Apparatus and methods for accessing information relating to radio television programs

Abstract

An apparatus and method for ordering supplemental information about programs playing at a broadcast receiver. The method includes reproducing programs from one of a plurality of stations, recording an identification of a station and a time of a program, entering this information into one of a plurality of terminals, coupling the terminal to a depository and identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for providing information to a user from an information depository with memory cards, each card having a clock and a plurality of keys on its surface, each key corresponding to a station, the method comprising the steps of: 
       placing over the keys a transparent overlay within an insert receiving pocket;  
       identifying the stations corresponding to the keys;  
       reproducing in the vicinity of each of a plurality of users, programs from one of a plurality of broadcast stations;  
       recording the value of the clock and the key pressed by a user when a user wants to record 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.  
     
     
       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 3 , in which the station log and the supplementary information are resident in the information depository, the method comprising the additional steps of: 
       transmitting the entered 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.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3 , in which the station log and the supplementary information are resident in the information depository, the method comprising the additional steps of: 
       transmitting the entered station identification and time from the information exchange terminal to the information depository; and  
       merging the supplementary information into a charge card accounting statement.  
     
     
       9. 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. 
     
     
       10. 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. 
     
     
       11. 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. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  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. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  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. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  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.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , 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 (DT 1 ) 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 (T 1 ) between the card clock time and time read from a clock in the information exchange terminal;  
       calculating the difference in time (T 2 ) between DT 1  and the information exchange terminal clock current time;  
       calculating the card clock error rate T 1 /T 2 ;  
       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 data and time (DT 1 ) into the card memory.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , in which the outputting step comprises printing out the information or presenting the information on a display device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  wherein the information exchange terminal comprises an automated teller machine. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14  wherein the information exchange terminal comprises a point of sale terminal. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1  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.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the information exchange terminal comprises an automated teller machine. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19  wherein the information exchange terminal comprises a point of sale terminal. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , in which the step of 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 is performed by: 
       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 for commanding the step of recording; and  
       storing into the memory of the card the station identification for selected station and the time read from the clock whenever the command key is activated.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein the apparatus comprises a radio. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22  wherein the apparatus comprises a television. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22  wherein the apparatus comprises a remote controller. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 22  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.  
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  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.  
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26  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.  
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log additionally comprises the step of recording the number of times a first program in the station log is identified as corresponding to entered station identifications and times. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 1  wherein the information depository comprises a distributed and networked depository. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of identifying a correspondence between the entered station identification and time and a program in a station log to obtain the desired supplemental information comprises the steps of: 
       mapping an entered station identification for a cable channel to a second station identification by using a stored cable channel map.  
     
     
       32. 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.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , 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. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32 , additionally comprising the step of transmitting to the information depository the responses and time of each response transmitted to a terminal. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , additionally comprising the step of recording at the information depository the number of like responses. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 34  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. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , additionally comprising the step of outputting at the information exchange terminals information transmitted from the information depository. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , in which the outputting step comprises printing out the information. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37 , in which the outputting step comprises presenting the information on a display device. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 32 , 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. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40 , 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. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41 , in which the station log is compiled at the information depository and the supplemental information is stored at the information depository. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 41 , 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. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 41 , 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. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 32 , 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. 
     
     
       46. 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 data and current time;  
       manual input means for issuing a store command;  
       a memory; 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.  
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 46  wherein the means for controlling the station to which the tuner is set, the clock for designating current data 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, and the memory is integral to a card that is removably coupled to the broadcast receiver. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 47  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.  
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 48  wherein the means for communicating between the information depository and the memory comprises an automated teller machine (ATM). 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 49  further comprising means for outputting the supplementary data at the ATM. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 49  further comprising means for merging the supplementary data onto an ATM accounting statement. 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 48  wherein the means for communicating between the information depository and the memory comprises a point of sale (POS) terminal. 
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 52  further comprising means for outputting the supplemental data at the POS. 
     
     
       54. A system for ordering supplemental information about programs currently playing at a broadcast receiver, the apparatus comprising: 
       a clock for designating current data and current time;  
       manual means for issuing a store command designating a station on which the current program is playing on the broadcast receiver;  
       a memory; 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.  
     
     
       55. The system of  claim 54 , in which the clock, the means for issuing a store command, and the memory are integral to a card having a plurality of keys on its surface, each for issuing a store command designating a particular station, the card further comprising a transparent overlay for placing over the keys and an insert receiving pocket for receiving the transparent overlay for identifying the stations corresponding to the keys. 
     
     
       56. The system of  claim 54  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.  
     
     
       57. The system of  claim 56  further comprising means for outputting the supplementary data. 
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 54 , in which the second conveying step conveys the retrieved auxiliary information electronically, the method additionally comprising the step of reproducing the retrieved auxiliary information at the receiver. 
     
     
       59. A method for supplying to a user of a broadcast receiver auxiliary information about broadcast programs comprising the steps of: 
       playing programs from a schedule of broadcast programs at a broadcast receiver;  
       mapping SDT data representative of the station, day and time of the respective programs of the schedule to auxiliary information about the respective programs in a memory at a central location remote from the receiver;  
       storing at the receiver SDT data for a particular program selected by the user from among the programs being played at the receiver;  
       conveying the stored SDT data to the central location;  
       retrieving at the central location the auxiliary information corresponding to the conveyed mapped SDT data;  
       conveying the retrieved auxiliary information to the user.  
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 59 , in which the mapping step stores logs that provide for each item of SDT data a locator number that identifies an information provider and the retrieving step comprises deriving the locator number for an item of conveyed SDT data from the logs and using the locator number to establish a connection to the information provider identified by the locator number. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60 , in which the step of conveying the retrieved auxiliary information to the user transmits the auxiliary information from the information provider. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 61 , in which the central location comprises information providers on the Internet. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 62 , in which the central location additionally comprises an agent at which one or more of the logs are stored. 
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 59 , in which the second conveying step conveys the retrieved auxiliary information in print form. 
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 59 , in which both conveying steps comprise establishing a telephone connection between the receiver and the central location and transmitting the SDT data and the retrieved auxiliary information over the telephone connection. 
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 65 , in which the SDT data and the retrieved auxiliary information are transmitted in a modem protocol. 
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 59 , in which the storing step stores the SDT data in a nonvolatile memory and the SDT data conveying step comprises physically carrying the memory to the central location. 
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 59 , in which the user is located at the receiver and the second conveying step comprises conveying the retrieved auxiliary information to the receiver.