Program monitoring system
First Claim
1. A program monitoring system for monitoring programs aired by a broadcast station, the program monitoring system comprising:
- first processing means located at the broadcast station for processing program information concerning the programs aired by the broadcast station, wherein the program information includes information relating to a cost of airing each of the programs;
transmitting means located at the broadcast station and connected to the first processing means for transmitting the program information;
receiving means located remotely from the broadcast station for receiving the program information transmitted by the transmitting means;
second processing means connected to the receiving means for processing the program information, for identifying the programs from the program information, and for determining, from the program information, the cost of the programs aired by the broadcast station; and
,a communication link between the transmitting means and the receiving means.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A program monitoring system which monitors programs aired by a plurality of broadcast stations includes a plurality of the broadcast stations. Each broadcast station transmits to a central station program information concerning programs aired by the broadcast stations. The program information includes identification information for each of the programs, and information relating to a cost of airing each of the programs. The identification information concerning the programs may be different between broadcast stations. The central station receives the program information and determines therefrom identities of the programs aired by the broadcast stations and the cost of airing these programs.
221 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A program monitoring system for monitoring programs aired by a broadcast station, the program monitoring system comprising:
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first processing means located at the broadcast station for processing program information concerning the programs aired by the broadcast station, wherein the program information includes information relating to a cost of airing each of the programs; transmitting means located at the broadcast station and connected to the first processing means for transmitting the program information; receiving means located remotely from the broadcast station for receiving the program information transmitted by the transmitting means; second processing means connected to the receiving means for processing the program information, for identifying the programs from the program information, and for determining, from the program information, the cost of the programs aired by the broadcast station; and
,a communication link between the transmitting means and the receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a memory located at a broadcast station, wherein the memory stores program information concerning programs aired by the broadcast station; a transmitter located at the broadcast station and connected to the memory, the transmitter being arranged to transmit the program information; a receiver located remotely from the broadcast station, the receiver being arranged to receive the program information transmitted by the transmitter; and
,a processor connected to the receiver, the processor being arranged to determine, from the program information, the identity of the programs aired by the broadcast station, and the cost of airing the programs aired by the broadcast station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for monitoring programs aired by a plurality of broadcast stations, the apparatus comprising:
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receiving means located remotely from the broadcast stations for receiving program information from the broadcast stations, wherein the program information includes identification information from which the identity of the programs aired by the broadcast stations may be determined, wherein the program information includes cost information relating to a cost of airing each of the programs, and wherein the identification information may be different between broadcast stations; and
,processing means connected to the receiving means for processing the program information, for determining universal codes from the identification information, and for determining, from the program information and by the use of the universal codes, the cost of airing the programs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification