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Abstract

Method and apparatus for in-band, video broadcasting of commands to interactive devices are described. Control data are encoded by subliminally modulating, prior to the remote, composite video broadcast of video program material, a selected sequence of video image fields. The resulting modulated video fields within the viewing area of a television, each having alternately, proportionately raised and lowered luminance horizontal scan lines, are monitored by a light sensitive device positioned adjacent the user's television screen. A semirigid, twisted pair cable connects the device to nearby receiver/transmitter electronics that discriminate the binary data from the program material and amplitude modulate a high frequency infrared (IR) carrier with the data. Interactive devices, e.g. educational aids or action toys, within range of the wireless IR transmission detect energy in this frequency range, decode the commands embedded in the control data, and selectively execute predetermined actions in response to the data-encoded broadcast. In a proposed modification, low radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation emanating from the television's raster scan electronics is coupled by a conventional RF antenna to the receiver electronics, which identically discriminate the binary data, from the program material, for transmission to the interactive devices.

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First Claim