System for evaluation and recording of responses to broadcast transmissions

[54] SYSTEM FOR EVALUATION AND RECORDING OF RESPONSES TO BROADCAST TRANSMISSIONS

[76] Inventor: Henry Von Kohorn, 215 Rocky

Rapids Rd., Stamford, Conn. 06903

[21] Appl. No.: 837,827

[22] Filed: Mar. 10,1986

[51] Int. CI.* H04H 9/00

[52] U.S. Q 358/84; 455/2;

434/323

[58] Field of Search 179/2 AS; 358/84;

434/316, 323, 350, 351, 362; 455/2, 5

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,606,688 9/1971 Zawels et al 434/323

4,044,380 8/1977 Justice et al. .

4,264,924 4/1981 Freeman .

4,268,744 5/1981 McGeary .

4,271,351 6/1981 Bloodworth .

4,573,072 2/1986 Freeman 358/84 X

4,630,108 12/1986 Gomersall 358/84

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

1287304 8/1972 United Kingdom 434/323

Primary Examiner—Keith E. George
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Perman & Green

[57] ABSTRACT

A system for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto an audio signal transmitted concurrently with the television program. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes, at each remote receiving station, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing desired responses or response criteria, and a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with the response criteria stored in the memory. Also provided is electronic circuitry for scoring the responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at each of the remote receiving stations.

20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets