Michael Freeman

US Patent:

7448063, Nov 4, 2008

Filed:

Apr 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/126480

Inventors:

Michael J. Freeman - Kings Point NY, US
Craig Ullman - Brooklyn NY, US

Assignee:

ACTV, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/18
H04N 5/225

US Classification:

725136, 348157, 3482071

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an interactive digital system enabling viewers full and active participation in experiencing a live broadcast event. Particularly, the presentation of the live event is personalized for the viewer through the provision of various options, including multiple video streams, associated with different c125 amera angles, for example, and integrated audio and graphics segments. Further, information obtained from related Web sites can be integrated into the live program. Various video and audio streams are collected from a live event and forwarded to a central control studio. Graphics are created at the central studio on a personal computer or chyron device. After receiving the video, audio and graphics signals, the signals are digitized and compressed in digital compressors. These signals are then combined with special data codes into a “digital package,” and subsequently, transmitted over a cable distribution system. Once received at a viewer home, the signals are received and processed in an interactive digital cable box.

US Patent:

20010013123, Aug 9, 2001

Filed:

Jan 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/767053

Inventors:

Michael Freeman - Kings Point NY, US
Gregory Harper - New York NY, US
Kevin Liga - Port Chester NY, US
Frank Deo - Kendall Park NJ, US

International Classification:

H04N007/025
H04N007/10

US Classification:

725/034000

Abstract:

A Customized Programming creation system provides the ability to transmit Customized Programming offerings to individual users based upon their known profile or their responses to contemporaneous queries. In its basic form, the invention provides for a programming transmission center to maintain a single or multiple MPEG storage server environments. Through the use of digital conversion and MPEG compression standards, a vast library of programming and other information signals can be stored on such file servers. The transmission center selects and accesses programming segments or other information from the storage servers. Through the use of splice points encoded through the MPEG process, the programming transmission center can inconspicuously splice disparate program segments together to create a single custom program stream for delivery to a single user or multiple users of the same profile. Using interactive programming technology, a user profile is created and stored based on known, purchased and/or usage-based variables. The interactive programming system collects information through the user's receiver by monitoring the user's viewing habits and cataloguing user responses to interactive programming queries. Such profile information is transmitted to the programming transmission center via a backchannel communication link with the user's receiver. The Customized Programming stream may then be created to reinforce known or educated assumptions of programming and commercial selections that are most pertinent to the particular user, bringing some personalization to the vast library of stored programs and information.

US Patent:

20020129374, Sep 12, 2002

Filed:

Jun 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/335372

Inventors:

MICHAEL J. FREEMAN - KINGS POINT NY, US
KEVIN M. LIGA - PORT CHESTER NY, US
FRANK P. DEO - KENDALL PARK NJ, US

International Classification:

H04N007/173

US Classification:

725/091000

Abstract:

An interactive television system is disclosed which utilizes a various distribution networks for simultaneously providing a plurality of viewers with an interactive television program comprising a plurality of signals related in time and content. Video signals are transmitted in a digital format, more than one signal being multiplexed onto a data stream on a single channel. The video signals may be compressed for efficiency. A receiver, in conjunction with a signal selector, selects a particular channel for playback, then selects a particular video signal from the data stream, and decompresses the video signal for playback. Seamless switching between video signals on different channels is provided, as well as seamless switching between video signals that have been multiplexed on the same channel. An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the various signals which comprise the interactive program are switched at the head end rather than at the receiver. The multiple choice control unit selects a desired signal by relaying the multiple choice selections of the user through a relay box back to a remotely located switching station. The switching station routes the correct video signal down the appropriate TV channel for the particular user.

US Patent:

43202560, Mar 16, 1982

Filed:

Nov 27, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/097687

Inventors:

Michael J. Freeman - Hartsdale NY

International Classification:

H04M 164
H04Q 300
G09B 704

US Classification:

179 604

Abstract:

An improved verbally interactive telephone interrogation system is provided in which a two-way telephone subscriber network, such as a Touch-Tone type two-way telephone subscriber network, is utilized to enable both telephone call placement and individualized remote variable audio message selection and interrogation of prerecorded audio messages as well as remote response accumulation. The Touch-Tone type telephone, which is employed to maintain normal telephone contact with other subscribers, is also utilized to call-up a multitrack magnetic storage device which provides selectible reproducible conversational responsive audio messages to particular primary reproducible interrogatory message from a plurality of different selectible audio messages stored thereon. A frequency decoder and track selection means is associated with the multitrack magnetic storage device for decoding tone signal outputs from the Touch-Tone type telephone to accomplish track selection subsequent to the connection of the subscriber to the multitrack magnetic storage device. Response recording, such as in conjunction with a pulse counter, may be operatively connected to the frequency decoder so as to accumulate responses to particular interrogatory messages based on reception of unique tone signal outputs from the Touch-Tone type telephones in the system.

