EP0713335A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for wireless capture of encoded data transmitted with a television, video or audio signal and subsequent initiation of a transaction using such data
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A device (110) which can be portable and therefore used in conjunction with several different data sources is arranged for wireless capture of encoded non-perceptible data directly from a light emitting device, such as a television (101) or other video and/or audio output device. The data is part of the ordinary program displayed by the device (101) and yet indiscernible by a viewer or listener. The indiscernible data may be information needed to order those services or products, including prices, delivery intervals, shipping details, coupon offers, and so-on. After capture, the device includes a memory arranged to store the data for later use, and communications circuitry (114 or 118) arranged to output at least portions of the data (or data derived from the captured data) to a remote agent or device (120,121), such as via a telephone call (via 140 or 109 or 112) or a data transfer to a point of sale device.
Inventors
- 👤 Katherine G. August
- 👤 Charles D. Caldwell
- 👤 Steven M. Herbst
- 👤 Theodore Sizer Ii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/28; H04H20/30; H04H20/31; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/375; H04H60/61; H04H60/63; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04H20/38; H04H60/38; H04H60/40; H04H60/41; H04H60/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for initiating a transaction, comprising means arranged for wireless capture of data directly from an audio/visual display, said data being indiscernible by a viewer or listener, and means arranged to transfer at least portions of said data to a separate transaction processor to initiate said transaction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said data includes dialing information for originating a telephone call, and wherein said transfer means includes means for initiating said telephone call using said dialing information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes means responsive to said capture means for storing said data, and wherein said transfer means includes means for coupling information from said storing means directly to a separate transaction processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said capture means is in a portable capture device and said transfer means is in a base station, and wherein said apparatus further includes means for transferring information from said portable capture device to said base station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said audio/visual display includes non-perceptible encoded data, and wherein said capture means is arranged to receive and decode said encoded data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said non-perceptible encoded data includes an amplitude shift keyed (ASK) or frequency shift keyed (FSK) carrier signal added to a television signal, and wherein capture is effected by detecting and decoding said carrier signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
38 words
A system for capturing data comprising means for wireless capture of indiscernible data embedded in an audio/video display; and means for outputting at least portions of said captured indiscernible data to a remote device via a telephone call.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for initiating a transaction relating to a program appearing on a television display, said apparatus comprising means arranged for wireless capture of data directly from said television display, said data being indiscernible to a viewer of said television display; means responsive to said captured data for obtaining a telephone number, said telephone number being associated with a remote location arranged to perform transactions associated with said program appearing on said television display; means for initiating a telephone call using said telephone number; and means for transmitting to said remote location, during said telephone call, additional information contained in said captured data, said additional information also pertaining to said program.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for responding to a televised advertisement, comprising means for embedding non-discernible information in said advertisement, said information including (a) a telephone number for a remote processor arranged to process orders for the items displayed in said advertisement, and (b) other information relating to said items displayed in said advertisement; means arranged for wireless capture of said non-discernible information directly from said televised advertisement; and means responsive to said captured information for (a) placing a telephone call using said telephone number and (b) transmitting said other information to said remote processor via said telephone call.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for initiating a transaction, comprising the steps of capturing data directly from an audio/visual display, said data being indiscernible by a viewer or listener, and transferring at least portions of said data to a separate transaction processor to initiate said transaction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said data includes dialing information for originating a telephone call, and wherein said transferring step includes initiating said telephone call using said dialing information.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for capturing data comprising capturing, using wireless capture, indiscernible data embedded in an audio/video display; and outputting at least portions of said captured indiscernible data to a remote device via a telephone call.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for initiating a transaction relating to a program appearing on a television display, said method comprising steps of using wireless capture data directly from said television display, said data being indiscernible to a viewer of said television display; responsive to said captured data, obtaining a telephone number, said telephone number being associated with a remote location arranged to perform transactions associated with said program appearing on said television display; initiating a telephone call using said telephone number; and transmitting to said remote location, during said telephone call, additional information contained in said captured data, said additional information also pertaining to said program.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for responding to a televised advertisement, comprising the steps of embedding non-discernible information in said advertisement, said information including (a) a telephone number for a remote processor arranged to process orders for the items displayed in said advertisement, and (b) other information relating to said items displayed in said advertisement; capturing, using wireless capture, said non-discernible information directly from said televised advertisement; and responsive to said captured information, (a) placing a telephone call using said telephone number and (b) transmitting said other information to said remote processor via said telephone call.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4807031A
Cited
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