CA1269441A - Viewer interactive television system - Google Patents
Viewer interactive television systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1269441A CA1269441A CA000498316A CA498316A CA1269441A CA 1269441 A CA1269441 A CA 1269441A CA 000498316 A CA000498316 A CA 000498316A CA 498316 A CA498316 A CA 498316A CA 1269441 A CA1269441 A CA 1269441A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- viewer
- data
- answer
- response
- receivers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
- H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
- A63F13/33—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections
- A63F13/338—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using television networks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/40—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
- A63F13/44—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/80—Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B7/00—Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers
- G09B7/06—Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers
- G09B7/07—Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers providing for individual presentation of questions to a plurality of student stations
- G09B7/073—Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers providing for individual presentation of questions to a plurality of student stations all student stations being capable of presenting the same questions simultaneously
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
- H04H60/29—Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
- H04H60/33—Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/002—Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/40—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of platform network
- A63F2300/409—Data transfer via television network
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/63—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time
- A63F2300/638—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time according to the timing of operation or a time limit
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/80—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
- A63F2300/8064—Quiz
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N2007/17372—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal the upstream transmission being initiated or timed by a signal from upstream of the user terminal
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Educational Administration (AREA)
- Educational Technology (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Social Psychology (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention provides a response television system having a television program generating station, a computer, a cable network, and viewer receivers. Data is passed from the computer to the receivers to synchronize the receivers before a question is transmitted by the station and data related to the answer to a question is also received at the viewer receivers.
The viewers are exposed to the question and they input answers to the viewer receivers which retain the answers and set the time of completion of the answers. The computer then combines with the viewer receivers to determine the order in which the viewers completed their answers and to identify which viewer is the winner.
The invention provides a response television system having a television program generating station, a computer, a cable network, and viewer receivers. Data is passed from the computer to the receivers to synchronize the receivers before a question is transmitted by the station and data related to the answer to a question is also received at the viewer receivers.
The viewers are exposed to the question and they input answers to the viewer receivers which retain the answers and set the time of completion of the answers. The computer then combines with the viewer receivers to determine the order in which the viewers completed their answers and to identify which viewer is the winner.
Description
126~
This invention eelates two-cable television systems employing dedicated television channels in which information available at television receivers allows viewers to respond via the system. More particularly, the cable television system relates to providing questions both live and pre-recorded to a TV audience who use hand held keyboard terminals to compete with one another by answering questions either appearing on the television in the shortest time or according to some other criteria based on a temporal sequence. The name of the winner together with the winning answer and in some circumstances a photograph of the winner plus other related data is then displayed on the television screens of all viewers who are system subscribers.
Cable television presently permits no program interaction by viewers other than by using their telephones. Programs are transmitted and the information viewed passively. Where a response is requested from the viewer, e.g to purchase an advertised product, the viewer for instance either dials a displayed telephone number or responds by mail. Although some systems of interactive television have been proposed, these are polling systems which use equipment to store viewer answers and then a central computer polls the equipment to obtain all the answers and to review the results. Such systems are useful for obtaining statistical information where there is no competition between subscribers with respect to rewarding or recognizing those viewers who are the first to answer correctly.
;~
g~
The system described in this application is intended to provoke and stimulate interest in television viewing and to attract viewers to a selected channel to enhance revenue from advertising sales. To this end a television system is provided to permit the viewer to participate and interacat with the program being transmitted. Such an interactive system will permit thousands of viewers to participate in game shows as well as in other activities such as auctions, purchasing, etc. The channel operator will be able to review the response rate and then react by altering the degree of difficulty and type of question to maintain viewer interest.
The interactive system could also support a variety of other applications which may not necessarily require an interactive system. For example, viewing information stored on a data base and accessible by a viewer, ordering for home delivery of everyday necessities, food, medication, etc. and reviewing classified advertising data bases.
Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention provides an interactive television system in which viewers can interact with a television program using cable television networks.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a response television system having a television program generating station, a computer, a cable network, and viewer receivers. Data is passed from the computer to the receivers to synchronize the receivers before a question is transmitted by the station and data related to the answer to ~3L2~
a question is also received at the viewer receivers. The viewers are exposed to the question and they input answers to the viewer receivers which retain the answers and set the time of completion of the answers. The computer then combines with the viewer receivers to determine the order in which the viewers completed their answers and to identify which viewer is the winner.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a response television system is provided having a television program geneeating station for transmitting programs and information inviting viewer response after a predetermined time; a computer is coupled to the station and is adapted to transmit data at a time prior to the predetermined time in co-operation with the station. Viewer receivers are coupled to the generating station and to the computer to receive both the program and the data. These receivers include enabling means responsive to the data to permit the receivers to accept viewer inputs, means timing the completion of the input, means comparing some of the data with the inputs to verify that the input may be correct, and means co-operating with the computer to select the verified inputs in accordance with the time elapsed between the predetermined time and the timing of the input.
According to a further one of its aspects, the invention provides a response television system having a cable television distribution network including means generating a question for transmission at a predetermined time. Viewer means including data receiver/transmitter 3~2~
means and a data handling system co-operating with the distribution network for transmitting data befoee said predetermined time to the viewer means and for receiving answer data from the viewer means after said predetermined S time. The data handling system also includes means selecting said answer data from viewers according to predetermined parameters inherent in the answer data.
