Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 10,609,425 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Harvey, John Christopher, Cuddihy, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Heard, Erin F
• Application Number:
  US84/803,83
• Time in Patent Office: 9,064 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1, 348 5, 348 155, 348 6, 348 7, 348 8, 348910, 348 11- 13, 348211-213, 348385, 348388, 348389, 348423, 348461, 348462, 348463, 348465, 348467, 348473, 348474, 348476, 348477, 348478, 348479, 348553, 455 2, 455 31, 455 32, 455 41, 455 42, 455 51, 455 61, 455 62, 455 63, 455 7, 725135
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/071 containing electro-optic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 : Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 : comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 : Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 : Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 : Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 : Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 : Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 : for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 : external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 : involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 : Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 : Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4888 : for displaying teletext characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 : Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 : OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 : for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/084 : with signal insertion during the horizontal blanking interval only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 : Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 : Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a television receiver station including communication apparatus, a programmable processor, a storage device and an output device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said television receiver station, an information transmission including a plurality of television programs, said plurality of television programs transmitted in said information transmission to said television receiver station with information identifying one or more of said plurality of said television programs;

identifying, at said television receiver station, said one or more of said plurality of said television programs on a basis of said information;

controlling said communication apparatus at said television receiver station to communicate said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs to one of said output device and said storage device based on said step of identifying;

detecting a control signal in said information transmission based on said step of controlling said communication apparatus at said television receiver station to communicate;

routing said control signal to said programmable processor at said television receiver station based on said step of detecting; and

causing said programmable processor to respond to said control signal based on said step of routing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

outputting said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs at said output device at said television receiver station;

generating, with said programmable processor, a display specific for said television receiver station based on said detected control signal, said display including information content specific to said television receiver station, said display being related to information content of said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs;

receiving and detecting an instruction signal in said information transmission; and

outputting said generated display to said output device, in response to said detected instruction signal, to present a presentation comprising said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs and said generated display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying further comprises the steps of:

storing at said television receiver station additional information in persistent non-volatile memory, said additional information identifying programming interests of a user of said television receiver station; and

identifying that one or more of said plurality of television programs included in said received information transmission is of interest to the user on the basis of said information identifying one or more of said plurality of said television programs.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of generating said display specific for said television receiver station further comprises generating, with said programmable processor, a specific graphic representing performance of an investment portfolio specific to said television receiver station, said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs being related to financial matters.

5. The method of claim 1, said method further comprises the steps of:

outputting said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs at said output device;

receiving a subscriber input in response to said step of outputting; and

outputting additional information related to said identified one or more of said plurality of said television programs at said output device in response to processing said subscriber input.

6. A method of controlling a receiver station having a programmable data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

causing a tuner at said receiver station to tune to an appropriate signal by automatically processing with said programmable data processor received signals, said appropriate signal including an information transmission comprising a program and a digital signal, said digital signal being embedded in said information transmission;

receiving, at said receiver station from a remote transmitter station, said information transmission;

detecting, at said receiver station, said digital signal in said information transmission;

controlling said programmable data processor at said receiver station, at a time when output information content does not exist, to generate said output information content in response to said detected digital signal; and

outputting said program and said generated output information content at output apparatus located at said receiver station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a portion of said program and said generated output information content is outputted in a series of images.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said portion of said program and said generated output information content is outputted at a video output device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said portion of said program and said generated output information content are outputted at a television video output device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein a portion of said program and said generated output information content includes audio, and said audio is outputted at an audio output device.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said appropriate signal is included in a multiplexed transmission.

12. A method to selectively receive television signals from a network at a receiver station and control peripheral equipment based on said television signals, said network transmitting said television signals in a multichannel transmission, said receiver station having a receiver, a programmable processor, a storage device, said peripheral equipment, and an output device for outputting television programming transmitted on said television signals, wherein said programmable processor selectively receives from said network information transmitted in said television signals, said method comprising the steps of:

executing a program at said programmable processor in said receiver station to monitor said television signals;

monitoring, based on executing said program, said television signals from said network to detect control information;

comparing said detected control information from said step of monitoring with information stored at said receiver station;

automatically selecting from said television signals with said programmable processor specific signals for further processing based on an outcome of said step of comparing;

passing said selected specific signals to a storage device;

automatically processing said selected specific signals with said programmable processor; and

controlling said peripheral equipment at said receiver station based on said step of processing to perform a function other than outputting video or outputting audio by processing said television signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said specific signals include a video signal and said control information is data encoded in said video signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said control information includes one or more television programming identifiers.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said control information includes a command for controlling said peripheral equipment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a telephone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said peripheral equipment includes an electro-mechanical device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a heating device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a cooling device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said peripheral equipment is a product output device.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said specific signals include an instruction which programs said peripheral equipment to respond to said command.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said specific signals includes an instruction which programs said receiver station to process a command, said method further comprising the step of passing said instruction to a programmable device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of passing said command to said programmable device.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein an instruction programs said receiver station to respond to a command, and wherein said automatically selecting step comprises selecting one of said instruction and said command.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said automatically processing step comprises passing said instruction and subsequently passing said command.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said controlling step comprises one of outputting programming and generating a receiver specific signal.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said programming and data included in said receiver specific signal are outputted to a user.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said storage device comprises a reprogrammable memory and said instruction is passed to said reprogrammable memory.

29. A method of automatically collecting data transmitted over a network, said network transmitting a multichannel television transmission including transmitted programs, said transmitted programs including television programs, newscasts and commercials, each of a plurality of said transmitted programs having an identifying signal, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said identifying signal for each of said plurality of j transmitted programs in said multichannel television transmission from said network;

decoding said identifying signal for each of said plurality of said transmitted programs;

comparing said decoded identifying signal for each of said plurality of said transmitted programs from said step of decoding with user modifiable parameters stored at a receiver station;

identifying a channel of said multichannel television transmission transmitting a desired program of said plurality of said transmitted programs, based on said step of comparing;

controlling a processor to automatically tune a tuner at a receiver station to said identified channel of said multichannel television transmission transmitting said desired program of said plurality of said transmitted programs to receive said desired program of said plurality of said transmitted programs based on said step of identifying a channel; and

recording said desired program of said plurality of said transmitted programs based on said step of controlling a processor to automatically tune a tuner at said receiver station.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

receiving a user input from a user interface at said receiver station to modify said parameters stored at said receiver station for use in said step of comparing.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

modifying said parameters stored at said receiver station for use in said step of comparing based on previous user selection of program topics.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitted programs include a television newscast and each story in said television newscast has an associated identifying signal to identify topical areas of each said story, said method further comprising the step of:

comparing said identifying signal to identify the topical areas of each said story in said television newscast with said user modifiable parameters stored at said receiver station.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said commercials have an associated identifying signal to identify each said commercial, said method further comprising the steps of:

identifying a commercial in a television program broadcast by comparing said associated identifying signal of said commercial to parameters stored at said receiver station;

outputting said identified commercial at said receiver station;

recording data indicating that said step of outputting said identified commercial has been performed; and

reporting said data indicating that said step of outputting said identified commercial has been performed from said receiver station to an external data collection station.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said identifying signal is transmitted on a radio frequency carrier wave over said network.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said identifying signal is transmitted on an RF carrier and said network is a broadband cable network.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein said identifying signal is transmitted on a carrier wave and said network is a satellite transmission network.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein said identifying signal is transmitted as signals embedded in anon-visual portion of a television signal.

38. A method of controlling receipt of a television signal at a receiver station including a tuner, and a processor, wherein said processor has an output operatively connected to a control input of said tuner, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said receiver station from a remote transmitter station, one or more identification signals from a remote transmitter station to identify specific information content for one or more of a plurality of broadcast and cablecast television program transmissions;

storing user data at said receiver station;

querying automatically, under control of said processor at said receiver station, a remote source for associated data related to said user data;

receiving, at said receiver station, said associated data from said remote source and transferring said associated data to said processor;

comparing, under control of said processor at said receiver station, information regarding said user data to said one or more identification signals under control of said processor to identify a desired program transmission of said one or more of a plurality of broadcast and cablecast television program transmissions; and

controlling, with said processor, said tuner to cause said receiver station to receive said desired program transmission, based on said step of comparing.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising enabling said receiver station to output said desired program transmission based on processing said associated data.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising generating user specific output information content based on processing said associated data.

41. A method of controlling receipt of television programs at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

storing program identification information at said receiver station;

receiving a program code that identifies specific program content for one or more of a plurality of television program transmissions at said receiver station;

comparing said received program code and said stored program identification information under control of a programmable processor at said receiver station;

generating a control signal identifying a desired program transmission of said one or more of said plurality of television program transmissions based on said step of comparing; and

automatically tuning, under control of said programmable processor, to receive said desired program transmission of said one or more of said plurality of television program transmissions in response to said generated control signal.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said step of storing program identification information comprises the step of storing at said receiver station a program schedule identifying one or more of program contents, channels, frequencies of transmission, and time of transmission for a plurality of television programs.

