Video information delivery method and apparatus

• US 5,099,319 A
• Filed: 10/23/1989
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technology Rights Licensing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur G. Esch, Edward A. Singer
• Inventors: Esch, Arthur G., Singer, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/431,359
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 358/185, 358/26, 455/3, 455/3 Q, 455/53
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus having a central site and a remote site for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising a communications channel, studio processor, scheduling processor, network processor, transmittor, communications processor, video processor, a matrix switch, cue processor, and matric-switch processor. The studio processor generates a plurality of content data signals. The content data signals may include text signals, phototext signals, and/or digital audio signals. The scheduling processor generates a schedule data signal, which includes a unique identifier, accounting, administrative and scheduling data. The network processor generates a communications signal which comprises the plurality of content data signals and the schedule data signals formatted with the video signal. The transmitter transmits the communications signal over the communications channel. At the remote site the communications processor receives the communications signal and selects a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals. The video processor mixes the first content data signal with the video signal. The cue processor is coupled to network feed channels through a matix switch. In response to detecting network-cue signals, the cue processor generates insertion signals. In response to the insertion-cue signals, a matrix processor controls the matrix switch and routing of the video signal, the first content data signal and a synchronization signal to a network communications channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a central site and a remote site for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising:

a communications channel;

studio-processor means located at said central site for generating a plurality of content data signals;

scheduling-processor means located at said central site, coupled to said studio processor and responsive to each of the plurality of content data signals for generating a schedule data signal and a control data signal;

network-processor means located at said central site for generating a communications signal by formatting the plurality of content data signals, the control data signal and the schedule data signal with the video signal;

means located at said central site for transmitting the communications signal over said communications channel;

communications-processor means located at said remote site for receiving the communications signal and, using the control data signal, selecting a first content data signal targeted for said remote site from the plurality of content data signals;

first means located at said remote site coupled to said communications processor for storing the video signal;

second means located at said remote site coupled to said communications processor for storing the first content data signal;

video-processor means located at said remote site, coupled to said first storing means, and responsive to the schedule data signal for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal;

a matrix switch located at said remote site, coupled to said video-processor means and a plurality of consumer channels;

cue-processor means located at said remote site, coupled to network feed channels through said matrix switch, and responsive to detecting network-cue signals from the network feed channels for generating insertion-cue signals; and

matrix-switch-processor means located at said remote site, coupled to said matrix switch, and responsive to the insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal and the first content data signal to a particular consumer channel.

2. A central site apparatus for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising:

studio-processor means for generating a plurality of content data signals;

means for storing the plurality of content data signals;

schedule-processor means coupled to said studio processor means and responsive to each of the plurality of content data signals for generating a schedule data signal;

network processor means for generating a communications data signal by formatting the plurality of content data signals and the schedule data signals;

a transmitter for transmitting the communications signal; and

a control processor for coordinating the operation of said studio-processor means, said scheduling-processor means and said network processor means.

3. The central site apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including a quality control processor for simulating a downlink system by assembling and displaying the content data signal with the video signal.

4. A method using at least one processor and a transmitter for customizing advertising for television using a video signal, comprising the steps, using said processor and said transmitter, of:

generating a plurality of content data signals;

generating a schedule data signal;

generating a communications signal from the plurality of content data signals and the schedule data signal; and

transmitting the communications signal over a communications channel.

5. A remote site apparatus for customizing advertising for television from a communications signal having a plurality of content data signals, a schedule data signal a video signal and a control data signal, comprising:

communications-processor means for receiving the communications signal and, using the control data signal, selecting a first content data signal targeted for said remote site apparatus from the plurality of content data signals;

second means for storing the first content data signal;

video-processor means responsive to the schedule data signal for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal;

a matrix switch coupled to said video-processor means, and a plurality of consumer channels;

cue-processor means coupled to network feed channels through said matrix switch and responsive to detecting network-cue signals from the network feed channels for generating insertion-cue signals; and

matrix-switch-processor means coupled to said matrix switch an responsive to the insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal, the output content data signal and a synchronization signal to a particular consumer channel.