These and other aspects o the invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interactive television system based on a video sub-system and in use in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 (on three sheets) is a chart of events illustrating the operation of the interactive system; and Fig. 3 is a further block diagram representing the integration of local video sub-systems into a global video system.
Reference is made first to Fig. 1 to describe the essential components of the system and to give an overview.
Details of how the system operates will be described with reference to Fig. 2.
As seen in Fig. 1, a video sub-system 20 is operatively controlled by an area computer 22 and linked to a cable input 24. The sub-system 20 includes a computer controlled video library and video generating system and the area processor co-operates with the video sub-system to add certain channels of peogramming to the existing cable channels such as at receiver 26. These receivers are fed cable signals as well as data from a series of computers having cable to digital interfaces and known as cluster controllers 28. Three cluster controllers are shown and there could be many more. Because such cluster controller services a number of viewers, the area computer is linked to a large number of viewers.
The viewer receiver 26 includes a communications processor 30 associated with a keyboard processor 32 to permit user response to programs delivered at television sets 33.
A program is developed at the video sub-system 20 under the control of the area computer 22 which, if prerecorded, can provide segments of programs and develop complete program modules from a library of video segments. These modules are selected and joined to form the program with some of the modules including quiz question and answer information. The purpose of this system is to enable and encourage viewer involvement by providing prizes or other incentives and to relate such prizes to the correct answers to questions about program and advertising content. The program is developed and transmitted by cable and related data is transmitted by telephone links 34 are used to transmit data from the area computer to the cluster controllers 28. This data corresponds to answers to questions as will be described with reference to Fig. 2.
The data links feed the cluster controllers 28, and data signals from these controllers are superimposed on the audio/video signals and transmitted from these controllers ~2~
by cable 36 through selective two-way amplifiers 38 both to a receiver 40 which strips the data signal, and to a converter 42 which handles the audio-video signals. The receiver provides the data information to the communications processor 30 and, as will be explained, this information is related to but not identical to an answer for a question to be delivered. For security reasons the answer does not include sufficient information to determine what the answer is. The data also synchronises and initializes the clock in the communications processor prior to the question being posed so that the time for response can be evaluated using this time set as a datum point.
The typical viewer receiver 26 will now be described.
Converter 42 is under the control of the communications processor 30 which has both an infra-red link 43 between the processor and the keyboard processor as well as an optional back-up wire link 44 to be used should the infra-red link be inoperable. The user selects a channel to be viewed, and if this is the channel containing the program from the video sub-system 20, then the user is watching the program with a view to responding when questions are posed at the television set 33. The signal from the converter 42 passes through a synchronous generator and demodulator 45 which again is coupled to the communications processor 30 to permit this processor to relate to the raster scan of the video signal. The processor is also coupled to a volume attenuator 46 which lies between the demodulator 45 and a data overlay circuit 48 capable of creating alpha numeric :~L2~
overlays in output of the television set 33 and is synchronized with the video signal. ,The Signals from a data overlay circuit ~8 then pass through a stereo decoder 50 and the signal is again modulated at modulator 52 before appearing at the television set 33.
Once the clocks of the communications processors are synchronised, the question can be posed in the program from the video sub-system 20 to be seen and/or heard at the television set 33. If the viewer wishes to answer the question the ke~board processor 32 is used to input an answer to the processor 30 which is seen by the viewer on the television set. As soon as the answer is completed, an ~execute" button is touched indicating that the answer has been completed. The time of completion is recorded by the communications processor 30 together with the answer from the viewer. at this stage, the communications processor contains the time the answer was completed~ the viewer's answer, and of course an identification discrete to that particular subscriber.
The communications processor 20 has been provided with information about the answer so that it can compare the viewer's answer with this information to determine whether there is a probability (say 0.95) of the answer being correct. This qualification ensures that no correct answer is eliminated. This local check reduces traffic in the system because only answers passing this test will be transmitted. Those answers which are not qualified as possibly correct are discounted at this point. (Further details of this process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 2).
A transmitter 54 receives answers from the communication processor and provides these answers when requested by the cluster controller 28. This request is made with a temporal limitation. Only those answers which were completed in a selected time are requested, the purpose being to determine which user answered the question most quickly. The answers received at the cluster controller are compared with the correct complete answer and only those passing this test are collected by the area computer 22 and sorted to determine correct answer given in the shortest time hence to determine the overall winner from all of the viewers.
Reference is next made to Fig. 2 (which is in three parts) to describe the system of operation in more detail.
Fig. 2 is a chart analysis of the operations reading chronologically from top to bottom. Operations between parts of the system are indicated by arrows and operations conducted by these parts independently fall into columns. A
particular arrangement will be described as an exemplary system and then alternatives will be discussed.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the video sub-system 20 is to transmit a live quiz show in which the master of ceremonies will, according to a studio signal, provide questions by video and/or audio signals to the viewers. These questions will be selected automatically and randomly from a very large number of available question ~21~3~
modules by the area computer 22 for reasons of security.
