the program from the VTR 34 and a VITS inserter 38 or a demodulator that provides interactive data inserted by luminance.

For example, the video signal is processed using a typical VBI data cancellation circuit 52 to generate the same data stream 54 as the embedded conversation data stream.

In transmission systems that use infrared for reliable transmission, the data rate in the preferred embodiment does not exceed 3,000 bits per second. VBI data is recovered at a data rate of 500,000 bits per second. However, this rate is generated for a short burst during the vertical retrace time. Thus, while active video is being transmitted, interactive data is recovered from the program source.

A set top decoder or converter (30)

The purpose of the set top converter 30 is to recover data transmitted during VBI at high data rates and transmit the same information to the handheld device 28 at very slow data rates of 3,000 bits per second using infrared. This is solved using a first-in-first-out buffer 56 with different clocks for the input and output functions.

The serial data stream is stored in the first-in-first-out buffer 56. Each 14-bit data group from the horizontal line 44 in the VBI is stored at a transmitted data rate of 500,000 bits per second. Since a particular horizontal line occurs only every 16.7 milliseconds, the data stream is composed of 14 bits, clocked at high speed followed by 16.7 milliseconds of no data, as shown in FIG.

The output of the first-in-first-out buffer 56 is clocked at a data bit rate of 3,000 bits per second. Using this rate, 14 bits are transmitted within 4.7 milliseconds, as shown in FIG.

The slow output rate from the first-in-first-out buffer 56 is necessary to ensure that the output bit time is easy to transmit data using an infrared modulator. The infrared modulator or transmitter 32 is comprised of two oscillators operating at a multiple of 3,000 Hz, with each phase being locked to the output clock rate. If the bit from the buffer is " 1 ", then oscillator 1 is selected to drive the IR transmitter. If the bit is " 0 ", the oscillator 2 is selected to drive the IR transmitter. Using this FSK encoded data stream access (FIG. 4), the IR transmitter emits IR energy at a frequency determined by the clocked serial data of the first-in-first-out buffer.

It is clear from the above that the interactive system includes an apparatus for transmitting unidirectional low speed digital data to a handheld device that is used to participate in a television program.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed view of the set-top decoder 30 of the system as shown in FIG. This set-top decoder 30 is substantially similar to a typical decoder, for example, for decoding VBI information used for subtitle application. Additionally, the set-top decoder 30 includes an IR modulator or transmitter 32, as described above. Referring to FIG. 5, the set-top decoder 30 includes a line detector 60 and a sync detector for receiving a broadcast signal. The set top decoder 30 also includes a data recovery and jitter correcting device 62. These devices 60 and 62 communicate with a microprocessor 54 that causes the microprocessor 64 to latch the VBI data into a register or first-in-first-out buffer 56. Data is communicated from the buffer 56 to the FSK modulator and the IR driver 66 and from there to the IR diode array 68. The FSK modulator and IR driver 66 and the IR diode array 68 include an IR transmitter 32.

Handheld devices or terminals (28)

The handheld interactive terminal 28 provides a means for participating in an interactive program. It decodes the data from the settop converter 30 to implement an interactive program.

The hardware module in the handheld device 26 includes an infrared photodetector 70 for sensing the IR signal from the set top converter 30 and an infrared photodetector 70 for receiving the command code discussed below stored on the on- An RMA 74 including both a non-volatile and temporary storage for information sent via an IR link, a keyboard 76 for data input, a microprocessor 72 having a control program that can be implemented, And a clock circuit 78 and an LCD display 80 for substantially maintaining a time interval. A block diagram of the handheld device is shown in Figures 1 and 6.

The IR receiver or detector 70 has a circuit 82 consisting of a photodiode 84 providing a voltage proportional to the IR light level and a frequency discriminator 86 detecting the FSK modulation of the IR signal Degree).

The output of photodetector 84 is amplified and formed to provide a square wave having the same frequency as the frequency of the IR signal. This frequency modulated signal is provided to a frequency discriminator 86 tuned to two frequencies used to transmit IR data. This determiner 86 restores the serial data and provides it to the microprocessor 72 of the handheld device 28.

The microprocessor 72 monitors the serial data transmitted over the IR link and creates a stream of instructions from such data, as defined below, which describes the software configuration of the present invention. The command generates an operating program that implements an interactive program for the participant. The ROM of the microprocessor 72 includes a command interpreter and control program for instructions sent on the VBI. The RAM memory 74 stores instructions and data transmitted via an IR link indicating an interactive program.

8 shows an example of a " T " type case for handheld device 28. Fig. Aspects of the outer housing 94 of the handheld device 28 include the following.

The case 74 is made of molded plastic with strength and surface suitable for use by consumers in the house.

The keypad 76 is a one piece piece of molded rubber type having a carbon connection making a switch connection corresponding to a switch pattern on a printed circuit board (PCB). The nine words under the key (YES, NO, TRUE, FALSE, POOR, FAIR, AVERAGE, GOOD, EXCELLENT) are not part of the keypad 76 but part of the plastic case 94. The keypad 76 is arranged in 4 rows by 5 columns. Figure 9 shows the arrangement and names of all 20 keys.

In a preferred embodiment, the handheld device 28 is powered from four 'AA' sized cells that are replaceable by the consumer through a removable door on the back side of the device.