US Patent:

46022791, Jul 22, 1986

Filed:

Mar 21, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/591862

Inventors:

Michael J. Freeman - Sands Point NY

Assignee:

ACTV, Inc. - Port Washington NY

International Classification:

H04N 710

US Classification:

358 86

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an interactive communication system, such as an interactive cable television system (10), for providing an interactive information output over a common output channel from a plurality of remotely transmitted different information inputs (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and, more particularly, relates to an improved method for interactively creating a selection profile for a subscriber and interactively selecting in real time one of a plurality of messages, such as television commercials or game scores, based upon the selection profile whereby multiple users of a one-way television signal distribution network (60) may obtain an individualized or tailored program information content for a television programming sequence. The selection profile may be created in advance of transmission of the television program or commercial or during transmission of a given program and may be varied from the head end. In this manner, highly tailored information may be provided to particular subscribers based on their individual profiles as recognized by the system.

US Patent:

45912483, May 27, 1986

Filed:

Apr 27, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/489170

Inventors:

Michael J. Freeman - Sands Point NY

International Classification:

G03B 1918
G03B 2132

US Classification:

352133

Abstract:

A movie changeover system (20,200,2004,400) capable of providing a real time decision tree movie presentation having a variable movie display content dependent on the viewing audience response to branching choices which occur during the course of the movie. A pair of movie projection devices (22, 24), each having an associated portion of a substantially continuous overall motion picture presentation therefrom, has stored thereon a projectable portion of the overall motion picture presentation content. A changeover shutter mechanism (26) is operatively associated with the pair of projectors (22, 24) for selectively projecting a movie display choice of one of the projectable portions from one of the pair of projectors (22, 24) in a real time continuous movie display presentation with the previous movie display portion in response to a changeover signal. Means for detecting and sampling the audience responses associated with each choice, such as a microphone (32, 34), is provided with the sampled responses corresponding to preferential signal levels. The sampled signal levels are processed (252, 252a, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 320f, 322, 324, 452, 416, 418, 36, 38, 264, 402 ) and subsequently compared (40, 266, 440) to determine which of the two levels is greater, with the resultant signal being provided (268, 274, 276, 478) to an output circuit (42, 278, 442) to which the changeover signal is provided.

US Patent:

44206569, Dec 13, 1983

Filed:

Aug 24, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/295817

Inventors:

Michael Freeman - Sands Point NY

International Classification:

H04M 164
H04M 300

US Classification:

179 604

Abstract:

An interactive telephone answering system (20) connectable to a captured telephone line (26) is responsive to the detection (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) of tones transmitted by the calling party from the keypad of a Touch-Tone phone for enabling caller selectable routing of an incoming call to a desired receiving phone (110) in accordance with a verbally interactive prerecorded decision tree format. The various selectable decision trees are prerecorded on a multitrack endless loop tape for playback (60, 62) of the channels selected (52, 54, 56, 58) by the calling party with the ultimate branches thereof each having a prerecorded arming signal which, when detected, activates the appropriate relay (50) to connect the caller to the desired telephone extension. The receiving party may also screen calls or have calls forwarded to another number by use of prerecorded codes on the tape. The decision tree format of the prerecorded messages is based on the recording of each channel in a specially created time sequenced manner enabling the user to provide tailored interactive answering of a telephone.

US Patent:

61813346, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Jul 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/887314

Inventors:

Michael J. Freeman - Kings Point NY
Gregory W. Harper - New York NY

Assignee:

ACTV, Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

H04N 710

US Classification:

345327

Abstract:

An interactive cable television system is disclosed which utilizes a standard cable television distribution network for simultaneously providing a plurality of viewers with an interactive television program comprising a plurality of signals related in time and content. Video signals are transmitted in a digital format, more than one signal being multiplexed onto a data stream on a single channel. The video signals may be compressed for efficiency. A receiver, in conjunction with a signal selector, selects a particular NTSC channel for playback, then selects a particular video signal from the data stream, and decompresses the video signal for playback. Seamless switching between video signals on different channels is provided. An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the various signals which comprise the interactive program are switched at the head end rather than at the receiver. The multiple choice control unit selects a desired signal by relaying the multiple choice selections of the user through a relay box back to a remotely located switching station.