FILE HISTORY
`FILE HISTORY
`US 6,233,736
`US 6,233,736
`
`6,233,736
`PATENT:
`PATENT:
`6,233,736
`INVENTORS: Wolzien, Thomas R.
`INVENTORS: Wolzien, Thomas R.
`
`TITLE:
`TITLE:
`
`Media online service access system and
`Media online service access system and
`method
`method
`
`APPLICATION
`APPLICATION
`NO:
`NO:
`FILED:
`FILED:
`ISSUED:
`ISSUED:
`
`US199854740A
`US199854740A
`
`03 APR 1998
`03 APR 1998
`15 MAY 2001
`15 MAY 2001
`
`COMPILED:
`COMPILED:
`
`21 MAY 2015
`21 MAY 2015
`
`NFLE Ex. 1002
`
`NFLE 1002 - Page 1
`
`

`

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`PAT WI" NUMBEIR
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`6233738
`1111111111
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`6233735
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`U.S. UTILI
`I
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`SCAN D
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`AtINTAPPLICATION
`PATENT DATE
`/ 52631.
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`MAY
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`[ SECTOR CLASS
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`-
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`SUBCLASS
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`ART UNIT
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`EXAMINER
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`atici/
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`FICHE
`FILED WITH: 1:1 DISK (CFIP)
`(mom:4 in poclail an VII lasidnilyp)
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`PREPARED AND APPROVED FOR ISSUE
`
`ISSUING CLASSIFICATION
`' CROSS REFERENCE(S). — - — —
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`-
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`ORIGINAL
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`FII
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`CLASS
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`Sri
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`SUBCLASS
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`INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
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`/41,
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`El Continued on!Issue Slip Inside no Jeael
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`.'
`ii...TZRIgiiiiiAL
`11. DISCLAIMER /---
`..,"
`OCL I OS qiLio
`0,) TM term of ihts patent
`subsequent to
`,
`'
`Ms been disclaimed.
`
`(date)
`
`IP-r-- Thi arm of this patent
`not errand beyond lop gni:111[9n date
`01 u.s Patent. HO. 4 i b (.11.,
`
`Sheets Dmg.
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`DRAWINGS
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`.-
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`Figs. Drvg.
`....,/
`_15
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`Print Fj,gf
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`,?" „/
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`-----
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`________Q
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`{Ani9lest EzurnInv)
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`PO)
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`JOHN
`MAMMA
`,,./
`AVIVa EXAMINER/
`
`—3F -/ :-?..Z" '-' ii 40
`ll,time.y.Examasery
`•
`Maw)
`
`; CLAIMS ALLOWED
`...,--"
`arint tlaim..joriD.G.
`Total cvaims
`--
`/2,„,---
`.1-
`_...
`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED
`
`Ifs
`
`---/-it _06
`Amount `?"`
`2.01/ -
`
`"s
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`
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` — ,
`
`ti
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`ISE di FEE
`/
`Date Paki
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`r:
`
`El c) The terminal
`months el
`this paten! have been disclaimed.
`
`•
`
`ISSUE ATCH
`
`BER
`
`I 01.11
`ll.vgyl Ins
`
`a Examiner)
`
`,I
`
`la}
`
`WARNING:
`1
`The Informallen disclosed herald may he resirleled 1.241aultiorized"blaciosure may ha pebbibIllerl by the Wilted Staten Codegilie 35, Sections SU, lel and 366.