The IR receiver 70 has two windows made of red plastic that filters visible light visible at the left and right corners of the case. The IR receiver circuitry is mounted on the PCB on both sides of this window.

Shaped device 28 accommodates a relatively large LCD display 80 (about 4 inches) and a relatively narrow keypad 76 in a package that can be placed on a table or held in the hands of a consumer.

The microprocessor 72 includes, in a preferred embodiment, Mitsubishi M38002M2-FP with 8 kilobytes of ROM in a plastic quad flat pack package. The microprocessor 72 is operated in a memory expansion mode at a modification frequency over a 5 MHz predetermined.

The specific function assignments of the I / O pins are shown in Table 1 below.

The keypad 76 is scanned by the microprocessor using five outputs and four inputs. The four inputs are diode-or'ed with a diode so that any key press can generate an interrupt to the microprocessor. This active-low interrupt occurs when a key is pressed.

The handheld device 28 receives all remote data from the set top device 30 via an infrared (IR) data link. The performance of such a link has a bit error rate less than one error (random bit error) per every 100,000 bits transmitted when configured as shown in FIG. 10. In this configuration, the handheld receiver 28 is within 7.6 meters (25 feet) of the transmitter of the settop transducer 30 and can be used anywhere plus or minus 60 degrees from the center line of the transmitter.

As indicated above, the physical format of the IR data is an encoded FSK signal.

The lower frequency is 49KHz, and the upper frequency is 59KHz. The data rate is 3000 bits per second (BPS). Figure 4 shows the format of this data. The first line is a digital clock. The second line is a stream of digital IR data. The third line is data that is an equivalent line mid-bit transition encoding, and the fourth line shows FSK encoded data. The FSK data is provided to the IR transmit LED on the set top apparatus 30 and is received by a diode in the handheld device 28. The FSK data is decoded into mid-bit transition data, from which the clock is detected and the data is returned to the digital format. The microprocessor 72 uses a clock to shift data to the internal serial port in a synchronous mode. As discussed above, the clock is detected on a first line (FIG. 4), as shown, and is called a digital data clock.

To minimize power consumption, the IR receiver 70 first utilizes a carrier detection (CD) filter 96 (FIG. 6). When the energy in the 46-62 KHz range is detected and the carrier is detected, the filter 96 is said to be active. This signal substantially switches power to the IR receiver with a VDD switch (MOS transistor gate circuit in the preferred embodiment) that maintains power while the IR signal is received. After the IR data transmission from the set top apparatus 30 is completed, the CD signal becomes inactive and the power from the IR receiver 70 is removed. The CD filter 96 consumes as little current as possible since it has been active all the time. The logical level of the CD signal is " do not care " for the microprocessor 72 and is selected based on the lowest power consumption and price of the CD circuit.

Static RAM

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a 32K-byte static RAM 74 memory map. The static RAM 74 will be decoded from the microprocessor address 0000h to 7FFFh. Up to the first 400h of the external RAM 74 is not used because these locations are used internally in the microprocessor. Static RAM must operate in a zero wait state.

FIG. 12 shows a 32K-byte static RAM interface 98. Note that when the chip select (CE-) pin of the RAM is not accessed to maintain the low power mode, it must be higher than VDD-0.2. The reason is due to the transistor circuit 100 in the CE-pin of FIG. This extreme low power mode can be found in recent static RAM chip versions and exhibits a current draw of about 2 μA at room temperature.

The static RAM 74 chip (similar to a real-time clock) is powered by a power failure detection circuit that varies up to the lithium coin cell 102 when power loss is detected from the four main 'AA' . This power is referred to as VDDsafe in FIG.

The 32K-byte static RAM 74 is used by the microprocessor 72 to reset the static RAM 74 (which is always active when VDD is disabled) by placing the I / O pins in a logic low before any other write operation is performed The write protection circuit 106 is required to prevent a write error to the write protection circuit 106. The write protect circuit 106 is also powered by VDDsafe. Address bus lines AD14 and AD15 are pulled up to VDD while memory address decryption is working properly.

The LCD display unit 80 is two lines of a 24-character display unit made up of a display unit RAM and a character generator RAM. Back light is not used. In the preferred embodiment, the LCD display 80 is suitable for the characteristics of Sharp LM24255 (pre-programmed character generator ROM and 8 character generator RAM locations).

The LCD display is mapped from microprocessor address 8000h (control register) and 8001h (data register) to memory. The timing of a typical LCD display 80 module indicates one standby state required during access, and the microprocessor ONW line is appropriately controlled to achieve this task (see Table 1).

In order for the microprocessor to control the LCD contrast within the software, an R / 2R ladder network is implemented using three I / O bits of the microprocessor (see Table 1).

The LCD design does not have a low power mode. In order to increase battery life, the LCD power must be controlled by the I / O bits from the microprocessor. FIG. 6 shows this as the VDD switch 18. This is, in the preferred embodiment, a MOS transistor gate circuit that allows power to be supplied to the LCD when the microprocessor control signal is low.

The Epson RTS-4503 chip is the preferred real-time clock 76. It is connected to the microprocessor via an I / O pin. The real-time clock 76 (similar to the static RAM 74) is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc by the power failure detection circuit, which varies from the main four 'A4' cells 104 to the lithium coin cell 102 when power loss is detected, . This power is referred to as VDDsafe above.

