Arrangement for and method of processing data, especially for identifying and verifying airing of television broadcast programs

• US 5,200,822 A
• Filed: 04/23/1991
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Broadcasting Company Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: National Broadcasting Company Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bronfin, Kenneth A., Wilson, W. Robin, Davenport, Francis A., Mahrer, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/690,111
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 358/84, 358/142, 358/146, 358/147
• US Class Current: 725/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier

Abstract

Data are added invisibly to the active video component of a television signal by a modulated carrier. The data, upon recovery, may be used for numerous purposes, including network signaling, data transmission, program identification, remote machine control, broadcast verification, and signal quality detection and measurement.

Claims

1. A method of processing data with a television signal having an active video component and a timing component for lines of a picture to be displayed on a viewing area of a television receiver, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a carrier signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal;

(b) generating a data signal indicative of the data to be processed;

(c) modulating the carrier signal and the data signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal to form a data-modulated signal having a low amplitude in a range from 0.1 to 2.5 IRE;

(d) adding the data-modulated signal to the active video component of the television signal to form an encoded composite signal on a plurality of lines of the picture; and

(e) transmitting the encoded composite signal to the receiver for displaying the picture on the viewing area, said data-modulated signal on said plurality of lines of the picture being substantially invisible to a viewer of the picture due to said low amplitude.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the timing component includes a horizontal scan line frequency, and wherein the step of generating the carrier signal includes generating the carrier signal with a frequency that is an integer multiple of the horizontal scan line frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a data signal includes coding the data signal with identifying data related to transmission of the television signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the identifying data include a program identifying signature and time-and-date broadcast information.

5. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of adjusting the low amplitude of the data-modulated signal to a fixed magnitude within said range.

6. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of adjusting the low amplitude of the data-modulated signal to a variable magnitude within said range.

7. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising the steps of receiving the transmitted composite signal, demodulating the received composite signal in timed relation to the modulating step to extract the data signal from the demodulated composite signal, and processing the data signal to form the data.

8. The method according to claim 7, and further comprising digitally formatting the data by combining multiple lines of a field of the picture to constitute a single bit of information, by combining multiple bits to constitute a single character, and by combining multiple characters to constitute the data.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the field includes multiple data cells, each composed of said multiple lines, each data cell containing different information.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the processing step includes storing the data signal for subsequent reference.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adding step is performed for each line of the picture.

26. The method according to claim 2, and further comprising the step of varying the carrier signal frequency.

12. An arrangement for processing data with a television signal having an active video component and a timing component for lines of a picture to be displayed on a viewing area of a television receiver, comprising:

(a) means for generating a carrier signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal;

(b) means for generating a data signal indicative of the data to be processed;

(c) means for modulating the carrier signal and the data signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal to form a data-modulating signal having a low amplitude in a range from 0.1 to 2.5 IRE;

(d) means for adding the data-modulated signal to the active video component of the television signal to form an encoded composite signal on a plurality of lines of the picture; and

(e) means for transmitting the encoded composite signal to the receiver for displaying the picture on the viewing area, said data-modulated signal on said plurality of. lines of the picture being substantially invisible to a viewer of the picture due to said low amplitude.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the timing component includes a horizontal scan line frequency, and wherein the means for generating the carrier signal is operative for generating the carrier signal with a frequency that is an integer multiple of the horizontal scan line frequency.

14. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the means for generating a data signal is operative for coding the data signal with identifying data related to transmission of the television signal.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the identifying data include a program identifying signature and time-and-date broadcast information.

16. The arrangement according to claim 12, and further comprising means for adjusting the low amplitude of the data-modulated signal to a fixed magnitude within said range.

17. The arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting the low amplitude of the data-modulated signal to a variable magnitude within said range.

18. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the adding means forms the composite signal on each line of the picture.

