Interactive television system, remote TV receivers polled to transmit game scores to central game controller

摘要

In an interactive TV system, a game show in which viewers can participate is transmitted to TV receivers 10 over a broadcast network. The viewer's score in the game show is stored in home unit 9. Each home unit generates and stores a random number. On completion of the game, the central controller specifies a range of random numbers and transmits this to all the home units that have participated in the game. If the random number stored in the home unit is within the range specified by the central controller, then the score is transmitted to the central controller. When all the scores are received by the central controller, they are reviewed, and a selected threshold value transmitted to all the participating home units . The home units compare the viewer's score with the threshold value, and if the score is greater than the threshold score, the score is transmitted central controller. The communication between the home units and central controller can be via a PSTN.