`Possession oulshie the U.S. Patens & Trademark 0 lice Is restiteled in authorized employees and conirectors or_ik r„., ;
`5 .4 No
`
`Fenn PTO-435q
`(Rey_ lOta
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`4
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`(LABEL AREA)
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`losiso"-11',W0.(mt0i
`1NFLE Ex. 1002 - Page 1
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`(FACE)
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`NFLE 1002 - Page 2
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`

`

`6,233,736
`6,233,736
`
`MEDIA ONLINE SERVICE ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD
`MEDIA ONLINE SERVICE ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`Transaction History
`Transaction History
`
`Transaction Description
`Date
`Transaction Description
`Date
`Preliminary Amendment
`04-03-1998
`Preliminary Amendment
`04-03-1998
`Initial Exam Team nn
`04-07-1998
`Initial Exam Team nn
`04-07-1998
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security Review
`04-30-1998
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security Review
`04-30-1998
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security Review
`04-30-1998
`IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security Review
`04-30-1998
`06-17-1998 Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`06-17-1998
`07-02-1998
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`07-02-1998
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`07-02-1998
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`07-02-1998
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`03-24-1999 Application Dispatched from OIPE
`Application Dispatched from OIPE
`03-24-1999
`09-09-1999 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`09-09-1999 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`09-09-1999 Non-Final Rejection
`09-09-1999 Non-Final Rejection
`11-30-1999 Change in Power of Attorney (May Include Associate POA)
`Change in Power of Attorney (May Include Associate POA)
`11-30-1999
`12-21-1999
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`12-21-1999
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`12-21-1999
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`12-21-1999
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`01-10-2000
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`01-10-2000
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`01-10-2000
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`01-10-2000
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`03-09-2000
`Terminal Disclaimer Filed
`Terminal Disclaimer Filed
`03-09-2000
`03-09-2000 Affidavit(s) (Rule 131 or 132) or Exhibit(s) Received
`Affidavit(s) (Rule 131 or 132) or Exhibit(s) Received
`03-09-2000
`03-09-2000 Response after Non-Final Action
`03-09-2000
`Response after Non-Final Action
`03-09-2000 Request for Extension of Time - Granted
`03-09-2000
`Request for Extension of Time - Granted
`03-30-2000 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`03-30-2000 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`06-05-2000 Non-Final Rejection
`Non-Final Rejection
`06-05-2000
`06-05-2000
`Terminal Disclaimer Approved in TC
`Terminal Disclaimer Approved in TC
`06-05-2000
`06-07-2000 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`06-07-2000 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`10-06-2000 Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`10-06-2000
`10-27-2000
`Examiner Interview Summary Record (PTOL - 413)
`10-27-2000
`Examiner Interview Summary Record (PTOL - 413)
`12-05-2000 Response after Non-Final Action
`12-05-2000
`Response after Non-Final Action
`12-08-2000 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`12-08-2000 Date Forwarded to Examiner
`12-19-2000 Mail Notice of Allowance
`12-19-2000 Mail Notice of Allowance
`12-19-2000 Notice of Allowance Data Verification Completed
`12-19-2000 Notice of Allowance Data Verification Completed
`02-27-2001 Workflow - File Sent to Contractor
`02-27-2001 Workflow - File Sent to Contractor
`03-08-2001
`Issue Fee Payment Verified
`03-08-2001
`Issue Fee Payment Verified
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Finished
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Finished
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Matched with File at Contractor
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Matched with File at Contractor
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Received at Contractor
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Received at Contractor
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Sent to Contractor
`03-08-2001 Workflow - Drawings Sent to Contractor
`04-11-2001 Workflow - Complete WF Records for Drawings
`04-11-2001 Workflow - Complete WF Records for Drawings
`04-15-2001 Application Is Considered Ready for Issue
`04-15-2001
`Application Is Considered Ready for Issue
`04-27-2001
`Issue Notification Mailed
`04-27-2001
`Issue Notification Mailed
`05-15-2001 Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed
`05-15-2001
`Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed
`10-09-2003 Correspondence Address Change
`10-09-2003
`Correspondence Address Change
`11-14-2003
`Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`11-14-2003
`Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`05-02-2004 Correspondence Address Change
`05-02-2004
`Correspondence Address Change
`05-18-2004 Correspondence Address Change
`05-18-2004
`Correspondence Address Change
`01-19-2006 Correspondence Address Change
`01-19-2006
`Correspondence Address Change
`01-25-2008 Change in Power of Attorney (May Include Associate POA)
`Change in Power of Attorney (May Include Associate POA)
`01-25-2008
`01-25-2008 Correspondence Address Change
`01-25-2008
`Correspondence Address Change
`12-27-2013
`Petition Requesting Trial
`12-27-2013
`Petition Requesting Trial
`06-24-2014 Request for Trial Granted
`06-24-2014
`Request for Trial Granted
`01-26-2015
`Termination or Final Written Decision
`Termination or Final Written Decision
`01-26-2015
`
`NFLE Ex. 1002 - Page 2
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`NFLE 1002 - Page 3
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`C..10526. U _ S PTO
`09/054740
`11111111111111MINNIINII
`03/ 98
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`1.
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`wets.
