Telephone access display system with remote monitoring

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dedication device includes a keyboard, connected to said programmed data processor, for inputting to said programmed data processor a dedication message received by a viewer.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dedication device includes a voice interface for receiving telephonic voice dedication messages from viewers and for converting the voice dedication messages from analog format into digital format for use by said programmed data processor.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an audio mixing device, connected to said voice interface, for converting the digitally formatted dedication message signals into audio dedication message signals and for mixing audio portions of a selected video program with the audio dedication message signals.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dedication message is broadcast by said broadcasting device at essentially the same time a corresponding selected video program is broadcast by said broadcasting device.

Claim 7

A remote viewing system, comprising: a television broadcasting device for providing a television signal for transmission to viewer remote receiving locations over a single common channel; a control station including: a) a device for providing video program material signals to said television broadcasting means; b) at least one selectable source of video program materials; c) a selection device for generating a video program selection signal from a viewer remote receiving location with such selection being made through a telephone system keypad; and d) a first programmed data processor coupled to said at least one selectable source of video program materials and said device for providing video program signals to said television broadcasting device, said first programmed data processor being responsive to a video program selection signal transmitted from a remote location for providing control signals to said at least one selectable source of video program materials in accordance with the desired video program material selected by a viewer such that the selected video program material is coupled by said device for providing video program signals to said television broadcasting device for transmission over the single common channel to all of the viewer remote receiving locations viewing the single common channel irrespective of whether the viewers at such locations have selected any video program material so that a viewer at a remote receiving location may tune a television receiver at that location to the single common channel in order to sequentially view all of the selected video program materials transmitted by said television broadcasting device over the single common channel; and a remotely located monitoring and controlling device, including a second programmed data processor, for coupling to said first programmed data processor for two-way communication between said first and second programmed data processors for monitoring and controlling the operation of said control station by providing instructions for operating said control station directly to said first programmed data processor.

Claim 8

A remote viewing system, comprising: a television broadcasting device for providing a television signal for transmission to viewer remote receiving locations over a single common channel; a control station including: a) a device for providing video program material signals to said television broadcasting means; b) at least one selectable source of video program materials; c) a selection device for generating a video program selection signal from a viewer remote receiving location with such selection being made through a telephone system keypad; and d) a first programmed data processor coupled to said at least one selectable source of video program materials and said device for providing video program signals to said television broadcasting device, said first programmed data processor being responsive to a video program selection signal transmitted from a remote location for providing control signals to said at least one selectable source of video program materials in accordance with the desired video program material selected by a viewer such that the selected video program material is coupled by said device for providing video program signals to said television broadcasting device for transmission over the single common channel to all of the viewer remote receiving locations viewing the single common channel irrespective of whether the viewers at such locations have selected any video program material so that a viewer at a remote receiving location may tune a television receiver at that location to the single common channel in order to sequentially view all of the selected video program materials transmitted by said television broadcasting device over the single common channel; and a remotely located monitoring and controlling device, including a second programmed data processor, for coupling to said first programmed data processor for two-way communication between said first and second programmed data processors for monitoring and controlling the operation of said control station by providing instructions for operating said control station directly to said first programmed data processor.

Claim 9

The system according too claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor controls which video program material is provided by said control station to said broadcasting device.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor is coupled to said first programmed data processor via a telephone link.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor sends and receives data files to and from said first programmed data processor, respectively.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 6, wherein said selection device includes a low power radio-frequency transmitter and said control station includes a radio-frequency receiver for receiving radio-frequency selection signals transmitted by a viewer.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 6, wherein said selection and controlling device includes a two-way cable box for transmitting video selections to said control station and for receiving video material transmitted from said control station.

Claim 14

The system according to claim 6, wherein said monitoring selectively monitors the operation of a plurality of remote control stations.

Claim 15

The system according to claim 6, wherein said monitoring and controlling device selectively controls the operation of at least one remotely located control station.

Claim 16

The system according to claim 6, wherein said selectable source of video program materials includes magnetic tapes.

Claim 17

The system according to claim 6, wherein said selectable source of video program materials includes laser disks automatically retrieved and played by a robot.

Claim 18

The system according to claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor monitors the number of times particular video materials have been selected over a predetermined time period.

