Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 1 of 13
`Case 5:l5—cv—O2008—EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 1 of 13
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`
`
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`EXHIBIT 1
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`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 2 of 13
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Wolzien
`
`US006233736B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,233,736 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*May 15, 2001
`
`(54) MEDIA ONLINE SERVICE ACCESS SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`(75) Inventor: Thomas R. Wolzien, GrandvieW, NY
`(Us)
`
`(73) Assignee: Media Online Services, Inc., New
`York, NY (Us)
`
`* N'
`otlce:
`
`Sbj
`yd'l'
`h
`fh'
`u ect to an lsc almer, t e term 0 t ls
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U‘SC' 154(k)) by 0 days‘
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`19545882
`0757485
`WO 9413107
`WO960727
`“109613124
`WO 9702699
`WO9727546
`
`6/1997 (DE) .
`2/1997 (EP) '
`6/1994 (WO) .
`3/1996 (WO) .
`5/1996 (W0) '
`1/1997 (WO) .
`7/1997 (WO) .
`
`Primary Examzner—John W. Miller
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dorsey & Whitney LLP
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(21) Appr NO; 09/054,740
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 3, 1998
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 08/597,432, ?led on Feb. 8,
`1996, now Pat. No. 5,761,606.
`
`(51) Int. cl.7 ................................................... .. H04N 7/173
`(52) us. Cl. .......................... .. 725/110; 725/112; 725/133
`(58) Field of Search .................................. .. 348/6, 10, 12,
`348/13, 460, 461, 465, 468, 469, 473, 476_479,
`563, 564, 565; 455/31, 51, 6'1, 6'2, 6'3;
`709/217_219; 725/105, 109, 110, 111, 112,
`113, 131, 133; H04N 7/00, 7/10, 7/14
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`US PATENT DOCUMENTS
`H1990 Yee '
`4 894 789
`2/1990 Pocock et aL _
`4j905:094
`5/1991 Pocock et a1_ _
`5,014,125
`7/1992 Von Kohorn,
`5,128,752
`8/1992 Galumbeck et al. .
`5,140,416
`5,262,860 * 11/1993 Fitzpatrick 61 al. ........... .. 348/476 X
`572857278
`2/1994 Holman -
`5,438,355 * 8/1995 Palmer ............................... .. 455/2 X
`
`A system is disclosed for providing direct automated access
`to an online information services provider through an
`address embedded in a video or audio program, commercial
`message, or neWs story. The system operates With video or
`audio programs Which are received through broadcast, cable
`or pre-recorded media, and Which are encoded in either
`analog or digital formats‘ The address of an online infor
`mation provider is encoded in a vertical blanking interval or
`other non-displayed portion of an electronic signal Which
`represents the video or audio program so as not to interfere
`With the Program as displayed or transduced 0“ a television
`or audio Sound System The online information Prom‘er
`address is detected and decoded from the electronic signal
`and used in establishing a direct digital communication link
`to the online information provider. Upon detecting an online
`provider address, the system indicates to the user that more
`information is available. The user may then elect to establish
`a connection With the online information provider by giving
`a simple command, e.g., pushing a special button on a
`remote control. The system then automatically establishes a
`direct digital communication link to the online information
`provider through the address and provides for interactive
`information exchange and processing to permit signals
`received from the online information provider to be dis
`played on a conventional television, transduced on a sound
`System, or also on a
`resolution reproducing System Such
`as a computer monitor, or other reproduction device.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`12 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`VIDEO INPUT
`15
`
`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 3 of 13
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`US 6,233,736 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1995 EZaki -
`5,453,794
`12/1995 Young -
`5,479,268
`1/1996 LOgStOIl 61 a1. .
`5,481,542
`6/1996 Lappington et a1. .
`5,526,035
`7/1996 Majeti 9t 91- -
`5,534,913
`7/1996 Harper-
`5,537,141
`7/1996 Myhwold er a1- -
`5,539,471
`8/1996 Long -
`5,543,849
`9/1996 Reimer et a1. .
`5,553,221
`10/1996 Takahisa .
`5,564,073
`5,570,295 * 10/1996 Isenberg et a1. ............... .. 364/514 R
`5,572,442
`11/1996 Schulhof et a1. .
