Access system and method for providing interactive access to an information source through a networked distribution system

Claims

We claim:

1. A system for use in connection with a transmission signal for providing access to information from an information source, the content of which is related to the information content of the transmission signal, said system comprising:

a) an information source;

b) a plurality of terminals, each said terminal including;

1) a receiver for receiving information from said information source and a transmission signal from a transmission signal source;

2) means for generating a request for information to be received from said information source, said request including identification information for the transmission signal being received at the time of said request; and

3) means for transmitting said request for information; and

c) a network for receiving information from said information source and said transmission signal from a transmission signal source, and distributing said information to a receiver of one of said terminals transmitting a request for information, and distributing said transmission signal to said plurality of terminals, said network including;

1) a receiver for receiving requests for information from said terminals; and

2) means responsive to receipt of said request for information from said first terminal, and employing said transmission signal identification information for accessing information in said information source, the content of which is related to the information content of said transmission signal at the time said request is generated; and

3) means for transmitting said related information to said first terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said information source comprises a cache interfaced to said network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said information source further comprises the Internet, and said network further includes means for accessing information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said network further includes means for accessing information from the Internet through said ISP which is related to the information content of a transmission signal to be broadcast to said terminals by said network, and storing said information in a cache interfaced to said network for future access in response to information requests received from said terminals during broadcast of said transmission signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmission signal includes an identification tag which is periodically transmitted with said transmission signal, and identifies the current programming content of said transmission signal, said identification tag being employed by said network to identify, in response to a received information request, information in said information source which is related to the information content of a transmission signal being received by one of said terminals when said terminal generates an information request.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said identification information for the transmission signal being received at the time said request is generated comprises information identifying a receiver channel to which said receiver in said first terminal is tuned at the time said request is generated, wherein said network employs said channel identification information, said identification tag and timing information identifying the time at which said request is generated, to determine the information content of the transmission signal received by said terminal at the time that the information request is generated thereby.

7. The system of claim 6, further including a database interfaced to said network for storing reference information corresponding to said identification tag which identifies the location in said information source of information related to the information content of said transmission signal.

8. The system of claim 7, further including a master database for receiving and storing reference information for a plurality of broadcast transmission signals which identifies the location in said information source of information related to the information content of each said broadcast transmission signal, and means for transmitting information in said master database to said network database.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said reference information in said master database includes Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for Internet locations containing information which is related to the information content of each said broadcast transmission signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said information source includes a cache interfaced to said network for storing HTML data for information accessed from the Internet at locations specified by said URLs.

11. The system of claim 5, further including means for inserting said identification tag in a signal to be transmitted prior to transmission thereof and transmitting said signal to said network receiver.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a data collection center, said data collection center including:

1) means for receiving a plurality of transmission signals;

2) means for removing identification tags from each of said transmission signals; and

3) means for transmitting said identification tags to said receiver in said network.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said master database further includes a plurality of different information location identifiers for said identification tag, each of which identifies demographic specific information in said information source that is related to the programming content of said transmission signal, and said means for transmitting information in said master database to said network database includes means for identifying information location identifiers in said master database which match demographics corresponding to said network, and transmitting only those information location identifiers to said network database.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said information source comprises the Internet, and said network includes a browser application for use by one of said terminals requesting information to access and browse information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said network further includes a plurality of said browser applications, and means for maintaining a number of said browser applications in an active state prior to receiving an information request from one of said terminals, whereby one of said active browser applications can be immediately employed by one of said terminals for accessing information from the Internet through said ISP.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmission signal comprises a television broadcast signal, and said information source contains information related to the programming content of said television broadcast signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of terminals and said network are disposed in a television distribution system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said television distribution system is a cable television distribution system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said request for information further includes information identifying said first terminal, and said network further includes means responsive to said information identifying said terminal, for causing said means for transmitting to transmit said content related information only to said first terminal that transmitted said request.

20. A system for providing access to the Internet through a television distribution network comprising:

a) a source of Internet based information;

b) a plurality of terminals, each said terminal interfaced to a television signal receiving device and including;

1) a multiple channel receiver for receiving Internet based information from said information source and a plurality of broadcast television transmission signals on a corresponding plurality of channels;

2) means for generating a request for information to be received from said information source, said request including identification information for the transmission signal being received at the time of said request; and

3) means for transmitting said request for information; and

c) a network for receiving Internet based information from said information source and said transmission signals from at least one broadcast television transmission signal source, and distributing Internet based information from said information source to a receiver of one of said terminals transmitting a request for Internet based information and distributing said broadcast television transmission signals from said signal source on a plurality of channels to said plurality of terminals, said network including;

1) a receiver for receiving requests for Internet based information from said terminals; and