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`__PATENT APPLICATION
`11111 EIiMMINIME011111
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`114MALS
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`CONTENTS
`Date rem, ived
`(Incl. C. of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
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`ISSUE SLIP Sl'APLE AREA (for
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`cross references)
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`POSITION
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`INITIALS
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`ID NO.
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`DATE
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`FEE DETERMINATION
`0J.P.E. CLASSIFIER
`FORMALITY REVIEW
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`INDEX OF CLAIMS
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`1"
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`Rejected
`Allowed
`— (Through numeral) Canceled
`2_
`Restricted
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`...... .............
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`Interferente
`Appeal
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`51
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`If more than 150 claims or 10 actions
`staple additional sheet here
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`(LEFT INSIDE)
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`NFLE 1002 - Page 5
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`'
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`SEARCHED
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`T.. 313,,,
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`0.114';
`SEARCH NOTES
`(INCLUDING SEARCH STRATEGY)
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`Date
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`Exmr.
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`6,10dX,
`13, y40,
`510, ybr,
`v
`V.73, 1,17
`ti 7,, SO,
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`j2,' 17..3
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`7/0o
`74°:
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`
`unvw
`
`INTERFERENCE SEARCHED
`Exmr.
`Sub. / Date
`
`Class
`
`.2?-f-
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`t3-1, 1,2.,
`//O
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`A A Or y--v—
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`(RIGHT OUTSIDE)
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`3,11J1111J111 11111 111111 101 1111 1111 11,1111
`US 6,233,736 B1
`*May 15, 2001
`
`0,
`
`111111 1111111111111111 1111111
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Wolzien
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(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)
`
`( • ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/054,740
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 3, 1998
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 08/597,432, Bled on Feb. 8,
`1996, now Pat. No. 5,761,606.
`
` HO4N 7/173
`Int. Cl."
`(51)
` 725/110: 725/112; 725/133
`(52) U.S. Cl.
` 348/6, 10, 12,
`(58) Field of Search
`348/13, 460. 461, 465, 468, 469, 473. 476-479,
`563, 564, 565; 455/3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3;
`709/217-219; 725/105, 109, 110, 111, 112,
`113, 131, 133; HO4N 7/00, 7/10, 7/14
`
`(56)
`
`References•Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1/1990 Yee.
`4,894,789
`2/1990 Pocock et al..
`4,905,094
`5/1991 Pocock et al..
`5,014,125
`7/1992 Von Kohom
`5,128,752
`8/1992 Galumbedc et al..
`5,140,416
`5,262,860 • 11/1993 Fitzpatrick el al.
`5,285,278
`2/1994 Holman .
`5,438,355 • 8/1995 Palmer
`
` 348/476 X
`
` 455/2 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6/1997 (cip
`2/1997 (E
`.
`6/1994 (WO) •
`3/1996 (WO) .
`5/1996 (WO) .
`1/1997 (WO) .
`7/1997 (WO) .
`
`19545::2
`0757485
`WO 9413107
`W0960727
`W09613124
`WO 9702699
`W09727546
`
`Primary Examiner John W. Miller
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dorsey & Whitney LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`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 arc 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 on a television
`or audio sound system. The online information provider
`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 high resolution reproducing system such
`as a computer monitor, or other reproduction device.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`12 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`NFLE EL 1002 - Page 6
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`US 6,233,736 B1
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`911995 Ezaki
`5,453,794
`12/1995 Young .
`5,479,268
`1/1996 Legatos et al..
`5,481,542
`6/1996 Lappington et al.
`5,526,035
`7/1996 Majeti et al..
`5,534,913
`7/19% Harper
`5537,141
`7(1996 Myhrvold et al.
`5,539,471
`8/1996 Long .
`5,543,849
`9/1996 Reimer et al..
`5,553,221
`10/1996 Takahisa .
`5,564,073
`5570,295 • 10/1996 Isenberg et al. ......
`11/1996 Schulhof el al..
`5,572,442
`12/1996 Harper et al..
`5,585,858
`12/1996 Knee et al..
`5,589,892
`5,604,452 • 2/1997 Dedrick
`3/1997 Lewis .
`5,612;730
`5,633,918
`5/1997 Mankovitz
`
`364/514 R
`
`
`
`348/6 X
`
`Wollner
`5,640,193 • 6/1997
`Vaughn et al..
`5,643,088
`7/1997
`7/1997 Yoshinobu
`5,649,284
`8f1997 Kerman .