`5,585,858
`12/1996 Harper 91 a1- -
`5,589,892
`12/1996 K1199 er 91--
`5,604,452 * 2/1997 Dednck .............................. .. 348/6 X
`5,612,730
`3/1997 Lewis .
`5,633,918
`5/1997 Mankovitz .
`
`5,640,193 * 6/1997 Wellner .................................. .. 348/7
`5,643,088
`7/1997 Vaughn et a1. .
`5,649,284
`7/1997 Yoshinobu.
`5,659,366
`8/1997 Kerman .
`576677708
`9/1997 Glass et a1_ _
`576687592
`9/1997 spauldingj H _
`5,694,163 * 12/1997 Harrison ............................... .. 348/13
`5,696,905
`12/1997 Reimer et a1. .
`5,724,091
`3/1998 Freeman et a1. .
`5,724,103
`3/1998 Batchelor.
`577297252
`3/1998 Fraser _
`577347437
`3/1998 Back _
`5,761,602
`6/1998 vvagner et aL _
`577747664
`6/1998 Hidary et aL _
`5,778,181
`7/1998 Hidary et 61..
`5,818,441 * 10/1998 Throckmorton e161. ........ .. 348/13 X
`579127700 * 6/1999 Honey et aL ___________________ " 348/157
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 4 of 13
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15,2001
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`US 6,233,736 B1
`
`“~38
`
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`A
`VIDEOINPUT
`15
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 5 of 13
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15,2001
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`US 6,233,736 B1
`
`111
`
`TO 22
`
`35
`
`[62
`SIGNAL
`CONVERTER ‘
`
`To 40
`
`463
`INDICATOR
`SIGNAL
`GENERATOR
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`USER
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`MODEM 24
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 6 of 13
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15,2001
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 6,233,736 B1
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`m .GI ....................................... -
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`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 7 of 13
`
`US 6,233,736 B1
`
`1
`MEDIA ONLINE SERVICE ACCESS SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/597,432, ?led Feb.
`8, 1996 now US. Pat. No. 5,761,606.
`The present invention relates to an electronic information
`access system and more speci?cally to a media online
`services access system Which provides direct, automated
`access to an online information provider through an address
`embedded in an electronic signal Which carries a program
`segment (e.g., through television, radio, or a pre-recorded
`video or audio medium).
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Heretofore, media receiving and display systems such as
`television and radio receivers have been linked to interactive
`information providers in only very limited Ways. Some
`systems exist Which permit the exchange of digital infor
`mation With the vieWer of a television program over or in
`combination With a television signal, but such systems have
`provided access to a single information source available
`from, for example, the broadcast or cable television operator.
`In such systems, the selection of information services has
`been entirely Within the control of the broadcast or cable
`television operator. At the same time, some television and
`radio broadcasters have begun announcing an Internet
`address for vieWer inquiries during the course of program
`transmission. Access to this Internet address requires the
`user to utiliZe his or her computer. No system yet exists
`Which provides automated and direct user access to online
`information providers through an address embedded in a
`video or audio program signal.
`The recent explosion in the usage of online information
`services through digital netWorks such as the Internet,
`Prodigy (R), America Online (R) and Compuserve (R), for
`example, indicate that the demand for access to readily
`available up-to-date or detailed information is increasing.
`The vieWer of a video program, Whether the program is
`received through broadcast, or cable means or from a
`pre-recorded medium, may often seek to discover more
`information Which relates to a topic presented in the video
`program. Since television programs and recordings are of
`?nite length, they do not contain all the related information
`Which a consumer may Wish, and the information contained
`therein may not be timely. Therefore, it Would be desirable
`for there to be a system Which automatically and directly
`provides access to an online information provider through an
`address Which can be extracted from an audio or video
`program such as a television program, commercial or neWs
`story. With such system, several bene?ts Would be obtained.
`For example, adults and children vieWing an educational or
`historical video program could easily locate additional mate
`rials provided in text or still picture by the producers of the
`video program by accessing more information from the
`producers digitally through the online address. Consumers
`seeking more information about a speci?c advertised prod
`uct could easily ?nd such information by accessing the
`online address of an information provider designated by the
`advertiser. NeWs program vieWers seeking speci?c informa
`tion from neWs stories or more detailed information could
`easily access such information through an online informa
`tion provider designated by the producers of such program.