Once the module is selected, answer information is downloaded as data to the cluster controllers and communications processors. The computer 22 can either control the transmission of the question from the sub-system 20 directly or provide the master of ceremonies with a question to display and/or read just before the time when it is to be transmitted live. In any event, for security reasons the question must not be available prior to transmission and many arrangements could be used to minimize the risk of tampering. For the present purpose, we will assume that the processor selects a question for transmission at a predetermined time known to the master of ceremonies and that question is provided to the master of ceremonies by a printer at the time when it has to be read into the program.
In order to minimize the data handled by the communications processor 30 (Fig. 1), each processor is enabled to receive answers only at selected times during the program. Consequently the area computer 22 must first provide data enabling the communications processor before the question is asked. Also, the viewers' answers to the question must be checked. The complete answer is provided to the cluster controllers by the area computer 22 using encrypted telephone data links to the cluster controllers 28. Information related to but not identical to the correct answer (i.e. a surrogate of the answer) is then passed from these controllers to the viewer receivers by cable links so ~2~
t:hat each of the communication processors can check the answer it receives from the viewer, to determine whether the answer is likely correct.
Returning to the area computer 22 and its initial roll, data representing the times of the questions to be posed during the program, together wi~h answers and a time set is communicated to the cluster controllers 28 (arrow 56) to synchronize the clocks in the cluster controllers and to store the complete answers. The cluster controllers are programmed to produce a surrogate of the answer which is defined as data related to but not identical to the answer in a form which does not permit the answer to be systematically derived from it. The surrogate which is derived by a permutation process havint bits selected from it is then transmitted (arrow 58) via the cable link to the viewer receivers 26. These receivers are then advised of the times the questions will be asked as well as the surrogates of the answers. Further, the clocks in the communications processors 28 are synchronized by the time set from the cluster controllers originating with the area computer. At this point the communications processors are aware of a synchronized time, they have surrogate answers, and they also know when they should enable the link with the keyboard processor 32 (Fig. 1) to accept answers from the viewers (box 59).
In the meantime, the program has been transmitted from the video sub-system 24 (arrow 60) by the cable links 36 (Fig. 1) to the viewer receivers 26 so that the program is ~26~3~ 31 being received by the viewer (box 61). The master of ceremonies can ask questions after the communication processors 28 have been enabled and his script is tied to this information. Consequently the next step will be that the viewer receivers 26 are enabled (box 63) by their synchronised clocks so that the question can be posed in the program (box 64) according to the signal. Once the question is posed, the viewer inputs an answer (box 66) using the keyboard processor 32 (Fig. 1) endin~ with an n execute key to indicate that the answer is complete. This execute key triggers the recording of a time stamped signal of the answer by the synchronized clock in the processor 30 so that the processor now contains an answer together with the time when that answer was completed.
In order to minimize the data transfer in the system, the communications processors 30 process the viewer answers to form a surrogate similar to that provided by the cluster controller and then compares this surrogate with that of the correct surrogate (box 68) which was received by the communications processor previously. Should the comparison show that the surrogates differ, then the answer from the viewer is stored and will not be transmitted back to the cluster controllers. If the surrogates are the same, this establishes that the viewer's answer has a high probability (i.e. greater than 0.95) of being correct and that the communications processor holds a ~likely answer~ ready to transmit the answer to the cluster controller when requested (box 70). The communications processor now awaits a request ~2~
from the cluster controller for answers.
At a given time after the communications processors were enabled, and timed by the cluster controller synchronized clocks, the associated cluster controllers 28 5 request answers from the viewer/receivers provided that the answers meet a time requirement (box 72). This means that the answer has been entered within a certain number of seconds after the communications processor has been initiallized. This request (indicated by arrows 64) is met 7 10 by two situations indicated by the boxes 74 of Fig. 2(b) and 76 of Fig. 2(c).
Firstly, it is possible that the exemplary viewer/receiver 26 has an answer which was received within the time selected by the cluster controller as indicated in 15 the box 74. Secondly, and as indicated by box 76, it could be that there is an answer but it was given in a time frame larger than that specified by the cluster controller (box 76).
Consider firstly the situation shown in box 74. The 20 viewer/receiver 26 sends the answer data (arrow 78) complete with time data and a unique code representing the viewer to the associated cluster controller where the answer is verified (box 80) by compaeison with the correct answer.
There are three alternative possibilities: (i) a correct 25 answer; (ii) an incorrect answer; and (iii) an answer mixed with another answer and known as a ~collision~. We will assume that the answer is correct for now and consider the other possibilities later.
~2~
The cluster controller sorts the answers from its viewer receivers according to th~ timing of the answer and sends a selected number of the answers to the local or area computer 22 (arrow 82). Here again the coreect answers are sorted according to time of answer (box 84) and the winner determined from the answers provided from all of the cluster controllers 28.
The area computer contains information about all of the viewers with subscriber terminals on its data network and can be programmed to include video and audio information which is stored ready for use about the viewers. For instance a picture of the viewer could be used, etc. Once the winner is recognized, the area computer ensures that that winner has authority to be using the system by comparison with an index of paid-up viewers, and then it retrieves from the data base memory the information to be transmitted to show who the winner was, (box 86). This is then provided to the video sub-system (arrow 87) for transmission in the program as was done with the question, (boxes 89, 91).
