Method and apparatus for providing real time data on a viewing screen concurrently with any programing in process

A video reporter for superimposing real time emergency broadcast messages and information on a television picture concurrently with any programing in progress comprising;

• signal splitting means for splitting a television broadcast signal into at least a first television signal and a second video reporter signal;
• tuning means for continuously tuning the video reporter signal for predetermined channels having video reporter data thereon;
• decoding means for decoding the video reporter data;
• message extracting means for extracting messages from the video reporter data;
• message selecting means for selecting the messages to be superimposed on the television picture;
• overlay generating means for generating a video signal from the video reporter data for superimposing over the television picture;
• and,
• superimposing means for superimposing the video signal over the television picture of the programing in progress.

A method for controlling and coordinating the operation of a video reporter involved in the process of simultaneously superimposing various data over a television picture of any programing in progress, which comprises the steps of:

• constantly reading user input data storage means for detecting user input data;
• constantly determining command functions of a video reporter from the input data;
• constantly revising the command functions in consideration of the user input data;
• instructing a tuning means for continuously tuning a video reporter signal to scan predetermined channels until video reporter data is detected by the tuning means;
• selecting and extracting messages imbedded in the video reporter data for superimposing over a television picture;
• instructing tone generating means to generate an audible tone for alerting a viewer to the messages to be superimposed;
• instructing text to speech synthesizing means to synthesize an audio message from the messages to be superimposed;
• powering on a television set;
• initiating superimposing means for superimposing the video reporter data over the television picture of the programing in progress;
• initiating storage and retrieving means for storing and retrieving the video reporter data;
• and,
• powering off the television set.