`The online services access system could be used to
`provide still other bene?ts to consumers, business oWners,
`and the government. For example, an automobile manufac
`turer could make information available directly to a con
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`sumer through an online address embedded in a video
`presentation so the consumer could reach its online site
`quickly to ask for more information, to request a test drive,
`or to purchase parts. Through such system, a grocery store
`could advertise and receive orders through its online site
`from customers for home delivery, or for other shopping
`needs. A catalog retailer could use such system to provide
`rapid access to consumers, after airing a commercial, to its
`catalog in online form and to enable orders to be placed
`readily through its online site. A record company could use
`such system to enable customers to order a recording While
`listening to a song or vieWing a music video. Government
`agencies, e.g., the Internal Revenue Service, military
`recruiters, or health agencies, for example, could use such
`system to provide consumers With readily available infor
`mation folloWing the airing of public service announcements
`regarding regulations, programs, or public health concerns,
`e.g., cancer, AIDS, and heart disease. Educators and students
`could use such system to obtain more detailed or up-to-the
`minute information from online bulletin boards and data
`bases regarding topics presented in a video program, even
`though the program Was recorded some time in the past.
`Systems exist at present in Which digitally encoded infor
`mation is transmitted and received through a modi?ed video
`signal of a conventional television transmission. For
`example, a system is described in US. Pat. No. 4,894,789
`Wherein a digital information signal is transmitted during the
`vertical blanking interval of an analog broadcast television
`signal and decoded and displayed on the television screen in
`addition to the analog broadcast video signal.
`US. Pat. No. 5,128,752 describes a system in Which a
`retailer broadcasts information for reception upon a conven
`tional television set regarding products available through a
`central location. The system includes a decoder for display
`ing the product information on the television screen, and
`also a token generator for producing tokens, at the user’s
`option, to be redeemed When a product is purchased. The
`broadcast information includes data related to token redemp
`tion and value considerations available upon purchase of the
`product.
`US. Pat. No. 5,285,278 describes a system in Which
`coupon-related digital information is received from a trans
`mitted television signal through a decoder. The decoder
`records the coupon-related data for later readout and
`redemption When a product is purchased.
`US. Pat. No. 4,905,094 (“the ’094 Patent”) describes an
`interactive cable television system in Which a subscriber
`tunes to a channel and requests connection to a remote
`location by either dialing a predetermined telephone number
`or accessing a cable television channel. When the system
`identi?es the subscriber the television set displays the frame
`of video (and possibly accompanying audio information)
`describing products or services Which may be vieWed and
`purchased. The ’094 Patent does not describe the extraction
`of encoded address information from the television signal,
`or a system enabling a television program vieWer to access
`online information providers by establishing connection
`automatically through such extracted address.
`Thus, systems exist Which are capable of providing inter
`active user access through a broadcast or cable television
`signal. HoWever, such systems are limited in the access they
`provide to information sources directly available through the
`unitary cable or broadcast provider. By contrast, the present
`invention facilitates direct automated user access to an
`unlimited number of online information providers through
`provider addresses Which are embedded in the electronic
`signal Which carries an video or audio program.
`
`

`
`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 8 of 13
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`US 6,233,736 B1
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`3
`Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
`system for extracting an address of an online information
`provider from an electronic signal Which carries an video or
`audio program.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a system
`Which indicates to the program user (i.e., vieWer or listener),
`after extracting an online information provider address, that
`more information is available.
`Still another object of the invention is to provide an
`automated system Which, upon receipt of a single user
`command, directly and automatically establishes a digital
`connection With an online information provider through an
`address extracted from an electronic signal Which carries a
`video or audio program.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a system
`Which converts information signals received from an online
`information provider to a form capable of being displayed
`on a conventional reproducing system such as a television
`set.
`These and other objects are provided by the media online
`services access system of the present invention.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The media online services access system of the present
`invention provides a system and process Which links video
`and audio program content With online information signal
`content. The system provides heretofore unattained direct
`automated user access from a media program such as a
`received or pre-recorded television or radio (audio) signal to
`an online information provider through a link provided in
`the media program. The access system receives an electronic
`signal representing a video or audio program or a combined
`audio/video program from an available medium (e.g., broad
`cast and cable television and radio, or a pre-recorded
`medium such as a tape or disc). Embedded in the electronic
`signal, for example, in the vertical blanking interval, or
`otherWise encoded in the electronic signal in such manner as
`not to interfere With the displayed image, is an information
`signal representing an electronic address of an online infor
`mation provider. The online information provider can be any
`one of millions of interactive information providers Which
`can be accessed through exchange of digital information
`signals, for example, a publisher Who is available through
`the Internet for interactive transactions. As the media pro
`gram is received for reproduction on a video display or audio
`sound system, the access system extracts the embedded
`electronic address for use in directly accessing the online
`information provider at the selection of the user.