Piezoelectric speaker 88 generates musical tune and pitch. The frequency response of such a device is in the range of 1 KHz or lower on the low end and 5 KHz or higher on the high end. Within this range, the sound pressure output of the piezoelectric is the level. The sound pressure level output is in the range of 20dB to 30dB.

The speaker 88 is driven by one of the timer outputs of the microprocessor 72 operating in the pulse output mode.

The preferred primary source of power is the four 'AA' cells 104. When a loss of main power is detected, an additional three bolt-lithium coin cells 102 are used to power the K-byte static RMA 74, the write protect circuit 110 and the real-time clock 78 , Because they all have to maintain power at the same time. The main power is lost when four 'AA' cells are drained below the minimum operating voltage or are removed altogether. The power obtained only from the main battery is referred to as VDD. The power output from the power failure detection circuit and powered by the three bolt-lithium coin cells is referred to as VDDsafe as described above.

[Software Architecture]

The characteristics of a particular interactive program are implemented as part of the resident software in the handheld terminal 28. [ These software perform two functions. The first function is to create a short interactive program from advanced commands sent over the IR link. After this program is transferred and verified by a CRC error check, the software causes the program to be executed. The second function is execution processing of the program. Each independent program to be transmitted and executed is called a transaction. A typical transaction consists of a sequence of problems that requires a response from a participant followed by a test of the response in which the results appear as a score.

During the time that the participant responds to the transaction, the next transaction is received and ready for the participant to process. With this approach, the amount of information that is transmitted over the network before a participant can use the handheld device 28 becomes substantially clear to the user as compared to other interactive devices in the prior art.

The response at a certain time that the participant must respond within a specific time interval is determined by a countdown timer implemented in the microprocessor 74 in the handheld 28 or by a new < RTI ID = 0.0 > It is controlled through transactions.

For problems with a time amount that the viewer is scheduled to provide an answer, an input command that requires a response is included once a few seconds after the handheld device 28 waits for user input.

After completing the interactive game, the result score and the serial ID number of the box are coded in the program code so that the only permission number for the viewer is set. Using the touch-tone telephone, the viewer can see the result.

[Data received via IR link]

The interactive program and the message are transmitted over the IR link in a data format that is configured as a packet containing all interactive instructions requiring the use of the participant's handheld device 28. [ The structure of such a packet is as follows.

3 bytes of sync all

Packet ID 3 bytes

Packet count 2 bytes

Command 1

Interactive program

Command i

CRC 2 bytes

End of frame 3 bytes of all zones

The end of the sync block and the frame block is 3-byte with a unique bit pattern in the packet. This approach clearly defines the start and end of each packet.

The packet ID is composed of a programmer ID of 9 bits, a program ID of 12 bits, and 24 bits (3 bytes) divided into 3-bit PIU slot addresses.

The PIU table 200 (located in RAM 74) where the data is stored corresponds to a unique PIU code. Each programmer, as defined by the programmer ID, has a particular number of tables valid for its use. The PIU slot address defines which table is used for the interactive program within the set of programmers in the table.

The software processing in the handheld device 28 consists of packets that have been correctly received over the IR link. The programmer ID and slot address are used to select the PIU table. If the table does not exist with the same programmer ID and slot address, a new table is generated. If a table exists and the programmer ID is the same for the new transaction compared to the ID stored in the table, then the old value in the table is retained and the interactive command sent in the packet is processed. If the new program ID of the table is different, the table value is cleared before processing the packet.

The command structure can improve data transmission reliability by encoding using a typical FEC algorithm using one half rate coding. It is also encoded using a key that is aligned up to 56 bits. Within handheld device 28, all three keys are stored. Commands to change three keys are defined, and are useful for converting keys if three keys are known.

[Interactive Software Commands]

In order to reduce the time required to transmit an interactive program over an IR link, a high-level interactive language has been invented. This concept reduces the amount of data and is sent with some powerful commands. A specific instruction in a packet and a set of such instructions determine an interactive program. Your response to these commands will result in an interactive program.

The interactive program is comprised of one or more command packets, which are sent by the IR link and processed by the control program of the handheld device 28. Each handheld device 28 includes an interactive program transmitted over an IR link and generates a unique score and response for each participant.

[Copyright 1991 Watch & Win]

The command handheld device may be implemented in an insertion system (22)

For example, data based on a broadcast signal

The instruction to be transmitted to the decryption system 24 via the path

Implementation of transactions, events and PIUs through the interpretation of a set of

do. These commands are provided to the insertion system 22

By the programmer using the software packet

. The following command sets the major

Type. Attached Table 2. shows that another command

List. The display (msg) message is displayed on the LCD

And one of the following states or events occurs:

Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > LCD < / RTI >

Another message has been processed.

The recall button is pressed.

When the appropriate button is pressed, another specific message is displayed

If so.

No data is sent to the handheld within 15 seconds

If the viewer does not press any button

Power down handheld device).

If the viewer attempts an invalid input, the display unit is not converted

Do not.

The input (msg) message is displayed, and the device is

Lt; / RTI >

A request for a time delay input (msg, counter)

It is where the liver is sent with the input request. G

For a fixed time, the counter reaches zero

While waiting for two (or three) digital

Two (or three) screen display characters

It is displayed in the right button.

If the counter times out before the viewer inputs,

The handheld device displays MSG1.

A terminated open input (msg) request indicates that the next transaction

It is where the device waits for input until it is received.

