Addressed messaging in a cable television system
First Claim
1. A method of transmitting a message to individual subscribers of a subscription television system comprising the steps of:
- selecting an individual subscriber from a plurality of subscribers stored in a database on a computer;
creating the message at said computer, the message comprising a plurality of characters;
assigning the message to the selected individual subscriber;
scheduling a future time for transmitting the message to the selected individual subscriber;
generating character compression codes from said plurality of characters contained in the message and creating a compressed message therefrom; and
transmitting the compressed message to the selected individual subscriber starting at the scheduled future time.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of transmitting addressed messages to subscribers comprises the steps of defining the group or individual subscriber to be addressed, creating the message, assigning the message to the individual or group to be addressed, scheduling the message for transmission, transmitting the message, and recording the transmission of the message. The message creating step further includes the steps of defining message attributes such as background color, creating sets of instructions for the subscriber, if required, setting a data field related to alerting the subscriber and compressing the data length of the message using a predetermined compression code. A system control computer, according to the present invention, comprises a billing computer interface for interfacing with a billing computer and a user interface for providing access to messaging services to a system operator, each of the billing and user interfaces for providing data to a group queuing subsystem and a system event scheduler, respectively. The user interface further accesses a database, the database shared by the system event scheduler and a message, device and group manager. The device manager in turn, when scheduled by the system event scheduler, coordinates the transmission of addressed messages via either a headend controller (via an inband channel) or an addressable data transmitter (via an out-of-band channel).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting a message to individual subscribers of a subscription television system comprising the steps of:
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selecting an individual subscriber from a plurality of subscribers stored in a database on a computer; creating the message at said computer, the message comprising a plurality of characters; assigning the message to the selected individual subscriber; scheduling a future time for transmitting the message to the selected individual subscriber; generating character compression codes from said plurality of characters contained in the message and creating a compressed message therefrom; and transmitting the compressed message to the selected individual subscriber starting at the scheduled future time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19)
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10. Apparatus for transmitting a message to individual subscribers of a subscription television system, comprising:
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data entry means for selecting an individual subscriber from a computer database, creating a message comprising a plurality of characters, and specifying a future message transmission start time; database storage means for storing said message and said future message transmission start time; means for compressing, through the use of character compression codes, said plurality of characters into a compressed message; a system event scheduler, coupled to the data entry means and the database storage means, for scheduling a transmission of said compressed message in accordance with said future message transmission start time; and a device manager, coupled to the system event scheduler and the database storage means, for transmitting said compressed message responsive to the system event scheduler. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for transmitting a message to individual subscribers of a subscription television system, comprising:
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means for selecting an individual subscriber from a plurality of subscribers stored in a database on a computer; means for creating the message as a plurality of characters at said computer; means for assigning the message to the selected individual subscriber; means for scheduling a future time for transmitting the message to the selected individual subscriber; means for generating character compression codes from character data contained in the message and creating a compressed message therefrom; and means for transmitting the compressed message to the selected individual subscriber beginning at the scheduled future time.
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Specification