Home communication method and apparatus
US5488423A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04H60/46
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Redeemable shopping coupons for products or information printouts in categories preferred by a consumer are printed in the consumer's premises when made available by a manufacturer or advertiser through the coupon and information service. Data identifying either or both product and information category and printout content are broadcast in conjunction with regular television programs and received in decoder-printer units in the homes of consumers subscribing to the service. If received product or information category data matches pre-programmed category data stored in the subscriber's unit, a printer in the unit is activated to generate a printout containing the received coupon data or other information. Operation of the subscriber's unit requires no interaction through the unit with the broadcasting service nor does operation of the unit affect operation of the subscriber's television set.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.