Turning now to the possibility that the first request from the clustee controller remains unanswered, the cluster controller will then request answers again. This new request sets another selected time during which the answers had to be entered, (boxes 88, 90). That is to say that the duration for an acceptable answer has been extended.
This process continues until there are answers sent to the particular cluster controller servicing the qz~
viewer/receivers (boxes 92, 94). Once the answer is received, then the procedure is as described after the box 80, Figr 2(a).
Now we consider the third possibility (box 80) i.e.
S that when the answers are provided to the cluster controller, some o the answers "collide~ so that they cannot be interpreted by the cluster controller. This procedure is shown following arrow 95 from box 80 of Fig.
This invention eelates two-cable television systems employing dedicated television channels in which information available at television receivers allows viewers to respond via the system. More particularly, the cable television system relates to providing questions both live and pre-recorded to a TV audience who use hand held keyboard terminals to compete with one another by answering questions either appearing on the television in the shortest time or according to some other criteria based on a temporal sequence. The name of the winner together with the winning answer and in some circumstances a photograph of the winner plus other related data is then displayed on the television screens of all viewers who are system subscribers.
Cable television presently permits no program interaction by viewers other than by using their telephones. Programs are transmitted and the information viewed passively. Where a response is requested from the viewer, e.g to purchase an advertised product, the viewer for instance either dials a displayed telephone number or responds by mail. Although some systems of interactive television have been proposed, these are polling systems which use equipment to store viewer answers and then a central computer polls the equipment to obtain all the answers and to review the results. Such systems are useful for obtaining statistical information where there is no competition between subscribers with respect to rewarding or recognizing those viewers who are the first to answer correctly.
;~
g~
The system described in this application is intended to provoke and stimulate interest in television viewing and to attract viewers to a selected channel to enhance revenue from advertising sales. To this end a television system is provided to permit the viewer to participate and interacat with the program being transmitted. Such an interactive system will permit thousands of viewers to participate in game shows as well as in other activities such as auctions, purchasing, etc. The channel operator will be able to review the response rate and then react by altering the degree of difficulty and type of question to maintain viewer interest.
The interactive system could also support a variety of other applications which may not necessarily require an interactive system. For example, viewing information stored on a data base and accessible by a viewer, ordering for home delivery of everyday necessities, food, medication, etc. and reviewing classified advertising data bases.
Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention provides an interactive television system in which viewers can interact with a television program using cable television networks.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a response television system having a television program generating station, a computer, a cable network, and viewer receivers. Data is passed from the computer to the receivers to synchronize the receivers before a question is transmitted by the station and data related to the answer to ~3L2~
a question is also received at the viewer receivers. The viewers are exposed to the question and they input answers to the viewer receivers which retain the answers and set the time of completion of the answers. The computer then combines with the viewer receivers to determine the order in which the viewers completed their answers and to identify which viewer is the winner.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a response television system is provided having a television program geneeating station for transmitting programs and information inviting viewer response after a predetermined time; a computer is coupled to the station and is adapted to transmit data at a time prior to the predetermined time in co-operation with the station. Viewer receivers are coupled to the generating station and to the computer to receive both the program and the data. These receivers include enabling means responsive to the data to permit the receivers to accept viewer inputs, means timing the completion of the input, means comparing some of the data with the inputs to verify that the input may be correct, and means co-operating with the computer to select the verified inputs in accordance with the time elapsed between the predetermined time and the timing of the input.
According to a further one of its aspects, the invention provides a response television system having a cable television distribution network including means generating a question for transmission at a predetermined time. Viewer means including data receiver/transmitter 3~2~
means and a data handling system co-operating with the distribution network for transmitting data befoee said predetermined time to the viewer means and for receiving answer data from the viewer means after said predetermined S time. The data handling system also includes means selecting said answer data from viewers according to predetermined parameters inherent in the answer data.
These and other aspects o the invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interactive television system based on a video sub-system and in use in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 (on three sheets) is a chart of events illustrating the operation of the interactive system; and Fig. 3 is a further block diagram representing the integration of local video sub-systems into a global video system.
Reference is made first to Fig. 1 to describe the essential components of the system and to give an overview.
Details of how the system operates will be described with reference to Fig. 2.
As seen in Fig. 1, a video sub-system 20 is operatively controlled by an area computer 22 and linked to a cable input 24. The sub-system 20 includes a computer controlled video library and video generating system and the area processor co-operates with the video sub-system to add certain channels of peogramming to the existing cable channels such as at receiver 26. These receivers are fed cable signals as well as data from a series of computers having cable to digital interfaces and known as cluster controllers 28. Three cluster controllers are shown and there could be many more. Because such cluster controller services a number of viewers, the area computer is linked to a large number of viewers.
The viewer receiver 26 includes a communications processor 30 associated with a keyboard processor 32 to permit user response to programs delivered at television sets 33.
