Data collector, particularly for interactive television systems

摘要

A data collector is disclosed, including a central processor (CPU) to which a telephone interface unit (TELEPHONE INTERFACE) is connected, connected in turn to a user telephone line. The above mentioned telephone interface is configured in order to modify the value of a byte when the user hangs off the handset of the telephone set connected to said user line. Said modified byte is read by the central processor (CPU) as a byte coming from the parallel port and in response to this reading the central processor (CPU) determines the switching on of the television set. Thanks to the invention enabling the switching on of the television set when the user unhooks the telephone set, it is possible to display on the television set (TV) advertisement spots which are thus seen only by the calling user. These advertising spots therefore do not interfere in any way with the called telephone user, contrarily to what happens in the systems of the known type in which the crediting of conversation minutes to the calling user has repercussions also on the called user. (Fig. 1)