Interactive TV system for mass media distribution

Claim 2

An interactive data system comprising: at least one response unit where end user's are located, the unit having normally received TV programs playing thereat, the programs presenting questions to the end user; audible beeps, corresponding to unique preselected codes, independent of program identification, being played by the TV program at the same time a corresponding question is posed; means located at the response unit for (a) indicating a response to a question; (b) picking up the audio beep; (c) generating a unique signal from both the picked up beep, indicative of the response to a particular question, and an identification of the response unit; (d) transmitting the generated signal to a local area repeater station; and means located at the repeater station for transmitting data, derived from the signal, to an audience response data center for processing of the data.

Claim 3

An interactive data system comprising: at least one response unit where end user's are located, the unit having normally received TV programs playing thereat, the programs presenting questions to the end user; audible beeps, corresponding to unique preselected codes, independent of program identification, being played by the TV program at the same time a corresponding question is posed; means located at the response unit for (a) indicating a response to a question; (b) picking up the audio beep; (c) generating a unique signal from both the picked up beep, indicative of the response to a particular question, and an identification of the response unit; (d) transmitting the generated signal to a local area repeater station; and means located at the repeater station for transmitting data, derived from the signal, to an audience response data center for processing of the data wherein printed media is available at the response unit presenting questions to the end user, the media also having unique preselected printed bar codes representing various fixed responses; the system further including; a bar code reader for reading selected bar code responses and generating unique corresponding electrical signals therefrom; answering means for transmitting the electrical signal, along with an identification of the response unit, to a local repeater station; manual actuation means located at the response unit for gating transmission of the electrical signal through the answering means; and means located at the repeater station for transmitting data, derived from the signal, to an audience response data center for processing of the data.

Claim 4

An interactive data system comprising: at least one response unit where end user's are located, the unit having normally received TV programs playing thereat, the programs presenting questions to the end user; audible beeps, corresponding to unique preselected codes, independent of program identification, being played by the TV program at the same time a corresponding question is posed; means located at the response unit for (a) indicating a response to a question; (b) picking up the audio beep; (c) generating a unique signal from both the picked up beep, indicative of the response to a particular question, and an identification of the response unit; (d) transmitting the generated signal to a local area repeater station; and means located at the repeater station for transmitting data, derived from the signal, to an audience response data center for processing of the data wherein printed media is available at the response unit presenting questions to the end user, the media also having unique preselected printed bar codes representing various fixed responses; the system further including; a bar code reader for reading selected bar code responses and generating unique corresponding electrical signals therefrom; answering means for transmitting the electrical signal, along with an identification of the response unit, to a local repeater station; manual actuation means located at the response unit for gating transmission of the electrical signal through the answering means; and means located at the repeater station for transmitting data, derived from the signal, to an audience response data center for processing of the data.

Claim 5

The interactive data system set forth in claim 2 wherein the answering means further comprises: means for picked up audio beeps; a microprocessor having inputs for the bar code reader and the manual actuation means for creating a unique signal, representing a corresponding bar code or audio beeps responses to be transmitted to a repeater station; and transmitting means connected to the microprocessor for transmitting a coded response at several different frequency signatures during an interval of time.

Claim 6

The interactive data system set forth in claim 3 wherein the transmitting means operates a frequency synthesizer connected to the microprocessor, the transmitting means further comprising: a voltage reference circuit driving a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a carrier frequency; means for generating a count corresponding to the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator; a frequency number derived from the microprocessor indicative of the carrier frequency; means for comparing the frequency number with the generated count; memory means for storing data for a plurality of pulse; means for transmitting an address from the microprocessor to an input of the memory means for producing the data of the addressed pulse at an output of the memory means; means for converting the pulse data to analog form; means for modulating the carrier with the converted pulse, sequential modulations forming frequency signatures as function of time; and an antenna for transmitting to a repeater station.