A program is developed at the video sub-system 20 under the control of the area computer 22 which, if prerecorded, can provide segments of programs and develop complete program modules from a library of video segments. These modules are selected and joined to form the program with some of the modules including quiz question and answer information. The purpose of this system is to enable and encourage viewer involvement by providing prizes or other incentives and to relate such prizes to the correct answers to questions about program and advertising content. The program is developed and transmitted by cable and related data is transmitted by telephone links 34 are used to transmit data from the area computer to the cluster controllers 28. This data corresponds to answers to questions as will be described with reference to Fig. 2.
The data links feed the cluster controllers 28, and data signals from these controllers are superimposed on the audio/video signals and transmitted from these controllers ~2~
by cable 36 through selective two-way amplifiers 38 both to a receiver 40 which strips the data signal, and to a converter 42 which handles the audio-video signals. The receiver provides the data information to the communications processor 30 and, as will be explained, this information is related to but not identical to an answer for a question to be delivered. For security reasons the answer does not include sufficient information to determine what the answer is. The data also synchronises and initializes the clock in the communications processor prior to the question being posed so that the time for response can be evaluated using this time set as a datum point.
The typical viewer receiver 26 will now be described.
Converter 42 is under the control of the communications processor 30 which has both an infra-red link 43 between the processor and the keyboard processor as well as an optional back-up wire link 44 to be used should the infra-red link be inoperable. The user selects a channel to be viewed, and if this is the channel containing the program from the video sub-system 20, then the user is watching the program with a view to responding when questions are posed at the television set 33. The signal from the converter 42 passes through a synchronous generator and demodulator 45 which again is coupled to the communications processor 30 to permit this processor to relate to the raster scan of the video signal. The processor is also coupled to a volume attenuator 46 which lies between the demodulator 45 and a data overlay circuit 48 capable of creating alpha numeric :~L2~
overlays in output of the television set 33 and is synchronized with the video signal. ,The Signals from a data overlay circuit ~8 then pass through a stereo decoder 50 and the signal is again modulated at modulator 52 before appearing at the television set 33.
Once the clocks of the communications processors are synchronised, the question can be posed in the program from the video sub-system 20 to be seen and/or heard at the television set 33. If the viewer wishes to answer the question the ke~board processor 32 is used to input an answer to the processor 30 which is seen by the viewer on the television set. As soon as the answer is completed, an ~execute" button is touched indicating that the answer has been completed. The time of completion is recorded by the communications processor 30 together with the answer from the viewer. at this stage, the communications processor contains the time the answer was completed~ the viewer's answer, and of course an identification discrete to that particular subscriber.
The communications processor 20 has been provided with information about the answer so that it can compare the viewer's answer with this information to determine whether there is a probability (say 0.95) of the answer being correct. This qualification ensures that no correct answer is eliminated. This local check reduces traffic in the system because only answers passing this test will be transmitted. Those answers which are not qualified as possibly correct are discounted at this point. (Further details of this process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 2).
A transmitter 54 receives answers from the communication processor and provides these answers when requested by the cluster controller 28. This request is made with a temporal limitation. Only those answers which were completed in a selected time are requested, the purpose being to determine which user answered the question most quickly. The answers received at the cluster controller are compared with the correct complete answer and only those passing this test are collected by the area computer 22 and sorted to determine correct answer given in the shortest time hence to determine the overall winner from all of the viewers.
Reference is next made to Fig. 2 (which is in three parts) to describe the system of operation in more detail.
Fig. 2 is a chart analysis of the operations reading chronologically from top to bottom. Operations between parts of the system are indicated by arrows and operations conducted by these parts independently fall into columns. A
particular arrangement will be described as an exemplary system and then alternatives will be discussed.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the video sub-system 20 is to transmit a live quiz show in which the master of ceremonies will, according to a studio signal, provide questions by video and/or audio signals to the viewers. These questions will be selected automatically and randomly from a very large number of available question ~21~3~
modules by the area computer 22 for reasons of security.
Once the module is selected, answer information is downloaded as data to the cluster controllers and communications processors. The computer 22 can either control the transmission of the question from the sub-system 20 directly or provide the master of ceremonies with a question to display and/or read just before the time when it is to be transmitted live. In any event, for security reasons the question must not be available prior to transmission and many arrangements could be used to minimize the risk of tampering. For the present purpose, we will assume that the processor selects a question for transmission at a predetermined time known to the master of ceremonies and that question is provided to the master of ceremonies by a printer at the time when it has to be read into the program.
In order to minimize the data handled by the communications processor 30 (Fig. 1), each processor is enabled to receive answers only at selected times during the program. Consequently the area computer 22 must first provide data enabling the communications processor before the question is asked. Also, the viewers' answers to the question must be checked. The complete answer is provided to the cluster controllers by the area computer 22 using encrypted telephone data links to the cluster controllers 28. Information related to but not identical to the correct answer (i.e. a surrogate of the answer) is then passed from these controllers to the viewer receivers by cable links so ~2~
t:hat each of the communication processors can check the answer it receives from the viewer, to determine whether the answer is likely correct.