`Preferably, the address is stored at the time of extraction,
`for use in accessing the online information provider at the
`selection of the user. The duration in Which an extracted
`signal address is stored may be relatively short, as in the case
`Where the address is transmitted and refreshed continuously
`or at very short intervals, e.g., once per each frame of a video
`signal, or it may be longer, as When an address is transmitted
`only at selected intervals of a program.
`Upon successfully extracting an electronic address, the
`access system provides a indicator signal to the user that
`more information is available. The indicator signal may take
`the form of a message displayed on a video screen, or other
`indicators such as a light, a sound or a Wireless tactile
`indicator, e.g., vibrating Wristband or clip-on unit.
`Alternatively, the video or audio program may contain a
`logo or message to be displayed for the user at points in the
`program Which coincide With the presence of an embedded
`online information provider address, Which, in such case,
`
`4
`Would eliminate the need for the access system to incorpo
`rate speci?c structure to provide indication to the user, in
`response to successful extraction of an online provider
`address.
`After receiving the indicator signal, if the user desires
`more information, the user may request access to the online
`information provider through a command to the access
`system, e.g., through pushbutton, user control keypad, voice
`command, mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, or other such
`input. Upon receiving such command, the access system
`automatically establishes a digital communication link With
`the online information provider through transmission of a
`signal containing the extracted address. Preferably, upon
`establishment of such communication link, the access sys
`tem enables interactive communications With the online
`information provider.
`In another embodiment of the invention, the extracted
`address can be used Without ?rst being stored, as in cases
`Where a connection already exists betWeen the access system
`and a netWork. Where such connection exists, the access
`system provides an indicator signal to the user upon suc
`cessful extraction of an online information provider address.
`HoWever, in this embodiment, the access system Waits to
`receive a user command to initiate access, and only after
`receiving such command does the access system extract the
`next received address from the electronic signal and use it to
`establish a direct connection to the online information
`provider.
`In a preferred embodiment, after accessing an online
`services provider, the access system receives information
`from the online information provider and processes it for
`reproduction on a video or audio reproducing system. For
`example, the information can be displayed on the television
`screen in place of the television broadcast signal, on a
`separate computer monitor or other display device, or
`together With the television broadcast signal in a picture-in
`picture format. In this Way, the user can fully explore all of
`the related information available from the online informa
`tion provider. Preferably, the access system is provided With
`hardWare to reformat the received information signal for
`display upon an otherWise incompatible system, for
`example, to convert a digitally encoded video signal to an
`analog signal for reproduction on a conventional television
`set. Preferably, the access system is also provided With
`hardWare for receiving and processing user commands for
`transmission to the online information provider for provid
`ing user communication transactions With the provider.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block and schematic diagram illustrating the
`online services access system in accordance With the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block and schematic diagram of an access
`controller used in the online access system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a block and schematic diagram of another
`embodiment of an access controller used With a computer in
`accordance With the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`An online services access system according to the present
`invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the
`online services access system includes access controller 10
`Which incorporates all components necessary to provide
`online access and to access received online information
`
`

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`Case 5:15-cv-02008-EJD Document 81-2 Filed 03/29/16 Page 9 of 13
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`US 6,233,736 B1
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`5
`signals. Access controller 10 is constructed to receive an
`electronic signal 12 from a broadcast, cable or prerecorded
`medium program in conventional form from a video signal
`source 14. Video signal source 14 can be selectively sWit
`chable to provide output from a channel selector 16 con
`nected to a cable or broadcast video input 15 or from a video
`playback system 18 Which may be, for example, a video
`cassette recorder or an analog or digital videodisc device. It
`Will be appreciated that channel selector 16 may be provided
`in a unit separate from playback system 18, or Within access
`controller 10 itself. Alternatively, access controller 10 can be
`constructed to receive and decode program signals at radio
`frequency as received from a broadcast or cable video
`source, or as doWnconverted to baseband, by for example,
`the front end receiving circuitry of a video cassette recorder
`or digital video disc device. It Will also be appreciated that
`the function and results provided by access controller 10 are
`not dependent upon Which of many available playback
`systems is connected thereto, Whether such systems are
`analog or digital in format, or Whether such playback
`systems operate upon videotape, audiotape, or disc media.
