Television distribution system for signal substitution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A television distribution system for delivering a plurality of channel signals in separated TV channels to a plurality of cable television subscribers in a geographic area comprises, a cable distribution head end comprising:
- a plurality of normal channel signal sources for producing normal TV channel signals to be delivered to subscribers;
a source of a substitute channel signal to be substituted for at least one normal channel signal;
signal distribution circuitry for receiving the normal channel signals and the substitute channel signal and for combining the received channel signals into a spectrum of channels on a plurality of distribution trunks, the spectrum of channels on less than all of the plurality of distribution trunks including the substitute channel signal; and
means for generating a plurality of substantially identical copies of the spectrum of channels of each distribution trunk and the distribution system comprises;
means for connecting the substantially identical copies of the channel spectrum of each distribution trunk to different substantially contiguous zones of the geographic area.
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Abstract
A cable television distribution system in which the head end substitutes different channels for a plurality of separated geographic zones. The head end creates a plurality of channel spectrums and transmits the spectrums on distribution trunks such that a different spectrum may be present on each distribution trunk. The spectrums on the distribution trunks are connected to zones of the viewer community which have been selected for market research purposes on the basis of demographics.
38 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A television distribution system for delivering a plurality of channel signals in separated TV channels to a plurality of cable television subscribers in a geographic area comprises,
a cable distribution head end comprising: -
a plurality of normal channel signal sources for producing normal TV channel signals to be delivered to subscribers;
a source of a substitute channel signal to be substituted for at least one normal channel signal;
signal distribution circuitry for receiving the normal channel signals and the substitute channel signal and for combining the received channel signals into a spectrum of channels on a plurality of distribution trunks, the spectrum of channels on less than all of the plurality of distribution trunks including the substitute channel signal; and
means for generating a plurality of substantially identical copies of the spectrum of channels of each distribution trunk and the distribution system comprises;
means for connecting the substantially identical copies of the channel spectrum of each distribution trunk to different substantially contiguous zones of the geographic area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A panelist response scanning system comprising a plurality of product scanning units for location at respective stores, a targetable television system serving a community of people, a plurality of panelist identification means for identifying respective panelists, and a market research computer system for coupling to said product scanning units,
said targetable television system including head end means, a signal distribution arrangement and a plurality of television receivers, said head end means including means for transmitting normal television program signals and substitute television program signals on a plurality of distribution trunks connected by the signal distribution arrangement to said plurality of television receivers, each television receiver being connected to one of the distribution trunks preselected so that a plurality of receivers connected to at least one of the distribution trunks demographically represents the community for market research purposes, the head end including means for selectively substituting substitute program signals in lieu of normal television program signals for transmission of a substitute program on one of the distribution trunks to the plurality of the television receivers connected thereto, each of said respective stores having means for receiving panelist identification information corresponding to a said panelist identification means and for receiving product identification corresponding to said products to produce transaction response signals including panelist identification signals and product identification signals respectively identifying the panelists and the products upon the purchase of products at the store, whereby the system is closed between the targetable television system and the product scanning units by the acts of the respective panelists in viewing the programs presented on the respective television receivers and presenting their corresponding panelist identification to one of the respective stores upon making the purchase of a product, said market research computer system including means for identifying the particular panelist identifying information associated with each of the distribution trunks and responding to said transaction response signals to provide an indication of panelist behavior in response to said normal and substitute programs.
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22. A panelist response system comprising a targetable television system serving a community of people, a plurality of panelist identifications for identifying respective panelists, means for collecting panelist purchase information, and a market research computer system,
said targetable television system including head end means, a signal distribution arrangement and a plurality of television receivers, said head end means including means for transmitting normal television program signals and substitute television program signals on a plurality of distribution trunks connected by the signal distribution arrangement to said plurality of television receivers, each television receiver being connected to one of the distribution trunks preselected so that a plurality of receivers connected to at least one of the distribution trunks demographically represents the community for market research purposes, the head end including means for selectively substituting substitute program signals in lieu of normal television program signals for transmission of a substitute program on one of the distribution trunks to the plurality of the television receivers connected thereto, the means for collecting panelist purchase information having means for receiving panelist identification information and for receiving product identification corresponding to products purchased by the panelist to produce transaction response signals including panelist identification signals and product identification signals respectively identifying the panelists and the products upon the purchase of products, whereby the system is closed between the targetable television system and the panelist purchase information by the acts of the respective panelists in viewing the programs presented on the respective television receivers and providing their corresponding panelist identification and purchased product information after making the purchase of a product, said market research computer system including means for identifying the particular panelist identifying information associated with each of the distribution trunks and responding to said transaction response signals to provide an indication of panelist behavior in response to said normal and substitute programs.
Specification