Interactive television system

Claim 2

A television system according to claim 1, characterized in that the video signal includes the control data in a vertical blanking interval.

Claim 3

A television system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing plural types of additional information relating to a broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 4

A television system according to claim 2, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing plural types of additional information relating to a broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 5

A television system according to claim 1, characterized in that said input means includes: a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of the operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller.

Claim 6

A television system according to claim 3, characterized in that said television system comprises a read-only memory (302) for storing a script interpreter executing an interactive procedure, and character font information, and said first and second display means execute the stored control data by using the script interpreter in order to access the character font information, and displays a screen according to the accessed character font information on said display.

Claim 7

A television system according to claim 4, characterized in that said television system comprises a read-only memory (302) for storing a script interpreter executing an interactive procedure, and character font information, and said first and second display means execute the stored control data by using the script interpreter in order to access the character font information, and displays a screen according to the accessed character font information on said display.

Claim 8

A television system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising: a memory; means (304) for storing information of the screen displayed on said display into said memory, in response to the instruction input by said input means; and means (301) for redisplaying the screen displayed on said display according to the information stored in said memory, in response to the instruction input by said input means.

Claim 9

A television system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising: determining means (301) for determining whether right or wrong with respect to the instruction input by said input means according to the stored control data; and means (301) for displaying a result of determining by said determining means on said display.

Claim 10

A television system according to claim 9, characterized in that the control data includes video control data showing predetermined timing of broadcasting program provided by the video signal, and said determining means displays the result of determining by said determining means on said display according to the video control data.

Claim 11

A television system characterized by comprising: a receiver (3); and a line processing device (4), said receiver comprising: first receiving means (31) for receiving a video signal including transfer destination information and control data, means (303, 305) for identifying the control data and the transfer destination information from the video signal received by said first receiving means and for storing the identified control data, means (307, 308) for inputting an instruction from an operator, a display (32), a memory (302) for storing identification information, display means (301) for displaying an additional information selection screen for selecting arbitrary additional information from plural pieces of additional information according to the stored control data, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and output means (34, 301) for outputting transfer data corresponding to additional information selected by the operator of said plural pieces of additional information, together with the identification information stored in said memory, according to the transfer destination information, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and the line processing device comprising: second receiving means (41) for receiving the transfer data and the identification information output from said output means, and processing means (43) for executing processing which corresponds to the additional information selected by the operator, according to the transfer data and identification information received by said second receiving means.

Claim 12

A television system according to claim 11, characterized in that the video signal includes the transfer destination information and the control data in a vertical blanking interval.

Claim 13

A television system according to claim 11, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information independent of broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 14

A television system according to claim 12, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information independent of broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 15

A television system according to claim 11, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural pieces of additional information respectively.

Claim 16

A television system according to claim 12, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural pieces of additional information respectively.

Claim 17

A television system according to claim 11, characterized in that said input means possesses: a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of this operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller.

Claim 18

A television system characterized by comprising: a plurality of receivers (3); and a line processing device (4) connected to said plurality of receivers, each one of said plurality of receivers comprising: first receiving means (31) for receiving a video signal including transfer destination information and control data, means (303, 305) for identifying the control data and the transfer destination information from the video signal received by said first receiving means and for storing the control data and the transfer destination information, means (307, 308) for inputting an instruction from an operator, a display (32), a memory (302) for storing identification information, display means (301) for displaying an additional information selection screen for selecting arbitrary additional information from plural pieces of additional information according to the stored control data, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and output means (301) for outputting transfer data corresponding to the additional information selected by the operator, together with the identification information stored in said memory to said line processing device, according to the transfer destination information, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and said line processing device comprising: second receiving means for receiving the transfer data and the identification information outputted from said output means, and processing means for executing predetermined processing in every one of the plural pieces of additional information, according to the transfer data and the identification information received by said second receiving means.

Claim 19

A television system according to claim 18, characterized in that the video signal includes the transfer destination information and the control data in a vertical blanking interval.

Claim 20

A television system according to claim 18, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 21

A television system according to claim 19, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 22

A television system according to claim 18, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural pieces of additional information respectively.

Claim 23

A television system according to claim 19, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural pieces of additional information respectively.

Claim 24

A television system according to claim 18, characterized in that said input means possesses: a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of the operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller

Claim 25

A television system according to claim 18, characterized in that the predetermined processing by said processing means is counting of the received transfer data in every one of said plural pieces of additional information.