Claim 19

The system according to claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor monitors the revenues generated by said control station.

Claim 20

The system according to claim 6, wherein said second programmed data processor controls the selection of commercial advertising provided by said control station to said broadcasting device.

Claim 23

The system according to claim 19, further comprising a phone interface, connected to said programmed data processor, for receiving multiple telephonically transmitted program selection signals over a plurality of telephone request lines.

Claim 24

The system according to claim 20, wherein said phone interface polls each request line in sequence in order to determine if any of the lines is ringing.

Claim 25

The system according to claim 19, wherein said switching device further includes a generator device for generating selected program materials such that a video portion from a first source is mixed with an audio portion from a second source.

Claim 26

The system according to claim 19, wherein said switching device includes a graphic interface device, connected to said programmed data processor, for superimposing textual and graphic information on the video portion of the selected program material.

Claim 27

The system according to claim 19, wherein the video portion includes a menu listing several program selections with each selection assigned a corresponding numeric code.

Claim 28

The system according to claim 24, wherein a viewer selects a program by telephonically transmitting the corresponding numeric code.

Claim 31

The method according to claim 26, wherein the receiving step (c) includes the step of inputting, via a keyboard located at the control station, a dedication message to be broadcast over the single common channel.

Claim 32

The method according to claim 26, wherein the receiving step (c) includes the steps of receiving telephonic voice dedication messages from viewers via a voice interface means and converting the voice messages from analog format into digital format for use by the control station.

Claim 33

The method according to claim 28, wherein the receiving step (c) further includes the steps of converting the digitally formatted dedication message signals into audio detection message signals and mixing audio portions of a selected video program with the audio dedication message signals.

Claim 34

The method according to claim 26, wherein the transmitting step (e) includes broadcasting the dedication message at essentially the same time the corresponding selected video program is broadcast.

Claim 37

The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of remotely controlling the video program material transmitted to the television broadcasting device.

Claim 38

The method according to claim 31, wherein the remotely monitoring and controlling step (i) is accomplished via a telephone link.

Claim 39

The method according to claim 31, wherein the remotely monitoring and controlling step (i) includes the steps of sending and receiving data files to and from the control station, respectively.

Claim 40

The method according to claim 31, wherein the transmitting step (b) includes the step of transmitting the video program selection signal using a low power radio-frequency transmitter and the receiving step (c) includes the step of receiving radio-frequency video program selection signals transmitted by a viewer.

Claim 41

The method according to claim 31, wherein the transmitting step (b) includes the step of transmitting video program selection signals over a two-way cable box and the receiving step (c) includes the step of receiving the transmitted video material over the two-way cable box.

Claim 42

The method according to claim 31, wherein the remotely monitoring and controlling step (i) further includes selectively monitoring the operation of a plurality of remote control stations.

Claim 43

The method according to claim 31, further comprising selectively controlling the operation of a plurality of remote control stations.

Claim 44

The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one selectable source of video program materials includes magnetic tapes.

Claim 45

The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one selectable source of video program materials includes laser disks automatically retrieved and played by a robot.

Claim 46

The method according to claim 31, wherein the remotely monitoring and controlling step (i) further includes a step of monitoring the number of times particular video materials have been selected over a predetermined time period.

Claim 47

The method according to claim 31, wherein the remotely monitoring and controlling step (i) further includes a step of monitoring revenues generated at the control station.

Claim 48

The method according to claim 31, further including the step of remotely controlling the selection of commercial advertising transmitted to the television broadcasting device.

Claim 51

The method according to claim 44, wherein the receiving step (c) includes the step of receiving multiple, telephonically-transmitted, program selection signals over a plurality of telephone request lines.

Claim 52

The system according to claim 45, wherein the receiving step (c) further includes the step of polling each request line in sequence in order to determine if any of the lines is ringing.

Claim 53

The method of according to claim 44, wherein the transmitting step (e) further includes the step of generating selected program materials such that a video portion from a first source is mixed with an audio portion from a second source.

Claim 54

The method according to claim 44, wherein the transmitting step (e) includes the step of superimposing textual and graphic information on the video portion of the selected program material.

Claim 55

The method according to claim 44, wherein the transmitting step (b) includes the step of telephonically transmitting a numeric code corresponding to a program selection.