Apparatus for selective distribution of messages over a communications network
First Claim
1. A converter for processing signals received from a communications network, comprising:
- a first path for processing a received video signal;
a second path for processing a received message signal, including means for retrieving tag data appended to said message signal;
means responsive to said tag data for generating a control signal; and
switch means responsive to said control signal for selectively outputting to a display a processed video signal from said first path, a processed message signal from said second path, or a combined output comprising both said processed video and processed message signals.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Specific text and/or graphic messages for individual subscribers or groups of subscribers are distributed on a communications network such as a cable television system. An addressable controller communicates with a plurality of subscriber terminals served by the network. Each subscriber terminal is assigned to a primary message group and may be assigned to one or more message subgroups. Messages are input to the addressable controller for subsequent transmission to a subscriber terminal for display. The messages are tagged with distribution data defining at least one primary message group or message subgroup to receive the message. The tagged text messages are transmitted over the network together with signals from network service providers. Global messages can be sent by leaving the distribution data field blank, or filling it with a special code such as a string of zeros. Wild card tags are also permitted. A subscriber terminal for receiving the messages has a first path for processing a service signal received from the network and a second path for processing a message signal received from the network. The distribution data is retrieved from a received message and used to determine if the message is targeted to the subscriber terminal. If so, the message is processed for display. The message can be displayed alone or overlaid on a video program signal being viewed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A converter for processing signals received from a communications network, comprising:
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a first path for processing a received video signal; a second path for processing a received message signal, including means for retrieving tag data appended to said message signal; means responsive to said tag data for generating a control signal; and switch means responsive to said control signal for selectively outputting to a display a processed video signal from said first path, a processed message signal from said second path, or a combined output comprising both said processed video and processed message signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A converter for processing signals received from a communications network, comprising:
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a first path for processing a received video signal; a second path for processing a received message signal; memory means coupled to said second path for storing message data obtained from said message signal; means coupled to said second path for retrieving tag data appended to said message signal; and means responsive to said retrieved tag data for outputting said message data combined with a processed video signal from said first path, outputting said message data alone, or storing said message data in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for selectively distributing messages over a communications network comprising:
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an addressable controller for communicating with a plurality of subscriber terminals served by a communications network; means operatively associated with said addressable controller for assigning each of said subscriber terminals to a primary message group; means operatively associated with said addressable controller for assigning selected ones of said subscriber terminals to one or more message subgroups; means for inputting text messages to said addressable controller for subsequent transmission to a subscriber terminal for display; means operatively associated with said addressable controller for tagging said messages with distribution data defining at least one primary message group or message subgroup to receive the message; and means for transmitting the tagged text messages over the network together with signals from network service providers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A subscriber terminal for processing signals received from a communications network, comprising:
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means for processing a received video service signal to provide a video program to a display; and means for processing a received message signal to selectively provide a message for output to said display, including; means for retrieving multilevel distribution data including a primary message group identifier and a message subgroup identifier associated with said received message signal; means responsive to the primary message group and message subgroup identifiers in the retrieved distribution data for determining if the received message signal is targeted to the subscriber terminal; and means responsive to said determining means for converting the received message signal to said message for output to said display if the received message signal is targeted to the terminal.
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21. A converter for processing signals received from a communications network, comprising:
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a first path for processing a received video signal; a second path for processing a received message signal; switch means responsive to a control signal for selectively outputting to a display a processed video signal from said first path, a processed message signal from said second path, or a combined output comprising both said processed video and processed message signals; means for determining if a video signal is present in said first path; and means responsive to said determining means for actuating said switch to output only said processed message signal when there is no video signal present in the first path.
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Specification