EP0649102B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive system and method
Assignee: Two Way Media Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-10-14
•
Granted: 2000-05-17
•
Expires: 2014-10-14
Abstract
Abstract An interactive system, comprises a local controller (8) operable to control data flow to and from at least two local handsets (11,22) for generating data. The local controller (8) includes a store (28) for storing data and a processor. A central controller (1) is connectable to the local controller, and a display (12) is provided for displaying data locally from the central controller and the local controller. The local controller (8) stores data generated by each local handset and selectively transfers stored data to the central controller (1). A handset for use in the system comprises a transmitter and a receiver (9) for transfer of data between the handset (11,22) and the local controller and input means to input data for controlling the output of the display via the local controller is input to the local controller by means of a cursor control (33) laterally movable over a plane (36) and a sensor (38,41) for sensing a position of the cursor control within the plane (36) and causing a cursor on the display (12) to take up a similar position. A method of operating the system comprises broadcasting first data from the central controller to which the local controller responds by causing the display to display the broadcast first data. Second data from each local handset relating to the first data is stored in the local controller and then selectively transferred to the central controller if predetermined conditions are satisfied. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 David Alan Woodfield
- 👤 David Robert Weston
- 👤 Janko Mrsic-Flogel
- 👤 Peter James Pfanner
- 👤 Jeffrey Arnold Hollington
- 👤 Peter Emrys-Roberts
- 👤 David Neil Laurence Levy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:50
CPC Classifications
A63F13/12; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/30; A63F13/33; A63F13/338; A63F13/20; A63F13/23; G; G07; G07C; G07C13/00; G07C15/00; G07C15/006; H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/38; H04H60/00; H04H60/29; H04H60/33; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/93; H04H60/94; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1025; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/409; H04H20/28; H04H20/30; H04H20/86; H04H20/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An interactive system for use with mass media
broadcasts, the system comprising a local controller (8)
operable to control data flow to and from at least two
local handsets (11,21) for generating data, the local
controller (8) including a store (28) for storing data and
processing means (26); a central controller (1) for
broadcasting data to the local controller (8), the local
controller being connectable to the central controller (1)
to communicate data to the central controller; and a
display (12) for displaying locally both the mass media
broadcast from the central controller and data received
from the local controller; wherein the local controller (8)
stores data generated by each local handset (11,21) and
selectively transfers stored data to the central controller
(1).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing
means of the local controller (8) is adapted to address
each local handset (11,22) sequentially in accordance with
a predetermined schedule to obtain data from that handset.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein the
predetermined schedule requires each handset (11,22) to be
addressed for an equal time period.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
24 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the
local controller store (28) is adapted to store data
supplied from the central controller (1).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
32 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein a
unique identifier by which each handset (11,21) is
addressed is allocated during the first use of a handset
within the system or thereafter.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the
local controller (8) and central controller (1) are
connectable via one of a telecomms link, and a data
distribution network.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
31 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the
central controller (1) broadcasts video and text data for
reception by the local controller (8) and for display on
the display (12).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
25 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein
transfer of data between each handset (11,21) and the local
controller (8) is via an infrared link.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
33 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the
processing means (26) of the local controller (8)
selectively transfers data to the central controller (1)
only if a predetermined transfer condition is met.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein the
predetermined transfer condition comprises exceeding a
predetermined score value at the end of a game play period.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
34 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims,
wherein the processing means of the local controller (8)
only transmits data to the central controller in response
to a command from the central controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 11, when dependent on
claim 7, wherein the command is broadcast by the central
controller along with the video and text data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
44 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein a
second local controller operable to control data flow to
and from respective second handsets is provided, such that
data may be transferred between the first (8) and second
local controllers via the central controller (1).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
21 words
A system according to any preceding claim, comprising
one of a game playing system, a purchase system, and an
information system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
145 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims,
wherein each handset (11,21) comprises a transmitter and a
receiver (9) for transfer of data from the handset (11,21)
to the local controller (8) and from the local controller
(8) to the handset; input means to input data for
controlling the output of the display via the local
controller, the input means comprising a cursor control
(54) laterally movable over a plane (52), means for sensing
the position of the cursor control within the plane (36)
and for causing a corresponding cursor displayed on the
display (12) to take up a similar position; and, processing
means for processing data from the local controller and
data from the input means and wherein the processing means
controls the transfer of data to the local controller in
accordance with the data from the local controller and the
input means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the sensing
means (38,41) monitor a change in potential difference with
a change in position of the cursor control (33).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein
the system is one of a game playing system, a purchase
system and an information system.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of operating an interactive system for
playing a game according to any of the preceding claims,
the method comprising broadcasting first data from the
central controller whereby the local controller responds by
causing the display to display the broadcast first data;
storing second data in the local controller obtained from
each local handset relating to the first data;
displaying locally data received from the local controller and
selectively transferring the stored second data to the
central controller if predetermined conditions are
satisfied.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the first data
comprises game playing information and the second data
comprises data relating to the playing of the game.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein the
predetermined conditions are supplied to the local
controller by the central controller as part of the game
playing information broadcast.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein
the predetermined conditions include a minimum score value,
the local controller comparing each stored score with the
minimum score value and only transferring a stored score to
the central controller if the stored score is the same as
or exceeds the minimum score value.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
41 words
A method according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the
central controller maintains a ranking order for units
which have previously recorded scores and defines an upper
portion of the ranking order from which units are chosen to
transmit their scores.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
43 words
A method according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the
control controller allows a first group of scores to be
transmitted, then sets one or more further group sizes
until the desired number of scores which comply with the
predetermined condition is achieved.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.