MXPA98008410A - System and method of access to provide interactive access to an information source through a televis distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive access system and method for accessing a source of information through a television distribution system is described, the distribution system includes a television distribution network, RF section distribution equipment and a plurality of terminals; an input device and an upstream transmitter are associated with one of the terminals to input an upstream command for the information source, the RF section distribution equipment is associated with an RF section server which is interconnected to the information source, upstream receiver that transmits the command to the RF section server and a blank interval inserter that receives the information that comes from the RF section server and inserts sequential portions in blank intervals of a television broadcast over a downstream channel, the RF section server transmits the command to the source information and receives responses from the source, the blank interval extractor is interconnected to the terminal to extract the inserted sequential portions that are displayed in a visual presentation device.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACCESS TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE ACCESS TO A SOURCE OF INFORMATION THROUGH A SYSTEM OF TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an access system and to a method for providing interactive access to a source of information without the need for expensive computer equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing access to the Internet through a cable television distribution system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, "Internet" is a network of interconnected computers worldwide, and Internet access can be had for communication, research, entertainment and similar purposes. However, and as is well known, such access normally requires the use of relatively expensive equipment including a personal computer as well as related hardware and software. Since a first significant percentage of the general population can not buy such expensive equipment, that first population is restricted to having access to the Internet. In addition, the use of a personal computer and related equipment requires a relatively high degree of technical sophistication and commitment. Therefore, even if a user can buy a system that includes a personal computer, a printer, a modem, cables and other necessary related components, which the user must properly connect and configure each device, he must learn how to operate each device and must update Hardware and software as necessary to maintain the system. Since a second significant percentage of the general population does not have the technical sophistication required for said system, and since a third significant percentage of the general population can not or will not dedicate the necessary time and resources to learn, operate and maintain said system, the second and third populations are restricted from having access to the Internet. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method of access that are relatively inexpensive, that require only a minimum of technical sophistication and commitment, and that are relatively easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned need is satisfied by means of an access system and method for providing an interactive access system to an information source through a television distribution system that includes a television distribution network, end distribution equipment. of input and a plurality of terminals. The television distribution network has a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of downstream channels. Each downstream channel carries a television transmission that includes a plurality of image fields transmitted in sequence, and each image field transmitted including an image range corresponding to a transmission of image data in pixels and a blank range that corresponds to a transmission of image data that is not in pixels. Each upstream channel carries data transmissions to the input end of the network. The input end distribution equipment interfaces with the input end of the network of the television distribution network to distribute the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network. Each terminal is interfaced with a terminal end of the television distribution network to receive the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, and is also in interface with a display device for displaying a transmission. selected from the television transmissions. The access system includes an input device, an upstream transmitter, an input end server, an upstream receiver, a blank interval inserter and a blank interval extractor. The input device is associated with one of the terminals for entering a command for the information source in the terminal. The upstream transmitter is associated with the terminal and transmits the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network. The input end server is associated with the input end distribution equipment and is interfaced with the information source. The upstream receiver is also associated with the input end distribution equipment and is in interface with the input end server to receive the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network and to send the received command to the server from the entrance end. The incoming end server transmits a command based on the command sent to the information source, and the information source transmits information to the incoming end server in response to the sent command. The blank interval inserter is associated with the input end distribution equipment and is interfaced with the input end server to receive information based on the information transmitted from the input end server and to insert sequential portions of the information received in the blank intervals of the sequential image fields of at least one of the television transmissions. The blank interval extractor is in interface with the terminal to extract the inserted sequential portions of the information from the blank intervals of the sequential image fields of the television transmissions. The information extracted afterwards is displayed on the presentation device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above brief description as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read with the accompanying drawings. For purposes of illustrating the invention, a mode that is presently preferred is shown in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise provisions and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the architecture of an access system and a television distribution system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are time controller diagrams of the downstream and upstream channels, respectively, of the television distribution network shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the head end server shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a block diagram of the cable entry end equipment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a block diagram of the application server shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a block diagram of the application server shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a diagram of a downstream packet transmitted in one of the downstream channels shown in Figure 2A; Figures 8A and 8B are diagrams of payloads that can be sent in the downstream package shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a diagram of an upstream packet transmitted in one of the upstream channels shown in Figure 2B; Figures 10A-10F are diagrams of payloads that can be sent in the upstream package shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a flow chart showing the recognition procedure performed in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring to the drawings in detail, where like numbers are used to indicate similar elements, a preferred embodiment of an access system 10 is shown in Figure 1 to provide interactive access to a source of information through a distribution system , by television 11. As can be seen, the components of the access system 10 and the television distribution system 11 are necessarily intermingled. Preferably, the television distribution system 11 is a cable television distribution system 11 comprising a nodal television distribution network 12 of branched and / or coaxial fiber optic cable lines. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, said television distribution system 11 and network 12 are well known and are used extensively by cable television service providers throughout the United States. However, one skilled in the art will also recognize that other types of television distribution systems 11 and networks 12 may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. These other types of television distribution systems and networks include but are not limited to in-orbit satellite systems, terrestrial wireless cable systems and the like. As seen in Figure 1, the television distribution network 12 has a network input end 14 and a plurality of endpoints 16. As will be understood, and now referring to Figures 2A and 2B, the network 12 has a frequency spectrum that is divided into a plurality of downstream channels modulated by RF 20 (Figure 2A) and a plurality of upstream channels modulated by RF 22 (Figure 2B), wherein each downstream channel 20 carries a television transmission 24 from a network input end 14 to the terminal ends 16, and each upstream channel carries data transmissions 26 from the terminal ends 16 to the network input end 14. As seen in Figure 2A, each television transmission 24 in a respective downstream channel 20 includes a plurality of sequentially transmitted image fields 28, wherein each transmitted image field 28 includes an image range 30 corresponding to an image data transmission in pixels, and a blank interval or vertical blank interval 32 which corresponds to a transmission of image data that are not in pixels. As is known, blank interval 32 is necessary due to restrictions imposed by electron gun deployment devices. Most particularly, many (but not all) television display devices employ an electron gun (not shown) and a phosphorescent screen (not shown) to display a television transmission 24, and an image of a transmitted image field 28 is created on the screen by focusing the electron gun to shoot electrons at the screen in a series of horizontal lines sequentially applied from the top of the screen to the bottom. Accordingly, after the end of a first image field 28, a vertical blank interval 32 is necessary at the beginning of a second image field 28 to allow time to retrace the electron gun from the bottom of the screen to the upper part. As is known, each transmitted image field 28 also includes a horizontal white interval (not shown) between each horizontal line transmitted to allow time to retrace the electron gun from the end of the line to the beginning of another line. Also as is known, each image field 28 in the broadcast convention of E.U.A. it is 1/60 parts of a second in temporal length T and two image fields 28 combine to form an image frame. As seen in Figure 1, the network input end 14 of the television distribution system 11 is connected to the cable entry end 34, and the cable entry end 34 includes cable entry equipment or equipment. input end distribution 36 and an input end server 38. Referring now to FIG. 4, it is seen that the 'cable entry end equipment 36 includes a cable network input end controller 44 for controlling the distribution of the television transmissions 24 in the respective downstream channels 20 of the television distribution network 12. The input end controller 44 is well known and therefore need not be described here. For each downstream channel 24, the input end equipment 36 may also include a video mixer 46 for receiving the television transmissions 24 in the form of video programming and mixing said video programming 24 (only a video mixer 46). it is shown in Figure 4). As will be understood by one skilled in the art, not all television distribution systems 11 mix, and mixing is not a requirement in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. An RF modulator 48 is included in the cable input end equipment so that each downstream channel 20 modulates the respective television transmissions 24 at the downstream channel frequency 20 (only one RF modulator 48 is shown in the Figure 4), and a. only RF combiner 50 receives the outputs of all RF modulators 48 and combines said outputs to form a single signal. The individual signal output of the RF combiner 50 is fed to a diplex filter 52 and then to the input end of the network 14. As will be understood, the diplex filter 52 also receives the upstream data transmissions 26 in the channels upstream 22 and separates said upstream data transmissions 26 so that they are sent upstream later.

Referring again to Figure 1, it is seen that the television distribution system 11 also has a plurality of upper converters or terminals 54, each terminal 54 being in interface with a terminal end 16 of the television distribution network 12 for receiving the television transmissions 24 in the respective downstream channels 20 of the television distribution network 12. As will be understood, each terminal 54 is for selecting one of the downstream channels 20 and is for interfacing with a display device 56. to display the television transmission 24 cover in the selected downstream channel 20. Typically, the display device 56 is a tuneable television, although one skilled in the art will recognize that a non-tuneable television monitor can also be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. With the television distribution system 11 as described below, the access system 10 will now be described. Still referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the access system 10 includes an input device 58 associated with one of the terminals 54 for entering in the terminal a command for an information source 60. As can be seen in Figure 6, the command entered in the terminal 54 by the input device 58 is transmitted by an upstream transmitter 106 of a current channel RF-modulated top 22 of the television distribution network 12 of the terminal 54 of the cable entry end equipment 36. Preferably, the information source 60 is an Internet service provider having access to the intercom network of Well-known Internet. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other sources of information may be accessed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the information source 60 may be a source of local information at the cable entry end 34, an email exchange, an exchange of "chat room", the application server 68 itself or the like. Referring again to Figure 4, all upstream channels are received from the network input end 14 of the cable distribution network 12 in the diplex filter 52, are separated by the diplex filter 52 of the upstream channels 20 and sent to RF demodulators 62, an RF demodulator 62 for each upstream channel 22 (only one RF demodulator 62 is shown in Figure 4). Accordingly, the modulated RF upstream channel 22 having the transmitted command is demodulated, and the command is sent to an upstream data receiver 64 which in turn sends the received command to the incoming end server 38 (as shown in FIG. see in Figures 1 and 3). As seen, the inbound end server 38 is associated with the cable entry end equipment 36 and is interfaced with the information source 60. Accordingly, the inbound end server 38 transmits a command based on the command employed from the upstream receiver 64 to the information source 60 by means of the sender 40 and the CSU / DSU 42. Very specifically, and now referring to Figure 3, the inbound end server 38 is preferably divided into a communications controller 66 and an application server 68, and the command of the upstream receiver 64 is received by the communications controller 66 and then sent to the application server 68. As will be fully described below, the communications controller 66 forms data packets downstream, removes upstream data from packets, handles session requests from terminals 54 and otherwise performs function necessary to maintain communications between application server 68 and terminals 54. Referring now to Figure 5, it is seen that the application server 68 includes a superior communication module 70 in communication with the communications controller 66 for interfacing the application server 68 with the communication controller 66, and the command received from the communication controller 66 is sent to the upper communications module 70 and then in turn is sent to a session manager 72. As will be understood, the session manager 72 manages multiple sessions of multiple upper terminals 54, and therefore maintains an association between the received command and the terminal 54 that originated the received command. Depending on the command and the current request, the received command is sent by the session manager 72 to one of several user agents 74. As will be understood, user agents 74 include a page finder to search for sheets through the source of information 60, and an email agent to provide electronic mail through information sources 60, a chat agent to facilitate online chat sessions and the like. User agents are well known and therefore need not be described here with more detail. In response to a received command, a user agent 74 issues one or more additional commands based on the received command in a format