Returning to the area computer 22 and its initial roll, data representing the times of the questions to be posed during the program, together wi~h answers and a time set is communicated to the cluster controllers 28 (arrow 56) to synchronize the clocks in the cluster controllers and to store the complete answers. The cluster controllers are programmed to produce a surrogate of the answer which is defined as data related to but not identical to the answer in a form which does not permit the answer to be systematically derived from it. The surrogate which is derived by a permutation process havint bits selected from it is then transmitted (arrow 58) via the cable link to the viewer receivers 26. These receivers are then advised of the times the questions will be asked as well as the surrogates of the answers. Further, the clocks in the communications processors 28 are synchronized by the time set from the cluster controllers originating with the area computer. At this point the communications processors are aware of a synchronized time, they have surrogate answers, and they also know when they should enable the link with the keyboard processor 32 (Fig. 1) to accept answers from the viewers (box 59).
In the meantime, the program has been transmitted from the video sub-system 24 (arrow 60) by the cable links 36 (Fig. 1) to the viewer receivers 26 so that the program is ~26~3~ 31 being received by the viewer (box 61). The master of ceremonies can ask questions after the communication processors 28 have been enabled and his script is tied to this information. Consequently the next step will be that the viewer receivers 26 are enabled (box 63) by their synchronised clocks so that the question can be posed in the program (box 64) according to the signal. Once the question is posed, the viewer inputs an answer (box 66) using the keyboard processor 32 (Fig. 1) endin~ with an n execute key to indicate that the answer is complete. This execute key triggers the recording of a time stamped signal of the answer by the synchronized clock in the processor 30 so that the processor now contains an answer together with the time when that answer was completed.
In order to minimize the data transfer in the system, the communications processors 30 process the viewer answers to form a surrogate similar to that provided by the cluster controller and then compares this surrogate with that of the correct surrogate (box 68) which was received by the communications processor previously. Should the comparison show that the surrogates differ, then the answer from the viewer is stored and will not be transmitted back to the cluster controllers. If the surrogates are the same, this establishes that the viewer's answer has a high probability (i.e. greater than 0.95) of being correct and that the communications processor holds a ~likely answer~ ready to transmit the answer to the cluster controller when requested (box 70). The communications processor now awaits a request ~2~
from the cluster controller for answers.
At a given time after the communications processors were enabled, and timed by the cluster controller synchronized clocks, the associated cluster controllers 28 5 request answers from the viewer/receivers provided that the answers meet a time requirement (box 72). This means that the answer has been entered within a certain number of seconds after the communications processor has been initiallized. This request (indicated by arrows 64) is met 7 10 by two situations indicated by the boxes 74 of Fig. 2(b) and 76 of Fig. 2(c).
Firstly, it is possible that the exemplary viewer/receiver 26 has an answer which was received within the time selected by the cluster controller as indicated in 15 the box 74. Secondly, and as indicated by box 76, it could be that there is an answer but it was given in a time frame larger than that specified by the cluster controller (box 76).
Consider firstly the situation shown in box 74. The 20 viewer/receiver 26 sends the answer data (arrow 78) complete with time data and a unique code representing the viewer to the associated cluster controller where the answer is verified (box 80) by compaeison with the correct answer.
There are three alternative possibilities: (i) a correct 25 answer; (ii) an incorrect answer; and (iii) an answer mixed with another answer and known as a ~collision~. We will assume that the answer is correct for now and consider the other possibilities later.
~2~
The cluster controller sorts the answers from its viewer receivers according to th~ timing of the answer and sends a selected number of the answers to the local or area computer 22 (arrow 82). Here again the coreect answers are sorted according to time of answer (box 84) and the winner determined from the answers provided from all of the cluster controllers 28.
The area computer contains information about all of the viewers with subscriber terminals on its data network and can be programmed to include video and audio information which is stored ready for use about the viewers. For instance a picture of the viewer could be used, etc. Once the winner is recognized, the area computer ensures that that winner has authority to be using the system by comparison with an index of paid-up viewers, and then it retrieves from the data base memory the information to be transmitted to show who the winner was, (box 86). This is then provided to the video sub-system (arrow 87) for transmission in the program as was done with the question, (boxes 89, 91).
Turning now to the possibility that the first request from the clustee controller remains unanswered, the cluster controller will then request answers again. This new request sets another selected time during which the answers had to be entered, (boxes 88, 90). That is to say that the duration for an acceptable answer has been extended.
This process continues until there are answers sent to the particular cluster controller servicing the qz~
viewer/receivers (boxes 92, 94). Once the answer is received, then the procedure is as described after the box 80, Figr 2(a).
Now we consider the third possibility (box 80) i.e.
S that when the answers are provided to the cluster controller, some o the answers "collide~ so that they cannot be interpreted by the cluster controller. This procedure is shown following arrow 95 from box 80 of Fig.
2(b) to box 96 of Fig. 2(c). In this case the cluster controller recognizes that there are some mixed data answers, stores those that were acceptable, and using the identification code asks for answers again (arrow 97) in the same selected time and indicating to those communications processors whose answers were accepted that no further communication is required from them. As a result the viewer receivers with answers to be transmitted are the only ones which must send their data again. Before doing this, the communication processor is asked to add a random number to the data (box 98) in order to separate the data to be transmitted from the viewer receivers from each other. The answer is again transmitted (arrow 100) and this would normally solve the problem. However, should there be mixed data information again, then the procedure from box 80 is repeated until all of the information is received by the communications processor.
