×

Method and apparatus for generating and collecting viewing statistics for remote terminals in a cable television system

  • US 5,251,324 A
  • Filed: 03/19/1991
  • Issued: 10/05/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a bi-directional cable television system comprising a system manager for controlling a plurality of remote terminals over a cable television signal distribution system, a method of generating and collecting viewing statistics including at least data representing the channel being viewed at one or more remote terminals, the viewing statistics generating and collecting method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) transmitting from the system manager to one or more remote terminals data representing record times consisting of specific times at which each remote terminal is to store viewing statistics data,(b) storing said record times in one of a plurality of record time storage locations at each remote terminal,(c) comparing the contents of each of said record time storage locations to the real time generated from a clock located at each said remote terminal,(d) generating viewing statistics data, and(e) storing viewing statistics data at each said remote terminal in a channel storage location, if the contents of said record time storage location matches said real time.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×