KR20020059715A - Apparatus And Method For Retrieving And Utilizing Software And Data Received Through A Digital Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and configurations of other alternatives, certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below. However, there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, and on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as well as the configurations and equivalents of other solutions. I would like to.

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

The data packet transmitted in the digital VSB signal and stored in the memory 24 may or may not be related to the DTV programming transmitted through the DTV programming packet and represented by the digital television 12. For example, in one embodiment, the DTV programming includes a television CM for product advertising (not shown) and the data packet sent therewith is, for example, a URL to a website sponsored by the manufacturer of the product. Includes internet data, including

In another embodiment, the data transmitted with the television CM further includes data for generating coupons or application software for the product advertised in the CM, and by allowing such software of the Internet service provider to access the Internet, Allows access to the specific website of the manufacturer of the product. Preferably, but not necessarily, the television CM prompts the user to download the data to retrieve the website URL or prompts the user to generate the coupon, and / or the user It is urged to download the application software related together.

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

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

When the data signal is received at the PDA 14, the processor 32 of the PDA 14 is stored in a memory 34 in which the transceiver 28 combines the data of the data signal with the transceiver 28. To transmit. Preferably, after the data signal is received at the transceiver 28 and the transmitted data is stored in the memory 34, the processor 32 causes the sound generating circuit 36 to successfully transmit the digital data. Causing an audible sound or horn to alert the user that it has been received from the television 12. Alternatively, the PDA 14 may, for example, cause the data transmission in a flashing state to cause a light emitting diode (LED) (not shown) to flash, to be lit or to indicate that data transfer is being made. Some other known signal may be generated to inform the user that the data is to be stored, including changing to a stable state indicating completion.

A prompt may be included in the program content and the prompt may be presented to the user visually or audibly by the digital receiver 12 to inform the user that the Internet content is searchable by the PDA 14. When the prompt is present, the user operates the button pad 30 as described above to retrieve data and software content if a data search is needed. Alternatively, no prompt needs to be given, so the user operates the PDA 14, expecting data and software to be available for retrieval. In this case, the announcement signal provided by the PDA 14 indicates to the user whether the data and software are retrieved. As another alternative, when data and software are retrieved by the television controller 22 and stored in the memory 24, the television controller 22 may be arranged to provide a prompt to the user. This prompt may be an on-screen prompt, an audible prompt, or a signal sent by the transceiver 26 to the PDA 14 to initiate a local prompt by the PDA 14.

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

In embodiments in which the data includes Internet data, including URL website addresses, and software capable of web browsing, personal computer 40 launches the web browsing software directly so that the personal computer is provided with a URL web provided at data port 42. You can also find the site address.

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

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

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

Data transmitted through the digital VSB broadcast signal may include various information that may be a degree of change of interest for a user. For example, the data may include both an electronic coupon and a website URL. However, the user may only be interested in obtaining an electronic coupon. Only to operate the download of the electronic coupon, the processor 32 of the PDA 14 is received by the transceiver 38 to identify the required portion of the data for subsequent storage in the memory 34. The data is programmed to analyze the data. Moreover, the keypad 30 of the PDA 14 preferably includes a button that allows the user to specify that a portion of the data signal is needed. Alternatively, the processor 32 may be simply programmed to store all of the data received in the memory 34, and in response to a user-entered command, the processor 32 may cause all data to be stored by the user. The selected data can be communicated to a personal computer 40 which can be programmed to be identified. For example, the PDA 14 is connected to the personal computer 40 with the cable 44 such that the personal computer 40 displays a list of various data sets stored in the PDA memory 34. It can be programmed to launch a data guide program (not shown). Alternatively, the television controller 22 (see FIG. 1) may be programmed to analyze the data transmitted in the digital VSB broadcast signal and transmit only the requested specific data set to the PDA 14 for that particular data set. It may also be programmed to respond to requests from the PDA 14.

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

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

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

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

The check step 74 is in favor of an event in which a form of a smart card 52 with a magnetic strip 54 and / or an embedded processor 56 and memory 58 is used and immediately loaded into the data writer 50 (step 78 )something to do. If no smart card 52 is present (step 80), the system 10 prompts the user to insert the smart card 52 into the data writer 50 (step 82). If the smart card 52 is in the data writer 50, the data can be downloaded as shown by step 84. Alternatively, the data may be sent to the data writer 50 for automatic downloading without this prompt, expecting the card 52 to be present.

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

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

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

In addition to the reader / writer 96, the data exchange system 90 may include a bar code reader, such as an infrared reader 98. This embodiment may be used when a user known to point to an internet product owns a barcode 100, another form of portable memory device. For example, the bar code may be provided in print advertisements, company catalogs, already occupied packages, etc. for the product.

Once the bar code reader 98 is used to scan the bar code 100, the system 90 scans the data received by the digital television in a bar code matching search for product, price, source, and the like. If the data has not been received, the system 90 may search the Internet to verify the product, price, and source. If the product is identified, a suitable display screen may be provided that indicates the product and its price and origin. The data reader / writer 96 may be used to purchase the product as indicated above. If the product is not immediately identified, the system 90 may continue to search the received data for a set length of time, for example two days, to inform the user when received.

The barcode reader 98 may be located in a number of convenient locations, including the digital receiver 12, personal digital assistant 14, personal computer 40, external module 60, or remote control unit 62. But not limited. Alternatively or additionally, the barcode reader 98 may be provided in the same structure as the data reader / writer 96.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any modification of the present invention has been discussed above. Other changes will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, in accordance with the above description, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 enable communication between the digital television 12 and the PDA 14. However, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 may instead be some other form of wireless link, such as an RF or ultrasonic link. Alternatively, the IR transceivers 26 and 28 may instead replace a series of data port sets coupled by data transmission cables.

