Method of and system for identification and verification of broadcasting television and radio program segments

• US 4,945,412 A
• Filed: 04/25/1989
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marci R. Baron
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/344,064
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 358/84, 358/86, 358/142, 358/143, 358/144, 358/145, 358/146, 358/147, 358/198, 370/76, 375/91, 455/2, 455/49, 455/53, 455/67
• US Class Current: 348/460
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier

Abstract

A method of and system for identification and verification of TV and/or radio broadcasted program segments involving use of subaudible codes which are mixed with the conventional audio in the program segments. Individual program segments, which may include commercial message segments, have at the beginning thereof a preamble code (such as a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz.), a program segment identification code (which may consist of a series of alphanumeric characters) and a postamble code (such as a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.). The program segment codes may consist of a series of mark and space signals (such as presence and absence of 40 Hz. signals). A plurality of radio/television broadcast stations are monitored, the codes recovered and data sets defined, stored and later sent to a central location for reconciliation and/or compilation. In the case of television stations, the video content of at least commercial message segments may be monitored to determine video signal continuity by monitoring the presence and/or absence of video signals of some or all program segments, especially the commercial message segments.

Claims

1. A system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, the system comprising:

a plurality of broadcasting stations, including at least one television broadcasting station, for broadcasting signals which include program segments having a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes, following each preamble code occurrence, a subaudible postamble code following each program segment identification code occurrence and, in the case of television broadcast stations a video signal;

at least one monitoring station for receiving the broadcasted signals, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to the broadcasted signal from each respective broadcasting station for recovering each received preamble code, each received respective program segment identification code, each received postamble code and, for monitored television broadcast stations, each video signal to develop therefrom video presence and/or absence signals at least during periods between each received preamble code and each received postamble code, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals;

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of each recovered preamble code, recovered respective program segment identification codes, recovered postamble code, the developed video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel; and

means at the monitoring station for sending the stored data signal representations to a central station, the central station being provided with means for receiving data from a plurality of monitoring station to compile and/or to reconcile same.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of broadcasting stations include standard radio broadcasting stations.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the standard radio broadcasting stations include frequency modulation broadcast stations and amplitude modulation broadcast stations.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the broadcast stations are those of a cable distribution network.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subaudible program segment identification codes consist of respective series of alphanumeric characters.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the alphanumeric characters are formed by a series of mark signals and space signals, defined respectively by presence and absence of a 40 Hz. subaudible tone.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein respective said program segment identification codes are repeated during periods of time between the preamble code and postamble code, whereby it may be determined if program segments have been transmitted in the entirety.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the program segments are commercial message segments.

11. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments from a plurality of broadcasting stations, including at least one television broadcasting station,

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from said broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes, a subaudible postamble code, and, for monitored television broadcast stations, each video signal to develop therefrom a video presence and/or absence signals at least during periods between each received preamble code and each received postamble code, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals;

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of each recovered preamble code, recovered respective program identification codes and postamble code, the video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel; and

means at the monitoring station for sending the stored data signal representations to a central station, the station being provided with means for receiving data from a plurality of monitoring stations to compile and/or to reconcile same.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the subaudible program segment identification codes consist of respective series of alphanumeric characters.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alphanumeric characters are formed by a series of mark signals and space signals, defined respectively by presence and absence of a 40 Hz. subaudible tone.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein respective said program segment identification codes are repeated during periods of time between the preamble code and postamble code, whereby it may be determined if program segments have been transmitted in the entirety.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least some of the program segments are commercial message segments.

18. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments from a plurality of broadcasting stations, including at least one television broadcast station,

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from said broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes of each program segment received therefrom and a subaudible postamble code and, for monitored television broadcast stations, each video signal to develop therefrom video presence and/or absence signals during periods between each received preamble code and each received postamble code, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals;

and

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of each recovered preamble code, recovered program segment, postamble code, identification codes, the video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the subaudible program segment identification codes consist of respective series of alphanumeric characters.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the alphanumeric characters are formed by a series of mark signals and space signals, defined respectively by presence and absence of a 40 Hz. subaudible tone.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the subaudible preamble code consists of a predetermined number of cycles of 40 Hz. and wherein the subaudible postamble code consists of a given number of cycles of 40 Hz.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein respective said program segment identification codes are repeated during periods of time between the preamble code and postamble code, whereby it may be determined if program segments have been transmitted in the entirety.

24. The system according to claim 18, wherein at least some of the program segments are commercial message segments.

25. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments from a plurality of broadcasting stations, including at least one television broadcasting station,

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering program segment identification codes consisting of respective series of alphanumeric characters therefrom and, in the case of television broadcast stations, video presence and/or absence signals, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals;

and

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of the recovered program segment identification codes, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, the video presence and/or absence signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the alphanumeric characters are formed by a series of mark signals and space signals, defined respectively by presence and absence of a 40 Hz. subaudible tone.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein each of the respective series of alphanumeric characters consists of a respective series of four letters and four numerals.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein each of the respective series of alphanumeric characters consists of a respective series of four letters and four numerals.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein respective said program segment identification codes are repeated during periods of time between a preamble code and a postamble code, whereby it may be determined if program segments have been transmitted in the entirety.