`Access controller 10 is connected via a primary output
`signal line 36 to a conventional reproducing system 22 such
`as a television set, and is optionally connected through a
`second output signal line 38 to a high resolution reproducing
`system 40, such as a computer monitor. In addition, access
`controller 10 is connected to a public or private netWork 30
`through an information signal carrier 32, e. g., telephone line,
`coaxial cable, ?ber optic link, cellular, radiotelephone, or
`satellite link. NetWork 30, Which may be any private or
`public local area netWork or Wide area netWork such as an
`office netWork, company netWork, public Internet or circuit
`sWitched netWork is used to route address and information
`signals betWeen access controller 10 and a selected one of a
`plurality of online information providers 34a, 34b, 34c, .
`.
`.
`3411. Access controller 10 receives from the online informa
`tion provider, through netWork 30, information signals hav
`ing a video or audio program content and selectively
`provides, through appropriate conventional processing, a
`conventional program signal or a high resolution signal for
`reproduction upon standard reproducing system 22, or high
`resolution reproducing system 40, respectively.
`The internal construction of access controller 10 is
`described With reference to FIG. 2. Access controller 10 is
`provided With an address extractor 42 Which receives the
`electronic signal 12. Address extractor 42 includes hardWare
`and/or softWare to detect, decode and store an address Which
`has been embedded in a video or audio program signal.
`Among the Ways Which exist to detect an address signal
`transmitted in conjunction With an analog video signal,
`address extractor 42 may be constructed to detect a digital
`address Which is transmitted during a vertical blanking
`interval or other portion of a conventional video signal in
`such manner that displayed image quality is not affected. For
`example, the address signal can be transmitted during a
`portion of a video signal such as in the vertical interval, in
`sync or through changes in the luminance or chroma signals.
`Address extraction 42 is constructed to electronically store,
`e.g., via a register or memory device (not shoWn), the
`detected address for use in accessing the online services
`provider at the selection of the user. The address signal may
`be transmitted at very short intervals, e.g., once for each
`frame of a video program such that storing and refreshing of
`the extracted address signal occurs at very short intervals.
`Alternatively, the address signal may be transmitted at
`longer intervals, i.e., at discrete intervals in a program such
`that the duration in Which an extracted address signal is
`stored is much longer.
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`In such cases in Which video or audio program is encoded
`digitally, address extractor 42 may be constructed in any of
`several existing Ways to detect an address signal Which is
`received in conjunction With a digitally encoded video or
`audio electronic signal 12. The details of the construction of
`address extractor 42 are Well knoWn in the art and need not
`be described in further detail.
`Address extractor 42 has an output connection to an
`indicator signal generator 46. The indicator signal generator
`46 signals the user that more information relating to the
`program is available, such information being accessible
`through an electronic address When address extractor 42 has
`decoded such address from the electronic signal 12. Indica
`tor signal generator 46 causes, for example, a video image
`20 (e. g., picture Within picture, logo, or icon) to be displayed
`With the video program signal on reproducing system 22 to
`signal the user that an address of an online provider has been
`stored and that additional information is available. Instead,
`or in addition to such visual display, indicator signal gen
`erator 46 may signal the user by activating a light 24 or other
`visual indicator located on an exterior panel of access
`controller 10 or of reproducing system 22. Alternatively,
`indicator signal generator may cause a sound to be produced
`on a speaker 26 of reproducing system 22, or by a speaker
`28 provided in access controller 10. Here again, the design
`of indicator signal generator 46 is Well knoWn in the art.
`Access controller 10 is provided With a user input inter
`face 56 for receiving a user command Which automatically
`initiates establishment of a direct digital communication link
`to an online information provider through an address
`detected from the electronic signal 12 by address extractor
`42 and permits interactive communication betWeen the user
`and the online information provider. It Will be appreciated
`that many conventional input interfaces are Well suited for
`use as user interface 56 because of their compatibility With
`conventional television and audio sound systems. Among
`such input interfaces are infrared, radio and audio frequency
`interfaces Which decode single key or multiple key sequence
`input from a Wired or Wireless remote user control.