Againl once the winner is found, information about the winner is transmitted and the communications processors are disabled by a signal from the area computer to indicate ~2~
that the question, answer and winner identification processhas been completed.
There is now information available in the communication processor about the answers. The central computer in a background processing mode can analyze these answers if necessary. The area computer will be programmed to collect, using a polling approach, selected answers according to some parameters such as correction, speed of answer, etc. from selected viewer receivers, and to catalogue these answers and analyze them. This could be particularly useful in determining the kind of user response that is obtained from particular question types, etc.
The system is particularly useful for such events as auctions where bids are dependent not only on value but on timing. The challenge system described with reference to quiz programs lends itself also to auctions and to any other games, etc. where the temporal order of the answers is important. Of course non-competitive situations can also be considered simply by programming the cluster controllers to review the information in the communications processors by polling, by sampling or by contention.
There are a number of reasons for the arrangement of cluster controllers but primarily they satisfy two requirements. Firstly, noise in the system is minimized by separating the viewer/receivers into groups which feed a series of cluster controllers which in turn feed the area computer. With a large extensive network the noise in the system would be intolerable without the cluster .. , . . , . . . . . .. . . , . . , . .. ~ . ..
controllers. Also, the cluster controllers can be used to determine winners in local competitions and then to pass on these winners to the area computer for area winners. This concept can be expanded beyond the system shown in Fig. 1 into the system shown in Fig. 3.
As seen in Fig. 3, a global arrangement is anticipated where television signals originating in a video-audio television system 102 are relayed under the control of a global processor 104 to a ground station transmitter 106.
The signals are then transmitted by satellite 108 to area computers 22 and asssociated video sub-systems 24 of the type described with reference to Fig. 1. These processors are connected by bi-directional telephone links 110 to the global processor 104. Although not shown here, the processors 27 and sub-systems 24 are each associated with groups of cluster controllers 28 as described with reference to the previous Figs. This arrangement permits the use of the systems to identify global winners, area winners, and local winners in a competition. Prizes could then be awarded at all levels.
The invention can of course take many forms within the scope of the invention as claimed.
Againl once the winner is found, information about the winner is transmitted and the communications processors are disabled by a signal from the area computer to indicate ~2~
that the question, answer and winner identification processhas been completed.
There is now information available in the communication processor about the answers. The central computer in a background processing mode can analyze these answers if necessary. The area computer will be programmed to collect, using a polling approach, selected answers according to some parameters such as correction, speed of answer, etc. from selected viewer receivers, and to catalogue these answers and analyze them. This could be particularly useful in determining the kind of user response that is obtained from particular question types, etc.
The system is particularly useful for such events as auctions where bids are dependent not only on value but on timing. The challenge system described with reference to quiz programs lends itself also to auctions and to any other games, etc. where the temporal order of the answers is important. Of course non-competitive situations can also be considered simply by programming the cluster controllers to review the information in the communications processors by polling, by sampling or by contention.
There are a number of reasons for the arrangement of cluster controllers but primarily they satisfy two requirements. Firstly, noise in the system is minimized by separating the viewer/receivers into groups which feed a series of cluster controllers which in turn feed the area computer. With a large extensive network the noise in the system would be intolerable without the cluster .. , . . , . . . . . .. . . , . . , . .. ~ . ..
controllers. Also, the cluster controllers can be used to determine winners in local competitions and then to pass on these winners to the area computer for area winners. This concept can be expanded beyond the system shown in Fig. 1 into the system shown in Fig. 3.
As seen in Fig. 3, a global arrangement is anticipated where television signals originating in a video-audio television system 102 are relayed under the control of a global processor 104 to a ground station transmitter 106.
The signals are then transmitted by satellite 108 to area computers 22 and asssociated video sub-systems 24 of the type described with reference to Fig. 1. These processors are connected by bi-directional telephone links 110 to the global processor 104. Although not shown here, the processors 27 and sub-systems 24 are each associated with groups of cluster controllers 28 as described with reference to the previous Figs. This arrangement permits the use of the systems to identify global winners, area winners, and local winners in a competition. Prizes could then be awarded at all levels.
The invention can of course take many forms within the scope of the invention as claimed.
Claims (5)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A response television system comprising:
a television program generating station for transmitting programs and information inviting viewer response after a predetermined time;
a computer coupled to the station and adapted to transmit data at a time prior to the predetermined time in co-operation with the station; and view receivers coupled to the generating station and to the computer to receive both the program and the data, the receivers including: enabling means responsive to the data to permit the receivers to accept viewer inputs; means timing the completion of the input; means comparing some of the data with the inputs to verify that the input may be correct; and means co-operating with the computer to select the verified inputs in accordance with the time elapsed between the predetermined time and the timing of the input.
a television program generating station for transmitting programs and information inviting viewer response after a predetermined time;
a computer coupled to the station and adapted to transmit data at a time prior to the predetermined time in co-operation with the station; and view receivers coupled to the generating station and to the computer to receive both the program and the data, the receivers including: enabling means responsive to the data to permit the receivers to accept viewer inputs; means timing the completion of the input; means comparing some of the data with the inputs to verify that the input may be correct; and means co-operating with the computer to select the verified inputs in accordance with the time elapsed between the predetermined time and the timing of the input.