`5,659,366
`5,667,708
`9/1997 Glass cl al..
`9/1997 Spaulding, 11 .
`5,668,592
`5,694,163 • 12/1997 Harrison
`12/1997 Reinter et al..
`5,696,905
`3/1998 Freeman et al..
`5,724,091
`3/1998 Batchelor •
`5,724,103
`3/1998 Fraser.
`5,729,252
`5,734,437
`3/1998 Back .
`6/1998 Wagner et al..
`5,761,602
`6/1998 Hidary et al..
`5,774,664
`7/1998 Hidary el al..
`5,778,181
`5,818,441 • 10/1998 Throckmorton et al.
`5,912,700 • 6/1999 Honey et al.
`
`
`
`348/7
`
` 348/13
`
` 348/13 X
` 348/157
`
`• cited by examiner
`
`NFLE Ex. 1002 - Page 7
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`NFLE 1002 - Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
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`US 6,233,736 81
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`26
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`(40
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`r36
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`—38
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`r--14
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`r
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`1
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`12
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`ACCESS
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`24---ygs
`2t '//11\
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`8
`U
`
`VIDEO INPUT
`15
`
`FIG. 1
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`NFLE Ex. 1002 - Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 6,233,736 81
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`14
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`TO 22
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`36
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`46-\
`IND GATOR
`SIGNAL
`GENERATOR
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`1-62
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`SIGNAL
`CONVERTER
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`To 40
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`—38
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`PROCESSOR
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`57)
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`ADDRESS
`EXTRACTOR
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`5
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`42}
`8
`
`J2
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`24
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`I
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`/i1\\
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`561
`USER
`INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 2
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` 58
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`(32
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`MODEM
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`54
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`iS 9£ecCt9 Sll
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`FIG. 3
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`16e
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`L156
`INTERFACE
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`USER
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`28
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`157--
`(152
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`EXTRACTOR
`ADDRESS
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`INTERFACE
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`(14
`44
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`/65
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`450'
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`GENERATOR
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`SIGNAL
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`TO 22
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`150
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`US 6,233.736 B1
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`MEDIA ONLINE SERVICE ACCESS SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
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`This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/597,432, filed Feb.
`8, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,606.
`The present invention relates to an electronic information
`access system and more specifically 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 10
`segment (e.g., through television, radio, or a pre-recorded
`video or audio medium).
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`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 ► o 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
`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
`finite length, they do not contain all the related information
`which a consumer may wish, and the information contained 45
`therein may not be timely. Therefore, it would be desirable
`for there to be a system which automatically and directly
`provides access lo 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 50
`story. With such system, several benefits would be obtained.
`For example, adults and children viewing an educational or
`historical video program could easily locale additional mate-
`rials provided in text or still picture by the producers of the
`video program by accessing more information from the 55
`producers digitally through the online address. Consumers
`seeking more information about a specific advertised prod-
`uct could easily find such information by accessing the
`online address of an information provider designated by the
`advertiser. News program viewers seeking specific informa- 60
`lion 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 benefits to consumers, business owners, as
`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 modified video
`signal of a conventional television transmission. For
`example, a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,789
`wherein a digital information signal is transmitted during the
`vertical blanking interval of on analog broadcast television
`signal and decoded and displayed on the television screen in
`addition to the analog broadcast video signal.
`U.S. 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.
`U.S. 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.
`U.S. 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
`identities 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 ate 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.
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`US 6,233,736 B1
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`would eliminate the need for the access system to incorpo-
`rate specific 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
`10 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-
`15 tern enables interactive communications with the online
`information provider.
`In another embodiment of the invention, the extracted
`address can be used without first being stored, as in cases
`where a connection already exists between the access system
`20 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
`25 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
`35 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 informs-
`ao Lion 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 conven a digitally encoded video signal to an
`analog signal for reproduction on a conventional television
`45 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.
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`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.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENI1ON
`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
`mogiaut which coincide with the pieseuce of an embedded
`online information provider address, which, in such case,
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`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
`55 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. I. Referring to FIG. 1, the
`65 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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`US 6,233,736 B1
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`10
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`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 downconvcrted 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, fiber optic link, cellular, radiotelephone, or
`satellite link. Network 30, which may he 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, 346, 34c, ...
`34n. Access controller 10 receives from the online informa-
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`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. Am..% controller 10 is
`provided with an address extractor 42 which receives the
`electronic signal 1