`Preferably, user input interface 56 detects When a special
`purpose button on a remote user control has been pressed
`and provides a responsive signal Which automatically causes
`the stored address of the online provider to be retrieved and
`transmitted. User input interface 56 can also be constructed
`to detect When a special sequence of keys has been pressed
`on a conventional user control (e.g., a sequence such as
`“ENTER,” “ENTER,” “+VOLUME”) and to enable inter
`active communication With the online information provider.
`Alternatively, user input interface 56 can be implemented by
`any appropriate microcomputer type user interface, e.g.,
`mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, trackball, joystick,
`pushbutton, eraser head, or other such device. Preferably,
`user interface 56 is constructed to provide and receive
`transmission of digital information signals through modem
`54 to the online information provider, thereby enabling
`interactive user access With the online provider for conduct
`ing detailed information searches, conducting transactions,
`and sending or posting messages to the accessed provider.
`Access controller 10 is provided With a modem 54 for
`transmitting and receiving digital information signals
`betWeen access controller 10 and public sWitching netWork
`30 through an information signal carrier line 32. Modem 54
`demodulates incoming information signals and outputs them
`to processor 58 Which extracts a video and/or an audio signal
`38. Preferably, access controller 10 includes a signal con
`verter 62 for adjusting or converting an incompatible signal
`for display upon conventional reproducing system 22, such
`
`

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`US 6,233,736 B1
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`7
`as a television set, either in place of the television signal,
`superimposed over the television signal, or in picture-in
`picture format, as controlled by the user. Alternatively,
`processor 58 provides the video signal on line 38 to a high
`resolution reproducing system 40, such as a computer moni
`tor. Indicator signal generator 46 may also incorporate a
`sWitch (not shoWn) Which automatically sWitches off the
`primary output signal 36 Whenever a signal appears at the
`output of signal converter 62. In this manner, information
`signals received from online information providers Will be
`automatically displayed on conventional reproducing sys
`tem 22 in place of the ordinarily displayed video signal 36.
`Processor 58 can also receive the input video or audio
`electronic program signal through a line 55 output from
`address extractor 42 (although direct connection of the
`electronic signal line 12 is possible). In this manner, pro
`cessor 58 may be constructed to operate upon the video or
`audio signal in conjunction With information signals
`received from an online information provider to generate a
`“picture Within picture” signal for display upon conventional
`reproducing system 22.
`The operation of the system Will noW be described. An
`electronic signal 12, such as a signal from a video or audio
`program from channel selector 16 or playback system 18,
`e.g., prerecorded videotape, or an analog or digital video
`disc, containing an embedded signal representing the elec
`tronic address of an online information provider in the
`blanking interval or other non-displayed portion of the
`electronic signal 12 is received by address extractor 42.
`From the electronic signal 12, address extractor 42 detects,
`decodes and stores a digital address of the online services
`provider, if any such address is embedded therein. If an
`address is successfully decoded and stored, address extractor
`42 activates, through signal line 44, indicator signal genera
`tor 46. Indicator signal generator 46 then produces an
`indicator signal and overlays or encodes it onto a conven
`tional program signal 36 to be displayed or transduced by
`conventional reproducing system 22. Alternatively, indicator
`signal generator 46 produces a signal on line 50 Which
`activates a special purpose indicator, e.g., illuminating a
`light 24 or producing a sound on a speaker 28 of access
`controller 10.
`If the user Wants to access the online information
`provider, the user gives such command to access controller
`10 by, for example, pushing a special button on his or her
`remote control device. The remote control device transmits
`a command signal to user interface 56 Which receives the
`command signal. User interface 56 in turn, produces a signal
`Which is applied to address extractor 42 to retrieve the stored
`address of the online information provider. Under appropri
`ate softWare or hardWare control, the address is transmitted
`via modem 54 over netWork 30 to an online information
`provider, e.g., 34c.
`Once access to the online information provider has been
`established, access controller 10 can automatically receive
`digital information signals through modem 54 from the
`online information provider. Received information signals
`are operated upon by processor 58 for displaying upon
`conventional TV reproducing system 22 or high resolution
`reproducing system 40, e.g., a computer monitor or other
`display device. Preferably, received signals Which are inca
`pable of being directly displayed upon conventional repro
`ducing system 22, e.g., a conventional televisio