US5905523A — Interactive system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 112 words

An interactive telecommunication system for use in conjunction with a TV broadcast, the system comprising: a local controller operable to control data flow to and from at least two local handsets for generating data, the local controller including a memory for storing data and processing means; a central controller connectable to the local controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast; and a display local to the local controller for displaying the TV broadcast, said data from the central controller, and data from the local controller wherein the local controller stores data generated by each of the at least two local handsets and selectively transfers stored data to the central controller.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 112 words

An interactive telecommunication system for use in conjunction with a TV broadcast, the system comprising: a local controller operable to control data flow to and from at least two local handsets for generating data, the local controller including a memory for storing data and processing means; a central controller connectable to the local controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast; and a display local to the local controller for displaying the TV broadcast, said data from the central controller, and data from the local controller wherein the local controller stores data generated by each of the at least two local handsets and selectively transfers stored data to the central controller.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the processing means of the local controller is adapted to address each of the at least two local handsets sequentially in accordance with a predetermined schedule to obtain data from each of the at least two handsets.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system according to claim 2 wherein: the predetermined schedule requires each of the at least two handsets to be addressed for an equal time period.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the local controller memory is adapted to store data supplied from the central controller.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: a unique identifier by which each of the at least two handsets is addressed is allocated during use of a handset within the system.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the local controller and central controller are connectable via a telecommunication link.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the central controller broadcasts video and text data for reception by the local controller and for display on the display.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: transfer of data between each of the at least two handsets and the local controller is via an infrared link.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the processing means of the local controller selectively transfers data to the central controller only if a predetermined transfer condition is met.

Claim 11

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 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the processing means of the local controller only transmits data to the central controller in response to a command from the central controller.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system according to claim 11 wherein: the command is broadcast by the central controller along with video and text data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system according to claim 1 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 and second local controllers via the central controller.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein: the system is selected from the group consisting of a game playing system, a purchase system, and an information system.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 138 words

A handset for use in an interactive system according to claim 1, the handset comprising: a transmitter and a receiver for transfer of data from the local controller to the handset and from the handset to the local controller; input means to input data for controlling the output of the display via the local controller, the input means comprising a cursor control laterally movable over a plane, means for sensing the position of the cursor control within the plane and for causing a corresponding cursor displayed on the display 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 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

A handset according to claim 15 wherein: the sensing means monitor a change in potential difference with a change in position of the cursor control.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

A handset according to claim 15 wherein: the system is selected from the group consisting of a game playing system, a purchase system and an information system.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of operating an interactive system in conjunction with a TV broadcast, comprising the steps of: broadcasting first data from a central controller in conjunction with a TV broadcast whereby a local controller responds by causing a display to display the broadcast first data and the TV broadcast; storing second data in the local controller obtained from each of a number of local handsets relating to the first data; and selectively transferring the stored second data to the central controller if predetermined conditions are satisfied.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of operating an interactive system in conjunction with a TV broadcast, comprising the steps of: broadcasting first data from a central controller in conjunction with a TV broadcast whereby a local controller responds by causing a display to display the broadcast first data and the TV broadcast; storing second data in the local controller obtained from each of a number of local handsets relating to the first data; and selectively transferring the stored second data to the central controller if predetermined conditions are satisfied.

Claim 21

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 22

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 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method according to claim 19 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 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method according to claim 19 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 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method according to claim 19 wherein: the central 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.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 165 words

An interactive system for use in conjunction with a TV broadcast and transmitting data between different locations comprising: a local controller; a plurality of handsets coupled to said local controller; a memory device associated with said local controller, said memory device capable of storing data received from each of said plurality of handsets; a central controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast, said central controller selectively linked to said local controller and capable of receiving the data from said local controller at a predetermined time; a display coupled to said local controller for displaying the TV broadcast, said data from the central controller and data from the local controller; and a data distribution network coupled to said central controller, said data distribution network broadcasting signals to said local controller, whereby said local controller receives information broadcast by said data distribution network permitting a user to respond thereto, a user response being stored for subsequent transfer to said central controller at the predetermined time.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 165 words

An interactive system for use in conjunction with a TV broadcast and transmitting data between different locations comprising: a local controller; a plurality of handsets coupled to said local controller; a memory device associated with said local controller, said memory device capable of storing data received from each of said plurality of handsets; a central controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast, said central controller selectively linked to said local controller and capable of receiving the data from said local controller at a predetermined time; a display coupled to said local controller for displaying the TV broadcast, said data from the central controller and data from the local controller; and a data distribution network coupled to said central controller, said data distribution network broadcasting signals to said local controller, whereby said local controller receives information broadcast by said data distribution network permitting a user to respond thereto, a user response being stored for subsequent transfer to said central controller at the predetermined time.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 249 words

An interactive system for transmitting data relating to a TV broadcast between different locations comprising: a local controller; a plurality of handsets coupled to said local controller, each of said plurality of handsets having a unique identifier, said plurality of handsets sequentially sending data, including the unique identifier, to said local controller when requested by said local controller; a memory device associated with said local controller, said memory device capable of storing the data, including the unique identifier, sent by each of said plurality of handsets; a cursor control associated with each of said plurality of handsets, said cursor control controlling the position of a cursor displayed on said display; a central controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast, said central controller selectively linked to said local controller and capable of receiving the data, including the unique identifier, from said local controller at a predetermined time; a display coupled to said local controller for displaying said data from the central controller and the local controller; and a data distribution network coupled to said central controller, said data distribution network broadcasting TV signals to said receiving antenna of said local controller, the TV signals including a signal representative of a predetermined transfer condition, whereby said local controller receives information broadcast by said data distribution network permitting a user to respond thereto, a user response being stored by said memory device for subsequent transfer to said central controller at the predetermined time conditioned upon meeting the predetermined transfer condition.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 249 words

An interactive system for transmitting data relating to a TV broadcast between different locations comprising: a local controller; a plurality of handsets coupled to said local controller, each of said plurality of handsets having a unique identifier, said plurality of handsets sequentially sending data, including the unique identifier, to said local controller when requested by said local controller; a memory device associated with said local controller, said memory device capable of storing the data, including the unique identifier, sent by each of said plurality of handsets; a cursor control associated with each of said plurality of handsets, said cursor control controlling the position of a cursor displayed on said display; a central controller for generating data related to the TV broadcast, said central controller selectively linked to said local controller and capable of receiving the data, including the unique identifier, from said local controller at a predetermined time; a display coupled to said local controller for displaying said data from the central controller and the local controller; and a data distribution network coupled to said central controller, said data distribution network broadcasting TV signals to said receiving antenna of said local controller, the TV signals including a signal representative of a predetermined transfer condition, whereby said local controller receives information broadcast by said data distribution network permitting a user to respond thereto, a user response being stored by said memory device for subsequent transfer to said central controller at the predetermined time conditioned upon meeting the predetermined transfer condition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-05-17	2002-11-16	2003-05-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-05-17	2006-11-16	2007-05-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-05-17	2010-11-16	2011-05-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Interactive system

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