U.S. Application No. 08/279,424 INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`USP 7181758
`Field of the Invention
`Description
`
`This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/079,257 filed Feb. 19, 2002, now
`abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/699,022 filed Oct. 27, 2000, now
`abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/480,226 filed Jan. 10, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,347,215, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/939,368 filed Sep. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,021,307, which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/644,838 filed May 10, 1996,
`now abandoned, which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/279,424 filed Jul. 25,
`1994, now abandoned. All these patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`This invention relates generally to information distribution, and more particularly to distributing
`information using a broadcast channel and a bi-directional communication channel.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Recent advancements in modem and computer technology allow large amount of digital data to
`be transmitted electronically. A number of information providers (such as newspaper and
`magazine publishers) and on-line information distributors have formed partnerships to deliver
`newspaper and other information on-line. In this system, a subscriber uses a computer and a
`modem to connect, through a regular phone line, to the computer of an on- lineon-line
`information provider. The subscriber can retrieve information, including newspaper articles,
`stored in the computer of the information provider.
`
`On-line delivery of newspaper has many advantages. For example, the information can be
`updated throughout the day while the printed version is printed only once or twice a day. Further,
`it is possible to do text-based searches on the information. However, it is found that on-line
`deliver of newspaper and other information is slow. For example, a subscriber has to wait many
`seconds for a newspaper article to be delivered. The quality of the electronic newspaper is low.
`For example, in order to reduce storage and communication requirements, graphic images
`appeared in the printed version are not universally supplied in the on-line version of newspaper.
`One of the reasons for such poor performance is the limited bandwidth of communication
`channels used by on-line information distributors. Another reason is that information is centrally
`processed by the computer at the site of the information distributor, with the result that each
`subscriber only gets a small slice of the time of the computer.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention uses two channels to deliver digital information: a broadcast channel and a
`bi-directional channel. The broadcast channel is used to deliver the bulb of the digital
`information to subscribers. The amount of information delivered is preferably sufficient to
`satisfy the needs of a large number of subscribers so that they do not have to obtain additional
`information using the bi-directional channel. The broadcasted information is stored on fast
`storage media located at subscriber sites. As a result, search and retrieval of the broadcasted
`information is quick. Further, the broadcasted information is processed locally using a dedicated
`on-site processor instead of relying on the computers of the information distributors. As a result,
`the load on the computers of the information distributors is reduced. If the subscribers desire to
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`Ex. 1030 - Page 1 of 6
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`Groupon, Inc.
`Exhibit 1030
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`

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`receive additional information relating to the broadcasted information, the bi-directional
`communication channel is used to transmit the request and the requested information.
`
`The distribution costs of broadcast channels are typically much lower than that of a bi-directional
`communication channel. Consequently, the major portion of information is delivered using low
`cost distribution channels. For a large number of subscribers, the broadcasted information will
`provide all the information they normally need. Thus, expensive bi·directionalbi-directional
`communication channels are used only occasionally.
`
`These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood by
`referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing an information distribution system of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2A shows a newspaper article as displayed on a monitor of the information distribution
`system shown in FIG. 1.
`
`FIG. 2B shows the contents of the broadcast information which corresponds to the newspaper
`article of FIG. 2A.
`
`FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the information distribution system of the present
`invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information distribution system 100 in accordance with the
`present invention. In this embodiment, system 100 is designed to electronically distribute
`newspaper. It should be pointed out that system 100 can also be used advantageously to
`distribute other types of information. System 100 contains a plurality of subscriber units (such as
`units 102 and 104) each connected to a bi-directional communication channel (e.g., telephone
`connections 106 and 108 coupled to units 102 and 104, respectively) and a satellite transponder
`110 for broadcasting digital data to these subscriber units. Telephone connections 106 and 108
`(which could be line-based or wireless) are coupled to a central database 109,. In system 100,
`satellite transponder 110 is used to broadcast the content of a newspaper to the subscriber units
`while telephone connections 106 and 108 are used to provide additional information (stored in
`central database 109) to subscriber units 102 and 104, respectively, on a demand basis.
`
`The structure of these subscriber units are substantially identical; consequently, only one of these
`units, such as unit 102, is described in detail. Unit 102 contains an antenna 116 for receiving
`broadcast signals from satellite transponder 110, a signal/data processor 118 for performing
`signal and data processing functions, a monitor 120 for displaying the electronic newspaper, and
`an input device 122 (such as a keyboard and/or a mouse).