After the viewer receives the next transaction,

If provided, the response is ignored,

The transaction is flushed from the device. Instead,

The last response is for the next consecutive transaction.

It is interpreted as an answer.

The handheld device will press the Enter key before processing the response

It waits until it gets worse. The number of keys to enter from the keyboard is

It is limited by the variable field width. Field width

If it is one, the Enter key does not need to terminate the input response.

If the timeout variable is not zero, the input command specifies the time

. When the timer expires, the command automatically terminates

And the input response is ignored.

Example:

Input "How much are you willing to bet?", 3, 33

[OPCODE] [Field Width] [X Offset]

[String] [Null]

Input "How much are you willing to bet" ", 3, 33, 10

[OPCODE] [Field Width] [X Offset]

[String] [Null]

Range (x, y) Input commands that specify the range of inputs of acceptable keys and

In this regard, the input is the range of acceptable values as a response

All. When the viewer response is detected,

And the next command in the transaction

.

If the response is not between the " x " and " y "

MSG2 and waits for a new input. Second mouth

If the force is still not within that range,

, Clears the input buffer, and processes the next command

do.

Example:

Range TO, T1

[OPCODE] [LOW REGISTER] [HIGH REGISTER]

(3-byte)

Scope 1, 2

[OPCODE] [LOW VALUE] [HIGH VALUE]

(9-byte)

The Add (x, y) programmer adds the value at position x to the value at position y

And stores the sum at the y position.

Sub (x, y) The programmer uses the value at position x as the value at position y

And stores the result in the y position.

Save (x, y) The programmer sets the value (or its value) at position x to y

Save to location. The previous value at the y position is

Lost.

Conditional statement

If, Then, the programmer can use logical expressions for different logical

You can enter arithmetic functions using And, Or>, <,> =, <= or =

You can set it as And, Or saved answer, or saved score.

A typical embodiment is as follows.

Example:

IF TSCORE> THEN DISPLAY "Good Work!"

IF (RESP 1 == TO) THEN

[OPCODE] [Operator] [Operand] [Operand B]

[True Offset] [False Offset]

IF (RESP1 == TO and (RESP2 == T1) THEN

[OPCODE] [# of Op 's] [Op] [Op ₁ ] [Op ₂ ]

[Op] [Op ₃ ] [Op ₄ ] [OP] [True Offset]

[False Offset]

Else By being used as part of an IF statement,

This implies selective processing for bad input responses.

.

Beep (x, y, z) This generates a voice sound from the handheld device 28

, Where x is the number of beeps and y is the number of beeps

, Z is the duration of each beep

This is the time expressed in seconds.

Shift (x, y) This command points to the desired multiplication by the programmer

. The value at the y position is

(X = 1), 4 (x = 2), 8 (x = 3), and 16 (x = 4).

Multiple DISPLAYs sent to the Repeat handheld device 28,

(msg x, y, z) Logical command shows the result. With REPEAT,

The programmer is displayed on the handheld device 28 every x minutes

You can request a message, which is sent every

Handheld device 28, and the message is sent after z minutes

The display is stopped.

The Hold (x) inserter (38) releases the line using the RELEASE command

Do not insert any background information on line x until

Is used by the data inserter 38,

The command to send to.

When the Release (x) inserter 38 inserts background information on line x

This is used by the data inserter 38

Command to be sent and sent to this.

Delete (PID) This removes the PIU table from non-volatile memory

The command used to allocate space for new PIUs.

All. Sends a group of DELETE commands for a known terminated PIU

Check that the background task PIU is not normally deleted

When cleared, it is initialized.

Example:

DELETE PID NUMBER

[OPCODE] [PID NUMBER] (4-byte)

The message buffer of the non-volatile memory in the Prestore handheld device (28)

(msg, MSGx) within the MSGx location (MSG5-MSG10 is still valid)

Stores standard messages. The DISPLAY command

Displayed pre-saved messages or free-form messages

I get it.

Example:

PRESTORE 5, "Please try again."

[OPCODE] [MSG #] [STRING]

Reset the Disable handheld device 28 to its uninitialized state.

(boxid) Example:

DISABLE 12345678

[OPCODE] [BOX ID]

(5-byte)

Appendcode A new block of assembly-level (extensible) code is handheld

Command to add to the memory within the device (28).

DEFINE NEW This Opcode is the next program segment to be executed.

ADDRESS KEY New to be used for descramble

Load the address key.

Example:

KEY 1234

[OPCODE] [KEY] (3-byte)

UN-This Opcode allows the execution of a program to be

CONDITIONAL Used to send to Opcode.

BRANCH Embodiment:

GO TO LABEL

[OPCODE] [16-bit two's complement offset] (3-byte)

EXIT S / W for the handheld device (28)

Used to send a signal to the software.

Example:

EXIT

[OPCODE] (1-byte)

Table 3 shows a list of pre-stored messages.

The software registers resident in the handheld device 28

As the PIU 200 PIU table is used by the software

User response and game score.

TRANSACTOR The contents of the transaction register are

If the REGISTERS flag is cleared or the register is

Until it is used by the user.