understandable by the information source 60 and the issued commands are sent to the information source 60 by means of an office postal 76, a reservation machine (cache) 78 or deviating from the post office 76 and the reservation machine 78. As will be understood, the post office 76 facilitates the sending and receiving of electronic mail, and the reservation machine 78 stores and send traffic in any direction. In addition, the reservation machine 78 can keep track of issued commands and store certain data if required on a regular basis. As will also be understood, the post office 76 and the reservation machine 78 can be evaded when they are not necessary, for example, during an online chat session. As with user agents, post offices and reservation machines are well known and therefore will not be described here in more detail. Preferably, the application server 68 also has a user database manager 80A in communication with a user database 80 for managing the user information of the access system. As will be understood, said information includes information about each user, certain characteristics and attributes associated with each user, information about frequently accessed information for each user and the like. The application server 68 may also have an invoice interface module 82 associated with an invoice interface 82A for purposes of billing users for the use of the access system 10. As will be recognized by one skilled in the art, the interface of Invoice 82A can be connected to any of a plurality of known accounting systems for billing purposes, including the accounting system for billing use of the television distribution system 11. Preferably, the application server 68 includes an information source interface 84 to allow the application server 68 to communicate with the information source 60 by means of any protocol that the information source 60 may be waiting for. For example, if the information source 60 is an Internet service provider, the protocol would preferably be the TCP / IP protocol (transmission control protocol / Internet protocol) normally used to communicate on the Internet. However, depending on the sources of information 60, one skilled in the art will recognize that other protocols may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Preferably and referring again to Figure 1, the interface 84 in Figure 5 communicates with the information source 60 by means of a sender 40 and a consumer service unit / digital service unit (CSU / DSU) 42 associated with the input end of the cable 34. As it will be understood, the sender 40 is connected to the interface 84 to send / connect data between the information source 60 and the interface 84, and the CSU / DSU 42 (see also in Figure 1) is a service unit for putting in interface the sender 40 with the information source 60. Both the senders and the CSU / DSUs are well known and therefore no further description will be necessary. In addition, one skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of interfacing the information source 60 to the inbound end server 38 may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, one skilled in the art will also recognize that not all commands need to be sent to the information source 60. For example, if the required information is already available in the application server 68 in the reservation machine 78 (a home page of highly required Internet, for example), the source of information 60 does not need to be communicated to search for the required information. Also, if the command is a message from a first terminal 54 to a second terminal 54 via the entry end server 38 (as described below), communication with the information source 60 is not required. the information source 60 has received a command, the information source 60 preferably processes the command to produce information in response to it. The information produced is transmitted by the information source 60 to the input end server 38, and then it must be sent to the terminal 54 from which the corresponding command originated. Accordingly, and as seen in Figure 5, the information of the information source is received in the application server 68 via the interface 84 and is sent through the postal office 76 and / or the reservation machine 78 to the appropriate user agent 74. As will be recognized, depending on the information source 60, the information from the information source 60 may not be in a form that is compatible. to be displayed on the display device 56 associated with the terminal 54. Most particularly, in the situation where the information will probably include graphics in a first form of graphics (for example, a screen having 640 pixels x 480 pixels x 256 colors) while the terminal 54 and the presentation device 56 probably expect the information to be in a second form of graphics (for example, 320 pixels x 200 pixels x 16 colors). Accordingly, the portion of graphics of the information must be converted by a graphics processor 86 into communication with the reservation machine 78. The operation of a graphics processor in the conversion of graphics data from one form to another is well known and need not be described here further. The information from the information source 60 is sent by the user agent 74 to a terminal screen manager 88. Preferably, the terminal screen manager 88 is designed to minimize the actual amount of information that must be transmitted to the terminal 54. Accordingly, it is preferable that the terminal screen manager 88 display the screens on the application server 68 to be displayed on the appropriate terminal 54, which the terminal screen manager 88 retains information on the screen currently being displayed on the screen. appropriate terminal 54, and that the terminal screen manager 88 transmits only the information necessary to "refresh" portions of a screen that are to be changed. The method of presenting screens for deployment by a screen presenter or the like is well known and does not need to be described further here. As will be understoodtransmitting only "fresh" information can greatly reduce the amount of downstream information that must be sent to terminal 54, especially if only a small change to a screen is necessary. Preferably, the terminal 54 is programmed to operate based on said "fresh" information. Fresh information from the terminal screen manager 88 and other information from the application server 68 is sent to the communications controller 66 via the upper communication module 70. Referring again to Figure 4, the communication controller 66 receives the information sent and in turn sends said information to a vertical target interval (VBI) or VBI 90 insertor. As you will understand, a VBI 90 inserter is provided for each downstream channel (only one VBI inserter 90 is shown in Figure 4) to insert sequential portions to the information sent from the communication controller 66 to the target ranges 32 of the sequential image fields 28 of the television transmission 24 of the current channel below 20.

As seen, each VBI inserter 90 is interposed in a downstream flow between the cable input end controller 44 and a respective video mixer 46. As will be understood, many manufacturers will provide a VBI 90 inserter and a VBI 90 mixer. 46 video in a combined package. Once the information of the communication controller 66 is inserted in the target ranges 32 of a television transmission 24, the inserted information then proceeds with the television transmission 24 through the video mixer 46, the RF modulator 48, the RF combiner 50, the diplex filter 52 and the cable distribution network 12 to the terminal 54 from which the corresponding command was originated. One skilled in the art will appreciate, in some circumstances, a horizontal target data inserter (HBI) (not shown) can be employed in place of the VBI 90 inserter without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the terminal 54 includes an RF tuner 94 and a downstream VBI extractor 92. Most particularly, the RF tuner 94 is present to tune and demodulate the downstream channel 20 having the television transmission 24 with the information inserted, and the VBI extractor 92 extracts the inserted sequential portions of the inserted information from the target ranges 32 of the sequential magen fields 28 of the demodulated television transmission 24. The information extracted after is sent to a terminal processor 96. As will be recognized by one skilled in the art, a significant advantage is obtained by employing VBI insertion and extraction to send data downstream from the entry end server 38 to terminal 54 where the speed Baud equivalent of such downstream data can reach 100K or more. Most particularly, assuming that the baud equivalent rate of each blank line in a VBI is approximately 12.5K, and assuming that eight lines of each VBI are employed by the access system 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, achieves the equivalent baud rate of 100K. Preferably, the inserted information sent downstream from the cable entry end equipment 36 is encoded and / or compressed by the terminal deployment manager 88 using well-known techniques to minimize transmission time. Preferably, the processor 96 includes software to perform the function of decoding and decompressing the fresh encoded and / or compressed information. Alternatively, the terminal 54 may include a decoding and / or decompression module 98 interposed between the VBI extractor 92 and the processor 96 for decoding and decompressing the encoded and / or compressed fresh information before said information is presented to the terminal processor. 