`
`Signal/data processor 118 contains a transponder interface 132 for processing transponder signal
`received from antenna 116. Transponder interface 132 typically contains a low noise receiver for
`receiving high frequency (e.g., C or Ku band) transponder signal and a “universal data interface”
`for converting the transponder signal to digital data,. The retrieved data is stored in nonvolatile
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`storage 134, such as a hard disk or solid state flash memory. Preferably, satellite transponder 110
`broadcasts the newspaper data at predetermined times. Thus, a real-time clockdock 136 is
`preferably used to turn on interface 132 at the predetermined times,. Processor 118 contains a
`microcomputer 140 which coordinates the operation of clockdock 136, nonvolatile storage 134,
`and interface 132. Processor 118 also contains a communication interface 142 for sending and
`receiving digital data from central database 109 through telephone connection 106.
`
`The time for broadcast is preferably chosen when communication load of transponder UO110 is
`at a low level (e.g., around mid-night). As a result, the cost of information delivery is low.
`Alternatively, the time of broadcasting is chosen by transponder 110 because it knows when
`communication load is light. In this case, transponder 110 first sends a signal to signal/data
`processor U8118 for alerting processor 118 to receive and process the newspaper information.
`
`A user can use the input device 122 and monitor 120 to read the content of the electronic
`newspaper stored in nonvolatile storage 134. In this embodiment, the complete content of the
`newspaper is stored in nonvolatile storage 134. The term “complete content” means that the user
`is able to read the newspaper without relying on information stored in central database 109
`(although other embodiments may deliver less than the complete content). In this aspect, system
`100 functions in a similar way as the distribution of a conventional printed newspaper. However,
`the digital data of the electronic newspaper delivered by satellite transponder 110 preferably
`contains linkage reference which allows fast retrieval of additional information from central
`database 109.
`
`If the newspaper information received from satellite transponder 110 is sufficient to satisfy the
`needs of a user, signal/data processor 118 will not activate telephone connection 106,. However,
`if the user wishes to receive additional information relating to an item mentioned in the
`electronic newspaper (e,.g”., by selecting at the item using the input device), process 118 will
`retrieve the information stored in central database 109 using the embedded linkage reference.
`
`In system 100 of the present invention, the complete content of the electronic newspaper
`(including graphics and other multimedia contents, if delivered) is stored in nonvolatile storage
`134, which has fast access time. Further, a dedicated processor (i.e., microcomputer 140) is used
`to process newspaper information. On the other hand, prior art on-line newspaper distribution
`systems rely on modem to deliver the content of the newspaper stored in a central site,. Further,
`the processor in the central site has to serve many users in delivering the newspaper,. As a result,
`system 100 has superior performance compared to the prior art on- lineon-line newspaper
`delivery systems.
`
`If it is desirable to limit circulation of the newspaper to a certain class of subscribers only (e,.g.,
`paid subscribers), the data transmitted by transponder 110 could be encrypted. As a result, only
`subscribers who have a decryption key are able to read the newspaper,. In the case,
`microcomputer 140 also performs decryption functions.
`
`FIG. 2A shows an example of a portion of a newspaper article as seen on monitor 120. In FIG.
`2A, the terms which a user may obtain additional information are underlined (or highlighted in
`other ways, such as setting in different colors, depending on the choice of the
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`publisherpublishers). If desired, the user may select these terms using a pointing device, such as
`a mouse, and signal/data processor 118 will obtain the additional information from central
`database 109.
`
`FIG. 2B shows the same portion in FIG. 2A as transmitted by transponder 110 (for simplicity,
`the embedded formatting codes, such as center, bold, etc., are not shown). Each of the terms
`underlined in FIG. 2A are enclosed by a special symbol (e.g., the “ϒ’’’Y” symbol) and followed
`by a linkage reference enclosed by another special symbol (e.g., the “__X” symbol). These
`symbols are invisible to the users and is recognizable only by microcomputer 140.
`
`When an underlined term in FIG. 2A is selected by a user, microcomputer 140 extracts the
`linkage reference and transmits it to central database 109. The linkage reference allows central
`database 109 to retrieve the necessary information quickly without doing extensive searches. As
`a result, the response time of system 100 is fast. The retrieved information can itself contains
`linkage references and can be searched.