The registers defined in each table are:

PID programmer ID number

Flag Programmable flag register

Score 1 event score register

Score 2 Event Score Register

Score 3 Event Score Register

RESP 1 User Response Register

RESP 2 User Response Register

RESP 3 User Response Register

REGISTER 1 Program memory register

REGISTER 2 program memory register

REGISTER 3 program memory register

REGISTER 4 program memory register

Counter Elapsed time for viewer response

SCRATCH PAD Scratch pad register is a program for temporary storage

Used by REGISTERS. The value of each register is

It is erased at the beginning of each program. 16, 32

The bit register is valid.

DATE / TIME Used to verify program execution and time.

The valid registers for the Date program are as follows

REGISTERS:

Minute

Hour

Day

Month

Year

BOX ID The number of unique sets for each handheld device 28

REGISTER Contains a 4-byte register.

CODE Within non-volatile memory for global program use

REGISTER Stored 4-byte register.

Table 4 shows an embodiment of an interactive game that can be operated with such a system.

[Application in Industry]

The operation of the transaction based on the interactive television system 20 of the present invention is as follows.

In a preferred embodiment, an event such as a sport event, a quiz show, or an educational introduction is encountered in the source end of the system or in programming, with interactive data to be associated with a continuous query and a response to the event. In the preferred embodiment, a series of questions and answers are inserted into the line designated at the vertical blanking time, such that the caption signal is inserted into the VBI. Thus, a standard NTSC signal typically additionally transmits programming to the encoded data of the present invention. These signals are then communicated to the user's remote VCR television receiver, television monitor, and proprietary handheld device 28 of the present invention by broadcast, satellite, cable, microwave or telephone line and any combination thereof. This signal is usually obscured to viewers at remote locations, where there is no proprietary decoding system 24, including handheld device 28 and set top decoder 30, since the signal is encoded with vertical blanking time. Thus, the NTSC signal is intercepted by any other signal of the present invention or received without the viewer being aware of it. In the decryption system 24, the viewer can receive and decrypt and interact with the screen on the television screen.

In a manner very similar to the subtitle VBI decoder operation, the set top decoder 30 detects the proprietary programming data recorded on the line in the vertical erase time and decodes this data. This data is then transmitted via an infrared transmitter to the handheld device 28 with an infrared detector. This signal, once detected by the handheld device 28, is used as an initial function of the handheld device 28. The main function of these functions is the display of the message on the LCD display unit 80 and the generation and update of the PIU table associated with each transaction of the event.

Thus, proprietary advanced commands transmitted in association with the standard television broadcast signal are used to activate the handheld device 28. These commands are generated and sent to the VBI to be populated in the PIU table stored in the handheld device to update and create new transactions, perform various message functions of the handheld device, and initialize various transactions . This arrangement eliminates the need for the viewer to wait for the main program to download (1) and to adjust to the appropriate station before the game starts to get the entire game program.

The proprietary high-level language provides instructions and causes high-speed transmission of executable code resident in the PIU table. Each programmer or program creator in the PIU insertion system 24 has its own program or has an ID number and an ID number of the PIU table number. Thus, the programmer can insert new information at any time that needs to be sent to the PIU table within the VBI. As described above, each PIU table includes a transaction for at least one response to an interactive query from a programmer. Each of these transactions is associated with a different game or event that occurs through programming and the number of such transactions or PIU tables is linked together to generate a sequence of successive interactive transactions through the interactive session. For example, in the case of commercial broadcasts of live sports with interleaved private broadcasts, the number of the PIU table correlates the length of the sporting event to the current conversation. Interleaved in major sports events, various private broadcasts are each assigned to a unique PIU table and interleaved through major interactive events. Thus, the viewer can talk to the transaction of the major event, talk with the transaction of each separate private broadcast event, and all scores and responses are recorded.

From the above it can be appreciated that the implementation of the PIU table is categorized into separate transactions of the game and event. Such a table can be generated quickly from encoded information on the VBI. The table as indicated above may be identified by a programmer ID. The table is held in static RAM, for example, as long as necessary. If you change the game, the programmer reprograms the location in static RAM by simply sending a new signal. In this embodiment, there are hundreds of tables, each of which allows a user to play a game. Thus, during a game on a private broadcast, each game has its own PIU table, and the main game played with key characteristics has a number of PIU tables.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the viewer can participate at any time during the program, immediately start the game, or can talk with the television, and also start " grays " So that you can talk or play on each channel immediately. This is an improvement over the prior art, where only one game is always required to play, or where the user has to wait for information to download to the system, and interleaving of various games is not allowed. Also, prior art devices do not allow the viewer to start or stop the game at any point in time, and do not have a score for the portion of the game that was recorded and performed.

In the interleaved game at various times and the entrance and withdrawal of the viewer to the screen, the viewer's reaction and response to all the games the viewer participates in are stored by the system and later recorded in the central processing station.

As a result, after the event is terminated, the viewer receives the score from the handheld device 28. The score is encoded, for example, with a user identification number and an identification number of the handheld device 28. The viewer can call the central processing station for the score using the identification information received from the handheld device 28 and the touchtone telephone key.

The system is encoded using encoding algorithms and keys as are known in the art. The handheld device 28 thus stores three keys, for example, at least one of which is reprogrammed by a signal sent on the VBI.

In this system, the columns of events are also linked. For example, the system provides viewers with the ability to participate in interactive events that interconnect four or more games of a World Series baseball game. In other words, the viewer is asked to select the winner of each game in the world series and the winner of the world series. This information should be checked and stored within the handheld device 28 for the actual results of each competition and series over a period or more of the other competition, if necessary. The user's score over a certain period of time can be encoded and written back to the central station by the user.

Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and claims.

It is to be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention may be configured and practiced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (65)

11. An interactive display device, comprising: means for receiving interactive data relating to a first interactive event and one or more interactive aspects of the first interactive event; and means for receiving and defining transaction structures, And means for updating, (1) through the first interactive event, the interactive data is communicated only when necessary for each specific interactive aspect of the first interactive event and the first interactive event, (2) interleaving of the interleaved first and second events such that each specific interactive aspect of the first event and the first event is interleaved with at least a second event or an aspect of the second event, By keeping each interleaved aspect, the participant can be selected to be selected to talk less than all events and aspects and to be able to keep interactivity with these selected events and aspects, And means for responding to events and aspects selectively selected to represent the interactive data. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a set top decoder for decoding the interactive data received in connection with the first event, a handheld terminal for allowing a user to interact with the first event, And means for providing communication between the handheld terminals. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the means for defining and updating transaction structures further comprises means for storing an identification for each of the plurality of transaction structures, Means for storing a portion of the interactive data in the transaction structures required for a particular aspect of the first event during the transaction; and means for storing a user response to the interactive data in the transaction structures And a display device for displaying the interactive display system. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive data related to each event or aspect of each event includes (1) interactive instructions and (2) event detail data related to each event or aspect of each event, Wherein the interactive data relating to each event or aspect of each event is stored in a means for defining and updating a transaction structure, the system comprising: a processor for processing interactive instructions to control the display of each interactive event; And means for displaying the interactive display. 5. The interactive display system of claim 4, wherein the receiving means includes a message display and causes the interactive instructions associated with the processor means to be displayed on the message display. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving the message to be displayed, the means for defining and updating the transaction structures may store the received message, To selectively display one of the received messages or one of the stored messages in order to initialize or continue the display. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for defining and updating the transaction structure allows the interactive data for one aspect of the first event to be selectively used by a participant, Continuous interactive data for subsequent aspects is received by said receiving means for continued use by the participant. 2. The interactive display system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes means for decoding said encoded interactive data within a vertical blanking time of a television signal. 3. The interactive display system of claim 2, wherein the means for providing communication comprises a decoder associated with the handheld terminal, a transmitter associated with the infrared receiver and the settop decoder, and an infrared encoder. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving interactive data at a high data rate and substantially reducing the data rate so that data can be correctly received by means of defining and updating transaction structures Characterized by an interactive display system. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for defining and updating the receiving means and the transaction structures further comprises receiving the interactive data in a manner transparent to the participants for the interactive aspect of the first or second event Wherein the display control unit permits the display unit to display the interactive display. In an interactive display system, an indication of a first event having one or more aspects constituting the first event, in accordance with a specific request for any particular aspect of the first event immediately before or during the display of any particular aspect, Means for receiving interactive data including as much event detail data and instructions as needed through the first event, such that the participant only has to synchronize with the particular aspect, Means for storing event detail data; and means for responding to a command for using the event detail data stored in the storage means to allow a participant to interact with a first event specific aspect of the indication Wherein said display means comprises means for operating said display means. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: means for providing a message; and means for causing the message display means to display at least one of a message previously stored as part of the event detail data and a message to be sent in association with the instructions. And means for responding to the command. 13. The interactive display system of claim 12, wherein the means for responding to the command controls and initializes the ability of the participant to interact with the display and controls event detail data. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the means for storing event detail data comprising means for defining and updating the transaction structures comprises means for: (1) determining, via the first interactive event, It is not necessary to predict the aspect of the first event in order to participate in a particular aspect of the first event so that the event detail data is communicated only when necessary for the aspect and what the participant has to do is only to be synchronized to the particular aspect, (2) the interleaving of the interleaved first and second events while allowing the first events and aspects within the first event to interleave with at least the second event and any aspects within the second event, Each interleaving allowing an arbitrary aspect of the first and second events to be synchronized by the participant, System. 13. The handheld device of claim 12 wherein the receiving means comprises a set top decoder for decoding the received interactive data related to the first event, Further comprising means for providing communication between said set top decoder handheld terminals. 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the means for defining and updating the transaction structures comprises means for storing an identification for each of a plurality of transaction tables, means for storing at least a portion of the event detail data, And means for storing a user response to said interactive display system. 13. The interactive display system of claim 12, comprising a message display, the command being associated with an actuation means for causing a message to be displayed on the message display. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving a message to be displayed and the means for defining and updating the transaction structure may store the received message, Wherein the display means selectively displays messages received or stored in association with the operating means. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for defining and updating transaction structures further comprises means for defining a continuation transaction as continuous interactive data for subsequent aspects of said first and second events by receiving means for continued use by a participant Wherein the interactive data for one aspect of the first event is used interactively by a participant while the second interactive event is received. 13. The interactive display system of claim 12, wherein the receiving means includes means for decoding the interactive data encoded within a vertical blanking period of the television signal. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the receiving means includes an infrared coder and a transmitter, and the storing means includes a decoder for communicating the interactive data between the receiving means and the storing means, and an infrared receiver. system. 13. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the receiving means comprises means for receiving interactive data at a high data rate and substantially reducing the data rate so that the interactive data is correctly stored by the storage means Type display system. 