96. As seen in Figure 6, the terminal processor 96 may be associated with a memory 100 to facilitate the various processing functions performed by it. Preferably, the terminal processor 96 and the memory 100 produce display information from the extracted information, and the display information is displayed on the display device 56. Preferably, the extracted information includes the screens presented by the terminal deployment manager. of the application server 68. The method of producing display information by an upper terminal 54 and a terminal processor 96 is well known and need not be described further here. Preferably, and as seen in Figures 1 and 6, the input device 58 for entering the commands in the terminal 54 is a computer type keyboard 58. Accordingly, a user of the access system 10 can describe the word commands, email and similar. Preferably also the keyboard 58 includes a mouse device for moving a display indicator displayed on the display device 56. Preferably, the keyboard 58 includes an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitting keystroke signals from the keyboard 58 in the form of a IR transmission. Correspondingly, it is also preferable that the terminal 54 includes an IR receiver 104 for receiving the IR transmissions from the keyboard 58 and for sending signals corresponding to the key stroke signals transmitted to the terminal processor 96. However, the keyboard 58 can be connected to terminal 54 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the keyboard 58 can be replaced by a remote control device having directional buttons and an execution button without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As will be understood, said remote control device is of the type typically employed with a terminal 54 in a television distribution system 11 for inputting in the terminal 54 a selection of one of a plurality of downstream channels 20 to be deployed in the remote control device. display 56. Regardless of the command source, terminal 54 transmits the command via the upstream transmitter 106 as a data transmission 26 in one of the upstream channels 22 of the television distribution network 12. In the access 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present system, the input end server 39 is a centralized processor for each of a plurality of terminals 54. Accordingly, the upstream receiver 64 can receive a plurality of commands input from a plurality of the terminals 54 in one or more of the upstream channels 22 of the distribution network 12 and then sending the respective received commands to the entry end server 38. As will now be understood, the entry end server 38 transmits commands based on the respective sent commands to the information source 60, the information source 60 transmits the information to the server Inbound end 38 in response to the respective sent commands, the VBI inserter 90 receives information based on the respective transmitted information from the inbound end server 38 and inserts sequential portions of the received information towards the target intervals 32 of the sequential image fields 28 of at least one of the television transmissions 24, and each of the target interval extractors 92 at the respective terminals 54 extracts the respective inserted sequential portions of the information. Preferably, the input end server 39 which acts as a centralized processor for each of a plurality of terminals 54 allows terminal-to-terminal communications, at least between terminals 54 in the television distribution system 11. As shown in FIG. will understand, in said communication, a message is sent from a first terminal 54 to the entry end server 38 and then is directed by the entry end server 38 to a second terminal 54, deviating from the information source 60. Preferably , the message is an email message or is a message transmitted during a session of talks. The data transmission upstream and downstream between the terminal 54 and the talk controller 66 of the input end server 38 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7-10F. Preferably, each upstream channel 22 of the television distribution network 12 is multiplexed into a plurality of upstream slots 108., as seen in Figure 2B, wherein the temporal length T of each slot 108 is equal to the temporal length T of image field 28, as seen in Figure 2A. Also preferably, a plurality of upstream channels 22 are connected in pairs with each downstream channel 20. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, up to four upstream channels 22 are connected in pairs with each downstream channel 20. Also preferably, each terminal 50 in the system 10 is assigned to at least one of the upstream slots 108 at any time. Preferably, and now referring to the Figure 7, each data transmission downstream of the communications controller 66 of the input end server 38 is in the form of at least one downstream pack 110. As seen in Figure 7, the downstream packet includes a value of 4-byte cyclic redundancy check (CRC) based on the rest of the downstream packet 110, where the CRC value is used to detect any corruption of the data in pack 110. The use of CRC values is well-known and therefore does not need to be described anymore. The downstream packet 110 also includes four SND bytes (SND A - SND D), wherein each SND byte corresponds to an upstream channel 22 associated with the downstream channel 20 in which it is starting to send the downstream packet 110. Each SND byte contains a session ID of a sender (i.e., a terminal 54) which is allowed to transmit data upstream in the next upstream slot 108 of the corresponding upstream channel 22. For example, if the SND B byte has a value of '1' then the terminal 54 to which the session ID 'I' is assigned can transmit in the next upstream slot 108 in the upstream channel 22 which corresponds to 'B'. Preferably, if a particular SND byte has a value of zero, any terminal 54 is allowed to transmit in the next corresponding upstream slot 108, for example, to require a new session. Each downstream pack 110 also has four bytes of recognition (ACK A-ACK D), where each byte of ACK corresponds to an upstream channel 22 associated with the downstream channel 20 in which the downstream packet 110 is being sent. As will be understood, each byte ACK is sent in response to the successful reception of data upstream in a respective upstream channel 22 in the respective upstream slot 108. preferably, each byte ACK includes the session ID of the transmit terminal 54 and a check bit indicating whether the serial number of the upstream packet that is recognized was an even or non-numbered number. The downstream packet 110 also has a two-byte packet serial number, followed by a multi-byte load. Referring now to Figure 8A, it is seen that a downstream data load 112 includes a one-byte load session ID to identify the session ID of the receiving terminal destined 54 for the load, a length indicator of two. bytes, and the content of the data that is being sent in the packet. As will be understood, although all the terminals 54 in the downstream channel 20 will receive all the downstream packets 110, a particular terminal 54 will ignore the content of the data being sent in the packet 110 unless the data load 112 has a load session ID corresponding to the session ID of terminal 54. Preferably, a downstream packet 110 periodically has a home load 114 more than a data load 112, as seen in Figure 8B. As seen, the domestic load 114 includes four bytes of channels, each channel byte identifying a respective one of four upstream channels 22 associated with the downstream channel 20 to which the downstream pack 110 is being sent. Therefore, if the terminal 54 wants to initiate a session in the access system 10, the terminal 54 should listen in the downstream channel 20 for a domestic pack 114, and a receipt of said domestic packet can determine which upstream channels 22 are associated with the current channel down 20. The terminal 54 can then send a required session on one of the associated upstream channels 22. If session requirements were recently made