6. A remote site apparatus for customizing advertising for television from a communications signal having a video signal, and a plurality of content data signals, comprising:

communications-processor means for receiving the communications signal and selecting a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals;

a data recording device for storing the first content data signal;

video-processor means for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal;

cue-processor means for generating insertion-cue signals;

a matrix switch coupled to said video-processor means, and a plurality of consumer channels;

matrix-switch-processor means responsive to insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal and the first content data signal to a particular consumer channel;

a control processor for coordinating operation of said communications-processor means, said data recording device and said video-processing means; and

a remote control device for controlling said remote site apparatus from a central axis.

7. The remote site apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second storing means includes a data recording device.

8. The remote site apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including a local area network for connecting said control processor, said communications-processor means, said second storing means and said video-processor means.

9. A remote site apparatus for customizing advertising for television from a communications signal having a video signal and a content data signal, comprising:

communications-processor means for receiving the communications signal and separating the content data signal from the communications signal;

video-processor means for mixing the content data signal with the video signal;

cue-processor means for generating insertion-cue signals;

a matrix switch coupled to said video-processor means, and a plurality of consumer channels;

matrix-switch-processor means responsive to insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal and the content data signal to a particular consumer channel;

a control processor for coordinating operation of said communications-processor means and said video-processing means; and

a remote control device for controlling said remote site apparatus from a central site.

10. The remote site apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including a local area network for connecting said communications-processor means and said video-processor means.

11. The remote site apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including a local area network for connecting said control processor, said communications-processor means, said matrix-switch-processor means and said video-processor means.

12. A remote site apparatus for customizing advertising for television from a communications signal having a video signal and a plurality of content data signals, comprising:

communications-processor means for receiving the communications signal and selecting a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals;

first means for storing the video signal;

second means for storing the first content data signal;

video-processor means for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal;

a control processor for coordinating operation of said communications-processor means, said first storing means and said video-processing means; and

a remote control device for controlling said remote site apparatus from a central site.

13. The remote site apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further including a local area network for connecting said communications-processor means, said first storing means, said second storing means and said video-processor means.

14. An apparatus having a central site and a remote site for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising:

a communications channel;

studio-processor means for generating a plurality of content data signals;

scheduling-processor means for generating a schedule data signal;

network-processor means for generating a communications signal from the video signal, the plurality of content data signals and the schedule data signal;

means for transmitting the communications signal over said communications channel;

communications-processor means for receiving the communications signal and selecting the video signal and a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals;

first means for storing the video signal;

second means for storing the first content data signal;

video-processor means for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal;

cue-processor means for generating insertion-cue signals;

a matrix switch coupled to said video-processor means, and a plurality of consumer channels; and

matrix-switch-processor means responsive to insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal with the first content data signal to a particular consumer channel.

15. An apparatus having a central site and a remote site for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising:

a communication channel;

studio-processor means located at said central site for generating a plurality of content data signals;

network-processor means located at said central site for generating a communications signal having the video signal, and the plurality of content data signals;

means located at said central site for transmitting the communications signal over said communications channel;

communications-processor means located at said remote site for receiving the communications signal and selecting a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals; and

video-processor means located at said remote site for mixing the first content data signal with the video signal.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 further including:

cue-processor means for generating insertion-cue signals;

a matrix switch coupled to said video-processor means, and a plurality of consumer channels; and

matrix-switch-processor means responsive to insertion-cue signals for controlling said matrix switch and routing the video signal with the first content data signal to a particular consumer channel.

17. A method using a processor for customizing advertising for television from a communications signal having a video signal and a plurality of content data signals, comprising the steps, using said processor, of:

receiving the communications signal and selecting a first content data signal from the plurality of content data signals;

storing the first content data signal;

mixing the first content data signal with the video signal; and

routing responsive to an insertion-cue signal, the video signal mixed with the first content data signal to a particular consumer channel.