Information distribution and processing system
OwnerHark C. Chaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An information distribution and processing system has a broadcast channel for delivering a first set of digital data and a bi-directional channel for allowing a user to obtain additional information. The additional information is stored in a database. In one embodiment of the present invention, the broadcast channel uses a satellite to broadcast the data. In another embodiment of the invention, the bidirectional channel is a telephone system. At predetermined locations of the first set of digital data, linking references are embedded. If desired, the user can select a linking reference and send a request to the database via the bidirectional channel. The database uses the selected linking reference to search for information, and returns the requested information to the user.
Claims18
An information distribution system for distributing digital data to be displayed by a plurality of processing devices each located in a separate remote site and connected to a display device, comprising:
- a central site containing a first set of digital data and being in communication with said plurality of processing devices;
- a plurality of receiving stations located remotely from said central site and said plurality of processing devices;
- a first transmitter transmitting a first set of signals having a first frequency band to at least one of said plurality of receiving stations, said first transmitter being located remotely from said central site and said plurality of receiving stations, said first set of signals comprising a second set of digital data, said second set of digital data comprising a first set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a first way, a second set of displayable data displayable on said display device in a second way for facilitating said users to select said second set of displayable data, a first set of non-displayable data for indicating a presence of said second set of displayable data, and a first non-displayable linkage reference, said first linkage reference being associated with said second set of displayable data and said first set of digital data,
- each of said receiving stations containing another transmitter;
- said another transmitter in said at least one of said plurality of receiving stations transmitting a second set of signals having television frequency to at least one of said plurality of processing devices, said second set of signals containing said second set of digital data;
- and
- said first frequency band being different from said television frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.