13. The interactive display system of claim 12, wherein the receiving means and the storing means additionally allow the interactive data to be received in a manner transparent to the participants of the event. 2. The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving the first event on a first channel and receiving the second event on a second channel. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving means is further operable to determine whether one of the first or second events is associated with the first or second event to maintain interactivity with any aspect of the first or second event selected by the participant And there is no need to synchronize from the start of the interactive display system. 2. The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein the means for defining and updating the transaction structures comprises score means for storing only results for aspects of the events that are to be communicated by the participant. 28. The interactive display system of claim 27, wherein the score storage means is capable of accumulating scores for each event. CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An interactive display system, comprising: means for receiving interactive data relating to an indication of an event at a remote location, the interactive data comprising instructions and event detail data; Means for setting a programmer table prior to receiving the interactive data; means for updating the programmer table in response to the interactive data; and means for generating a transaction in response to the instructions and the programmer table And means for displaying the participant. 30. The interactive display system of claim 29, wherein the means for displaying the participant in the transaction is indicative of a transaction based on a plurality of programmer tables stored in the means for storing the transaction. 30. The interactive display system of claim 29, further comprising a handheld terminal, wherein said means for storage and said means for indication are included within said handheld terminal. 30. The interactive display system of claim 29, wherein the means for storing the transaction comprises a plurality of programmer tables, wherein the plurality of programmer tables have unique identification numbers. An interactive display system, comprising: means for receiving interactive data; and if the participant has selected participation in a first event, the interactive data includes a first set of instructions and first event detail data, Wherein the interactive data comprises a second set of instructions and second event detail data when the participant selects to participate in the second event and wherein in communication using the receiving means the data is stored in a programmer table, Means for updating said programmer tables in response to interactive data; and said programmer tables defining said programmer tables to be received only when interactive data is needed, And means for displaying a transaction, wherein the interactive data and programming In response to the tables, if the participant selects to participate in the first event, the indicated transactions relate to the first event, and if the participant selects to participate in the second event, Wherein the participant can change between the first event and the second event through the first event and the second event so that the first event can be changed to the second event And interleave the marked transactions related to the first event to a marked transaction related to the second event. 34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the means for storing the interactive data storing only one of the first or second events or only some of the part or portions of the first or second events just before the event Is displayed in a transparent manner to the adder so that the participant can change between the first and second events alternately at any position while maintaining interactivity. A method for creating an interactive video display, the method comprising: constructing interactive data appropriate for each aspect; and, when simultaneously including a first event of an interactive video presentation, wherein appropriate interactive data for each aspect is self- is not self-contained and does not rely on interactive data on the previous-in-time aspect of the first event, and interactive data for each particular aspect for the participant And transmitting said interactive data tuned to said aspect to be received immediately before or during the display so as to allow said participant to interact with said first aspect from the beginning of said first event to said particular aspect So as not to be synchronized with the event. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein constructing appropriate interactive data for each aspect, and concurrently including a second event of interactive video presentation, wherein appropriate interactive data for each aspect of the second event is self- Time aspect of the second event and does not depend on interactive data for the previous-in-time aspect of the second event, and at least one aspect of the second event is at least part of one aspect of the first event Wherein the participant does not need to be synchronized with the first or second event from the start of one of the first or second events in order to communicate with a particular aspect of the participant being synchronized Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; a &lt; / RTI &gt; interactive video display. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the configuring step comprises configuring interactive data comprising instructions and event detail data, wherein the instructions can be used for various aspects and various events of each event, Further comprising transmitting the event detail data and only those instructions that are appropriate for a particular aspect of the event immediately prior to or during the display of the event. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising: sending to the participant an additional event in a first event, wherein each event has at least one aspect, and wherein a particular sequential aspect And allowing the participant to select any particular aspect of a particular event in order to continuously select and communicate the interactive video display. CLAIMS 1. A method for making an interactive video display, comprising: transmitting the interactive data to a participant, the interactive data being tuned to the aspect so that interactive data for each particular aspect is received immediately before or during the presentation of the aspect; The participant does not need to be synchronized with the event from the outset in order to communicate with the particular aspect that the participant is tuned to and the interactive data appropriate to the particular aspect of the event just before or during the displayed aspect of the event Wherein the participant does not need to receive any interactive data appropriate to previous aspects of the event. &Lt; Desc / Clms Page number 13 &gt; An interactive display system, comprising: means for constructing interactive data suitable for each aspect; and, when simultaneously including an event of interactive display, wherein appropriate interactive data for each aspect is self- Means for transferring the interactive data to a participant that is not dependent on interactive data for the in-time aspect and is tuned to the aspect such that interactive data for each aspect is received immediately before or during the presentation of the aspect Through which the participant does not need to be synchronized with the event from the beginning of the event in order to communicate with the aspect that the participant is to be synchronized, and wherein the aspect is displayed and the aspect of the interactive data and the event , It may be appropriate for the aspect of the event to occur immediately before or during the appearance of the event. Wherein the participant includes means for the receiver to receive the interactive data so that the participant does not need to receive any interactive data appropriate to previous aspects of the event. In an interactive display system, suitable interactive data for each aspect is self-contained and the pre-event data of the event is included in the interactive display data, Means for transmitting the interactive data to the participant that is not dependent on the interactive data for the in-time aspect and is tuned to the aspect such that the interactive data for each aspect is received immediately before or during the presentation of the aspect; Through which the participant does not need to be synchronized with the event from the beginning of the