Apparatus and methods for accessing information relating to radio and television programs

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing information to a user from an information depository, the method comprising the steps of:

reproducing in the vicinity of each of a plurality of users, programs from one of a plurality of broadcast stations;

recording upon command by a user, an identification of a station and a time of a program on the station for which supplemental information is desired by the user;

entering the recorded station identification and time into one of a plurality of information exchange terminals;

coupling the information exchange terminal to the information depository to transmit information therebetween; and

identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information; and recording the number of times a first program in the station log is identified as corresponding to entered station identifications and times.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of compiling a station log of stations, program times, and program identifiers for programs on the stations and mapping the program identifiers in the log to supplemental information relating to specific programs.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time to a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information comprises the step of searching the station log for a station, program time, and program identifier of a program that corresponds to the entered station identification and time.

4. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising the step of outputting the obtained supplemental information.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the outputting step comprises printing out the information.

6. The method of claim 4, in which the outputting step comprises presenting the information on a display device.

7. The method of claim 4, in which the station log is compiled at the information exchange terminals and the supplemental information is stored at the information depository, the program identifiers are transmitted from the information exchange terminals to the information depository, and the supplemental information is transmitted from the information depository to the terminals.

8. The method of claim 4, in which the station log is compiled at the information exchange terminals and the supplemental information is stored at the information exchange terminals.

9. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising the step of transmitting program times and program identifiers from each station to the place of compiling the station log.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transmitting program times and program identifiers from each station to the place of compiling the station log comprises the step of transmitting the program times and program identifiers from each station in a SCA FM band.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transmitting program times and program identifiers from each station to the place of compiling the station log comprises the step of transmitting the program times and program identifiers from each station in a television vertical blanking interval.

12. A method for providing information to a user from an information depository, the method comprising the steps of:

reproducing in the vicinity of each of a plurality of users, programs from one of a plurality of broadcast stations;

providing users with a memory card having a clock and a plurality of keys on its surface, each key corresponding to a station;

placing over the keys a transparent overlay within an insert receiving pocket, the transparent overlay inserted in the insert receiving pocket and identifying the stations corresponding to the keys;

pressing one of the keys to record in the memory card the station identification and time of the key press;

entering the recorded station identification and time into one of a plurality of information exchange terminals;

coupling the information exchange terminal to the information depository to transmit information therebetween; and

identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information.

13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of:

coupling the card to an information exchange terminal;

transmitting the stored station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository;

obtaining from the information depository the supplementary information;

transmitting the supplementary information from the information depository to the information exchange terminal; and

outputting the supplementary information at the information exchange terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the step of coupling the card to an information exchange terminal comprises the steps of:

reading from the card a data and time (DT1) representing the last time the card was coupled to an information exchange terminal;

reading from the card the current time on the clock;

calculating the difference in time (T1) between the card clock time and time read from a clock in the information exchange terminal;

calculating the difference in time (T2) between DT1 and the information exchange terminal clock current time;

calculating the card clock error rate T1/T2;

applying the error rate to correct the stored time of the combination of station identification and time;

setting the clock in the card to the correct time; and

storing the current date and time (DT1) into the card memory.

15. The method of claim 13, in which the outputting step comprises printing out the information or presenting the information on a display device.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises an automated teller machine.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises a point of sale terminal.

18. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of:

coupling the card to an information exchange terminal;

transmitting the stored station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository; and

merging the supplementary information into a charge card accounting statement.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises an automated teller machine.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises a point of sale terminal.

21. A method for providing information to a user from an information depository, the method comprising the steps of:

reproducing in the vicinity of each of a plurality of users, programs from one of a plurality of broadcast stations;

coupling a card having a memory to an apparatus for receiving stations, the apparatus having a clock, a station selection controller, and a command key;

selecting a station with the controller;

storing in the memory of the card a station identification for the station selected by the controller and the time read from the clock whenever the command key is activated;

entering the recorded station identification and time into one of a plurality of information exchange terminals;

coupling the information exchange terminal to the information depository to transmit information therebetween; and

identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the apparatus comprises a radio.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the apparatus comprises a television.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the apparatus comprises a remote controller.