43. The method of claim 41 and further comprising the step of outputting said desired program transmission to a display device at said receiver station.

44. The method of claim 41 and further comprising the step of storing said desired program transmission in persistent non-volatile memory.

45. A method of controlling a mass medium program receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving mass medium programming comprising a plurality of mass medium programs, each of said plurality of mass medium programs being transmitted with code identifying one or more characteristics of said each of said plurality of mass medium programs, one or more portions of said mass medium programming including audio;

selecting a first and a second of said plurality of mass medium programs on basis of said code; and

controlling said mass medium program receiver station, with a programmable processor at said mass medium program receiver station, to one or more of automatically output and automatically store said selected first and said selected second of said plurality of mass medium programs in one or more predetermined fashions based on said code.

46. A method of processing signals at a receiver station comprising the steps of:

receiving a multichannel transmission, said multichannel transmission comprising a program identification signal;

detecting said program identification signal in said received multichannel transmission; and

controlling said receiver station to automatically perform a sequence of events in response to detecting the program identification signal, said sequence of events comprising;

tuning to receive a program;

communicating a control signal to a programmable processor at said receiver station based on said step of tuning; and

controlling said receiver station with said programmable processor in response to said control signal.

47. A method of processing signals at a receiver station comprising the steps of:

receiving information regarding programming availability;

storing said information regarding programming availability in storage accessible by a programmable processor;

receiving a multichannel information transmission comprising a plurality of programs, each program having a transmitted program identification code designating said each program;

processing automatically with said programmable processor said stored information regarding programming availability to select a specific channel of said multichannel information transmission containing a specific program detecting said transmitted program identification code designating said specific program; and

automatically tuning under control of said programmable processor to receive said specific program in response to said step of processing automatically.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of outputting said specific program to a programming output device.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of storing said specific program on a program storage device.

50. A method of controlling receipt and processing of a datum at a receiver station, said receiver station comprising a first receiver, a second receiver, a tuner, a processor, and a computer, wherein said first receiver has a signal output coupled as an input to said processor, said processor has an output operatively connected to a control input of said tuner, said tuner is operatively connected to said second receiver so as to control reception of signals by said second receiver, said second receiver has a signal output coupled as an input to said computer, and said computer including a memory, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said first receiver identification signals that identify specific information content for one or more of a plurality of concurrent data transmissions;

querying automatically, by said receiver station, an external source for an identifying authorization signal;

receiving said identifying authorization signal based on said step of querying;

providing said identifying authorization signal to said processor based on said step of receiving said identifying authorization signal;

under control of said processor, comparing said identifying authorization signal to said identification signals to generate a control signal identifying a desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions;

under control of said processor, transmitting said control signal to said tuner;

tuning with said tuner in response to said control signal said second receiver to receive said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions;

inputting said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions to said computer; and

under control of said computer, performing one or more of;

processing said datum in response to a control instruction in said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions;

receiving said datum in said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions and recording said datum on a storage medium; and

receiving said datum in said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions and communicating said datum to an output device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said receiver station communicates a code which designates said datum to a remote station, said method further comprising one of the steps of:

programming said receiver station to perform one or more of processing and outputting said datum based on said code; and

billing a subscriber based on said code.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein said datum is embedded in a non-visible portion of a television signal.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein information evidencing one of availability of said datum, use of said datum, and usage of said datum is communicated to a remote data collection station, said method further comprising the step of selecting evidence information that designates one or more of:

a mass medium program;

said use of said datum;

a transmission station;

said receiver station;

a network;

said use of said datum;

a transmission station;

said receiver station;

a network;

a broadcast station;

a channel on a cable system;

a time of transmission;

a unique identifier datum;

a source or supplier of said datum;

one of a distributor, and an advertisement; and

an indication of an obligation to make payment.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein said desired one of said plurality of concurrent data transmissions incorporates downloadable code, said method further comprising the steps of:

communicating said downloadable code to said processor and performing, based on said downloadable code, one or more of;

receiving a signal including said datum;

actuating said output device, wherein said output device is one of a video output device, an audio output device, and a print output device to output said datum;

decrypting said datum;

controlling a selective transmission device to communicate said datum to one of said memory and said output device;

generating a receiver specific datum by processing said datum; and

delivering processed information of said datum at said output device in one of simultaneous and sequential manner with a mass medium program.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein said datum is received in a data portion of a multichannel signal, said method further comprising the step of:

decoding said data portion of said multichannel signal.