The digital receiver 12 may also be a tunable receiver, such as a digital television. Alternatively, the digital receiver 12 may be any receiver capable of receiving digital data. For example, the digitizer receiver 12 may be a radio, a VCR, or a game.

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

The invention is also described at least in part with respect to downloading data transmitted in a vestigial sideband broadcast (VSB) broadcast signal. However, the present invention also applies to downloading data transmitted in other forms of digital broadcasting, such as, for example, an orthogonal coded frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) signal, an orthogonal amplitude modulation (QAM) signal, or an orthogonal phase shift keying (QPSK) signal. It should be noted that this may apply.

Accordingly, the description of the present invention has been described by way of example only and teaches those skilled in the art the best way of carrying out the invention. The details may be changed substantially without departing from the present invention, with the exclusive use of all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Included in the context of the present invention.

Claims (48)

Retrieve data from digital broadcast signals, The digital broadcast signal includes at least one television packet and at least one data packet including the data, and the digital receiver is suitable for receiving the digital broadcast signal in the at least one television packet and the at least one data packet. In a data retrieval system: A memory stores said data from at least one data packet, said memory being separate from said digital receiver. The method of claim 1, And said digital receiver is a television. The method of claim 1, And a data writer for recording the data into a memory, the data writer being provided to a television remote control unit. The method of claim 1, And the memory is a smart card. The method of claim 4, wherein The smart card includes a data processor. The method of claim 1, And said data comprises an electronic coupon. The method of claim 1, The data includes website location information. The method of claim 1, And said data is software. The method of claim 1, And the memory is a portable memory. The method of claim 1, And a communication port adapted to transfer the data from the digital receiver to the memory. The method of claim 10, And a data retrieval system provided with the television. The method of claim 10, The communication port is structurally provided outside the television. The method of claim 12, The structure comprises a television remote control unit. The method of claim 10, A data retrieval system further comprising a personal digital assistant suitable for interacting with a communication port. The method of claim 1, The digital broadcast signal further comprises software, the software adapted to use the data. The method of claim 15, The software is suitable for presenting the data on an output device of a computer. The method of claim 15, The software is suitable for retrieving the data. The method of claim 15, The data includes a website address and the software is suitable for finding and accessing the website address. The method of claim 1, The memory further comprises a personal digital assistant. The method of claim 19, The data is software, and the data retrieval system is provided for the personal digital assistant to execute the software. The method of claim 1, And the memory is part of a personal computer. The method of claim 21, The data is software and the personal computer is equipped to execute the software. The method of claim 1, The digital receiver is a television and the memory is part of a personal digital assistant. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and the data retrieval system further comprises a digital transmitter suitable for transmitting upstream data in response to the downstream data. The method of claim 24, And the upstream data includes identity information. The method of claim 25, Wherein said identity information is product identity information. The method of claim 25, And the identity information is source identity information. The method of claim 1, The digital receiver is: A tuner adapted to tune a wavelength to the digital broadcast signal; A demodulator coupled to the tuner and adapted to demodulate the digital broadcast signal; A controller equipped to obtain the data; A transceiver coupled to the controller, The controller is configured to cause the data to be supplied to the transceiver for transmission to the memory. The method of claim 28, The transceiver has a first transceiver: A second transceiver for receiving the data transmitted by the first transceiver; A processor for causing data received by the second transceiver to be stored in the memory, the processor being adapted to generate a data request signal for transmission by the second transceiver to the first transceiver; And an input device coupled to the processor that accepts input by a user, the input causing the processor to generate the data request signal. The method of claim 29, The first transceiver receives the data request signal from the second transceiver and transmits the data request signal to the controller, wherein the controller responds to the data request signal by causing the data to be sent to the second transceiver. Search system. The method of claim 29, And a sound generating circuit coupled to the processor, the processor causing the sound generating circuit to generate an audible sound when the data is stored. The method of claim 29, And the processor has a data communication port for transferring data from the memory to a personal computer. The method of claim 29, And the first and second transceivers are infrared signal transceivers. The method of claim 29, And the first and second transceivers are radio frequency signal transceivers. The method of claim 1, The data comprises a website URL. The method of claim 1, The data includes information related to a product advertised in a television commercial received by the digital receiver. The method of claim 36, The data includes a URL for locating a website, the website including further added information related to the product. The method of claim 37, And the data includes a list of merchants selling the product. The method of claim 37, The data is a data retrieval system including price information for the product. The method of claim 37, Said data comprising a coupon for said product. The method of claim 1, The memory is part of a personal digital assistant, and the personal digital assistant is: An input device and an output device; Memory; Further comprising a controller, the controller is adapted to read data at the input device, wherein the data is obtained from the digital receiver, the controller causes the data to be stored in the memory and the data is stored in the memory. And a data retrieval system adapted to be transferred from a memory to said output device. The method of claim 1, The memory is a data retrieval system including a bar code. The method of claim 1, Data retrieval system further comprising a magnetic strip reader. The method of claim 1, Data retrieval system further comprising an infrared reader. The method of claim 1, The data is a data retrieval system including the verification of financial account information. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and associated with goods and / or services, the data retrieval system having a data reader for uploading upstream data from the memory to the digital receiver, the upstream data being the goods and / or services Data retrieval system related to the purchase of goods. The method of claim 1, Said data being downstream data and associated with goods and / or services, said data retrieval system having a transmitter for uploading upstream data, said upstream data relating to the purchase of said goods and / or services. The method of claim 1, The data is downstream data and associated with goods and / or services, the data retrieval system further comprises a bar code reader, the bar code reader uploads upstream data from a bar code to the digital receiver, and the upstream data is commodity And / or a data retrieval system relating to the purchase of a service.