United States Patent
Patent Number: RE 42103 E
Date of Reissued Patent: February 1, 2011
Apparatus and method of automatically accessing on-line services in response to broadcast of on-line addresses
Inventor: Shelton L. Palmer
Filed: May 18, 2001
Abstract
[A m] Methods and [apparatus is] systems are provided for [connecting a] directing computers to communicate with a data service using electronic addresses [in sync with an] corresponding to audio [/] or video [broadcast] programming content. In one embodiment, [S] simultaneously with the broadcasting of audio [/] or video programming, an address transmitter transmits an address, such as a URL, identifying [an on-line] a data service, such as a web site, which contains information about the audio or video programming. [This] The address is received by a computer and used to automatically access the [on-line] data service. [Preferably, the process is repeated with different addresses corresponding with different programming. It is also preferred that the addresses be sent via a paging system.] Optionally, the computer may be directed to display content of the data service.
United States Patent
Patent Number: 5905865
Date of Patent: May 18, 1999 (Reissued February 1, 2011)
Apparatus and method of automatically accessing on-line services in response to broadcast of on-line addresses
Inventor: Shelton L. Palmer
Filed: October 30, 1996
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for connecting a computer to electronic addresses in sync with an audio/video broadcast. Simultaneously with the broadcasting of audio/video programming, an address transmitter transmits an address, such as a URL, identifying an on-line service which contains information about the audio or video programming. This address is received by a computer and used to automatically access the on-line service. Preferably, the process is repeated with different addresses corresponding with different programming. It is also preferred that the addresses be sent via a paging system.
United States Patent
Patent Number: 5438355
Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
Interactive System For Processing Viewer Responses to Television Programming
Inventor: Shelton L. Palmer
Filed: April 16, 1993
Abstract
An interactive television system includes a central exchange and a plurality of consoles variously located at residences of viewers of TV programming. Each console includes a code reader capable of reading program codes, which are broadcasted with the TV signals of programs as unique identifiers thereof. A viewer, upon seeing a TV program of interest, actuates a button, and the console transmits to the central exchange an uniquely identifying console code together with the program code currently being read by the code reader. The central exchange then initiates a facsimile transmission or a datafile transmission of program data, retrieved from a database and associated with the received program code, to the console identified by the received console code.