`
`If the speed of searching and retrieving data by central database 109 is fast, it may not be
`necessary to include linkage reference in the information broadcasted by transponder 110. In this
`case, the user selects (e.g., using the mouse) words and terms he/she is interested in. Signal/data
`processor 118 transmits the selected items to central database 109, which searches for matches in
`its database. Matched information is sent to subscriber unit 102 for processing.
`
`The bi -directionalbi-directional channel also allows updating of the broadcasted information.
`There is typically a time difference between the broadcast and display of information. New
`information gathered during this time difference can be stored in central database 109 and later
`transmitted to signal/data processor 118.
`
`In this embodiment of the present invention, satellite transponder 110 is used as the vehicle to
`electronically broadcast newspaper. However, other broadcast distribution methods can be used.
`In the present invention, broadcast is defined as one-to-many distribution of information. The
`broadcast distribution channels do not have to be electrical. For example, the present invention
`allows the distribution of CDROMs encoded with digital information to the subscriber sites. In
`the case of electrical broadcast communication channels, both wired and wireless can be used.
`Preferably, unidirectional channels are used for broadcast because of their low cost; however, the
`present invention does not preclude the use of bi- directionalbi-directional communication
`channels (such as telephone lines) as means for distributing broadcast (i.e., one to many)
`information.
`
`Current technology allows the size of antenna 116 to be as small as 2 feet. The costs of antenna
`116 and transponder interface 132 is already low enough to be within the reach of small business
`or a typical household. The newspaper publisher has to pay for the use of the transponder.
`However, the costs is comparable to the printing and distribution costs of printed newspaper. It is
`anticipated that the costs of the newspaper distribution system in accordance with the present
`invention will be lowered as the number of subscribers increases.
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`FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a newspaper distribution system 200 of the present
`invention. System 200 contains a satellite transponder 210, an earth station 214, and a plurality
`of subscriber units, such as units 222 and 224. Transponder 210 functions in a similar way as
`transponder 110 of FIG. 1 and subscriber units 222 and 224 function in a similar way as
`subscriber units 102 and 104 of FIG. 1. Earth station 214 receives digital data transmitted by
`transponder 210 using an antenna 216. The data is distributed to subscriber units 222 and 224 via
`wired communication channel 228, such as cable and optic fiber. Other earth stations could be
`placed in strategic locations throughout the country to serve their respective subscribers in a
`similar manner as earth station 214 and subscriber units 222 and 224. As a result, a large
`geographic area can be served simultaneously by satellite transponder 210. The advantage of this
`embodiment is that the equipment costs incurred by the subscriber units are low.
`
`In some locations, it may not be desirable to use wired communication channel to link an earth
`station to subscribers. In such case, wireless communication channel could be used. FIG. 3
`shows an earth station 234 which receives transponder signal from transponder 210 using an
`antenna 236. Earth station 234 in turn broadcasts the digital data to its subscribers, such as
`subscriber units 242 and 244.
`
`In one embodiment of system 200, teletext technology is used to link earth station 234 and
`subscriber units 242 and 244. Thus, earth station 234 could be located adjacent to a television
`transmission station. The digital data received by earth station 234 can be integrated to the
`vertical blanking interval of a TV signal, which is broadcasted using an antenna 238. Subscriber
`units 242 and 244 receive the signal using antennas 239, and 240, respectively. The digital data
`is then retrieved. Various improvements and refinements of the teletext technology are well
`known and can be incorporated into system 200.
`
`It should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that systems 100 and 200 are not limited to the
`distribution of newspaper. Further, electronic newspapers of the future may contains contents
`which are not available in the printed version, such as video and other multimedia compositions.
`Other information, such as magazines, graphic images, electronic mails, computer games,
`multimedia work, or interactive movie, could also be advantageously distribution using a system
`similar to systems 100 and 200. For example, if it is desirable to distribute interactive movie, the
`non-interactive portion can be broadcasted while the interactive portion is delivered using a bi-
`directional channel.
`
`There has thus shown and described a novel information distribution system. Many changes,
`modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will become
`apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying
`drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, uses, and applications arcare covered by
`the scope of this invention which is limited only by the appended claims.
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`Summary report:
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