2. A response television system comprising:
program generating means creating programs having video and audio components and including a response request timed for transmission after a preselected time;
program distribution means for transmitting the programs;
viewer receiving means coupled to the distribution means to receive and play the programs under the control of the viewers;
data means including a transmitter for sending data related to said response request before said preselected time and time data identifying the preselected time to the receiving means;
the viewer receiver means including: response means for use by the viewer to provide viewer input in reply to the response request; timer means to time the completion of the viewer input; data generating means converting the viewer input and time of input to response data; and a response data transmitter sending the response data when requested by the data means to the data means; and the data means including means verifying the response input and ordering the input temporarily in accordance with the times of input of the verified response inputs.
program generating means creating programs having video and audio components and including a response request timed for transmission after a preselected time;
program distribution means for transmitting the programs;
viewer receiving means coupled to the distribution means to receive and play the programs under the control of the viewers;
data means including a transmitter for sending data related to said response request before said preselected time and time data identifying the preselected time to the receiving means;
the viewer receiver means including: response means for use by the viewer to provide viewer input in reply to the response request; timer means to time the completion of the viewer input; data generating means converting the viewer input and time of input to response data; and a response data transmitter sending the response data when requested by the data means to the data means; and the data means including means verifying the response input and ordering the input temporarily in accordance with the times of input of the verified response inputs.
3. A response television as claimed in claim 2 in which the viewer receiving means includes enabling means responsive to the data from the transmitter to permit the viewer receiver to accept viewer input.
4. A response television system comprising:
a cable television distribution network including means generating a question for transmission at a predetermined time;
viewer means including data receiver/transmitter means;
a data handling system co-operating with the distribution network for transmitting data before said predetermined time to the viewer means and for receiving answer data from the viewer means after said predetermined time; and the data handling system including means selecting said answer data from viewers according to predetermined parameters inherent in the answer data.
a cable television distribution network including means generating a question for transmission at a predetermined time;
viewer means including data receiver/transmitter means;
a data handling system co-operating with the distribution network for transmitting data before said predetermined time to the viewer means and for receiving answer data from the viewer means after said predetermined time; and the data handling system including means selecting said answer data from viewers according to predetermined parameters inherent in the answer data.
5. A response television system comprising:
viewer receivers each of which includes a television and a communication processor;
cluster controllers coupled by cable links one to each of a group of the viewer receivers;
an area computer coupled to the cluster controllers;
program means coupled to the area computer for distributing a program to the viewer receivers, the program including a question to be answered by the viewers;
data link means coupling the area computer to the cluster controllers for transmitting answer information to the cluster controllers;
the cluster controllers including storage means for retaining the answer information, surrogate creation means responsive to the answer information to create a discrete surrogate of the answer information;
means transmitting the surrogate to the communication processor;
the viewer receivers including answer input means usable by the viewers to respond to said question by entering answers into the communication processors;
each of the communication processors including means comparing the respective user answer to the surrogate to determine the likelihood of the answer being correct; and the cluster controllers and communication processors being co-operatively coupled to ascertain which of the answers which were likely to be correct are, in fact, correct and these correct answers being transmitted by the cluster controllers to the area computer for review and for preparation of a display in a program by the program means for distribution to the viewer.
viewer receivers each of which includes a television and a communication processor;
cluster controllers coupled by cable links one to each of a group of the viewer receivers;
an area computer coupled to the cluster controllers;
program means coupled to the area computer for distributing a program to the viewer receivers, the program including a question to be answered by the viewers;
data link means coupling the area computer to the cluster controllers for transmitting answer information to the cluster controllers;
the cluster controllers including storage means for retaining the answer information, surrogate creation means responsive to the answer information to create a discrete surrogate of the answer information;
means transmitting the surrogate to the communication processor;
the viewer receivers including answer input means usable by the viewers to respond to said question by entering answers into the communication processors;
each of the communication processors including means comparing the respective user answer to the surrogate to determine the likelihood of the answer being correct; and the cluster controllers and communication processors being co-operatively coupled to ascertain which of the answers which were likely to be correct are, in fact, correct and these correct answers being transmitted by the cluster controllers to the area computer for review and for preparation of a display in a program by the program means for distribution to the viewer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498316A CA1269441A (en) | 1985-12-20 | 1985-12-20 | Viewer interactive television system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498316A CA1269441A (en) | 1985-12-20 | 1985-12-20 | Viewer interactive television system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1269441A true CA1269441A (en) | 1990-05-22 |
Family
ID=4132138
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498316A Expired - Fee Related CA1269441A (en) | 1985-12-20 | 1985-12-20 | Viewer interactive television system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1269441A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU653491B3 (en) * | 1993-08-20 | 1994-09-29 | Io Research Pty Limited | Interactive distributed database system |
-
1985
- 1985-12-20 CA CA000498316A patent/CA1269441A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU653491B3 (en) * | 1993-08-20 | 1994-09-29 | Io Research Pty Limited | Interactive distributed database system |
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