30. The system according to claim 25, wherein at least some of the program segments are commercial message segments.

31. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments from a plurality of broadcasting stations, at least one of which is a television broadcast system;

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from said broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering program segment identification codes therefrom consisting of respective series of alphanumeric characters and, in the case of television broadcast station, developing video presence and/or absence signals, each of the respective series of alphanumeric characters consisting of a respective series of four letters and four numerals, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals; and

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of the recovered program segment identification codes, the developed video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel.

32. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments from a plurality of broadcasting stations, at least one of which is a television broadcast station;

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from said broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering a preamble code, program segment identification codes and a postamble code therefrom, respective said program segment identification codes being repeated during periods of time between the preamble code and the postamble code whereby it may be determined if the respective program segments have been transmitted in the entirety, and, in the case of television broadcast stations, developing video presence and/or absence signals and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals; and

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of the recovered program segment identification codes, the developed video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel.

33. In a system for identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, at least some of the program segments being commercial message segments, from a plurality of broadcasting stations, including at least one television broadcast station;

at least one monitoring station for receiving broadcasted signals from said broadcasting stations, said monitoring station including (a) means for generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals from respective broadcasting stations for recovering program segment identification codes therefrom, and, in the case of television broadcast signals, video presence and/or absence signals, and (c) means for providing respective broadcast station-identification signals; and

means at the monitoring station for storing data signal representations of the recovered program segment identification codes, the video presence and/or absence signals, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for each channel.

34. Method of identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, the method comprising:

providing program segments having a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes and a subaudible postamble code;

broadcasting the program segments from a plurality of broadcast stations, at least one of which is a television broadcast station;

receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted signals, including the program segments, from the plurality of broadcast stations;

deriving from the received broadcast signals the preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes and the postamble code and, in the case of broadcast signals from television broadcast stations, video presence and/or absence signals;

providing at the monitoring location respective broadcast station identification signals;

generating at the monitoring location respective date-indicating and time-indicating signals;

storing at the monitoring location signals representing the preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes, the postamble code when received and the video presence signals, each broadcast station identification signal from which each program segment was received each time, it is received therefrom, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals each time a program segment is received and the video presence and/or absence signals at least during periods between the respective preamble codes and respective postamble codes; and

sending the stored signals as data to a central point which also receives data from other monitoring locations for compilation and/or reconciliation.

35. Method of identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, the method comprising:

providing program segments having a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes and a subaudible postamble code;

receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted signals, including the program segments, from a plurality of broadcast stations, including at least one television broadcast station;

deriving from the received broadcast signals the preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes, the postamble code and, in the case of signals from television broadcast stations, video presence and/or absence signals at least during periods between the respective preamble codes and the respective postamble codes;

providing at the monitoring location respective broadcast station identification signals;

generating at the monitoring location respective date-indicating and time-indicating signals;

storing at the monitoring location signals representing the recovered preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes and the postamble code, when received, the video presence and/or absence signals, each broadcast station identification signal from which each program segment was received each time it is received therefrom and the date-indicating and time-indicating signals each time a program segment is received; and

sending the stored signals as data to a central point which also receives data from other monitoring locations for compilation and/or reconciliation.

36. Method of identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, the method comprising:

providing program segments having a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible program segment identification codes and a subaudible postamble code;

receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted signals, including the program segments, from the plurality of broadcast stations, including at least one television broadcast station;

deriving from the received broadcast signals the preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes, the postamble code and, in the case of signals from television broadcast stations, video presence and/or absence signals at least during periods between occurrences of the preamble code and the postamble code;

providing at the monitoring station respective broadcast station identification signals;

generating at the monitoring location respective date-indicating and time-indicating signals; and

storing at the monitoring location data signals representing the preamble code, the respective program segment identification codes, the postamble code when received and, in the case of video, the video presence and/or absence signals, each broadcast station identification signal from which each program segment was received each time it is received therefrom and the date-indicating and time-indicating signals each time a program segment containing a commercial message is received.

37. Method of identification and verification of broadcasted program segments, the method comprising:

providing program segments having respective subaudible program segment identification codes and a postamble code;

receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted signals, including the program segments, from a plurality of broadcast stations, including at least one television broadcast station;

deriving from the received broadcast signals the respective program segment identification codes, the postamble code and, in cases of broadcasted television program segments, video presence and/or absence signals;

providing at the monitoring station respective broadcast station identification signals;

generating at the monitoring location respective date-indicating and time-indicating signals; and

storing at the monitoring location data signals representing the respective program segment identification codes when received and the video presence and/or absence signals, each broadcast station identification signal from which each program segment was received each time it is received therefrom and the date-indicating and time-indicating signals each time a program segment is received.