2) means responsive to receipt of a said request for Internet based information from said first of said terminals, and employing said transmission signal identification information for accessing Internet based information in said information source which is related to the information content of a first of said broadcast transmission signals being received by said first of said terminals at the time said request for Internet based information is generated, and;

3) means for transmitting to said first terminal for reception by said television signal receiving device, Internet based information which is related to the information content of said first of said broadcast television transmission signals at the time said request is generated by said first terminal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said network further includes means for accessing information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said network further includes means for accessing information from the Internet through said ISP which is related to the information content of a plurality of television transmission signals to be broadcast to said terminals by said network, and storing said information in a cache interfaced to said network for future access in response to information requests received from said terminals during broadcast of said television transmission signals.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein each of said television transmission signals includes an identification tag which is periodically transmitted with each said television transmission signal and identifies the current programming content of said transmission signal, said identification tag being employed by said network to identify, in response to a received information request, Internet based information which is related to the information content of one of said television transmission signals being received by one of said terminals when said terminal generates an information request.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said identification information for the transmission signal being received at the time of said request comprises information identifying a receiver channel to which said terminal receiver is tuned at the time of said request, wherein said network employs said channel identification information, said identification tag and timing information identifying the time at which said request is generated, to determine the information content of the transmission signal received by said terminal at the time that the information request is generated thereby.

25. The system of claim 24, further including a database interfaced to said network for storing reference information corresponding to said identification tag which identifies the location in said information source of information related to the information content of said television transmission signal.

26. The system of claim 25, further including a master database for receiving and storing reference information for a plurality of broadcast television transmission signals which identifies the location in said information source of information related to the information content of each said broadcast television transmission signal, and means for transmitting information in said master database to said network database.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said reference information in said master database includes Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for Internet locations containing information which is related to the information content of each said broadcast television transmission signal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a cache is interfaced to said network for storing HTML data for information accessed from the Internet at locations specified by said URLs.

29. The system of claim 23, further including means for inserting said identification tag in a signal to be transmitted prior to transmission thereof and transmitting said signal to said network receiver.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a data collection center, said data collection center including:

1) means for receiving a plurality of transmission signals;

2) means for removing identification tags from each of said transmission signals; and

3) means for transmitting said identification tags to said receiver in said network.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said master database further includes a plurality of different information location identifiers for said identification tag, each of which identifies demographic specific information in said information source that is related to the programming content of said transmission signal, and said means for transmitting information in said master database to said network database includes means for identifying information location identifiers in said master database which match demographics corresponding to said network, and transmitting only those information location identifiers to said network database.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein each of said terminals includes means for a user to enter a request for Internet based information which is related to the information content of a television broadcast currently being viewed by said user on said television signal receiving device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said means for a user to enter a request comprises a button on a remote control device.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein said means in said network for transmitting said Internet based information comprises a data modulator for inserting said information in a television transmission signal being broadcast by said network on one of said receiver channels in said first terminal.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said data modulator comprises a vertical blanking interval inserter for inserting said information in the vertical blanking intervals of said television transmission signal.

36. The system of claim 20, wherein said request for information further includes information identifying said first terminal, and said network further includes means responsive to said information identifying said terminal, for causing said means for transmitting to transmit said content related information only to said first terminal that transmitted said request.

37. A method for accessing transmission signal content related information from an information source, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a terminal, said terminal including a receiver for receiving a transmission signal and a transmitter for sending a request for information;

b) providing a transmission signal distribution network for receiving a transmission signal from a signal source and broadcasting said transmission signal to said terminal receiver;

c) providing an information source interfaced to said network, said information source containing information related to the information content of said transmission signal;

d) transmitting said transmission signal from said network to said terminal receiver;

e) generating a request at said terminal for information related to the information content of said transmission signal during reception thereof said request including identification information for said transmission signal being received at the time of said request, and transmitting said request to said network;

f) in response to reception of said request from said terminal, said network:

1) identifying information in said information source which is related to the information content of said transmission signal;

2) accessing said content related information; and

3) transmitting said content related information to said terminal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of said network accessing said information further comprises accessing said information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of said network accessing said information further comprises:

a) before said transmission signal is transmitted to said terminal receiver, accessing information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider which is related to the information content of said transmission signal;

b) storing said related information in a cache interfaced to said network; and

c) accessing said related information from said cache when said information request is received.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of said network identifying information in said information source which is related to the information content of said transmission signal, further comprises:

a) determining from 1) said transmission signal identification information 2) an identification tag periodically transmitted with said transmission signal by said signal source that identifies the current programming content of said transmission signal, and 3) information identifying the time at which said request is made, the identity of the information content of said transmission signal being received by said terminal at the time said request for information is generated thereby; and

b) matching said identification tag with reference information identifying the location of said content related information in said information source, said reference information being stored in a network database accessed by said network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said transmission signal identification information comprises channel identification information identifying a channel to which said terminal receiver is tuned, said network employing said channel identification information with said identification tag and time of request information to determine the information content of the transmission signal being received by said terminal at the time said request is generated.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising the steps of generating a master database of reference information for a plurality of broadcast transmission signals which identifies the location in said information source of information related to the information content of each said broadcast transmission signal, and transmitting information in said master database to said network database.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said reference information in said master database includes Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for Internet locations containing information which is related to the information content of each said broadcast transmission signal.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said step of said network accessing said content related information further comprises accessing HTML data from the Internet at locations specified by said URLs.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising the steps of:

1) receiving a plurality of transmission signals at a data collection center;

2) removing identification tags from said transmission signals; and

3) transmitting said identification tags to said network receiver.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

1) providing in said master database, a plurality of different information location identifiers for said identification tag, each of which identifies demographic specific information in said information source that is related to the programming content of said transmission signal;

2) identifying information location identifiers in said master database which match demographics corresponding to said network; and

3) transmitting only those information location identifiers to said network database.

47. A method for accessing broadcast television transmission signal content related information from the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of terminals, each said terminal being interfaced to a television transmission signal receiving device, and including a multiple channel receiver for receiving a transmission signal and a transmitter for sending a request for Internet based information which is related to the information content of a currently received television transmission signal;

b) providing a television transmission signal distribution network for receiving a plurality of broadcast television transmission signals from at least one signal source and transmitting said television transmission signals to said terminal receivers;

c) providing an information source interfaced to said network, said information source containing Internet based information related to the information content of said television transmission signals;

d) transmitting said television transmission signals from said network to said terminal receivers;

e) generating at least a first request at a first of said terminals for information related to the information content of one of said television transmission signals during reception by said first terminal, said request including identification information for said transmission signal being received at the time of said request and transmitting said request to said network;

f) in response to reception of said request from said first terminal, said network:

1) identifying Internet based information in said information source which is related to the information content of said television transmission signal;

2) accessing said content related information; and

3) transmitting said content related information to said first terminal.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of said network accessing said information further comprises accessing said information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said step of said network accessing said information further comprises:

a) before said television transmission signals are transmitted to said terminal receivers, accessing information from the Internet through an Internet Service Provider which is related to the information content of said television transmission signals;

b) storing said related information in a cache interfaced to said network; and

c) accessing said related information from said cache when said information request is received.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of said network identifying information in said information source which is related to the information content of said television transmission signal, further comprises:

a) determining from 1) said transmission signal identification information 2) an identification tag periodically transmitted with said television transmission signal by said signal source that identifies the current programming content of said transmission signal, and 3) information identifying the time at which said request is made, the identity of the information content of said television transmission signal; and

b) matching said identification tag with reference information identifying the location of said content related information in said information source, said reference information being stored in a network database accessed by said network.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said transmission signal identification information comprises channel identification information, said network employing said channel identification information with said identification tag and time of request information to determine the information content of the television transmission signal being received by said terminal at the time said request is generated.

52. The system of claim 50, further comprising the steps of generating a master database of reference information for a plurality of broadcast television transmission signals which identifies the location in said information source of Internet based information related to the information content of each said broadcast television transmission signal, and transmitting information in said master database to said network database.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said reference information in said master database includes Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for Internet locations containing information which is related to the information content of each said broadcast television transmission signal.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said step of said network accessing said content related information further comprises accessing HTML data from the Internet at locations specified by said URLs.

55. The method of claim 50, further comprising the steps of:

1) receiving a plurality of transmission signals at a data collection center;

2) removing identification tags from said transmission signals; and

3) transmitting said identification tags to said network receiver.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising the steps of

1) providing in said master database, a plurality of different information location identifiers for said identification tag, each of which identifies demographic specific information in said information source that is related to the programming content of said transmission signal;

2) identifying information location identifiers in said master database which match demographics corresponding to said network; and

3) transmitting only those information location identifiers to said network database.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of said network transmitting said content related information to said first terminal further comprises connecting said first terminal to an Internet browser application located in said network, and downloading said content related information to said first terminal.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said step of connecting said first terminal to an Internet browser application further comprises connecting said first terminal to one of a plurality of active Internet browser applications in said network.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of generating a request further comprises a user entering a request in said first terminal for Internet based information which is related to the information content of a television broadcast currently being viewed by said user on said television signal receiving device.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said user enter said request by actuating a button on a remote control device.

61. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of transmitting said Internet based information to said first terminal comprises inserting said information in a television transmission signal being broadcast by said network on one of said receiver channels in said first terminal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said information is inserted in the vertical blanking intervals of said television transmission signal.