and acted by means of the communication controller 66, the home load 114 would also include a number of acknowledgments (LACKs) of session requirements (log-in). In particular, the domestic load 114 includes a one-byte indicator of the number of LACKs, followed by each LACK. As seen, each LACK includes a box ID corresponding to a terminal ID number associated with a requesting terminal 54, a one-byte session ID that identifies the requesting terminal 54 during the session, a downstream channel indicator of two. bytes indicating the downstream channel 20 to which the indicator terminal 54 must tune, and a channel indicator upstream of a byte indicating the upstream channel 22, the terminal 54 must be transmitted. Referring now to Figure 9, data upstream of terminal 54 is sent in the form of an upstream pack 116. As seen, each upstream packet 116 includes a CRC value of four bytes, as with each current packet. below 110, a one-byte identifier having the session ID assigned to terminal 54 and a check bit indicating whether the upstream packet 110 has an even packet number or a non-one, a data length indicator of a byte that indicates the length of an upstream load of multiple bytes in packet 116 and load. As seen in Figure 10A, the upstream load has a structure 118 that includes a two-byte length indicator and the content of the load. Figures 10B-10F are examples of various upstream loads. As seen in Figure 10B, a session or log-in requirement 120 of a terminal 54 includes a one-byte flag which means that the upstream packet 116 is a log-in requirement 120 and the single-box ID of the requesting terminal 54. As seen in Figure 10C, the upstream recognition load 122 includes a one-byte flag which means that the upstream packet 116 is an upstream acknowledgment 122, a two-byte serial number of the packet. downstream 110 that is being recognized, and a byte recognition indicator (ACK). Occasionally, an expected downstream data packet 110 is not received, or is received with a corruption or error. Accordingly, and as seen in Figure 10D, an upstream packet 116 may have an upstream forwarded request load 124 that includes a one-byte flag which means that the upstream packet 116 is a forwarded request 124, and a two-byte serial number of the downstream packet 110 that must be sent. If the data that is being sent upstream by terminal 54 is a key stroke of a computer type keyboard 58 or other input device 58, then upstream pack 116 has an upstream key stroke charge 126, as seen in Figure 10E, which includes a one-byte flag which means that the upstream packet 116 is a key-hit charge 126, and a two-byte key-stroke code. As will be understood, if the key stroke is from a keyboard 58, the key stroke code includes information about whether a CTRL / ALT / SHIFT key is being pressed at the time a key is hit. Preferably, the input device 58 includes a mouse or a mouse-shaped device (not shown), and the movements of the mouse are input to the terminal 54 and the access system 10 as commands. Accordingly, an upstream packet 116 may have upstream mouse movement information 128, as seen in Figure 10F. The mouse movement information 128 includes a one-byte indicator which means that the upstream packet 116 is a mouse movement load 128, a one-byte mouse hit code, a two-byte mouse X coordinate and a Y-coordinate of two-byte mouse. As will be understood, the one-byte mouse click code includes information on whether a SHIFT / CTRL / ALT key is being pressed, and left mouse button information., middle and right. As will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art, the particular structures of the downstream and upstream packages 110, 116 can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, if only three upstream channels 22 are allocated to a downstream channel 20, only three SNDs and three ACK bytes are required in the downstream packet 110 (Figure 7). Similarly, fields in packets 110, 116 may be added, deleted or changed in terms of structure or size. As will be understood, due to the structure of a typical television distribution network 12, the noise in the upstream channels 22 is probelmatic. As a result, it is known that upstream channels 22 can have error rates as high as 1: 100000 to 1: 100. Accordingly, it is preferable that the upstream data packets 116 be kept relatively short to reduce the likelihood that any packet will be co-corrupted by noise. However, it should be noted that such short upstream packages 116 are not prohibitive in that the upstream commands are relatively short: a mouse movement, a key stroke, etc. Preferably, the noise problem is also faced by the present invention by including a noise detector 130 in the communications controller 66 at the cable entry end 34, as seen in Figure 3. Preferably, the noise detector 130 detects a noise level in each of the upstream channels 22, and if necessary the communication controller 66 can reassign a terminal 54 from a first upstream channel 22 to a second upstream channel 22 based on the noise level of the first upstream channel 22 and the second upstream channel 22. Alternatively, the communication controller 66 can direct the terminal 54 to transmit at a higher level in the upstream channel 22 if necessary based on the detected noise level of the upstream channel 22. preferably, the noise detector 130 comprises software that determines noise levels while maintaining the statics corresponding to the no. e of corrupted upstream packets 116 received in each upstream channel 22. With access system 10 as described above, a terminal 54 requires a session in the following manner. Preliminarily, terminal 54 tunes to a downstream channel 20 in which downstream packets 110 are being sent, and awaits a home pack 114 (as seen in Figure 8B) to determine which upstream channels 22 are associated with the downstream channel 20. A random one of the upstream channels 22 is selected and a log-in requirement 120 (Figure 10B) is sent in an upstream slot 108 that has not previously been assigned by a respective SND byte (as shown in FIG. see in Figure 7). If a log-in recognition (LACK) (Figure 8B) is subsequently received within a predetermined number of periods T (corresponding to the length of an image field 28 (Figure 2A) and the length of the upstream slot ( Figure 2B)), the session requirement is successful. If it is not, a new random downstream of an upstream channel 20, 22 can be attempted. In the unlikely event that two thermics 54 send a session request in the same upstream slot 108, the communication controller 66 will receive collided data and no terminal 54 will receive a LACK. Exferably, each terminal 54 then waits for a random amount of time and attempts a second session request. The procedure is repeated until both requirements are handled by the communications controller 66. Once put into network, and after the terminal 54 issues an upstream command, the terminal waits for a downstream packet 110 that has been routed to the terminal 54 in response to the command. Preferably, each received downstream packet 110 is verified to determine if the serial number of the packet is correct. If the serial number number of the packet is wrong, a forwarding request 124 (Figure 10D) is sent with a serial number of the 5 packet of the last packet that was successfully received. Preferably, the inbound end server 38 interprets a forwarding request 124 as a requirement to forward the packet 110 having the forwarding serial number and each packet 110 sent subsequently. If a forwarding request 124 is sent many k times without result, or if a downstream packet 110 has not been received by the deadline 54 in a predetermined period, the terminal 54 may attempt a reconnection. Preferably, an attempt to reconnect, the terminal makes a 15 session request 120 in a new upstream and downstream channel 20, 22. As described above, each downstream pack 110 and each upstream packet 116 is quickly recognized (ACKed ) by the receiver of the package, 20 as seen in Figures 7 and 10C. As will be understood, said fast ACKs are necessary to deal with the noise problem (as described above) and provide real-time access to the information source 60. Preferably, a packet sender waits up to two upstream slots or 108 fields 28 to receive an ACK from a packet receiver. If an ACK has not received in this time through terminal 54, terminal 54 preferably forwards the upstream packet 116 for which recognition is sought. If a terminal 54 is forced to forward data a predetermined number of times, an attempt is preferably made to reconnect in new upstream and upstream channels 20, 22. It is preferable that the following method be used to receive commands and receive information in the access system 10 as described above. In the method, and now referring to Figure 11, first data for the input end server 38 is input to one of the terminals 54 (step