| 摘要 |
A method and system for encoding control data into the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. Because the control data is concatenated with the video signal on a line-by-line basis, the control data is temporarily synchronized with the underlying video signal. This permits the controlled devices, such as wireless mechanical characters, behave as characters in a scene defined by the programming information of the video signal. A protocol is defined for the encoded data that is addressable, forwardly compatible, error tolerant, and feasible to deploy in connection with a system that is primarily intended to be a children's entertainment product. The bandwidth of the communication link defined by the encoded data is adjustable to meet the cost and performance needs of a wide variety of consumers. Sufficient bandwidth is available to control several devices and to provide additional advertising, subscription, or emergency warning services, such as e-mail, foreign language subtitling, intercom capability, telephone pages, weather warnings, configuration data for a set-top box, and so forth.
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