Recorded program communication system

• US 4,521,806 A
• Filed: 08/19/1982
• Issued: 06/04/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: World Video Library Incorporated
• Original Assignee: World Video Library Incorporated
• Inventors: Abraham, Nicholas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, John C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US06/409,566
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 358/85, 358/86, 358/142, 358/141, 358/114, 358/116, 358/146, 455/5
• US Class Current: 725/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17363 at or near the user terminal

Abstract

A plurality of recorded audio/video signal sources of a program library sequentially transmit segments of a broadcast signal within a time compressed transmission period through a common signal carrier path to a plurality of subscriber stations at which selected segments are detected and expanded for real time reproduction through standard television receivers. Program selection is effected at the subscriber stations through telephone dialing codes also transmitted to the service station by standard telephone communication producing insertion of message information in the broadcast signal during spacing intervals between the sequential segments thereof.

Claims

1. In a communication system through which a plurality of subscriber stations are linked by telephone network with a common service station at which a plurality of video/audio signal sources are located for transmission of continuous program information, in response to telephone dialed selection signals to the subscriber stations through a common signal carrier path independent of the telephone network, a signal transmission method including the steps of:

processing the information sequentially readout at the service station for broadcast during predetermined transmission periods;

detecting time-spaced segments of the broadcast program information at each of the subscriber stations corresponding to the selection signals originating therefrom; and

sequentially decoding the detected segments of the broadcast program information for real time reproduction thereof at the subscriber stations, including the steps of;

storing additional information at the service station corresponding to the segments of the broadcast program information;

selecting the additional information in response to reception of said selection signals;

inserting the selected additional information during program spacing intervals between the segments of the broadcast program information for broadcast to the subscriber stations in advance of said segments of the broadcast information, registering said selection of the additional information following the program spacing intervals during broadcast of the segments of the program information; and

cancelling said registration of previously selected additional information in response to telephoned signals received prior to termination of the spacing intervals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of decoding includes:

recording the detected segments of the program information at a relatively high recording speed; and

reproducing the recorded segments of the program information at a relatively low playback speed.

3. In a communication system through which a plurality of subscriber stations are linked by telephone network with a common service station at which a plurality of video/audio signal sources are located for transmission of continuous program information, in response to telephone dialed selection signals to the subscriber stations through a common signal carrier path independent of the telephone network, a signal transmission method including the steps of:

processing the information sequentially readout at the service station for broadcast during predetermined transmission periods;

detecting time-spaced segments of the broadcast program information at each of the subscriber stations corresponding to the selection signals originating therefrom; and

sequentially decoding the detected segments of the broadcast program information for real time reproduction thereof at the subscriber stations, including the steps of;

storing additional information at the service station corresponding to the segments of the broadcast program information;

selecting the additional information in response to reception of said selection signals;

inserting the selected additional information during during program spacing intervals between the segments of the broadcast program information for broadcast to the subscriber stations in advance to said segments of the broadcast information, said step of decoding including;

recording the detected segments of the program information at a relatively high recording speed; and

reproducing the recorded segments of the program information at a relatively low playback speed.

4. In a communication system through which a plurality of subscriber stations are linked by a telephone network with a common service station at which a plurality of video/audio signal sources are located for broadcast of selected program information to the subscriber station in response to telephone dialed selection signals therefrom, the improvement comprising the steps of:

broadcasting time-spaced segments of a program signal in sequence during a predetermined transmission period;

detecting said segments of the program signal at the subscriber stations in sequence for real time reproduction of the selected program information, establishing spacing intervals between the segments broadcast during the transmission period;

inserting selected signals during said spacing intervals;

detecting said selected signals at the subscriber stations immediately preceding said detection of the segments of the program signal;

registering said insertion of the selected signals; and

selectively cancelling said registration prior to termination of the spacing intervals.

5. In a communication system having a plurality of subscriber stations at which signal receivers are located for reception of broadcast signals from a broadcast transmitter at a remote location through a signal carrier network and a telephone network through which dialed telephone links are established between the subscriber stations and said remote location, the improvement comprising a library of recorded program material at the remote location, signal processing means operatively connecting the library to the broadcast transmitter for transmission of said program material through the signal carrier network, selection control means at the subscriber stations for transmitting program selection signals through the dialed telephone links to said remote location and controlling reception of the transmitted program material by the signal receivers, means for inserting additional signals to the program material supplied by the signal processing means to the broadcast transmitter in response to reception of the selection signals transmitted through the dialed telephone links, means enabled by the transmitted selection signals during intervals preceding transmission of the program material for registering said insertion of the additional signals and means at the subscriber stations for selectively cancelling said registration of the additional signals in response to commands generated prior to termination of said intervals.