Method and apparatus for automatic insertion of a television signal from a remote source

• US 5,424,770 A
• Filed: 09/15/1994
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cable Service Technologies Incorporated (Network Telephone Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lambert, Trevor, Schmelzer, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/305,312
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 358/86, 358/181, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/3.2, 455/7, 455/18, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/705, 348/706
• US Class Current: 725/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A system is provided for inserting selected commercials from a remote source via satellite into pre-cued cable network commercial breaks at targeted regional groupings of local cable headend operators without storage of the commercials at each headend. By sequencing the avails used for insertion among the groupings of headends, by creating plural levels of simultaneity, and by using compression/decompression techniques, a highly efficient use of the satellite per each transponder channel is achieved despite overlap in breaks as between networks; while, at the same time, allowing sufficient time during each break for the local headend operator to insert his own local ads if desired, and to use as well, if desired, the decompression capabilities of the system without the need for the headend to invest in its own.

Claims

1. A system for inserting addressed, additional television signals into network television signals emanating from a source and being received by at least two receiver systems which include switch means responsive to an address signal associated with said additional television signals for allowing said addressed additional television signals to be inserted into said network television signals, said source of said network television signals being located separate from said receiver systems, said system for inserting said additional television signals comprising a source of said additional television signals located separate from both said source of said network television signals and said receiver systems, and wherein said source of additional television signals comprises:

a) means for sensing a cue signal associated with said network television signals, said cue signal designating an upcoming time interval within which a said additional television signal from said source of additional television signals may be inserted;

b) means for generating one or more additional television signals capable of being inserted into said time interval after said sensing means senses said cue signal associated with said time interval;

c) means for associating with each said additional television signal to be inserted a selective address signal such that each said additional signal may be addressed to activate for insertion said switch means in one or more said receiver systems;

d) means responsive to said cue signal for sending at least one of said additional television signals and said selective address signal associated therewith so that when received at said receiver systems, said address signal will activate for insertion of said additional television signal said switch means in at least one, but not all, said receiver systems.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said source of additional television signals further includes satellite dish means for receiving a plurality of network programs which include the said cue signal, and uplink means for generating an uplink signal via satellite of the additional signal to be inserted and said selective;

address signal; and

wherein said receiver system includes satellite dish means for receiving at least the same plurality of network programs which includes the said cue signal as received by said source dish means and for receiving a downlink signal of said additional signal to be inserted and said selective address signal from a satellite generated in response to said uplink signal from said source.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said sending means includes means for sequentially sending a said additional television signal each sequential sending having associated therewith a different selective address signal.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said sending means includes means for sending at least two additional television signals each associated with a different address signal in sequence during the same time interval.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein:

said sensing means includes means for sensing a cue signal associated with a network television signal from at least two separate network sources being received by said receiver systems, each said cue signal designating an upcoming time interval associated with its respective network television signal within which a said additional television signal may be inserted from said source of additional television signals;

said sending means responsive to said cue signals including means responsive to a said cue signal associated with at least said two network television signals for sequentially sending in response to both said cue signals said additional television signals to said receiver systems, each sending having associated therewith a different address signal from the previous sending.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said time intervals of said at least two network television signals overlap in time.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein said time intervals are commercial breaks.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said commercial breaks of said at least two network television signals occur simultaneously.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein said additional television signals to be inserted are television commercials, said system further including a storage means containing a plurality of said commercials and control means for selecting from said storage said commercials for addressing and sending to said receiver systems.

10. A system according to claim 5 wherein said means responsive to said cue signals includes means responsive to a said cue signal associated with each of at least four television network signals.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said source of additional television signals further includes means for compressing said additional television signals, and said receiver system includes means for decompressing said compressed signal received for insertion from said source of additional television signals.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said decompression means located at said receiver system in addition to being capable of decompressing said addressed compressed additional television signals received from said source thereof, is further capable of decompressing a compressed signal received from another source and wherein said receiver system further includes storage means for storing at least one compressed signal after decompression and control means for removing from said storage said stored, decompressed signal received from said another source and inserting said stored signal into said time interval at a time not used by the insertion of said additional television signal received from said source thereof.

13. A method for inserting addressed, additional television signals into network television signals emanating from a source and being received by at least two receiver systems which include switch means responsive to an address signal associated with said additional television signals for allowing said addressed additional television signals to be inserted into said network television, said source of said network television signals being located separate from said receiver systems, said method for inserting said addressed, additional television signals being initiated from a source of said additional television signals located separate from both said source of said network television signals and said receiver systems, and wherein the steps carried out by said source of said additional television signals comprise:

a) sensing a cue signal associated with said network television signals, said cue signal designating an upcoming time interval within which a said additional television signal from said source of additional television signals may be inserted;

b) generating one or more additional television signals capable of being inserted into said time interval after said sensing a said cue signal associated with said time interval;

c) associating with each said additional television signal to be inserted a selective address signal such that each said additional television signal is addressed to activate for insertion said switch means in one or more said receiver systems; and

d) sending in response to said cue signal at least one said additional television signal and said selective address signal associated therewith so that when received at said receiver systems, said address signal will activate for insertion of said additional television signal said switch means in at least one, but not all, said receiver systems.

