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US 6,724,431 B1Granted
Program network specific information for TV or radio
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorThomas J. Aton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication system is desccribed which comprises a transmitter which transmits a standard broadcast format with an associated text string and a receiver for the reception and processing of the standard broadcast format and associated text string. The associated text string has close caption text in addition to other program or station specific text. The other program or station specific text is separated from the associated text string, decoded, processed and stored in function specific memories. When one changes a channel, or presses a button on a remote or has programmed in specific information requested, the program or station specific text is displayed. This text may be displayed on the televison screen with the picture, or it may be displayed on a separate display.
Claims43
A communication system comprising:
- a transmitter for broadcasting communication signals having an information content, comprised of a standard broadcast format in addition to an associated icon string, said associated icon string being transmitted with the communication signal;
- a receiver for receiving and processing said communication signals, said receiver comprising:
- circuitry for processing said standard broadcast format portion of said communication signals in preparation for a display of said signals,
- circuitry for stripping said associated icon string comprised of both close caption text and other icons that are imbedded in the close caption text and marked with special characters from said communication signal,
- decoding/processing circuitry for decoding and processing of said other icons, and
- at least one display for the simultaneous display of said standard broadcast format and said other icons, wherein said other icons displayed is the source information such as a network identifier or station call letters or a program title, or other information about the communication signal.
3 more elements
A communication system comprising:
- a transmitter for broadcasting communication signals having an information content, comprised of a standard broadcast format in addition to an associated icon string;
- a receiver for receiving and processing said communication signals, said receiver comprising:
- circuitry for processing said standard broadcast format portion of said communication signals in preparation for a display of said signals,
- circuitry for stripping said associated icon string comprised of both close caption text and other icons that are imbedded in the close caption text and marked with special characters from said communication signal,
- decoding/processing circuitry for decoding and processing of said other icons,
- at least one display for the simultaneous display of said standard broadcast format and said other icons,
- function specific memory circuits connected to an output of said decoding/processing circuitry for storage of said other icons post separation of said other icons into function specific icons;
- an interface connected to an input of said decoding/processing circuitry;
- remote circuitry for controlling accessing and displaying of said other icons, from said function specific memory circuits, through said decoding/processing circuitry, onto said simultaneous display.
6 more elements
A communication system comprising:
- a transmitter for broadcasting communication signals having an information content, comprised of a standard broadcast format in addition to an associated icon string;
- a receiver for receiving and processing said communication signals, said receiver comprising:
- circuitry for processing said standard broadcast format portion of said communication signals in preparation for a display of said signals,
- circuitry for stripping said associated icon string comprised of both close caption text and other icons imbedded in the close caption text and marked with special characters from said communication signal,
- decoding/processing circuitry for decoding and processing of said other icons, and
- at least one display for the simultaneous display of said standard broadcast format and said other icons,
- function specific memory circuits connected to the output of said decoding/processing circuitry for the storage of said other icons post separation of said other icons into function specific icons,
- an interface connected to an input of said decoding/processing circuitry,
- remote circuitry for controlling accessing and displaying of said other icons, from said function specific memory circuits, through said decoding/processing circuitry, onto said simultaneous display, and
- wherein at least one of said function specific memories is non-volatile for non-volatile storage of program information once during any given program.
7 more elements
A communication system comprising:
- a transmitter for broadcasting communication signals having an information content, comprised of a standard broadcast format in addition to an associated icon string;
- a receiver for receiving and processing said communication signals, said receiver comprising:
- circuitry for processing said standard broadcast format portion of said communication signals in preparation for a display of said signals,
- circuitry for stripping said associated icon string comprised of both close caption text and other icons imbedded in the close caption text and marked with special characters from said communication signal,
- decoding/processing circuitry for decoding and processing of said other icons, and
- at least one display for the simultaneous display of said standard broadcast format and said other icons, and
- wherein said other icon to be displayed is the source information, which is determined from frequencies of said communication source signals.
4 more elements
A receiver, comprising:
- circuitry for receiving communication signals;
- circuitry for processing a standard broadcast format portion of said communication signals in preparation for a display of said signals;
- circuitry for stripping an associated icon string comprised of both close caption text and other icons that are imbedded in the close caption text and marked with special characters from said communication signals;
- and
- decoding/processing circuitry for decoding and processing of said other icons.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.