S1101), and are transmitted from the terminal 54 in an upstream channel 22 of the distribution network 12 (step S1102). The first transmitted data then received in the upstream channel 22 of the distribution network 12 in the communication controller 66 of the input end server 38 (step S1103), and a first acknowledgment (ACK) of the first received data is transmitted of the input end server 38 in a downstream channel 20 of the distribution network 12 (S1104). The first transmitted ACK is then received in the downstream channel 20 of the distribution network 12 in the terminal 54 (step S1105) to indicate that the first data entered were successfully received. Preferably, the first ACK is received by the terminal 54 within approximately two image fields 28 or upstream slots 108 (2T). In the method shown in Figure 11, second data are also transmitted from the controller 66 of the input end server 38 to a downstream channel 20 of the distribution network 12 (step S1106) and are received by the terminal 54 (S1107). ). In response, terminal 54 transmits a second ACK of the second received data in an upstream channel 22 of distribution network 12 (step S1108), and the second (ACK) is received by inbound end server 38 (step S1109) to indicate that the second data is received successfully by the terminal 54. As will be understood, and as described above, each transmission step in a downstream channel 20 in the real-time recognition method described above includes the step of inserting sequential portions of information (ie, the second data or the first ACK) in the blank intervals 32 of sequential image fields 28 of at least one of the television transmissions 24 and each of the receiver steps in a downstream channel 20 includes the step of extracting the inserted sequential portions of the information of the blank intervals 32 of the sequential image fields 28 of the television transmissions 24. In the access system mode 10 as described above, a user in the terminal 54 can see a transmission 24 television on a downstream channel selected 20 and automatically retrieves information from the information source 60 in relation to the content of the television transmission 24. Very specifically, it is preferable that the user agent 74 of the access system 10 have access to a commercial database 132 (as seen in Figure 5), wherein the commercial database 132 includes information of resource location in connection with at least some portions of the television transmission 24. For example, the commercial database 132 may include a television commercial schedule in the various downstream channels 20 and for each commercial may include a universal resource locator (URL) associated with the product and / or service advertised in the commercial. As will be understood, each URL refers to a network page or web site on the Internet that is maintained in connection with the product or service. If a user who sees the commercial wants to get more information about the product or service advertised in it, the user only needs to enter a command to the entry-end server 38. For example, the command can be simply push a button on the device of entry 58, without anything else. The response the entry end server 38 automatically acquires the corresponding URL to the commercial and retrieves the page of the network to which the URL refers from the information source 60. The web page can then be displayed to the user , and the user may enter additional access system commands or return to watch a television broadcast 24 carried on a selected downstream channel 20. Alternatively, the URL may be transmitted to the user and stored in memory 100 of terminal 54 If it is contemplated that there is sufficient demand for a web page by multiple users on multiple terminals, the main end server 38 may be preprogrammed to obtain said web page in advance and reserve the network page on the machine of reservation 78. As described above, it is preferable that the information source 60 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an Internet service provider having access to the well-known internet intercom network, but one skilled in the art will recognize that other sources of information can be accessed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As will be understood, depending on the information source 60 accessed by the access system 10 of the present invention, not all of the elements described above are necessary. For example, if the information source is the application server 68 itself, the router 40 and the CSU / DSU 42 are probably not necessary. From the above description, it will be seen that the present invention comprises a new and useful access system to obtain access to information from a distant information source. The access system is particularly useful since it takes advantage of an existing television distribution system, since a user of the access system does not need to invest substantial resources in personal computers, modems and the like, since a user does not need to be technically sophisticated and since a user does not need to connect to a telephone line to obtain such information. Even more, the baud equivalent speed of said access system is significantly higher than that available from a conventional telephone modem with a baud rate of 28.8 K. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes can be made to the above described mode without departing of the extensive inventive concepts of it. For example, it can be appreciated that a personal computer (not shown) could be in interface with terminal 54 to provide increased access while still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it will be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described, but is intended to cover modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An access system for providing interactive access to a source of information including a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of downstream channels , each channel downstream to carry a television transmission, the television transmission including a plurality of image fields transmitted in sequence, each image field transmitted in sequence including an image interval corresponding to a transmission of pixel image data. and a blank interval corresponding to a non-pixel image data transmission, each upstream channel for carrying data transmissions to the input end of the network; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network for distributing the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the access system comprising: an input device associated with one of the terminals for entering in the terminal a command for the information source; an upstream transmitter associated with the terminal and interfaced with the terminal and interfaced with the respective terminal end of the television distribution network for transmitting the input command in a channel upstream of the distribution network; a server of the input end associated with the input end distribution equipment, the server of the input end being in interface with the information source; an upstream receiver associated with the input end distribution equipment and interfaced with the input end server to receive the command entered into the upstream channel of the distribution network and to send the received command to the endpoint server input, the input end server transmitting a command based on the command sent to the information source, the information source transmitting information to the input end server in response to the command sent; a blank interval insertor associated with the input end distribution equipment, the blank interval inserter being in interface with the input end server to receive information based on the information transmitted from the input end server and for inserting sequential portions of the received information in the blank intervals of the sequential image fields of at least one of the television transmissions and a blank interval extractor interfaced with the terminal to extract the inserted sequential portions of the resulting information of the blank intervals of the sequential image fields of the television transmissions, the information extracted after being displayed in the display device,

2. - The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the input device It is also to introduce in the terminal a sele tion of one of a plurality of channels to display it in the display device.

3. - The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the input device is a computer keyboard type keyboard.

4. - The access system according to claim 3, further characterized in that it includes an infrared receiver in interface therewith and in that the keyboard includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting keystroke signals to the infrared receiver of the terminal.