14. A method according to claim 13 which includes the further steps conducted by said receiver systems:

a) receiving a said network television signal;

b) receiving said additional television signal and said selective address signal associated therewith;

c) activating said switch means in each respective receiver system associated for activation by the said address signal, and not activating said switch means in each respective receiver system not associated for activation by said selective address signal; and

d) inserting said additional television signal within the said time interval in said network television signal only at those receiver systems whose switches were activated by said selective address signal.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said time interval is a commercial break and said additional addressed signals for insertion are commercials;

wherein said one or more additional television signals each do not consume more time than said time interval; and

wherein said one or more additional television signals are sequentially sent within said time interval, each said additional signal being accompanied by a different selective address signal so as to activate a different headend switch or group of headend switches from the other said additional signal preceding it in the sequence.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said sensing step includes sensing a cue signal associated with a network television signal from at least two separate sources being received by said receiver systems, each said cue signal designating an upcoming time interval associated with its respective network television signal within which a said additional television signal may be inserted from said source of additional television signals;

wherein said generating step includes generating a plurality of said addressed additional signals each of which consumes less time than said time interval into which it is to be inserted, said method further including the steps comprising;

selecting from said plurality of additional signals at least two different additional signals, each accompanied by a different selective address signal to be sequentially inserted into a said time interval of at least two said networks;

sequentially sending in response to a cue signal from each of at least two said network signals for insertion into the time interval of each of said at least two said network signals said two additional television signals, each accompanied by its respective different selective address signal; and

inserting sequentially into each said time interval of at least said two networks said additional signals only at said receiver systems whose switch means is activated by said selective address signal.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said time intervals of said at least two network television sources overlap in time.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said time intervals of said at least two network television sources occur simultaneously.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein there is sensed for insertion cue signals from at least four different television network sources, at least two of said time intervals thereof overlap in time.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein said method as carried out at said source of additional television signals further including prior to sending said additional television signals, compressing said additional television signals, and said method as carried out at said receiver systems which insert said additional television signals, decompressing said compressed additional television signals after receiving said signals for insertion.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said method carried out at said receiver systems further includes decompressing a further signal received from a source other than said source of additional television signals and inserting said further signal into said time interval at a time not used by the insertion of said additional television signal.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein said compression and decompression are in a ratio of at least 4:

1 and 1;

4, respectively.

23. A method according to claim 13 which includes the further step of monitoring from a central site the sending of said insertion signals and verifying whether or not each intended insertion signal was sent to its intended receiver system for insertion.

24. A method of inserting at least one commercial message from a remote source into at least one pre-cued break in ongoing television network programming being received by at least two receiver systems from at least one network source separate from said remote source and said receiver systems, each said receiver system being separate from the other and having therein a switch means for allowing insertion of said commercial message only in response to receipt of an address signal pre-selected to activate that said switch means, at least one said switch means being activated only by a different pre-selected address signal than the other said switch means, the steps including:

a) creating an address signal for activating at least one, but not all, of said switch means at said receiver systems;

b) sensing at said remote source a cue signal generated by said network source for indicating an upcoming break into which a commercial message may be inserted;

c) sending from said remote source to said receiver systems in response to said sensing of said cue signal, a commercial message and a said pre-selected address signal;

d) activating only the switch means in those said receiver systems associated with the said pre-selected address signal; and

e) inserting said commercial message into said pre-cued break only at those receiver systems whose switch means were activated by said pre-selected address signal.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said commercial messages consume less than one-half of said pre-cued break, and said method further includes:

a) creating at least two different address signals for activating at least two different said switch means;

b) sequentially sending at least twice during said pre-cued break a said commercial message from said remote source to said receiver systems; and

c) sending a different address signal in association with each sequential sending of a said commercial message from the previous sending of a said commercial message;

whereby a said commercial message is inserted sequentially at least twice into the said commercial break, each said sequential insertion occurring at a different receiver system or group of receiver systems from the previous insertion.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said sequencing of commercial messages involves at least two different commercials.

27. A method according to claim 25 wherein said receiver systems are geographically separated headend systems.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said headend systems are cable television systems, each of which transmits to a plurality of subscribers said television network programming.

29. A method according to claim 55 wherein said network programming includes programming being sent by at least two network sources to said receiver systems, each said network source generating a cue signal indicating an upcoming break into which a commercial message may be inserted, the method further including:

a) sensing at said remote source the said cue signals of said at least two networks; and

b) said sequentially inserting at least twice into each of said at least two networks'"'"' break a said commercial message, each said sequential insertion in a said network'"'"'s break occurring at a different receiver system or group of receiver systems from the previous insertion.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein at least one said break of a said network overlaps in time with a said break of another network, and said sequential insertion of a said commercial message occurs in overlapping time relationship during said overlapping breaks.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein said overlapping breaks occur simultaneously.