19. The arrangement according to claim 12, and further comprising means for receiving the transmitted composite signal, means for demodulating the received composite signal in timed relation to the modulating means to extract the data signal from the demodulated composite signal, and means for processing the data signal to form the data.

20. The arrangement according to claim 19, and further comprising means for digitally formatting the data by combining multiple lines of a field of the picture to constitute a single bit of information, by combining multiple bits to constitute a single character, and by combining multiple characters to constitute the data.

21. The arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the field includes multiple data cells, each composed of said multiple lines, each data cell containing different information.

22. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the processing means includes means for storing the data signal for subsequent reference.

23. An arrangement for encoding data onto a television signal having an active video component and a timing component for lines of a picture to be displayed on a viewing area of a television receiver, comprising:

(a) means for generating a carrier signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal;

(b) means for generating a data signal indicative of the data to be processed;

(c) means for modulating the carrier signal and the data signal in timed relation to the timing component of the television signal to form a data-modulated signal having a low amplitude in a range from 0.1 to 2.5 IRE; and

(d) means for adding the data-modulated signal to the active video component of the television signal to form an encoded composite signal on a plurality of lines of the picture, said data-modulated signal on said plurality of lines of the picture being substantially invisible to a viewer of the picture due to said low amplitude.

24. An arrangement for decoding data encoded on a data-modulated signal that is transmitted together with, and on multiple picture lines of, a television signal, comprising:

(a) means for receiving the transmitted data-modulated signal and the television signal on a television receiver having a viewing area on which a multiline picture is displayed, said data-modulated signal on each picture line of the picture having a low amplitude in a range from 0.1 to 2.5 IRE to render the data-modulated signal substantially invisible to a viewer; and

(b) means for demodulating the transmitted signals to extract therefrom a data signal indicative of the encoded data.

25. The arrangement according to claim 24, and further comprising means for storing the data signal for subsequent reference.

27. Apparatus for encoding a baseband composite video signal with auxiliary digital data, comprising:

a source of said baseband composite video signal having an amplitude, a spectral band and line intervals;

a source of said auxiliary digital data comprised of bits;

means for generating a modulated carrier having an amplitude and a frequency within the spectral band occupied by said composite video signal, and wherein each respective bit of said auxiliary digital data modulates said carrier over at least two line intervals of said composite video signal; and

means for adding said modulated carrier to said baseband composite video signal.

28. The apparatus set forth in claim 27, and further including means responsive to the amplitude o the baseband composite video signal for adjusting the maximum amplitude of said modulated carrier.

29. The apparatus set froth in claim 27, wherein the maximum amplitude of said modulated carrier is in the range of 0.1 to 2.5 IRE.

30. The apparatus set forth in claim 27, wherein said means for generating a modulated carrier includes means for providing said modulated carrier having a 180 degree phase relationship for pairs of successive line intervals.

31. The apparatus set forth in claim 27, wherein said means for generating a modulated carrier includes means for providing a phase shift keyed carrier.

32. The apparatus set forth in claim 27, wherein said means for generating a modulated carrier includes means for varying the frequency of said carrier.

33. Apparatus for decoding a television signal including auxiliary digital data occurring in active potions of a baseband composite video signal, said auxiliary digital data being comprised of bits for modulating an auxiliary carrier and conveying information, wherein each respective bit of said auxiliary digital data occupies at least the active portion of an interval, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving said television signal and translating it to said baseband video signal;

means responsive to said baseband video signal for demodulating said auxiliary carrier to produce a demodulated auxiliary signal; and

means for integrating said demodulated auxiliary signal over intervals occupied by respective said bits to provide said auxiliary digital data.

34. The apparatus set forth in claim 33, wherein said means for integrating said demodulated auxiliary signal over intervals occupied by respective said bits, includes means for aggregating said bits into digital words.

35. The apparatus set forth in claim 33, wherein said means for integrating said demodulated auxiliary signal includes means for aggregating and recording said bits for subsequent retrieval.