Universal broadcast code and multi-level encoded signal monitoring system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring an universal broadcast code (UBC) which has been encoded on a program signal comprising:
- means for receiving said universal broadcast code; and
,decoding means responsive to said receiving means for decoding at least first and second distribution level identification data, wherein the first distribution level identification data is selectively encoded on a first segment of said universal broadcast code, wherein the second distribution level identification data is selectively encoded on a second segment of said universal broadcast code, wherein said first segment extends over at least a first frame of a broadcast signal, wherein the second segment extends over a second frame of the broadcast signal, wherein the first and second frames are different frames, wherein said first and second distribution level identification data uniquely identify corresponding levels of distribution of said program signal, and wherein at least two of said levels of distribution are located remotely from one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-level encoded signal monitoring system and a universal broadcast code are provided. A plurality of encoders are provided for encoding a predetermined program source signal. The program source signal has a plurality of sequential segments. Each encoder is arranged for selectively encoding information on uniquely specified segments. A plurality of unique source information message data are selectively encoded on the uniquely specified segments to define the universal broadcast code with each unique encoded source information message data being representative of a level of distribution of the program signal. The predetermined program source signal is received and the encoded information on selected specified segments is decoded.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring an universal broadcast code (UBC) which has been encoded on a program signal comprising:
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means for receiving said universal broadcast code; and
,decoding means responsive to said receiving means for decoding at least first and second distribution level identification data, wherein the first distribution level identification data is selectively encoded on a first segment of said universal broadcast code, wherein the second distribution level identification data is selectively encoded on a second segment of said universal broadcast code, wherein said first segment extends over at least a first frame of a broadcast signal, wherein the second segment extends over a second frame of the broadcast signal, wherein the first and second frames are different frames, wherein said first and second distribution level identification data uniquely identify corresponding levels of distribution of said program signal, and wherein at least two of said levels of distribution are located remotely from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for monitoring an universal broadcast code which is encoded on a television and/or radio signal comprising:
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means for receiving said universal broadcast code; and
,decoding means responsive to said receiving means for decoding at least first and second distributor identifiers, wherein the first distributor identifier is selectively encoded within a first segment of said universal broadcast code which is encoded on said television and/or radio signal, wherein the second distributor identifier is selectively encoded within a second segment of said universal broadcast code which is encoded on said television and/or radio signal, wherein said first and second segments are separated in time so that the first and second distributor identifiers do not reside in a common frame of a television portion of said television and/or radio signal, and wherein said first and second distributor identifiers uniquely identify corresponding distributors of said television and/or radio signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A universal broadcast code (UBC) encoded program signal comprising:
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at least first and second segments of said program signal, wherein said first segment occurs within at least a first time period of the program signal, wherein the second segment occurs within at least a second time period of the program signal, wherein the first and second time periods are equivalent in time to a frame of a video signal, and wherein the first and second time periods are different time periods; and
,at least first and second distribution level identification data, wherein the first distribution level identification data is encoded within the first segment of said program signal, wherein the second distribution level identification data is encoded within the second segment of said program signal, wherein said first and second distribution level identification data uniquely identify corresponding first and second levels of distribution of said program signal, and wherein said first and second levels of distribution are located remotely from one another. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An universal broadcast code (UBC) encoded television program signal comprising:
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at least first and second frames of said television program signal, wherein said first and second frames are different frames of said television program signal; and
,at least first and second distributor identification codes, wherein said first distributor identification code is encoded within the first frame of said television program signal exclusive of the second distributor identification code, wherein said second distributor identification code is encoded within the second frame of said television program signal exclusive of the first distributor identification code, and wherein said first and second distributor identification codes uniquely identify corresponding distributors of said television program signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A distributor identification code for use in a multi-segment television or radio signal comprising:
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first distributor identification data, wherein said first distributor identification data is encoded within a first segment of said multi-segment television or radio signal, wherein said first segment covers a first time period which is equivalent to at least a frame of a television signal, and wherein said first distributor identification data uniquely identifies a corresponding first distributor of said multi-segment television or radio signal; and
,second distributor identification data, wherein said second distributor identification data is encoded within a second segment of said multi-segment television or radio signal, wherein said second segment covers a second time period which is equivalent to at least a frame of a television signal, wherein said first and second time periods are different time periods of said multi-segment television or radio signal, and wherein said second distributor identification data uniquely identifies a corresponding second distributor of said multi-segment television or radio signal. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of determining distributors of a multi-segment video or audio signal comprising the steps of:
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detecting first distributor identification data encoded in a first segment of said multi-segment video or audio signal so as to uniquely identify a corresponding first distributor of said multi-segment video or audio signal, wherein said first segment is at least 1/30th second in length; and
,detecting second distributor identification data encoded in a second segment of said multi-segment video or audio signal to uniquely identify a corresponding second distributor of said multi-segment video or audio signal;
wherein said second segment is at least 1/30th second in length, and wherein the first and second segments are different segments. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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66. A distributor identification code for use in a broadcast media signal comprising:
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first distributor identification data, said first distributor identification data being encoded in said broadcast media signal and uniquely identifying a corresponding first distributor of said broadcast media signal; and
,second distributor identification data, said second distributor identification data being encoded in said broadcast media signal and uniquely identifying a corresponding second distributor of said broadcast media signal, said first and second identification data being serially encoded in said broadcast media signal. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A method of determining distributors of a broadcast media signal comprising the steps of:
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detecting first distributor identification data encoded in said broadcast media signal to uniquely identify a corresponding first distributor of said broadcast media signal; and
,detecting second distributor identification data encoded in said broadcast media signal to uniquely identify a corresponding second distributor of said broadcast media data, wherein said first and second distributor identification data are serially encoded in said broadcast media signal. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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Specification