5. - The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the terminal includes an infrared receiver in interface with it and that the input device is a remote control device that has a transmitter to transmit control signals remote to the infrared receiver of the terminal.

6. The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the source of information is an Internet service provider, the access system also including an Internet router in interface with the endpoint server to direct Internet commands transmitted and Internet information transmitted.

7. The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the information transmitted from the information source is in a first form of graph, and because the endpoint server includes a graphics processor to convert the information transmitted from the first graphic form to a second graphic form compatible with the presentation device.

8. Access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that each channel upstream of the television distribution network is multiplexed to a plurality of upstream slots, and because the terminal is assigned to at least one of the slots upstream at any time.

9. - The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that each channel upstream of the television distribution network is multiplexed to a plurality of upstream slots, wherein at least one of the upstream slots is a slot session requirement to allow any of a plurality of terminals to request a session.

10. The access system according to claim 9, further characterized in that the session requirement is received by the entry end server, the entry end server by assigning the request terminal to at least one of the slots. Upstream .

11. The access system according to claim 10, further characterized in that the input end server includes a noise detector to detect a noise level in each of the upstream channels, the input end server reassigning the terminal of a first upstream channel to a second upstream channel if necessary based on the noise level of the first upstream channel and the second upstream channel.

12. - The access system according to claim 10, further characterized in that the input end server includes a noise detector to detect a noise level in each of the upstream channels, the input end server directing the terminal to transmit to a higher level of the upstream channel if necessary based on the noise level of the upstream channel.

13. - The access system according to claim 1, a plurality of input devices, each input device associated with one of a plurality of terminals; a plurality of upstream transmitters, each upstream transmitter associated with one of a plurality of terminals; a plurality of blank interval extractors, each blank interval extractor being in interface with each of a plurality of terminals; the input end server being a centralized processor for each of a plurality of terminals; wherein the upstream receiver receives a plurality of commands entered from the plurality of terminals in the upstream channel of the distribution network and sent to the respective received commands to the input end server, the input end server transmits commands based in the respective sent commands to the information source, the information source transmits the information to the incoming end server in response to the respective sent commands, the balled interval insertor receives information based on the respective transmitted information of the end server input and inserts sequential portions of the received information at the blank intervals of sequential image fields, and each of the blank interval extractors at the respective terminals extracts the respective inserted sequential portions of the information from the blank intervals of the sequential image fields it's from the television transmissions. 1 . - The access system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the input end server includes a screen former to form screens to display them in the presentation device in interface with the terminal, and because the extracted information displayed in the Presentation device includes the screens formed. 15. - A method for providing interactive access to a source of information through a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of downstream channels, each downstream channel for carrying a television transmission, the television transmission including a plurality of image fields transmitted in sequence, each image field transmitted in sequence including an image interval corresponding to a transmission of image data in pixels and a blank interval corresponding to a transmission of image data that is not in pixels, each channel upstream to carry data transmissions to the input end of the network; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network to distribute the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the method comprising the steps of: entering a command for the information source in one of the terminals; transmit the command entered from the terminal to which it was introduced in a channel upstream of the distribution network; receiving the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network at the input end of the television distribution network; send the received command to a server at the entry end; transmit a command based on the command sent from the server of the input end to the information source; transmit information from the information source to the server of the incoming end in response to the sent command; inserting sequential portions of information from the input end server to the blank intervals of sequential image fields of at least one of the television transmissions, the insertion step being performed at the input end, the portions of information being based on the information transmitted; extract the inserted sequential portions of the blank interval information from the sequential image fields of the television transmissions, the extraction step being performed in the terminal; and display the information extracted in the presentation device. 16. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the step of introducing comprises transmitting keystroke signals of an infrared transmitter in unfraction with a keyboard of type of computer keyboard to an infrared receiver in interface with the terminal. 17. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the step of introducing comprises transmitting remote control signals from an infrared transmitter in interface with a remote control device to an infrared receiver interfaced with the terminal. 18. - The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the source of information is an Internet service provider, the method comprising the steps of: transmit command based on the command sent from the server of the entry end to Internet service provider by means of an Internet router in interface with the incoming end server; transmit the information of the Internet service provider to the server of the incoming end in response to the command sent by means of the Internet router. 19. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the information transmitted from the information source is in a first form of graph, the method further including the step of converting the information transmitted from the first form of graph to a second form of graphics compatible with the presentation device. 20.- The method according to the claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: multiplexing each channel upstream of the television distribution network in a plurality of upstream slots, and assigning the terminal to at least one of the upstream slots at any time. 21. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: multiplexing each channel upstream of the television distribution network in a plurality of upstream slots, at least one of the upstream slots is a session request slot; and transmitting a session request in the session request slot by any of a plurality of terminals. 22. The method according to claim 21, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving a session request by the inbound end server; and assigning, by the input end server, the requesting terminal to at least one of the upstream slots. 23. - The method according to claim 22, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: detecting a noise level in each of the upstream channels; and reassigning the terminal of a first upstream channel to a second upstream channel if necessary based on the noise level of the first upstream channel and the second upstream channel. 24. - The method according to claim 22, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: detecting a noise level in each of the upstream channels; and directing the terminal to transmit at a higher level in the upstream channel if necessary based on the noise level of the first upstream channel. 25.- The method of compliance with the claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: entering a plurality of commands for the information source into a respective plurality of terminals; transmitting a plurality of commands from the terminal to which the respective introduction has been made in an upstream channel of the television distribution network; receiving the plurality of commands entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network and sending the respective received commands to the server of the incoming end; centrally processing each of a plurality of commands in the inbound end server; transmit commands based on the respective sent command of the input end server to the information source; transmit information from the information source to the endpoint server in response to the respective sent commands; inserting sequential portions of information from the input end server to the blank intervals of sequential image fields of at least one of the television transmissions, the insertion step being performed at the input end, the portions of information being based on the respective transmitted information; extracting the sequential portions inserted from the information of the blank intervals of the sequential image fields of the television transmissions, the extraction step being performed at the respective terminals. The method according to claim 25, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: sending a command from a first terminal to the server of the entry end, the command being a message; and directing the server message from the entry end to a second terminal. 27.- The method of compliance with the claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises the step of: producing screens in the input end server to display them in the presentation device in interface with the terminal. 28.- The method of compliance with the claim 15, further characterized in that a user in a terminal sees a television transmission carried in a selected downstream channel, the method further comprising the steps of: determining what information the user wishes to obtain in connection with a portion of the television transmission by means of the receiving a command entered from the terminal; accessing a commercial database that includes resource location information in relation to the portion of the television transmission and retrieval of said resource location information; retrieve resource information from the source of information based on the resource location information; display the resource information for the user. 29. The method according to claim 28, further character in that it comprises the step of pre-reserving the resource information before the determination step. 30.- A method for providing real-time interactive access in a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of channels downstream, each channel downstream to carry a television transmission; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network for distributing the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the method comprising the steps of entering first data to one of the terminals; transmit the first data of the terminal to which it was introduced in a channel upstream of the distribution network; receiving the first data entered in the channel upstream of the distribution network in the distribution equipment of the input end; receiving the first data transmitted in the upstream channel of the distribution network in the distribution equipment of the input end; transmitting a first acknowledgment of the first data received from the input end distribution equipment in a downstream channel of the distribution network; receive the first acknowledgment transmitted in the downstream channel of the distribution network; transmitting second data of the input end distribution equipment in a downstream channel of the distribution network; receive the first data transmitted in the downstream channel of the distribution network in the terminal; transmitting a second recognition of the second data received from the terminal in a channel upstream of the distribution network; and receiving the second acknowledgment transmitted in a channel upstream of the distribution network in the distribution equipment of the input end. 31.- The method of compliance with the claim 30, further characterized in that the television transmission in each downstream channel of the television distribution network includes a plurality of sequentially transmitted image fields, each transmitted image field including an image range corresponding to the transmission of image data in pixels and a blank range corresponding to a transmission of non-pixel image data, each upstream channel for carrying data transmissions to the input end of the network; wherein each of the transmission steps in a downstream channel includes the step of inserting sequential portions of information into the target ranges of sequential image fields of at least one of the television transmissions; and wherein each of the reception steps in a downstream channel includes the step of extracting the inserted sequential portions of the blank interval information from the sequential image fields of the television transmissions. 32.- An access system for providing interactive access to a source of information through a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of terminal ends, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of downstream channels, each downstream channel for carrying a television transmission; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network to distribute the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; an input device associated with one of the terminals for inputting a command for the information source to the terminal; an upstream transmitter associated with the terminal and interfaced with the respective terminal end of the television distribution network for transmitting the command entered in a channel upstream of the distribution network; a server of the input end associated with the input end distribution equipment, the server of the input end being in interface with the information source; an upstream receiver associated with the input end distribution equipment and interfaced with the input end server to receive the command entered into the upstream channel of the distribution network and to send the received command to the endpoint server input, the input end server transmitting a command based on the command sent to the information source, the information source transmitting information to the input end server in response to the command sent; a downstream transmitter interfaced with the input end server to receive information based on the information transmitted from the input end server and to transmit the received information in a downstream channel; and a receiver downstream in interface with the terminal to receive the information transmitted in the downstream channel as information of the terminal, the information of the terminal then being displayed in the presentation device; the end-of-entry server including a screen former to form screens for display in the display device in interface with the terminal, the terminal information including the screens formed. 33.- The access system according to claim 32, further characterized in that the screen former generates fresh information corresponding to changes that have to be made to a screen, where the downstream transmitter receives the fresh information and transmits the fresh information in a downstream channel, where the downstream receiver receives the fresh information transmitted in the downstream channel, and where the fresh inforamtion is used to make changes to the screen. 34.- A method for providing interactive access to a source of information through a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of downstream channels, each downstream channel for carrying a television transmission; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network to distribute the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the method comprising the steps of: entering a command for the information source in one of the terminals; transmit the command entered from the terminal to which it was introduced in a channel upstream of the distribution network; receiving the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network at the input end of the television distribution network; send the received command to a server at the entry end; transmit a command based on the command sent from the server of the input end to the information source; transmit information from the information source to the server of the incoming end in response to the sent command; producing a screen at the input end server based on the information transmitted from the information source, the screen produced to display it on the presentation device interfaced with the terminal; transmit information including the screen produced from the input end server in a downstream channel; receive the information transmitted in the downstream channel in the terminal; and display the screen produced in the presentation device. The method according to claim 34, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: producing fresh information corresponding to changes that have to be made to a screen; transmit fresh information in a downstream channel; receive the fresh information transmitted in a downstream channel; and make changes to the screen based on fresh information. 36.- A method for providing interactive access to a source of information through a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of channels downstream, each downstream channel for carrying a television transmission; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network for distributing the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the method comprising the steps of: entering a command in one of the terminals to mean that a user in the terminal wishes to obtain information in connection with a portion of a broadcast television transmission; transmit the command entered from the terminal to which it was introduced in a channel upstream of the distribution network; receiving the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network at the input end of the television distribution network; access a commercial database that includes location information of resources in relation to the portion of the television transmission and recovery of said location information of resources; retrieve resource information from the source of information based on the resource location information; transmit recovered resource information to downstream channel; receive the resource information transmitted in the downstream channel in the terminal; and display the information extracted in the presentation device. 37.- A method for providing interactive access to a source of information through a television distribution system that includes: a television distribution network having a network input end, a plurality of endpoints, a plurality of upstream channels and a plurality of channels downstream, each downstream channel for carrying a television transmission; the input end distribution equipment is in interface with the input end of the network of the television distribution network to distribute the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network; and a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in interface with a terminal end of the television distribution network for receiving the television transmissions in the respective downstream channels of the television distribution network, each terminal also being in interface with a television. display device for displaying a selected transmission of television transmissions; the method comprising the steps of: entering a command in one of the terminals to mean that a user in the terminal wishes to obtain information in connection with a portion of a broadcast television transmission; transmit the command entered from the terminal to which it was introduced in a channel upstream of the distribution network; receiving the command entered in the upstream channel of the distribution network at the input end of the television distribution network; accessing a commercial database that includes resource location information in relation to the portion of the television transmission and retrieval of said resource location information; transmit the recovered resource location information to downstream channel; and receive the location information of resources transmitted in the channel downstream in the terminal.