초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for, interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed, enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program from a broadcast signal that is a combination of a programming signal and a supplementary materials signal. The broadcast output signal is re

A method and apparatus for, interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed, enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program from a broadcast signal that is a combination of a programming signal and a supplementary materials signal. The broadcast output signal is received at a location of an audience. The programming signal of the received output signal is performed for the audience, with reproduction equipment. A signal related to the supplementary material signal is extracted from the received broadcast signal. Access to the supplementary material corresponding to the supplementary material signal is enabled in response to an interactive control signal actuated by a member of the audience tuned to the programming signal being performed, and based on the extracted signal.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method for interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program, comprising: obtaining a programming signal; obtaining a supplementary material signal that identifies the program-related supplementary materi

We claim: 1. A method for interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program, comprising: obtaining a programming signal; obtaining a supplementary material signal that identifies the program-related supplementary material; combining said programming signal and said supplementary material signal into an output signal; broadcasting said output signal from a program signal source; receiving said broadcast output signal at a location of an audience; performing for the audience said programming signal of the received output signal, with reproduction equipment; extracting a signal related to said supplementary material signal from the received broadcast signal; responding to an interactive control signal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performed, and based on said extracted signal, to enable access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal; storing personal identification data in a plurality of portable devices to be carried by a plurality of individuals, respectively; transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location; detecting said transmitted identification data; and wherein said step of enabling access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal is based on the detected identification data of the audience member tuned to said programming signal being performed who actuated said interactive control signal. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said supplementary material is at least one of supplementary information and an incentive reward coupon, and wherein said supplementary material signal is a code for at least one of said supplementary information and said incentive reward coupon. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said access to said stored supplementary material comprises outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises printing said supplementary material at the audience location. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises transmitting said extracted signal to a location, remote from the audience location, where data for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form is stored, and sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location comprises at least one of mail and email. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the steps of transmitting said extracted signal to the remote location and sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location comprises using a global communication network. 8. The method of claim 3, wherein data for printing said supplementary material is pre-stored at said audience location. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said control signal is generated by a handheld, remote control device. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising interactively generating an indication responsive to said supplementary material signal being received at the audience location to alert the audience that access to such supplementary material is available. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said indication is visual. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting said transmitted identification data comprises: periodically emitting a trigger signal at the audience location; in response to said trigger signal, transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the access to the supplementary material that is enabled based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises determining which of several types of available supplementary materials to provide. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the access to the supplementary material that is enabled based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises determining where the supplementary materials should be sent. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing an audience survey based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal and the supplementary material signal associated with said programming signal being performed when the control signal was actuated. 16. A method for interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program from a broadcast signal that is a combination of a programming signal and a supplementary materials signal, said method comprising: receiving said broadcast output signal at a location of an audience; performing for the audience said programming signal of the received output signal, with reproduction equipment; extracting a signal related to said supplementary material signal from the received broadcast signal; responding to an interactive control signal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performed, and based on said extracted signal, to enable access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal; storing personal identification data in a plurality of portable devices to be carried by a plurality of individuals, respectively; transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location; detecting said transmitted identification data; and wherein said step of enabling access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal is based on the detected identification data of the audience member tuned to said programming signal being performed who actuated said interactive control signal. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said supplementary material is at least one of supplementary information and an incentive reward coupon, and wherein said supplementary material signal is a code for at least one of said supplementary information and said incentive reward coupon. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said access to said stored supplementary material comprises outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises printing said supplementary material at the audience location. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein data for printing said supplementary material is pre-stored at said audience location. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises transmitting said extracted signal to a location, remote from the audience location, where data for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form is stored, and sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location comprises at least one of mail and email. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the steps of transmitting said extracted signal to the remote location and sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location comprises using a global communication network. 24. The method of claim 16, wherein said control signal is generated by a handheld, remote control device. 25. The method of claim 16, further comprising interactively generating an indication responsive to said supplementary material signal being received at the audience location to alert the audience that access to such supplementary material is available. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said indication is visual. 27. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of detecting said transmitted identification data comprises: periodically emitting a trigger signal at the audience location; in response to said trigger signal, transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location. 28. The method of claim 16, wherein the access to the supplementary material that is enabled based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises determining which of several types of available supplementary materials to provide. 29. The method of claim 16, wherein the access to the supplementary material that is enabled based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises determining where the supplementary materials should be sent. 30. The method of claim 16, further comprising producing an audience survey based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal and the supplementary material signal associated with said programming signal being performed when the control signal was actuated. 31. An apparatus for interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program, comprising: means for obtaining a programming signal; means for obtaining a supplementary material signal that identifies the program-related supplementary material; means for combining said programming signal and said supplementary material signal into an output signal; means for broadcasting said output signal from a program signal source; means for receiving said broadcast output signal at a location of an audience; means for performing for the audience said programming signal of the received output signal, with reproduction equipment; means for extracting a signal related to said supplementary material signal from the received broadcast signal; means for responding to an interactive control signal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performed, and based on said extracted signal, to enable access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal; means for storing personal identification data in a plurality of portable devices to be carried by a plurality of individuals, respectively; means for transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location; means for detecting said transmitted identification data; and wherein said means for enabling access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal is based on the detected identification data of the audience member tuned to said programming signal being performed who actuated said interactive control signal. 32. An apparatus for interactively with a broadcast program that is being performed enabling access to supplementary materials related to the program from a broadcast signal that is a combination of a programming signal and a supplementary materials signal, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said broadcast output signal at a location of an audience; means for performing for the audience said programming signal of the received output signal, with reproduction equipment; means for extracting a signal related to said supplementary material signal from the received broadcast signal; means for responding to an interactive control signal actuated by a member of said audience tuned to said programming signal being performed, and based on said extracted signal, to enable access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal; means for storing personal identification data in a plurality of portable devices to be carried by a plurality of individuals, respectively; means for transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location; means for detecting said transmitted identification data; and wherein said means for enabling access to the supplementary material corresponding to said supplementary material signal is based on the detected identification data of the audience member tuned to said programming signal being performed who actuated said interactive control signal. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said supplementary material is at least one of supplementary information and an incentive reward coupon, and wherein said supplementary material signal is a code for at least one of said supplementary information and said incentive reward coupon. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for enabling access to said stored supplementary material comprises means for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said means for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises means for printing said supplementary material at the audience location. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said means for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form comprises means for transmitting said extracted signal to a location, remote from the audience location, where data for outputting the supplementary material in human-perceptible form is stored, and means for sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said means for sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location comprises at least one of mail and email. 38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for storing data for printing said supplementary material at said audience location. 39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein at least one of the means for transmitting said extracted signal to the remote location and means for sending the outputted supplementary material to the audience location uses a global communication network. 40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said control signal is generated by a handheld, remote control device. 41. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for interactively generating an indication responsive to said supplementary material signal being received at the audience location to alert the audience that access to such supplementary material is available. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said indication is visual. 43. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said means for detecting said transmitted identification data comprises: means for periodically emitting a trigger signal at the audience location; and in response to said trigger signal, means for transmitting said identification data from the portable devices of said individuals who are audience members at the audience location. 44. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for enabling access to the supplementary material based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises means for determining which of several types of available supplementary materials to provide. 45. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for enabling access to the supplementary material based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal comprises means for determining where the supplementary materials should be sent. 46. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for producing an audience survey based on the detected identification data of the audience member who actuated the control signal and the supplementary material signal associated with said programming signal being performed when the control signal was actuated.