25. The method of claim 21 additionally comprising the steps of:

coupling the card to an information exchange terminal;

transmitting the stored station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository; and

merging the supplementary information into a charge card accounting statement.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises an automated teller machine and further comprises the steps of:

assigning a unique identification symbol to each user;

printing the desired supplemental information on a statement that is unique to the user; and

printing the user identification symbol on the statement.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the information exchange terminal comprises a point of sale terminal and further comprises the steps of:

assigning a unique identification symbol to each user;

printing the desired supplemental information on a statement that is unique to the user; and

printing the user identification symbol on the statement.

28. A method for transferring information between a plurality of users and an information depository, the method comprising the steps of:

recording on portable memory cards user responses and the time of each response;

carrying the memory cards to information exchange terminals that have card receiving slots;

connecting the information exchange terminals to the information depository to transmit information therebetween; and

inserting the memory cards in the slots to transmit the combinations of times and user responses recorded on the cards to the information exchange terminals.

29. The method of claim 28, in which a plurality of responses and the time of the responses are recorded on the cards before the cards are inserted in the slots.

30. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising the step of transmitting to the information depository the responses and time of each response transmitted to a terminal.

31. The method of claim 30, additionally comprising the step of recording at the information depository the number of like responses.

32. The method of claim 30 additionally comprising the step of transmitting from the information depository to the information exchange terminals information relevant to the responses and the time of each response transmitted to such terminals from the cards.

33. The method of claim 32, additionally comprising the step of outputting at the information exchange terminals information transmitted from the information depository.

34. The method of claim 33, in which the outputting step comprises printing out the information.

35. The method of claim 33, in which the outputting step comprises presenting the information on a display device.

36. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising the step of reproducing in the vicinity of the card a broadcast from a radio or a television station, the responses being radio or television stations.

37. The method of claim 36, additionally comprising the step of compiling a log of stations, program times, and program identifiers of programs broadcast from the stations, mapping the program identifiers in the log to supplemental information relating to the specific programs, and transmitting to a terminal supplemental information relating to the program for the station and time recorded on a memory card inserted in the slot of the terminal.

38. The method of claim 37, in which the station log is compiled at the information depository and the supplemental information is stored at the information depository.

39. The method of claim 37, in which the program log is compiled at the information exchange terminals and the supplemental information is stored at the information depository, the program identifiers are transmitted from the terminals to the information depository, and the supplemental information is transmitted from the information depository to the terminals.

40. The method of claim 37, additionally comprising the step of transmitting program times and identifiers for each station from each such station to the place of compilation of the program log.

41. The method of claim 28, in which the card has a plurality of keys on its surface to record the responses, the method additionally comprising the step of placing over the keys a transparent overlay with an insert receiving pocket and placing in the pocket an insert that identifies the responses corresponding to the keys.

42. A system for ordering supplemental information about programs currently playing at a broadcast receiver having a controllable station tuner, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling the station to which the tuner is set;

a clock for designating current date and current time;

manual input means for issuing a store command;

a broadcast receiver or a remote controller for a broadcast receiver to which the controlling means, the clock, and the manual input means are integral;

a card removably coupled to the broadcast receiver or remote controller;

a memory integral to the card; and

means responsive to the controlling means, the clock, and the manual input means for storing in the memory data (SDT data) representative of the station to which the tuner is set, the current date, and the current time when a store command is issued.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the means for controlling the station to which the tuner is set, the clock for designating current date and current time, and the manual input means for issuing a store command are integral to the broadcast receiver or a remote controller for the broadcast receiver.

