Method of identifying set-top receivers
First Claim
1. A method for processing location specific data transmitted on a general broadcast system, comprising:
- transmitting a succession of information segments containing information of potential interest to subsets of users of the general broadcast system;
transmitting a plurality of location designation codes with the succession of information segments, each of the location designation codes containing information designating at least one geographical point to which an associated one of said information segments relates;
encoding in a data processor at least a point of interest to a user of the general broadcast system, using at least one geographical coordinate which defines at least one location selection code and is defined at least partly from a user input;
receiving the information segments at a receiver coupled to the data processor, and comparing the location selection code with the location designation code via the data processor to determine an overlap thereof defining at least one particular information segment as an information segment of interest;
processing the information segment of interest for presentation to the user; and
,wherein at least one of the location designation codes and the location selection codes for at least a portion of the information segments identifies a plurality of points defining a region, and wherein said comparing includes determining an overlap between the location designation codes and the location selection codes, whereupon the associated information segment is processed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Location specific messages or programming are generally broadcast and selectively filtered by user terminals which have encoded one or more arbitrary locations of interest. The area surrounding a user, a remote location, a route to be travelled, or the like may be selected for receipt of local warnings, local commercial messages, and the like. A set-top receiver being a preferably tunable apparatus capable of receiving digital information transmitted by a variety of means. Transmitted messages contain information targeted to geographical groups of users, with location designation coding accompanying location-specific messages. A geographic location selection code is entered into a data processor coupled to the user'"'"'s receiver to define the user'"'"'s selected location(s) of interest. The processor receives the information segment and its designation code and compares the designated location to the selected one. Segments where the designated and selected points or areas overlap are processed. e.g., being displayed, stored or used to trigger a warning. The user'"'"'s selection code is variable and plural locations can be used and prioritized. Preferably, regions are encoded by their boundaries, e.g., in longitude, latitude, altitude or the like, and in absolute or relative coordinates, and shorthand designations can refer to stored definitions of areas. Filtering segments based on message content, prioritizing the messages and additional features can be included. The system is especially useful for distributing local commercial messages, hazard warnings, or the like.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for processing location specific data transmitted on a general broadcast system, comprising:
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transmitting a succession of information segments containing information of potential interest to subsets of users of the general broadcast system; transmitting a plurality of location designation codes with the succession of information segments, each of the location designation codes containing information designating at least one geographical point to which an associated one of said information segments relates; encoding in a data processor at least a point of interest to a user of the general broadcast system, using at least one geographical coordinate which defines at least one location selection code and is defined at least partly from a user input; receiving the information segments at a receiver coupled to the data processor, and comparing the location selection code with the location designation code via the data processor to determine an overlap thereof defining at least one particular information segment as an information segment of interest; processing the information segment of interest for presentation to the user; and
,wherein at least one of the location designation codes and the location selection codes for at least a portion of the information segments identifies a plurality of points defining a region, and wherein said comparing includes determining an overlap between the location designation codes and the location selection codes, whereupon the associated information segment is processed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification