Broadcast system with associated data capabilities

A system for the transmission and reception of program material and associated data, comprising:

• a transmitter for broadcasting said program material and said associated data, said associated data including header data defining a plurality of user interface selections and body data defining a plurality of information screens, subsets of the information screens corresponding to subsets of the user interface selections;
• a receiver, including,
• a demodulator for detecting said program material and said associated data as detected program material and detected associated data, respectively;
• means for reproducing said detected program material;
• memory means for storing said detected associated data as stored associated data;
• and
• user interface means providing a hierarchy of menus for a user to select portions of said stored associated data for display as one of said information screens.

A system for the transmission and reception of program material and assodated data, comprising:

• a transmitter for broadcasting said program material and associated data, said associated data including header data defining a plurality of user interface selections;
• a receiver, including,
• a demodulator for detecting said program material and associated data as detected program material and detected associated data, respectively;
• means for reproducing said detected program material;
• memory means for storing said detected associated data as stored associated data;
• and
• a data card recorder operatively connected to said memory means and adapted to accept a portable data card for storage of a selected portion of said stored associated data on said portable data card responsive to user request.

A system for the transmission and reception of program material and associated data, comprising:

• a transmitter for broadcasting said program material and said associated data, said associated data including a dedication message corresponding to said program material and further corresponding to an individual user identified by an identification code;
• a receiver, including,
• a demodulator for detecting said program material and said associated data including said dedication message, as detected program material, detected associated data, and detected dedication message, respectively;
• means for reproducing said detected program material;
• user identification memory for storing data identifying a user of said receiver;
• and
• means for displaying said detected dedication message responsive to correspondence between said identification code and said stored data identifying a user.

A method of transmitting and receiving program material and associated data over a single communications channel, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting said program material and said assodated data over said single communications channel, said associated data including header data defining a plurality of user interface selections and body data defining a plurality of information screens, subsets of the information screens corresponding to subsets of the user interface selections;
• detecting said program material and said associated data as detected program material and detected associated data, respectively;
• reproducing said detected program material;
• displaying a first portion of said detected associated data;
• displaying said header data as a menu of user interface choices;
• and
• displaying a subsequent portion of said detected associated data as one of said information screens responsive to user selection of one of said user interface choices.

A method of transmitting and receiving program material and associated data, said associated data including a dedication message corresponding to said program material and further corresponding to an individual user identified by an identification code, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting said program material and said associated data, said associated data including header data defining a plurality of user interface selections;
• storing data identifying a user of a receiver;
• detecting said program material and said associated data, including said dedication message, as detected program material, detected associated data, and detected dedication message, respectively;
• and
• displaying said detected dedication message responsive to correspondence between said identification code and said stored data identifying a user.

A method of transmitting and receiving program material and associated data, said associated data including a prize announcement message corresponding to an individual user identified by an identification code, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting said program material and said associated data, said assodated data including header data defining a plurality of user interface selections;
• storing data identifying a user of a receiver;
• detecting said program material and said assodated data, including said prize announcement message, as detected program material, detected associated data, and detected prize announcement message, respectively;
• and
• displaying said detected prize announcement message responsive to correspondence between said identification code and said stored data identifying a user.