Systems and methods for computer enhanced broadcast monitoring
DCFirst Claim
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1. Apparatus for generating a proprietary program signal, comprising:
- receiver capable of receiving from a program broadcaster in substantially real time, a broadcast programming signal having a plurality of program characteristics;
a buffer, coupled to said receiver, and having storage for storing data signals representative of a portion of the received broadcast programming signal;
a communication system capable of communicating with an editing unit for determining whether at least one of the plurality of program characteristics in the received broadcast programming signal satisfies at least one preselected user-program topic, and receiving a marking signal from the editing unit representative of the existence of the at least one program characteristic in the received broadcast programming signal, satisfying at least one preselected user-program topic; and
a processor, coupled to said communication system and said buffer, and responsive to said marking signal, for modifying said broadcast programming signal to generate a proprietary program signal comprising the at least one program characteristic satisfying the at least one preselected user-program topic.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for editing the content of a broadcast programming signal to provide a proprietary program signal that has been tailored to the preferences of an individual monitoring the broadcast programming signal. Accordingly, the systems and methods of the invention offer computer-integrated television monitoring.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for generating a proprietary program signal, comprising:
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receiver capable of receiving from a program broadcaster in substantially real time, a broadcast programming signal having a plurality of program characteristics; a buffer, coupled to said receiver, and having storage for storing data signals representative of a portion of the received broadcast programming signal; a communication system capable of communicating with an editing unit for determining whether at least one of the plurality of program characteristics in the received broadcast programming signal satisfies at least one preselected user-program topic, and receiving a marking signal from the editing unit representative of the existence of the at least one program characteristic in the received broadcast programming signal, satisfying at least one preselected user-program topic; and a processor, coupled to said communication system and said buffer, and responsive to said marking signal, for modifying said broadcast programming signal to generate a proprietary program signal comprising the at least one program characteristic satisfying the at least one preselected user-program topic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for generating a proprietary program signal, comprising:
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a receiver interface to a receiver capable of receiving a broadcast programming signal; a marking interface coupled with said receiver interface, for receiving a marking signal representative of the existence of a program characteristic satisfying a predetermined user-specified category of personal preferences, said marking signal for modifying said broadcast programming signal; and a data interface for coupling to a source of computer-readable data, said computer readable data being representative of information suitable for monitoring on a television monitor; and a splicing processor, coupled to said marking interface and said data interface, and responsive to said marking signal for generating said proprietary program signal as a function of the existence of the program characteristic in said broadcast programming signal, and said computer-readable data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for generating a proprietary program signal, comprising:
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a storage module for storing user-determined criteria for modifying a broadcast programming signal; a receiver in communication with said storage module, capable of receiving from a program broadcaster, in substantially real time, the broadcast programming signal; an editing unit in communication with said storage module and said receiver, for generating a marking signal when the broadcast programming signal possesses a characteristic satisfying said stored user-determined criteria, said marking signal representative of information for modifying the broadcast programming signal; and a communication system, coupled to said editing unit, for transmitting said marking signal to a user site where a proprietary program signal is generated using said marking signal.
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22. Apparatus for generating a proprietary program signal, comprising
an editing unit comprising: -
a monitor capable of receiving and monitoring a broadcast programming signal; a memory module for storing information relating to a plurality of subscribers, said information including a plurality of predetermined subscriber-selected topics; an editing unit in communication with said memory module and said monitor, for comparing said predetermined subscriber-selected topics with said broadcast programming signal as said broadcast programming signal is being received, to determine the existence of a characteristic that relates to at least one of said subscriber-selected topics, and generating said marking signal representative of information for modifying said broadcast programming signal when said at least one characteristic exists; and a first communication system in communication with said editing unit, for transmitting said marking signal; and a subscriber unit in communication with said editing unit, comprising; a receiver capable of receiving the broadcast programming signal; a buffer coupled to said receiver, for storing data signals representative of a portion of the broadcast programming signal; a second communication system capable of receiving said marking signal; and a processor, coupled to said second communication system and said buffer, and responsive to said marking signal, for modifying the broadcast programming signal to generate said proprietary program signal.
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Specification