56. A method for delivering a contiguous programming presentation at a receiver station from a multichannel programming signal, said multichannel programming signal having programs occurring concurrently and sequentially, said programs having digital identification signals, said receiver station having a programmable processor, a storage device, and a tuner, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said digital identification signals at said receiver station;

comparing said digital identification signals with predetermined parameters stored at said receiver station to locate one or more programs transmitted in said multichannel programming signal;

identifying content of said one or more programs transmitted in said multichannel programming signal based on said step of comparing; and

automatically tuning said tuner, based on said step of identifying, to automatically and selectively pass a contiguous series of related program segments from said multichannel programming signal to a single television channel to be output as a coordinated contiguous program presentation.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

querying a remote source for said predetermined parameters; and

receiving and storing said predetermined parameters at said receiver station based on said step of querying.

58. A method for delivering a presentation of selected information at a receiver station from a multimedia signal, said method comprising the steps of:

storing information identifying an interest;

receiving said multimedia signal, said multimedia signal having multiple programs transmitted concurrently and sequentially in said multimedia signal, said multimedia signal including codes with each of said programs having a code transmitted therewith;

detecting, at said receiver station, said codes in one or more portions of said multimedia signal;

identifying programs corresponding to said interest, said step of identifying being performed based on said step of detecting; and

automatically processing and outputting a plurality of related program segments of interest based on said step of identifying to present a series of said plurality of related program segments of interest from different media streams in the multimedia signal as a coordinated program presentation.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

querying a remote source for said information identifying an interest; and

receiving said information identifying an interest based on said step of querying.

60. A method for displaying a remotely supplied image combined with a locally generated image at a receiver station having a programmable processor, storage apparatus, a data network connection, and image display apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

storing at said storage apparatus a set of information parameters;

generating a query at said receiver station from said set of information parameters;

promulgating said query from said step of generating a query from said receiver station to a data network through said data network connection;

receiving, at said receiver station from said data network, data in response to said query;

processing said data with said programmable processor to generate local information content for display in said locally generated image;

receiving said remotely supplied image from a remote transmitter station;

transferring said remotely supplied image within said receiver combining said locally generated image from said step of processing with said remotely supplied image from said steps of receiving and transferring; and

displaying at said image display apparatus a combined image of said remotely supplied image and said locally generated image including said local information content.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said programmable processor identifies at least a portion of said remotely supplied image by processing an identifier, said method further comprising the step of detecting said identifier at said receiver station.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said identifier in an information transmission transmitted from said remote transmitter station; and

inputting said received information transmission to a detector at said receiver station.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said remotely supplied image and said identifier are both transmitted from said remote transmitter station in said information transmission.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein said programmable processor generates a portion of information contained in said locally generated image by processing a portion of said response.

65. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

receiving a signal that identifies a television program; and

decoding said signal from said step of receiving to extract information of said television program.

66. A method for outputting a coordinated presentation of selected information with related information content from a multiplexed transmission at a receiver station, said receiver station having a detector, a programmable data processor, a controller, and a storage device, said multiplexed transmission having identification signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said multiplexed transmission at said receiver station;

detecting, at said detector, said identification signals in said multiplexed transmission, said identification signals being effective to identify information streams included in said multiplexed transmission;

passing said detected identification signals from said detector to said programmable data processor;

demultiplexing said multiplexed transmission;

using said programmable data processor to compare said identification signals to a plurality of predetermined parameters and to automatically select a plurality of related information streams with related information content from said multiplexed transmission based upon comparing said identification signals to said plurality of predetermined parameters;

passing said selected plurality of related information streams to said programmable data processor;

processing said selected plurality of related information streams with said programmable data processor to prepare a coordinated presentation of said selected plurality of related information streams; and

outputting said coordinated presentation of said selected plurality of related information streams.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said multiplexed transmission is a broadcast transmission.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein said multiplexed transmission is a cablecast transmission.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein said multiplexed transmission is a satellite transmission.

70. The method of claim 66, wherein said identification signals identify a television program.

71. The method of claim 66, wherein each said identification signals identify a program topic.

72. The method of claim 66, further comprising the step of storing said predetermined parameters at said receiver station.