Claim 26

A television system characterized by comprising: a receiver (3); and a line control device (4), said receiver comprising: first receiving means (31) for receiving a video signal including transfer destination information and control data, means (303, 305) for identifying the control data and the transfer destination information from the video signal received by said first receiving means and for storing the control data and the transfer destination information, means (307, 308) for inputting an instruction from an operator, a display (32), a memory (302) for storing identification information, display means (301) for displaying an additional information selection screen for selecting arbitrary additional information from plural pieces of additional information according to the stored control data, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and first output means (301) for outputting transfer data corresponding to additional information selected by the operator of the plural pieces of additional information, together with the identification information stored in said memory, according to the transfer destination information, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and said line control device comprising: second receiving means (41) for receiving the transfer data and the identification information output from said first output means, a database (43A) dealing with at least one of said receiver and the operator, and second output means (41, 42, 43) for outputting response data corresponding to the additional information selected by the operator of the plural pieces of additional information, according to the transfer data and the identification information received by said second receiving means, and said database.

Claim 27

A television system according to claim 26, characterized in that the video signal includes the transfer destination information and the control data in a vertical blanking interval.

Claim 28

A television system according to claim 26, characterized in that said first receiving means of said receiver receives the response data, and displays the response data in said display.

Claim 29

A television system according to claim 27, characterized in that said first receiving means of said receiver receives the response data, and displays the response data in said display.

Claim 30

A television system according to claim 26, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 31

A television system according to claim 27, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 32

A television system according to claim 26, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural types of additional information respectively.

Claim 33

A television system according to claim 27, characterized in that the transfer destination information includes a plurality of line numbers assigned to the plural types of additional information respectively.

Claim 34

A television system according to claim 26, characterized in that said input means includes a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of the operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller.

Claim 35

A television system characterized by comprising: a receiver (3); and a server (4), said receiver comprising: first receiving means (31) for receiving a video signal including telephone number information and control data, means (303, 305) for identifying the control data and the telephone number information from the video signal received in said first receiving means and storing the control data and the telephone number information, means (307, 308) for inputting an instruction from an operator, a display (32), a memory (302) for storing identification information, first display means (301) for displaying an additional information selection screen for selecting arbitrary additional information from plural pieces of additional information according to the stored control data, in response to the instruction input by said input means, output means (301) for outputting transfer data corresponding to additional information selected by the operator of the plural pieces of additional information, together with the identification information stored in said memory onto a telephone line, according to the telephone number information, in response to the instruction input by said input means, and second display means (301) for receiving the response data output on the telephone line, and displaying the information corresponding to the received response data on said display; and said server comprising: second receiving means (41) for receiving the transfer data and the identification information output from said output means through the telephone line, a database (42A, 43A) dealing with at least one of said receiver and the operator, and means (43) for retrieving said database according to the identification information received by said second receiving means, and outputting response data corresponding to the transfer data onto the telephone line.

Claim 36

A television system according to claim 35, characterized in that the video signal includes the telephone number information and the control data in a vertical blanking interval.

Claim 37

A television system according to claim 35, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing the plural pieces of additional information independent of broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 38

A television system according to claim 35, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 39

A television system according to claim 36, characterized in that the control data includes script for providing plural pieces of additional information relating to broadcasting program provided by the video signal.

Claim 40

A television system according to claim 35, characterized in that the identification information includes a telephone number assigned to said receiver.

Claim 41

A television system according to claim 36, characterized in that the identification information includes a telephone number assigned to said receiver.

Claim 42

A television system according to claim 35, characterized in that said input means includes a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of the operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller.

Claim 43

A television system characterized by comprising: a receiver (3); and a server (4), said receiver comprising: input means (307, 308) for inputting an instruction from an operator, a display (32), a first memory (302) for storing identification information, a second memory (305) for storing telephone number information of a said server, output means (34, 301) for outputting transfer data corresponding to the instruction input by said input means, together with the identification information stored in said first memory, onto a telephone line, according to the telephone number information, in response to the instruction input by the input means, and display means (301) for receiving response data output onto the telephone line, and displaying information corresponding to the received response data on said display, and said server comprising: receiving means (41) for receiving the transfer data and the identification information output from said output means through the telephone line, a database (42A, 43A) dealing with at least one of said receiver and the operator, and means (43) for retrieving said database according to the identification information received in said second receiving means, and outputting response data corresponding to the transfer data onto the telephone line.

Claim 44

A television system according to claim 43, characterized in that said receiver includes a third memory for storing control data, and said display means displays the information according to the control data.

Claim 45

A television system according to claim 43, characterized in that the control data includes script for the plural pieces of additional information independent of broadcasting program provided by said server.

Claim 46

A television system according to claim 43, characterized in that the identification signal includes a telephone number assigned to said receiver.

Claim 47

A television system according to claim 43, characterized in that said input means includes a remote controller (308) having at least one operation button to be manipulated by the operator, and means for outputting a signal corresponding to manipulation of the operation button as the instruction, and a remote control receiver (307) for receiving the signal output by the remote controller.