44. The system of claim 42 further comprising:

an information depository for storing the supplemental information;

means for communicating between the information depository and the memory; and

means for mapping the SDT data read from the memory into the information depository to obtain the specific supplementary information about the respective programs represented by the SDT data.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the means for communicating between the information depository and the memory comprises an automated teller machine (ATM).

46. The system of claim 45 further comprising means for outputting the supplementary data at the ATM.

47. The system of claim 45 further comprising means for merging the supplementary data onto an ATM accounting statement.

48. The system of claim 44 wherein the means for communicating between the information depository and the memory comprises a point of sale (POS) terminal.

49. The system of claim 48 further comprising means for outputting the supplemental data at the POS.

50. A system for ordering supplemental information about programs currently playing at a broadcast receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a clock for designating current date and current time;

a memory;

a card for issuing a store command designating a station on which the current program is playing on the broadcast receiver, the card being integral to the clock and the memory;

a plurality of keys on the surface of the card for issuing a store command designating particular stations;

a transparent overlay for placing over the keys;

a pocket for receiving the transparent overlay to identify the stations corresponding to the keys; and

means responsive to the clock and the means for issuing a store command designating the station for storing in the memory data (SDT data) representative of the station to which the tuner is set, the current date, and the current time when the store command is issued.

51. The system of claim 50 further comprising:

an information depository for storing the supplemental information;

means for communicating between the information depository and the memory; and

means for mapping the SDT data read from the memory into the information depository to obtain the specific supplementary information about the respective programs represented by the SDT data.

52. The system of claim 51, further comprising means for outputting the supplementary data.

53. A method for providing information to a user from an information depository, the method comprising the steps of:

reproducing in the vicinity of each of a plurality of users, programs from one of a plurality of broadcast stations;

recording upon command by a user, an identification of a station and a time of a program on the station for which supplemental information is desired by the user;

entering the recorded station identification and time into one of a plurality of information exchange terminals;

coupling the information exchange terminal to the information depository to transmit information therebetween;

transmitting the entered station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository;

compiling a station log of stations, program times, and program identifiers for programs on the stations, the station log being resident in the information depository;

mapping the program identifiers in the log to supplemental information relating to specific programs, the supplemental information being resident in the information depository;

searching the station log for a station, program time, and program identifier of a program that corresponds to the entered station identification and time to identify a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in the station log;

transmitting the entered station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository;

obtaining from the information depository the supplementary information;

merging the supplementary information into a charge card accounting statement;

transmitting the supplementary information from the information depository to the information exchange terminal; and

outputting the supplementary information at the information exchange terminal.

54. The method of claim 53, in which the responding step comprises repeating an action a number of times in rapid succession.

55. The method of claim 54, in which the action is depressing an answer key on a control panel.

56. A method for collecting audience responses to broadcast inquiries comprising the steps of:

broadcasting from a station a program that includes one or more questions to be answered by the program audience;

receiving the broadcast program at the location of each member of the audience;

reproducing the program at the member location;

responding to a question included in the reproduced program;

storing in a memory at the member location data including the day and time of the response, the station from which the reproduced program is being received when the response is made, and the answer to the question; and

downloading the stored data to a common file to count the answers.

57. The method of claim 56, in which the responding step comprises executing an action at a particular time.

58. The method of claim 56, in which the responding step comprises depressing an answer key on a control panel, the number of times the key is depressed representing the answer to the question.

59. The method of claim 56, in which the responding step comprises depressing an answer key on a control panel, the instant in time relative to the reproduction of the question that the key is depressed representing the answer to the question.

60. An apparatus for ordering auxiliary information about programs transmitted or broadcast from a radio or television station, the apparatus comprising:

clock means comprising a clock/calendar for maintaining a current date and a current time;

a plurality of input keys for activating a station selection, each of the input keys corresponding to one of a plurality of stations;

a memory removable from the remainder of the apparatus for transport to a central location; and

control means responsive to an activation of one of the plurality of input means for storing into the memory the current date and the current time from the clock means and an identifier for the station corresponding to the act