event to communicate with the aspect that the participant is tuned to. An interactive display system, comprising: means for transmitting interactive data to a participant, the interactive data being tuned to one aspect of the event such that interactive data for a particular aspect is received immediately before or during the presentation of the aspect; Such that the participant does not need to be synchronized with each event from the beginning of each event in order to communicate with a particular aspect that the participant is synchronized with, and if the particular aspect of the event is displayed, immediately before or after the particular aspect of the event Characterized in that it comprises means for the participant to receive interactive data appropriate to the particular aspect of the event during which the participant does not need to receive any interactive data appropriate to previous aspects of the event Type display system. CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of programming an interactive display, comprising: selecting a first event having one or more aspects taken as including the entire first event; and generating interactive data suitable for each aspect of the first event for interactive display Wherein the appropriate interactive data for each aspect is self-contained and does not rely on interactive data on the previous-in-time aspect of the first event, Wherein the interactive data need not be related to the reception or conversation of interactive data relating to a previous aspect of the first event, . 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising: selecting a second event having one or more aspects taken together, including the entire second event; constructing interactive data appropriate for each aspect of the second event for interactive display; , Wherein the appropriate interactive data for each aspect is self-contained and does not rely on interactive data on the previous-in-time aspect of the first or second event so that the participant can identify the particular aspect of the second event Wherein the interactive data does not need to be related to the reception or conversation of interactive data relating to a previous aspect of the first or second event and that the optional aspects of the first event And interleaving the second event to the second event. CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method for broadcasting an interactive presentation comprising broadcasting a first event and at least one aspect for the first event, and broadcasting appropriate interactive data for each aspect of the first event , Where the appropriate interactive data for each aspect is self-contained and does not rely on interactive data for the previous-in-time aspect of the first event when the first event of the interactive presentation is simultaneously included, Wherein the step comprises transmitting to the participant the interactive data for which the interactive data for each particular aspect is received before or during the presentation of the aspect, So that it does not need to be synchronized with the first event from its start in order to communicate with a particular aspect that follows Interactive display shows how. 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising broadcasting one or more aspects of the second event and the second event, interleaving the aspects of the first event and the first event, Where appropriate interactive data for each aspect of the second event is self-contained and the first or second event Wherein the step of broadcasting does not depend on interactive data on the previous-in-time aspects of the particular aspect, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of synchronizing to the aspect so that the interactive data for each particular aspect is received immediately before or during the presentation of the aspect And transmitting the interactive data through which the participant is able to interact with the first or second The interactive data of the first and second aspects for the first and second events are interleaved with aspects of the first and second events so that they do not need to be synchronized with the first or second event from the start of the case And interleaving the same in the same manner as in the first embodiment. A method for receiving an interactive indication, the method comprising: receiving interactive data relating to a first interactive event and one or more interactive aspects display for the first interactive event; The method comprising the steps of: (1) through the first interactive event, the interactive data is communicated only when necessary for each specific interactive aspect of the first interactive event and the first interactive event; (2) allowing each particular aspect of the first event and the first event to interleave with at least a second event or any aspect of the second event, and the participant being less involved in all events and aspects And the interactive nature of the selected events and aspects can be maintained. &Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; [0002] &lt; / RTI & . 50. The method of claim 47, further comprising storing a score from any of the aspects of the events that are being communicated by the participant. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the storing the score further comprises accumulating a score from each event. A method for receiving an interactive display, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, in response to a specific request for any particular aspect of the first event immediately before or during the display of any particular aspect, The method comprising the steps of: receiving interactive data including as many event detail data and instructions as needed via display of a single event, whereby the participant is synchronized with the particular aspect and, in order to participate in a particular aspect, And storing the event detail data in response to a command to use the event detail data stored in the storage means to allow a participant to interact with a first event specific aspect of the indication And a step of controlling the number of interactive displays Way. 2. The interactive display system of claim 1, comprising means for reporting the interactive results. 2. The interactive display system of claim 1, comprising means for storing a participant's response to the interactive data in the transaction structures. 30. The interactive display system of claim 29, wherein the means for displaying a participant in the transaction displays a transaction based on a single programmer table stored in a means for storing a transaction. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the aspect of the event includes a question and an answer, wherein the step of transmitting includes transmitting the question and the answer. 16. The interactive display system of claim 15, wherein the first event is displayed on a first television channel, and the second event is displayed on a second television channel. 37. The method of claim 36, comprising displaying a first event on a first television channel and a second event on a second television channel. 45. The method of claim 44, comprising displaying a first event on a first television channel and a second event on a second television channel. 47. The method of claim 46, comprising broadcasting the first event on a first television channel and broadcasting a second event on a second television channel. 49. The method of claim 47, comprising receiving a first interactive event on a first television channel and a second interactive event on a second television channel. 2. The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein in the receiving means for receiving the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the first event or the second event indication on the television monitor. 13. The interactive display system of claim 12, wherein in the receiving means for receiving the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the display of the first event on the television monitor. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein in the step of transmitting the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the display of the first event on the television monitor. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein in receiving the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the display of the event on the television monitor. 43. The interactive display system of claim 42, wherein in the receiving means for receiving the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the display of the event on the television monitor. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein in receiving the interactive data, the interactive data does not interfere with the display of the first or second event on the television monitor.